Did you know Orange County was once known as ‘Mosquito County’?
How well do you know Orange County?
Pretty well, right?
Well, let us see.
Do you know these 5 things about Orange County?
It used to be called ‘Mosquito County’
Yeah, charming isn’t it?
The glorious Orange County used to be named after a biting pest.
Who had that brilliant idea? The Spanish. They named a huge chunk of the area ‘Los Mosquitos’.
And then, the territorial council (it was still ‘US territory’, and not a state yet) created ‘Mosquito County’ in 1824, sticking to the name the Spanish had given.
There was a lament that “Clearly no one consulted the local chamber of commerce before coming up with this gem of a name.”
Finally, in 1845, just before statehood, the irritant was removed, and the Orange County given the name that persists till this day.
You may be able to see glimpses of the entire world…
…without ever having to leave the United States.
This region is a true melting pot.
You’ll find dozens of nationalities, ethnicities, currencies, customs, cuisine, languages…and pretty much everything else in Orange County.
If you’re a currency collector, you may find it worth your while to wander around here, meeting people, striking up conversations, and seeing whether they’ve got anything you find valuable.
Just be warned though, you can’t actually pay for bus tickets (or anything else) using anything else than US Dollars.
You’ll need to use a lot of sunscreen
If you WANT a tan, go for it.
If not, you’ll need to go the whole nine yards.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, protective (but light) clothes, hats…and remember to keep filling your water bottle.
It is rather sunny in Orange County, almost throughout the year.
It’s almost like you’re in a sunshine state (that’s a hint, sunshine!).
You need to be prepared for ‘inclement’ weather
A warm, sunny day can quickly turn wet and chilly. Even during winters, which are otherwise mild and dry.
And, you should always BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for extreme weather warnings, like heavy wind, pounding rain, and thunderstorms.
You can plan a day out among the wilderness
Orange County is landlocked (yes, that is true), but you can quickly escape the urban bustle for a trip to the great outdoors.
You can
- Trek through a forest
- Swim in freshwater springs
- Marvel at small local waterfalls as they gush down
- Admire rock formations
And a whole lot more!
Well?
Did you get it yet?
I’m talking about Orange County alright.
But it ain’t Orange County, California.
It’s Orange County, Florida.
The next time you feel like (and are allowed to) take an out-of-state trip, you can check out Orange County in Florida.
And the next time you just want to enjoy an evening off, visit Fullerton’s premier escape room!