The original township of Fullerton was founded in 1887. This was after George and Edward Amerige received assurances that the Santa Fe railroad would include the new township on its proposed route. On Wednesday, July 5, 1887, the first surveyor’s stake was placed into the ground of an empty mustard field at the northeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue. The township of Fullerton was born. It was named after George Fullerton, the railroad agent that shared in the Amerige brothers vision for the new town. A little over a year after the stake was placed in the ground, the first train made its stop at Fullerton.
 
 The railroad construction crews brought a rowdy element and the early days of Fullerton were marked with gunfights, saloons and houses of ill repute. Historical accounts tell of bad men and gangs hiding out in the hills in the north. As time progressed, the construction crews were replaced with families and more stabilizing values. The little community soon had banks, churches, stores, a school, and a library. The Amerige brothers’ vision began to take shape.
 
 Voters defeated Fullerton’s first attempt at formal city hood in 1901. However with the promise of improving fire protection, voters passed the incorporation issue in February of 1904. Fullerton’s first mayor was Charles C. Chapman, for which Chapman Ave. is named.
 
 Shortly after the city was incorporated, the “Black Gold” that was discovered during the 1890s began to bring an era of prosperity and growth. The oil wells were located mostly in the northern areas of Fullerton. Most of this area became part of the city of Brea when that city was incorporated 1917. The oil boom was a major portion of Fullerton’s revenue, even into the 1950s when it was half of the city’s income.
 
 In 1927, the city established an airport in the western part of town. The land had previously been used as a hog farm and then a sewer farm. Fullerton Municipal Airport is Orange County’s oldest and largest general aviation field still in its original location.
 
 The early years of the city of Fullerton had all the ingredients for successful growth. Regular train service, oil revenue, a flourishing agricultural industry, an airport, and of course the industrious people of Fullerton. In the 1970s, the downtown area of Fullerton had lost much of it original luster and economic strength. People began going to indoor malls and the city was faced with a dilemma. What should be done with the downtown area? Unlike other cities that let their historic centers give way to the wrecking ball, the people of Fullerton decided to maintain their historic landmarks and reminders of their early years. Many of the buildings in the downtown area have been rehabilitated and restored to preserve their original character. Redevelopment money has been focused on successfully revitalizing this area. The downtown area has become a hub of cultural and economic activity. It’s hard to find a week that “something” isn’t going on downtown. There are many community events held each month that attract not only Fullerton residents, but also people from other cities. Many of our restaurants have live entertainment that caters to a variety of musical interest. There is something for young and old alike. Weekend nights the downtown area is “alive” until late into the night. Fullerton has once again become a destination.