There’s more to Fullerton than meets the eye once you begin reading books about the city. Here are a few hand-selected books:

Fullerton: The Boom Years by Mudrick, Richey & Thomas (2015) encapsulates and contextualizes the how and why behind Fullerton’s heavy growth post-1945 towards the 1980s, “This book represents only a small part of the rich historic past of this once small town, now one of the major cities in Orange County” (8). The book explains the expansion of housing due to the economy flourishing post-World War 2, “…as soldiers returning from the wars and their families began moving into Fullerton in search of jobs and homes, it became evident that the city was on the way to becoming a major Orange County community. And the task of making those new homes and jobs a reality fell to the council “(138). A booming economy for housing meant a steady supply of jobs needed to build houses and buildings to industry standards. Construction would be a constant in order to assist with the growing population as well. 

The most intriguing sections involved Chapter 5 (Attention Grabbing-Headlines) and Chapter 7 (Politics and Government). The headlines of the past displayed a fraction of the chaos people had to deal with back then, such as the further development of their beloved city from nature walks to large-scale projects (Arboretum in 1976, City Hall in 1963) and eventful incidents like major drug busts (pg. 118) and robberies (pg. 108). The politics and government sections display the behind-the-scenes efforts to improve itself, the city, and beyond. 

The Red Scare, booming population, and changing times, the city had its work cut out for them while the chapter also discusses the fruits of the government planning’s labor, like the purchasing of lands for further development, and lists various construction projects like the sewer lines, new road improvements, street maintenance, creation of Orange County State College in 1959 and eventually renamed as California State University–Fullerton in 1972 to name some projects (pg. 140).

Phil Brigandi’s book Orange County Place Names A to Z covers 34 cities beyond Fullerton. Brigandi shares his passion and purpose in the book, hoping to inspire others to delve into the county’s history. The introduction provides a brief history lesson about Orange County and creates a personal connection with the reader.

The book illustrates a broader picture that Fullerton is a portion of the beyond called Orange County: Parks, Canyons, Cities, Villages, and other points of interest. 

Unfortunately, not every place receives the same level of detailed coverage. For instance, Commonwealth Ave is only given a few sentences explaining its founding in 1911 and nearby landmarks, while Fullerton and Orangethorpe receive almost an entire page dedicated to them. Larger sections provide details about origins, important figures, and other interesting information for trivia enthusiasts. 

After listing places A-Z and sharing historical tidbits, it includes a heartfelt acknowledgment and publications list for more books about Orange County and Southern California. Brigandi’s passion and attention to detail shines throughout.

Orange County: A Literary Guide (foreword by Gustavo Arellano) acts as an anthology for the Orange Country experience, some expressed with poems, others with stories. 

The book features author bios and diverse stories exploring culture, politics, and history in different parts of Orange County. Notable writers, including Joan Didion, contribute to the project, showcasing the variety of messages awaiting interpretation by readers.

These are a few books about Fullerton worth reading. You can find them at the Fullerton Public Library at 353 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832.