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Corona History, California

Corona, CA US - History: Lemon Capital of the World

The community is located at the base of Cleveland National Forest on alluvial plain, which lead down or north to Santa Ana River. It is a conventional law city. Corona has a unique and remarkable history.

For collecting and preserving information about their community, in November 1980, City of Corona came up with a Heritage Room in Corona Public Library. Volunteers from city’s community and library staffs along with the heritage committee together worked for collecting, organizing, displaying and preserving materials, which were relevant to the city’s history and its immediate environs.

Agriculture has also played a significant role in Corona’s history. The land to the northwest was more suitable for alfalfa, grin, tomatoes, beans, walnuts and dairy land as far back as 1914.With the increase development, the future of agriculture pursuits within the city limits is significantly decreasing.

During the twenties Corona populace had built several churches, city hall and library. By 1915, lemon production went beyond the national demand. Local businessmen started working together and came up with the first company of the nation, which produced Lemon exchange by-products. This plant produced lemon juice, lemon oil, citric acid and pectin. This helped in Corona gaining the name “Lemon Capital of the World”. The Corona capital was closed in 1982 when the housing developments begun overtaking Citrus Orchards of Southern California.

Carnegie Library, a classical revival styled library of Corona, served its community during the period of 1906-1971. The library was located in the southeast region of Eighth & Main Street. It got demolished hurriedly during 1978 for making way to Pioneer Chicken Franchise. It has remained vacant for over 30 years.

Corona School (1889-1911) was renamed Lincoln School (1911-1950). It was located in the Tenth Street, in between Howard and Victoria. Second floor of the school was for high school students, whereas the first one was for grammar school.

First City Hall of Corona was built in 1913 and served the city till 1962. Located in the northeast region of Eighth & Main Street, this classic architecture was used as a movie set in the ‘Storm Warning’, which was released in 1951.

Currently, Corona is largely an agricultural community, dominated by citrus orchid, dairy farm and ranches.

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