Editing Fullerton, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Fullerton, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Fullerton police headquarter (cropped).jpg
| photo1b = ChapmanBuilding01 (cropped).jpg
| photo2a = FarmersMerchantsBankFullerton01c (cropped).jpg
| photo2b = The Fullerton Transportation Center is a passenger rail and bus station located in Fullerton, California, United States. It is served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Southwest Chief trains, and Metrolink's 91 Line plus - panoramio (1).jpg
| spacing = 2
| color_border = white 
| color = white
| size = 280
| foot_montage = '''Clockwise from top left''': Old City Hall; the Chapman Building; [[Fullerton Transportation Center]]; and downtown
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Fullerton, California.gif
| image_seal         = Seal of Fullerton, California.png
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "The Education Community"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/| title= City of Fullerton California |publisher= City of Fullerton California |access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref>
| image_map          = File:Orange County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fullerton Highlighted 0628000.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Fullerton in Orange County, California
| pushpin_map        = California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the contiguous United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|52|48|N|117|55|43|W|display=inline,title}} 
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{Flagu|United States}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|California}}
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Orange County, California.svg}} [[Orange County, California|Orange]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = February 15, 1904<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/city-council | title=City Council &#124; Fullerton, CA }}</ref>
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Fred Jung]]
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1       = Shana Charles
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = Ahmad Zahra<br />Jamie Valencia<br />Nick Dunlap
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Eric Levitt
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 58.11
| area_total_sq_mi   = 22.44
| area_land_km2      = 58.07
| area_land_sq_mi    = 22.42
| area_water_km2     = 0.03
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| area_water_percent = 0.05
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1660658|Fullerton|access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 50
<!-- Population ----------->| elevation_ft       = 164
| population_total   = 143617
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=quif>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fullertoncitycalifornia |title=Fullerton (city), California|work=2020 census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 6411
| population_density_km2 = 2475
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_rank    = [[Orange County, California|6th]] in Orange County<br />[[List of largest California cities by population|42nd]] in California<br />[[List of United States cities by population|197th]] in the United States
| population_demonym = Fullertonian
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 92831–92838
| area_code          = [[Area code 562|562]], [[Area codes 714 and 657|657/714]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| website            = {{URL|www.cityoffullerton.com}}
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;7
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|28000}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1660658}}, {{GNIS 4|2410556}}
}}

'''Fullerton''' ({{IPAc-en|'|f|ʊ|l|ər|t|ən}} {{respell|FUUL|ər|tən}}) is a city located in northern [[Orange County, California]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a total population of 143,617.<ref name=quif />

Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]. Historically it was a center of [[agriculture]], notably groves of Valencia [[orange (fruit)|orange]]s and other [[citrus]] crops; [[petroleum]] extraction; transportation; and manufacturing. It is home to numerous higher educational institutions, particularly [[California State University, Fullerton]] and [[Fullerton College]]. From the mid-1940s through the late 1990s, Fullerton was home to a large industrial base made up of [[aerospace]] contractors, canneries, paper products manufacturers, and is considered to be the birthplace of the [[electric guitar]], due in large part to [[Leo Fender]]. The headquarters of [[Vons]], which is owned by [[Albertsons]], is located in Fullerton near the Fullerton–[[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] line. Areal view of Fullerton taken in [[commons:File:Areal_view_of_Fullerton_taken_in_1962.jpg|1962]] and[[commons:File:Areal_view_of_Fullerton_taken_in_1925.jpg|1925]].

==History==
===Indigenous===
Evidence of prehistoric animal habitation, such as [[saber-toothed cats]] and [[mammoths]], is present in [[Ralph B. Clark Regional Park]] in the northwest of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/depts/city_manager/history_of_fullerton/default.asp |title=City of Fullerton Official Website |publisher=Ci.fullerton.ca.us |access-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref>

The area of the city was a part of the homelands of the [[Tongva]] for thousands of years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fullerton {{!}} California, United States {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Fullerton |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> There was a large village in the area along the [[Santa Ana River]] that has since been identified as the [[Hutuknga]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Rosanne |date=2006 |title=A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TONGVA TRIBE |url=https://habitatauthority.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/native_american_history.pdf |website=Habitat Authority}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Cultural and Paleontological Resources |url=https://www.banningranchconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Appendix-J-Part-1-Cultural-and-Paleontological-Resources.pdf |website=Banning Ranch Conservancy}}</ref> The village was one of the largest throughout all of [[Tovaangar]], or the Tongva world. It was connected by marriage ties to other villages in the area, including [[Genga, California|Genga]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last1=Koerper |first1=Henry |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/745176510 |title=Catalysts to complexity : late Holocene societies of the California coast |last2=Mason |first2=Roger |last3=Peterson |first3=Mark |date=2002 |publisher=Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA |others=Jon Erlandson, Terry L. Jones, Jeanne E. Arnold, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA |isbn=978-1-938770-67-8 |location=Los Angeles |pages=64–66, 79 |oclc=745176510}}</ref> [[Acorn]]s and seeds from grasses and [[Salvia|sages]] were regularly cultivated. Trade connections were established with villages on the coast and those further inland.<ref name=":12"/>

===Spanish era===
Europeans first passed through the area in 1769 when [[Gaspar de Portolá]] led a Spanish expedition north to [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]. From the description recorded in the diary of Father [[Juan Crespi]], the party camped on [[Timeline of the Portolà expedition|July 29]] near present-day Laguna Lake, in the Sunny Hills area.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert E. |pages=142–143 |year=1927 |title=Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774 |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000288788 |publisher=HathiTrust Digital Library |access-date= }} Diary translator Herbert Bolton, in a footnote, describes the camp location as "La Brea Canyon, north of Fullerton"</ref>

===American era===
In 1894, [[Charles Chapman (mayor)|Charles Chapman]] purchased an orange orchard in eastern Fullerton. The Valencia variety of oranges he promoted from his Santa Ysabel Ranch, well suited to the local climate, proved a boon to producers; Fullerton boasted more orange groves than any other municipality in the [[United States]]. Cultivation of [[walnut]]s and [[avocado]]s also flourished, and the Western railroad town became an agricultural center. Fullerton was incorporated in 1904,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fullerton, CA |url=https://www.trustandprobatelawyers.com/fullerton-ca.html|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=Orange County Trust Lawyer Crockett Law Corporation }}</ref>

===Boom years===
[[File:LouisPlummerAuditorium01c.jpg|thumb|[[Fullerton Union High School]]'s auditorium, built 1930–32]]
[[File:Fullerton up depot (2383278131) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Union Pacific]] depot, built 1923]]

Drilling for [[petroleum]] began in 1880 with the discovery of the [[Brea-Olinda Oil Field]] and fueled the first real boom, peaking in the 1920s. Construction reflected the vogue for Spanish Colonial and [[Architectural history#Italian Renaissance architecture|Italian Renaissance–inspired]] architecture, as in the historic [[Fox Theatre (Fullerton)|Fox Fullerton Theatre]] (erected 1925); the [[Muckenthaler House]], designed by Frank K. Benchley (erected 1924); and the city's chief landmark, the Plummer Auditorium and clock tower (erected 1930). [[Fullerton College]] was established at its present location at Chapman Avenue and Lemon Street in 1913. Meanwhile, the city banned all overnight street parking in 1924 – a law enforced to the present day, unless an area is specifically exempted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/resident/neighborhood/overnight_parking.asp|title=Overnight Parking|publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210202655/https://www.cityoffullerton.com/resident/neighborhood/overnight_parking.asp}}</ref>

In 1943, the Alex Bernal residence became the site of one of the first successful lawsuits against household [[Covenant (law)|covenant laws]] in the country after Alex and Esther Bernal purchased a home in a Fullerton neighborhood that barred purchases from "Mexicans." After a [[home invasion]] that resulted in their belongings being thrown into the street and a petition signed by fifty neighborhood residents to have the Bernal's removed from the neighborhood, a lawsuit was issued against the Bernals on the basis that their presence caused "irreparable injury" to the neighborhood that could lead to "coming in contact with said other races, including Mexicans, in a social and neighborhood manner." Lawyer David C. Marcus represented the Bernals in ''Doss vs. Bernal'' and won the case, which received national attention.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lewinnek |first1=Elaine |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1226813397 |title=A people's guide to Orange County |date=2022 |first2=Gustavo |last2=Arellano |first3=Thuy |last3=Vo Dang |isbn=978-0-520-97155-4 |location=Oakland, California |pages=77–78 |oclc=1226813397 |publisher=University of California Press }}</ref>

In 1949, [[Leo Fender]] developed and refined the world's first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar, the [[Fender Telecaster]].

===Postwar suburbanization===
Although Fullerton, like other Southern California cities, had experienced an expansion of population due to housing development, this increased by an order of magnitude during the post war years. Fullerton's population soared after [[World War II]] as American veterans migrated to [[California]], bought housing in the land development which destroyed the surrounding farming and park areas, and in particular after the construction of [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]] and development in neighboring [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]].

To serve the growing population, the [[California State Legislature]] authorized [[California State University, Fullerton|Orange County State College]] in 1957, which began operating out of Fullerton high schools in 1959. In 1963, it moved to its present campus on State College Boulevard, and later, after several name-changes, was finally redesignated [[California State University, Fullerton]]. The Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre (105,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) [[botanical garden]], opened in 1979.<ref>"[https://fullertonarboretum.org/history.aspx History]", Fullerton Arboretum.</ref>

Manufacturing growth leveled off as ever-soaring property prices, increasing environmental regulation, traffic, and other pressures increased. By the late 20th century the city had lost much of its rural character in favor of [[suburb]]an housing tracts and shopping centers.

In the 1980s, Fullerton hosted a community of Punk and LGBTQ youth in the former Black Hole Apartments.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1989-07-23 |title=Kids of the Black Hole : The 1970s Were Waning When Orange County's Punk Rock Scene Roared Its Dark, Hostile Message |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-23-ca-498-story.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=Kids of the Black Hole: Punk in Southern California |url=https://fullertonhistory.com/2023/05/11/kids-of-the-black-hole-punk-in-southern-california/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Fullerton History |language=en}}</ref>

===Recent history===
In the 1990s, the downtown commercial district had become economically depressed, and was known mainly for being an area of sleepy antique stores and small shops. A symbol of downtown's problems was the [[Fox Theatre (Fullerton, California)|Fox Theatre]], a local landmark which had fallen into disrepair partially due to a fire. As of November 2004, a fundraising drive had accumulated sufficient funds to buy the theater, but not yet enough money to restore it. By 2006, restoration was started. As of 2024 these renovations were still ongoing.

During this same period, downtown Fullerton (DTF), especially in the south of Commonwealth area (SOCO),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/visitors/downtown_fullerton/soco_district.asp |title=SOCO District |publisher=City of Fullerton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716121156/http://www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/visitors/downtown_fullerton/soco_district.asp |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> has become more of a busy entertainment district, described by the ''[[OC Weekly]]'' as "[[Bourbon Street]] West." In less than five years, some 30 businesses that sell alcohol have opened, making the downtown area much more active at night. In 2008, City Manager Chris Meyer called together department head and the finance department and reported to the city council that the Restaurant Overlay District (established December 2002) was costing the city $935,000 over and above the sales taxes collected.

The {{convert|293|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Hughes Aircraft|Hughes Aircraft Company]]'s Ground Systems Group campus in western Fullerton was redeveloped into a new residential and commercial district called ''Amerige Heights,'' in between 2001 and 2004.<ref>"[http://amerigeheights.org/177-2/ History]", Amerige Heights.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Dr George Clark House.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fullerton Arboretum]]]]
[[File:Coyote-Hills-Fullerton.jpg|thumb|[[West Coyote Hills]]]] 

Fullerton is located approximately {{convert|25|mi|km}} southeast of downtown [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], and approximately {{convert|11|mi|km}} north-northwest of [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], the [[county seat]]. The city lies approximately {{convert|11|mi|km}} northeast of the Pacific Ocean straight-line distance.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|22.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|22.4|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|km2}}, comprising 0.05%, is water.

[[West Coyote Hills]] is a ridge in northern Fullerton, including {{convert|510|acres|0|abbr=on}} owned by Pacific Coast Homes (a land development division of the [[Chevron Corporation]]) that is the largest remaining tract of undeveloped land in north Orange County.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Fullerton has a [[hot-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated ''Csa'' on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=582340&cityname=Fullerton%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |title=Fullerton, California Köppen Climate Classification |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref>

{{Weather box|location = Fullerton, California ([[Fullerton Municipal Airport]]) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F=94
|Feb record high F=94
|Mar record high F=97
|Apr record high F=102
|May record high F=104
|Jun record high F=109
|Jul record high F=116
|Aug record high F=107
|Sep record high F=113
|Oct record high F=107
|Nov record high F=99
|Dec record high F=87
|year record high F=116
|Jan avg record high F=84.9
|Feb avg record high F=86.4
|Mar avg record high F=89.5
|Apr avg record high F=92.9
|May avg record high F=93.3
|Jun avg record high F=94.8
|Jul avg record high F=98.1
|Aug avg record high F=99.9
|Sep avg record high F=104.3
|Oct avg record high F=99.6
|Nov avg record high F=93.8
|Dec avg record high F=82.6
|year avg record high F=106.9
|Jan high F = 68.8
|Feb high F = 69.0
|Mar high F = 71.0
|Apr high F = 74.2
|May high F = 75.7
|Jun high F = 79.0
|Jul high F = 84.4
|Aug high F = 86.7
|Sep high F = 85.4
|Oct high F = 80.3	
|Nov high F = 74.0
|Dec high F = 68.1
| year high F = 76.4
|Jan mean F = 57.6
|Feb mean F = 58.6
|Mar mean F = 61.2
|Apr mean F = 64.0
|May mean F = 66.9
|Jun mean F = 70.8
|Jul mean F = 75.2
|Aug mean F = 76.5
|Sep mean F = 75.0
|Oct mean F = 69.3
|Nov mean F = 62.4
|Dec mean F = 56.9
| year mean F = 66.2
|Jan low F = 46.4
|Feb low F = 48.3
|Mar low F = 51.5
|Apr low F = 53.8
|May low F = 58.1
|Jun low F = 62.6
|Jul low F = 66.1
|Aug low F = 66.4
|Sep low F = 64.6
|Oct low F = 58.3
|Nov low F = 50.7
|Dec low F = 45.6
| year low F = 56.0
|Jan avg record low F=38.0
|Feb avg record low F=38.5
|Mar avg record low F=42.5
|Apr avg record low F=46.9
|May avg record low F=52.6
|Jun avg record low F=57.8
|Jul avg record low F=61.7
|Aug avg record low F=62.1
|Sep avg record low F=58.1
|Oct avg record low F=50.9
|Nov avg record low F=43.0
|Dec avg record low F=35.9
|year avg record low F=34.8
|Jan record low F=28
|Feb record low F=35
|Mar record low F=36
|Apr record low F=39
|May record low F=46
|Jun record low F=52
|Jul record low F=58
|Aug record low F=56
|Sep record low F=54
|Oct record low F=45
|Nov record low F=34
|Dec record low F=31
|year record low F=28
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.85
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.02
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.74
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.59
|May precipitation inch = 0.30
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.08
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.02
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.02
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.14
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.50
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.74
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.86
| year precipitation inch = 11.86
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.2
|Feb precipitation days = 6.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.3
|Apr precipitation days = 3.5
|May precipitation days = 1.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0.5
|Jul precipitation days = 0.3
|Aug precipitation days = 0.2
|Sep precipitation days = 0.8
|Oct precipitation days = 3.0
|Nov precipitation days = 4.6
|Dec precipitation days = 6.3
| year precipitation days = 38.3
|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006&ndash;2020)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx |title = FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA&nbsp;– Climate Summary NOAA NowData |access-date = March 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00003166&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
 |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
 |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 |access-date = October 13, 2022
}}</ref>
|date=March 2014
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1725
|1920= 4415
|1930= 10860
|1940= 10442
|1950= 13958
|1960= 56180
|1970= 85987
|1980= 102246
|1990= 114144
|2000= 126003
|2010= 135161
|2020= 143617
|estyear = 
|estimate = 
|estref = 
<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023553/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br>1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title=1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907072108/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title=1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828190324/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1880–1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164053/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050629/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828162810/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918190408/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921120611/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823052400/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814213918/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204210903/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Fullerton first appeared as a city in the [[1910 U.S. Census]].<ref name=1910CensusCA/> Prior to that, the area was part of unincorporated Fullerton Township (pop 1,697 in 1900).<ref name=1900CensusCA/>

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Fullerton, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fullerton city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0628000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fullerton city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0628000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fullerton city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0628000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|61,420
|51,656
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42,150
|48.74%
|38.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |29.35%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,675
|2,791
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,972
|2.12%
|2.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.07%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|404
|251
|style='background: #ffffe6; |289
|0.32%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|20,130
|30,486
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,913
|15.98%
|22.56%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26.40%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|251
|270
|style='background: #ffffe6; |266
|0.20%
|0.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|237
|243
|style='background: #ffffe6; |691
|0.19%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.48%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,872
|2,963
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,111
|2.28%
|2.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.56%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|38,014
|46,501
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54,225
|30.17%
|34.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37.76%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''126,003'''
|'''135,161'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''143,617'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0628000|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025051/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0628000|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Fullerton city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Fullerton had a population of 135,161. The population density was {{convert|6,043.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Fullerton was 72,845 (53.9%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3,138 (2.3%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 842 (0.6%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 30,788 (22.8%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 321 (0.2%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 21,439 (15.9%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 5,788 (4.3%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 46,501 persons (34.4%). [[Non-Hispanic Whites]] were 38.2% of the population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0628000.html |title=Fullerton (city), California |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724233733/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0628000.html |archive-date=July 24, 2012 }}</ref> down from 79.0% in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |title=Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>

The Census reported that 132,084 people (97.7% of the population) lived in households, 2,318 (1.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 759 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 45,391 households, out of which 16,155 (35.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23,240 (51.2%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 5,502 (12.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,505 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 2,366 (5.2%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 290 (0.6%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 9,771 households (21.5%) were made up of individuals, and 3,342 (7.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91.  There were 31,247 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (68.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.43.

The population was spread out, with 31,558 people (23.3%) under the age of 18, 17,522 people (13.0%) aged 18 to 24, 37,764 people (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 32,465 people (24.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 15,852 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

There were 47,869 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,140.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 24,600 (54.2%) were owner-occupied, and 20,791 (45.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.  73,127 people (54.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 58,957 people (43.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States census, Fullerton had a median household income of $67,617, with 14.6% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0628000.html|title=Fullerton (city), California|work=2010 census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724233733/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0628000.html|archive-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref>

===2000===
[[File:HetebrinkHouse01c.jpg|thumb|The [[Mission Revival]]–style [[Hetebrink House]], built in 1912, is a [[National Historic Site (United States)|National Historic Site]]]]

In 2000, there were 44,771 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,016.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 43,609 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,345 (Orange County 2005), and the median income for a family was $75,700. Males had a median income of $40,674 versus $31,677 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,370. About 8.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/dev_serv/docs/fullerton_profile.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202204850/http://www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/dev_serv/docs/fullerton_profile.pdf|url-status=dead|title=City of Fullerton - 404|archive-date=February 2, 2015|website=www.cityoffullerton.com}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+2023 [[Uniform Crime Report]] data<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crime Data Explorer |url=https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend |url-status=live |website=FBI.gov}}</ref>
!
!Aggravated Assault
!Homicide
!Rape
!Robbery
!Burglary
!Larceny Theft
!Motor Vehicle Theft
!Arson
|-
|Fullerton
|348
|0
|68
|110
|486
|2,053
|487
|13
|}

==Economy==
[[File:Fender's Radio Service.jpg|thumb|right|Shops in downtown Fullerton]]
According to the city's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Fullerton CAFR |url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/home/showpublisheddocument/9458/638705691379100000 |access-date=}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
| 1
|[[California State University, Fullerton]]
|3,000
|-
|2
|[[St. Jude Medical Center]]
|1,797
|-
|3
|[[Raytheon]]
|1,200
|-
|4
|[[Fullerton College]]
|1,100
|-
|5
|City of Fullerton
|710
|-
|6
|Chuze Fitness
|700
|-
|7
|AJ Kirkwood & Associates, Inc.
|600
|-
|8
|[[Albertsons]] Regional Corporate
|400
|-
|9
|Morningside of Fullerton
|350
|-
|10
|RPM Transportation
|300
|}

==Arts and culture==
[[File:MuckenthalerHouse01c (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Muckenthaler House|Muckenthaler Cultural Center]]]]
[[File:DewellaApartments01 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The Dewella complex is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]
[[File:Fullerton fox theatre.JPG|thumb|[[Fox Theatre (Fullerton, California)|Fox Theatre]], built in 1925]]

===Registered historic places===
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange County, California}}

===Culture===

Fullerton is home to a vibrant music scene. In the early 1990s, the Historic Ice House, built in 1902 and restored in 1989 featured several venues showcasing bands such as Room to Roam and Trip the Spring. It was a center for the [[Music of California#Orange County|Orange County hardcore punk music]] scene, producing acts such as [[The Adolescents]], [[Agent Orange (band)|Agent Orange]], [[Social Distortion]], [[D.I. (band)|D.I.]], the "fathers of hardcore punk" The Middle Class, [[Gwen Stefani]], lead vocalist of the [[alternative rock]] group [[No Doubt]], was a student at CSUF and the group performed there regularly. The Ice House was subsequently forced to close for special events. Years later, other popular groups and musicians from the area include [[Lit (band)|Lit]], 80s [[synthpop]] acts [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]] and [[Stacey Q]], and [[Mike Ness]]. The popular singer-songwriter [[Jackson Browne]] attended Sunny Hills High School in the city. Singer-songwriter [[Tim Buckley]] also attended [[Fullerton College]] and dropped out after only a few weeks to focus on his music career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://library.fullcoll.edu/fc-pictorial-history/|title=FC Pictorial History &#124; Fullerton College Library|website=library.fullcoll.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.orangecoast.com/features/voice-twice-silenced/|title=A Voice Twice Silenced|first=Pat H.|last=Broeske|newspaper=Orange Coast Mag |date=September 11, 2012}}</ref> Fullerton is also home to one of the signature cities in the Make Music Day Alliance. Make Music Day is a global annual music celebration occurring on the summer solstice (June 21) each year in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries across the globe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.namm.org/news/press-releases/make-music-day-2019-returns-friday-june-21|title=Make Music Day 2019 Returns on Friday, June 21|website=NAMM.org|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> Starting in 2015, The Day of Music Fullerton<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedayofmusic.com/|title=Day of Music Fullerton - June 21st|language=en|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/thedayofmusic/|title=Day of Music Fullerton|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> began as a grass roots initiative by a team of volunteers to create a unique and free music festival in alliance with the internationally renowned ''Fête de la Musique.''{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} Each year on June 21 Fullerton comes alive from morning to night with musicians of all ages and musical persuasions performing in musical venues, shops, bars, restaurants, plazas, churches, parks and parking lots. From high school bands to established musicians/bands, Day of Music Fullerton is open to anyone who wants to perform and enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend for free. Since its inception, Day of Music Fullerton has grown into a popular and critical success,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ocweekly.com/best-of-2019/arts-entertainment/|title=Best of 2019 – Arts & Entertainment|website=OC Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/06/17/free-concerts-planned-around-fullerton-on-friday/|title=A Guide to Day of Music Fullerton 2019|last=Donofrio|first=Steve|date=June 19, 2019|website=OC Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/weekend/tn-wknd-et-0621-day-of-music-fullerton-20150620-story.html|title=Fullerton's streets will be alive with music Sunday to start off summer|date=June 20, 2015|website=Daily Pilot|language=en-US|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> hosting over 150 performances in more than 40 venues around the city, including the Museum Plaza, Historic Fox Theatre, Hillcrest Park, Villa del Sol, and The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ocweekly.com/a-guide-to-day-of-music-fullerton-2019/|title=A Guide to Day of Music Fullerton 2019|last=Donofrio|first=Steve|date=June 19, 2019|website=OC Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref>

Contributing greatly to Fullerton's musical heritage was the [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender musical instrument company]], whose products such as the [[Fender Stratocaster|Stratocaster]] and [[Fender Telecaster|Telecaster]] [[electric guitar]]s, [[Fender Precision Bass|Precision Bass]] [[bass guitar]], and Twin Reverb [[instrument amplifier|guitar amplifier]] revolutionized the music business and contributed greatly to the development of [[rock and roll]]. [[Leo Fender]] sold the company to [[CBS]] in 1965; production continued in the Fullerton plant until 1985, when the company was sold to a group of private investors. In 1980, Leo Fender and his original partner [[George William Fullerton|George Fullerton]] (relation to the Fullerton founder of the same name unknown) reunited and started a new company, [[G&L]] (George and Leo) Guitars, which are built in what had been Leo Fender's CLF Research factory in Fullerton.<ref>Fullerton, George (1993). Guitar Legends, The evolution of the Guitar from Fender to G&L. Fullerton: CENTERSTREAM Publishing. pg. 88-98 {{ISBN|0-931759-69-2}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glguitars.com/contact/index2.asp |title=G&L Contact |publisher=Glguitars.com |access-date=May 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625053918/http://glguitars.com/contact/index2.asp |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Muckenthaler House|Muckenthaler Cultural Center]] on Malvern Avenue near Euclid Avenue houses art galleries and a theater group. The former estate of the Muckenthaler family, it was donated to the city by Harold Muckenthaler in 1965. [[Fullerton Friends of Music]], the oldest chamber music society in Orange County, perform five concerts a year at [[Sunny Hills Performing Arts Center]], a notable classical concert venue in the county.<ref name="Young2011">{{cite book|last=Young|first=Don|title=Southern California's Anaheim, Long Beach, Catalina Island, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, San Juan Capistrano & Beyond|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bAnjQ6OUk9sC&pg=PT97|date=April 1, 2011|publisher=Hunter Publishing, Inc|isbn=978-1-55650-211-8|page=97}}</ref>

Fullerton is home to the [[Fullerton Public Library]]. The Main Library is located on Commonwealth Avenue in Downtown Fullerton and adjacent to the City Hall. Formerly there was a branch library, called the Hunt Branch on Basque Avenue. The Hunt Branch was closed in 2013<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jesse La Tour |title=Future Uses of the Hunt Branch Library |url=https://fullertonobserver.com/2019/02/19/future-uses-of-the-hunt-branch-library/ |website=Fullerton Observer |access-date=November 14, 2019 |date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>

There are several storefront theaters, including the Maverick Theater and Stages Theater. The Maverick Theatre is the host for the "World Famous Skipper Stand Up Show."  Held six times a year, The Skipper Stand Up Show has, since 2006, showcased former and current skippers from [[Disneyland]]'s famous attraction, the [[Jungle Cruise]].

==Sports==
The [[Orange County Flyers]] (formerly Fullerton Flyers) of the [[Golden Baseball League]] disbanded in 2012. The team played at [[Goodwin Field]], home field of the [[Cal State Fullerton]] Titans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minor League history: Golden Baseball League |date=December 29, 2016 |url=https://dutchbaseballhangout.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/minor-league-history-golden-baseball-league/ |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:ClarkParkInterpretiveCenterAcrossPond 2130.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ralph B. Clark Regional Park]]]]

Fullerton contains more than 50 city parks including [[Hillcrest Park (Fullerton)|Hillcrest Park]], Chapman Park, Craig Regional Park and [[Ralph B. Clark Regional Park]]. The [[Fullerton Arboretum]] comprises {{convert|26|acres|0|abbr=on}} of sculpted gardens. Approximately {{convert|200|acre|km2}} of recreational land are located in the Brea Dam Recreational Area, including an equestrian center and trails, two golf courses, a sports complex and the Janet Evans swim Complex.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==Government==
[[File:Fullerton City Hall.jpg|thumb|Fullerton City Hall]]
[[File:Fullerton Post Office.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fullerton Post Office]], built in 1939]]

Fullerton is a [[General-law municipality]] with a [[council-manager government]] system. Legislative authority is vested in a city council of five non-partisan members who serve four-year staggered terms, who elect a chair who serves as mayor. Elections are held every two years and are consolidated with the statewide general elections held in November of even numbered years. The city manager is responsible for day-to-day operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/citycouncil/default.asp |title=Fullerton City Council |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414151816/https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/citycouncil/default.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/departments/city_manager/default.asp |title=Office of the Fullerton City Manager |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=November 14, 2019 }}</ref> Prior to 2016, all council seats were elected at large. In 2016 voters passed Measure II which changed at large representation to election for five districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/citycouncil/default.asp |title=District Election Mapping |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414151816/https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/citycouncil/default.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/departments/city_clerk/district_election_mapping/updates.asp |title=Measure II District Elections |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=November 14, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoffullerton.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24442 |title=City of Fullerton District Map |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=City of Fullerton |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>  The mayor is Fred Jung.<ref>https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/city-council</ref>

===Federal, state, and county representation ===
In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Fullerton is split between [[California's 45th congressional district]] and [[California's 46th congressional district]], which are represented by {{Representative|cacd|45|fmt=pfl}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|45}}</ref> and {{Representative|cacd|46|fmt=pfl}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|46}}</ref> respectively.

In the [[California State Senate]], Fullerton is split between two districts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://ocvote.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3233540be31b4dd4bb6b114317d7ead4 |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=ocvote.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref>

* [[California's 34th senatorial district]], represented by [[Tom Umberg|Democrat Tom Umberg]] since 2018
* [[California's 37th senatorial district]], represented by [[Steven Choi|Republican Steven Choi]] since 2024.

In the [[California State Assembly]], Fullerton is split between two districts<ref name=":0" />

* [[California's 59th State Assembly district]], represented by [[Phillip Chen|Republican Phillip Chen]] since 2016
* [[California's 67th State Assembly district]], represented by [[Sharon Quirk-Silva|Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva]] since 2016

For the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fullerton resides within the fourth district supervised by [[Doug Chaffee (politician)|Doug Chaffee]] since 2025.

==Education==
[[File:Hope International University Googie Architecture.PNG|thumb|right|[[Hope International University]]]]
[[File:Humanities and Social Sciences May 2010 Commencement.jpg|thumb|upright|[[California State University, Fullerton]] (CSUF)]]

===Public schools===
The city of Fullerton is served by three elementary and junior high school districts, two unified school districts, and one high school exclusive school district:

*[[La Habra City School District]]
*[[Buena Park School District]]
*[[Fullerton School District]]
*[[Brea Olinda Unified School District]]
*[[Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District]]
*[[Fullerton Joint Union High School District]]

Fullerton has four public high schools within the city limits, all part of the [[Fullerton Joint Union High School District]]:
*[[Sunny Hills High School]].
*[[Fullerton Union High School]]. The oldest high school in Orange County, it is the home of historic Plummer Auditorium and the Academy of the Arts magnet program.
*[[Troy High School (California)|Troy High School]] (which includes Troy Tech, a public magnet program).
*[[La Vista High School|La Vista High School and La Sierra High School]] (continuation schools, adjacent to Troy)

Other public schooling in Fullerton is provided by the [[Fullerton School District]]. There are three public junior high schools, enrolling grades 7-8: Ladera Vista, Nicolas, and [[Parks Junior High School|D. Russell Parks Junior High School]]. Fullerton has only two public elementary K-8 schools: Beechwood and Robert C. Fisler. Fullerton has fifteen public elementary schools enrolling grades K-6: Acacia, Commonwealth, Fern Drive, Golden Hill, Hermosa Drive, Laguna Road, Maple, Orangethorpe, Pacific Drive, Raymond, Richman, Rolling Hills, Sunset Lane, Valencia Park, and Woodcrest.

===Private schools===
Fullerton's Catholic schools are affiliated with the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange]], and include: Annunciation Catholic School, Saint Justin School, Saint Juliana School, and [[Rosary Academy (Fullerton, California)|Rosary Academy]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}

===Postsecondary institutions===
*[[California State University, Fullerton]], commonly known as '''Cal State Fullerton''' or '''CSUF''', was first established in 1957 as Orange County State College. The twelfth member of the [[California State University]] system, it is currently composed of eight colleges, a community extended education program and several institutions and centers.<ref>{{cite web |title=About CSUF |url=https://www.fullerton.edu/about/ |website=California State University, Fullerton |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref> The main campus is located on {{convert|236|acre|km2}} of former orange groves in northeast Fullerton near [[California State Route 57|State Route 57]] and Nutwood Avenue. As of 2019, 39,868 students were enrolled in 55 undergraduate and 55 graduate degree programs (including doctorate in education and doctor in nursing practice programs), making it the largest university in the California State University system and the second largest university in the state of California in terms of enrollment.<ref>{{cite web |title=CSUF Headcount and FTES |url=https://www.fullerton.edu/data/institutionalresearch/student/enrollments/headcountsftesbycollegeandstudentlevel.php |website=California State University, Fullerton |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California State University, Fullerton Academics |url=https://www.fullerton.edu/academics/ |website=California State University, Fullerton |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Fullerton College]] is a two-year [[community college]], the oldest in continuous operation in [[California]]. Part of the [[North Orange County Community College District]], it is situated on a 63-acre (255,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) campus adjacent to Fullerton Union High School on Chapman Avenue and had 25,051 students enrolled as of 2019. The college offers 90 majors leading to A.A. or A.S. degrees in academic and vocational subjects, 68 programs leading to vocational certificates, and transfer programs specializing in preparing students to transfer into the [[California State University]] and [[University of California]] systems.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Fullerton College |url=https://www.fullcoll.edu/about/ |website=Fullerton College |publisher=North Orange County Community College District}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fullerton College |url=https://www.communitycollegereview.com/fullerton-college-profile |website=Community College Review |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fullerton College Academics |url=https://www.fullcoll.edu/academics/ |website=Fullerton College |publisher=North Orange County Community College District |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Hope International University]] is a private Christian university
*[[Marshall B. Ketchum University]] is a health sciences university.

==Media==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2025}} 
From 1921 to 1984, the ''[[Fullerton Daily News Tribune]]'' was the largest independent daily newspaper in Orange County. The ''[[Fullerton Observer]]'' is a community newspaper.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Rail====
[[File:NABI 40.09 LFW bus OCTA.jpg|thumb|right|[[Orange County Transportation Authority|OCTA]] bus in Fullerton]]
[[File:Helicopter, Fullerton Municipal Airport.jpg|thumb|Helicopter at [[Fullerton Municipal Airport]]]]
[[File:Fullerton Fire Dept. Paramedic Unit - Flickr - Highway Patrol Images (1).jpg|thumb|[[Fullerton Fire Department]]]]

[[Fullerton Transportation Center]] is served by the [[Orange County Line]] of [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]], and by [[Amtrak]].  It is also a bus terminal for the [[Orange County Transportation Authority]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.octa.net/Bus/Routes-and-Schedules/Overview/ |title=OCTA Routes and Schedules |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=October 11, 2019 |website=www.octa.net |publisher=Orange County Transportation Authority |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metrolinktrains.com |title=Metrolink |publisher=Southern California Regional Rail Authority |access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> The city is served by two [[Amtrak]] lines: the ''[[Southwest Chief]]'' (running between [[Chicago]] and [[Los Angeles]]) and the ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'' (running between [[San Diego]] and [[San Luis Obispo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/regions/california.html |title=California Train Routes |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Roads===
Highways include:
* [[California State Route 91|State Route 91]]
* [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]]
* [[Santa Ana Freeway]]
* [[California State Route 57|State Route 57]]
* [[California State Route 39|State Route 39]]
* [[California State Route 90|State Route 90]]

The main road in Fullerton is [[Harbor Boulevard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.octa.net/ |title=Orange County Transportation Authority |publisher=County of Orange, California |access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Airport===
[[Fullerton Municipal Airport]] is a general aviation airport located in the former Hughes Company facility.

===Emergency services===
Fire protection and emergency medical services are provided by the [[Fullerton Fire Department]] with ambulance transport by [[care Ambulance Service]].

The [[Fullerton Police Department]] provides law enforcement for the city, while the [[California State University Police Department]] provides services around the [[Cal State Fullerton]] campus.

=== Health Care ===
Providence St. Jude Medical Center is a hospital in Fullerton.<ref>https://www.providence.org/locations/socal/st-jude-medical-center</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of people from Fullerton, California]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Fullerton}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.fullerton.org/ Fullerton Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic location|Centre = Fullerton
|North = [[La Habra]]
|Northeast = [[Brea, California|Brea]]
|East = [[Placentia, California|Placentia]]
|Southeast = [[Anaheim]]
|South = [[Anaheim]]
|Southwest = [[Buena Park]]
|West = [[Buena Park]]
|Northwest = [[La Mirada]]}}
{{Fullerton, California}}
{{Cities of Orange County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Portal bar|Greater Los Angeles}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Fullerton, California| ]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1904]]