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The name “Laguna Niguel” is derived from the Spanish word
“Laguna,” which means lagoon, and the word “Nigueli,” which was the name of a
Juaneno Indian village once located near Aliso Creek. In 1821, California
became Mexican territory and many rancheros were formed in Southern
California, including Rancho Niguel. During this period, Rancho Niguel was
primarily used as a sheep ranch.
The first private landowner of the area was Juan Avila, a
resident of San Juan Capistrano, who obtained land through a Mexican land
grant in 1842. Juan Avila was also successful in re-establishing his title to
the land after California became US territory in 1848 and remained the owner
of “Rancho Niguel” until 1865. In 1895, the “Rancho Niguel” land became part
of the Moulton Company, a company that would eventually control over 19,000
acres of local ranch land.
The genesis of today’s Laguna Niguel was the
establishment of the Laguna Niguel Corporation in 1959 by Cabot, Cabot and
Forbes, making it one of the first master planned communities in California.
The firm of Victor Gruen and Associates was retained to develop a detailed
community plan for the approximately 7,100-acre site. Land sales started to
occur in 1961 in Monarch Bay and Laguna Terrace subdivisions. Avco Community
Developer acquired the Laguna Niguel Plan in 1971 and initiated development
as set forth in the original Master Plan.
During the early years of development in Laguna Niguel,
the Laguna Niguel Homeowner Association, later to become the Laguna Niguel
Community Council, served in an advisory capacity to the Orange County Board
of Supervisors on land use issues.
In 1986, Laguna Niguel residents, looking for local
governance, took the first step toward Cityhood by forming a Community
Services District. Three years later, on November 7, 1989, 89% of the voters
favored incorporation and on December 1, 1989, Laguna Niguel became the 29th
City in Orange County.
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