Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Kizh people, also known as the Tongva or Gabrieleño, inhabited the land that is now Irvine for thousands of years before European contact. In 2024, a proposal emerged to create a village based on Putuidem Village located in San Juan Capistrano to honor this history.
James Irvine died in 1886, leaving the ranch to his son James Irvine II. The younger Irvine shifted operations to field crops, olives, and citrus fruits after taking control of the estate.
The 2020 census reported a total population of 307,670 with a density that varied across neighborhoods. By June 2025, the city had a population of 318,629 making it the second most populous in Orange County.
Several major corporations maintain their headquarters within Irvine including Blizzard Entertainment and Broadcom Corporation. Western Digital operates a computer storage division employing 1,350 staff members while Edwards Lifesciences leads healthcare innovation with 3,152 employees based locally.
The University of California Irvine established its campus in 1965 as the second newest UC system campus after Merced. William Pereira served as consulting architect while the Irvine Company planners drew up master plans for a city surrounding the university.