Brea is a small, close knit community, so much so that we have created a term to describe living in the city, the "Brea Bubble". This refers to the idea that Brea is a safe, friendly town where residents enjoy living. Our city of Brea is rich in history, though many of us aren't aware of the its past. These lessons are designed to teach you about three important aspects of Brea's history: the high school, the Brea sign, and the oil rigs. Through the guidance of Jeremy the Orange and Jeffery the Oil Rig, you will become familiar with our past, and hopefully appreciate the "Brea Bubble" even more.
Brea's first high school was built in 1927. United with the neighboring town of Olinda, the school finished construction in November of that year. The campus was spread on 23-acres and was designed with Brea clay. In 1933, the Long Beach earthquake resulted in the destruction of the school's structure. Reconstruction took about twenty months, in which students had to work in large tents on the property. The school thrived after this point, earning a CIF football title and many other recognitions. By the 1980's the small population of high schoolers had transformed to 1,400-more than the school could hold. In 1989, the current Brea Olinda High School campus was opened after three years of construction. had transitioned to the point where there were too many to fit in the school.
The word Brea means tar in Spanish. Our city came to be as a result of the large amounts of oil located underneath the ground. In 1894, the Union Oil Company purchased 1200 acres to be used for oil development. This caused many people to settle in proximity to the oil sites. The city became incorporated in 1917, after more people moved in to profit off of the oil boom. The oil boom only lasted until the 1940's, but made a lasting impression on the town, since it is responsible for Brea's early triumphs.
The Brea sign was first established in 1934 at the intersection of Brea Boulevard. This became a beacon of hope as life became harder for residents due to the effects of the Great Depression. It stood as a reminder of Brea's strength for many years until a large truck ran into the sign in 1994, 60 years after it was first put in place. After this, a majority of the sign remains were put into storage. They remained there until a project in which the sign was to be refurbished. Instead of structuring the welcome above Brea Boulevard, the city decided to carefully redesign the supporting structure to show Brea's transition into the 21st century, while still retaining its traditional roots. Today, you can see this beautiful city landmark on the corner of Birch Street and Brea Boulevard. It has withstood the test of time and will continue to serve as a comfort for Brea residents for years to come.