YOUR LAKE FOREST REAL ESTATE RESOURCE CENTER

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A Brief History of Lake Forest

In 1991 the city of Lake Forest was created.  It had been an unincorporated part of Orange County, neighboring another unincorporated area known as El Toro.  Residents voted to name the city Lake Forest, after two expensive master planned residential comunities, denying the longer claim to the territory by of the community of El Toro.  Since then it has expanded its limit to include the newer communities of Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills.  Lake Forest, along with its neighboring cities of Mission Viejo and Irvine is ranked as one of the safest cities in the country.

The main business area, off the 5 freeway and on El Toro parkway is the main city entrance and was an excellent place to shop in the 80's and the 90's.  However, the area gradually deteriorated, and most of the shops closed or moved to other cities.  The city is attempting to buy out the aging strip malls and already destroyed Saddleback Plaza and build the new"Arbor at Lake Forest."  The new center can now compete with the more upscale shopping centers and cities that surround Lake Forest like Mission Viejo, Irvine, and Laguna Hills.

Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills brought new homes to Lake Forest in the farthes east potion of the city.  The city has two lakes from which the city gets its name.  The lakes are man-made, and small custom homes, tracts, and condominiums line its shores.  The lakes are vastly smaller than nearby Lake Mission Viejo, and, unlike Lake Mission Viejo, swimming is not permitted.  The Clubs at Lake Forest feature tennis courts and swimming pools.

The City of Lake Forest hosts the headquarters for hard-drive maker Western Digital, telecommunications software developer Greenlight Wireless Corporation and Barbeques retailer Barbeques Galore.

Links to informational websites

The City of Lake Forest
http://www.city-lakeforest.com/

Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce
http://www.socchambers.com/

Lake Forest Schools
http://ca.localschooldirectory.com/schools.php/cPath/1603

Restaurants in Lake Forest
http://www.letseatoc.com/lake.htm