The Orange County city of Brea, California, was voted by Sunset Magazine as one of the five best western United States’ suburbs to live in (2006), and with good reason: Brea is a vibrant community with a lot to offer its residents. Brea is a city with an entrepreneurial spirit: first settled by oil entrepreneurs who found gold in Brea Canyon, oil production eventually gave way to agricultural pursuits, namely the lemon and orange groves that give Orange County its name. The economic boom of the 1950’s ushered in more residential developments and stores soon followed: the Brea Mall, a premier Orange County shopping center, in addition to the recently revitalized Brea Downtown district.
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While many of Brea’s residents commute to Los Angeles for work, located less than 40 minutes away, others find work with one of Brea’s many prominent employers. Banking and insurance dominate the economy in Brea, with Bank of America employing around 3,000 people and Mercury Insurance Group employing nearly 2,000 workers. Teachers, professors and support staff can also find work within one of Brea’s 9 public schools, 8 private schools and 2 colleges, Southern California College of Business and Law and the Southern California extension of the Golden Gate Baptist Seminary. Brea families proudly send their children to Brea’s acclaimed public schools — both the Brea Olinda High School and Olinda Elementary School have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools.
Residents can always find something fun to do or see in Brea. On a simple walk around the city, one can take in over 150 sculptures as a part of Brea’s groundbreaking Art in Public Places program. It’s easy to spend a day in downtown Brea: Brea Boulevard and Birch Street are filled with cafes, shops, restaurants, and a weekly farmer’s market. Movie buffs can happily catch a show at one of the theatres, while comedy fans love The Improv where live comedians perform nightly. The Brea Gallery is another way for art aficionados to get their fix: the gallery regularly showcases work by both California and nationwide artists in carefully curated exhibits. Nature lovers can’t get enough of Carbon Canyon Regional Park where the sprawling equestrian and hiking trails are bested only by county-sponsored programs, such as guided walks and nature talks.
Brea clearly treasures its sense of community: it celebrates its residents with many festivals and events that occur throughout the year. July 4th means more than just fireworks in Brea: residents gather for an all day event of food, games, crafts and entertainment at the July 4 Country Fair. Brea Fest, which happens every August, is a delicious celebration of the city’s many restaurants and is a great way for residents to sample new cuisines and dishes. Throughout the summer, the city puts on a weekly screening of family-friendly films in addition to a delightful, and free, “Concerts in the Park” series that takes place at the Arovista Park Ampitheatre. Close to both Los Angeles and the Pacific coastline, Brea is a happening California city with a decidedly Orange County flair.
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