Why this California city is named for a crown and shaped like one

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Corona, California, earned its name from a unique urban design feature: a one-mile diameter circular boulevard surrounding its downtown. Originally founded as South Riverside in 1886, the city rebranded in 1896 to honor this distinctive layout. Today, this Circle City serves as a major industrial hub and Los Angeles suburb.

The city's identity is rooted in its geometry. Designed by civil engineer Hiram Clay Kellogg, the circular Grand Boulevard—measuring 2.75 miles in circumference—gave the city its moniker, Corona, which is Spanish for crown. This layout was so iconic that the city hosted international automobile races on the circular track in 1913, 1914, and 1916. While the city was once an agricultural powerhouse known as the Lemon Capital of the World, its economic landscape shifted significantly by the late 1990s as it transformed into a major suburb of Los Angeles.

Before the citrus boom of the late 19th century, the land was home to the Tongva and Payómkawichum people. The area served as a shared space for villages like Paxauxa, located along Temescal Creek. Following the arrival of Spanish missionaries and the subsequent secularization of missions in 1833, the land was granted to large landowners. By 1886, the South Riverside Land and Water Company purchased the Rancho La Sierra and Rancho Temescal grants, laying the foundation for the modern city. The company also secured vital water rights to support the new colony's agricultural ambitions.

Today, Corona is a diverse community with a population of 157,136 as of the 2020 census. It has evolved into a significant industrial center, hosting the headquarters of major corporations such as Fender Musical Instruments, Monster Beverage, and Saleen. Despite its growth, the city has maintained its distinct character, even briefly considering a secession from Riverside County in 2002 to form an autonomous Corona County. Though that effort never materialized, it underscored the city's desire for local governance and its unique position as a gateway to the Inland Empire.

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