Prior to the development, a few scattered low-density neighborhoods existed in the area, including Peralta Hills and Mohler Loop (tracts that still exist today) that were developed primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. The remaining portions of Anaheim Hills were primarily developed in the 1970s after rancher and land owner Louis Nohl sold his massive parcel in the foothills east of Anaheim. The area was taken over by
Texaco Industries in 1970 when the company announced plans to develop an expansive and upscale master
planned community of 7,000 homes, estates, and townhomes. The original master plan included a proposal for three new lakes with high-density condominiums clustered around these water features. The initial master plan proved unsustainable due to the topography and geology of the area.[4] Construction of the community began in 1971 and was branded as a rural enclave and alternative to the more dense subdivisions emerging in the Orange County basin with homes on large lots, hiking trails, a golf course, and low densities. Anaheim Hills is the first residential development to utilize "Landform Grading."[5] The community grew quickly and by 1974 the
Orange Unified School District had constructed a high school to serve the growing community.[6]
In 1990, the city of Anaheim approved several large developments surrounding Weir Canyon Road (East Hills and The Highlands), expanding the community toward the
241 toll road. In 2007, the
Irvine Company received approval for additional 2,500 homes just east of the 241 toll road on a parcel of land it has owned for over fifty years.[7] However, in 2014 The Irvine Company donated the land for these additional 2,500 homes to the County of Orange to be preserved as open space.[8]
Anaheim Hills consists of several planned neighborhoods, including the following:[11]
Amber Lane
Anaheim Foothills
Anaheim Ridge Estates
Bauer Ranch
Belsomet
Camino Grande Villas
Canyon Heights
Canyon View Estates
Canyon Hills
Canyon Pointe
Canyon Rim/Sunset Ridge
Canyon Terrace
Canyon Terrace Estates
Canyon Terrace Townhomes
Canyon View Estates
Canyon View Terrace
Cape Cod Village
Carriage Hills
Crown Pointe
Carriage Hills
Copa De Oro
Embassy Pointe
East Hills
Eastridge Estates
Feather Hill
Firenze
Galerie
Haven Hill
Hidden Canyon Estates
Horizons
Hunters Pointe
Kings Meadow
Lake Summit
Monaco
Morningview
Mohler Loop
Mountain Park
Nohl Crest
Old Bridge
Quail Ridge
Oak Hills
Peralta Hills
Pointe Quissett
Prado Ridge Estates
Prado Woods
Quail Ridge
Quail Vista
Renaissance
Ridgeview
Rim Crest Villas
Robin Hill I
Robin Hill II
Rocky Point
Royal Circle Village
Scout Trail
Silverbrook Estates
Singingwood Hills
Skygate
Stonegate Hills
Summer Creek Lane
Summit Pointe
Summit Renaissance
Summit Springs
Summit Terrace
Sunset Ridge
Sycamore Canyon
The Highlands
The Summit
The Palms
Windsor Terrace
View Pointe
Vista Del Sol
Village at Fiesole
Villa Palatino
Window Hill
Windsor Terrace
Westridge
Woodsboro
Yorba Woods
Government
Local
The 92807 ZIP code serves the western portion and other parts of East Anaheim while the 92808 ZIP code serves the eastern portion, and although residents typically identify themselves as living in the community of "Anaheim Hills" (as opposed to the city of "Anaheim"), the
United States Postal Service considers both Anaheim and Anaheim Hills.[12] Anaheim Hills is served by Anaheim Fire Department Stations 9 and 10.[13] The community is served by two of the City of Anaheim's libraries, the Canyon Hills Library and the East Hills Library.[14]
23 community associations are within Anaheim Hills, led by the Anaheim Hills Planned Community Association, which oversees the entire community of Anaheim Hills. Two councils represent the community, the Canyon Hills Community Council and the Anaheim Hills Citizens Coalition.[citation needed]
The community is listed under the Canyon and Hill General Plan Designations within the City of Anaheim, and thus the "Canyon Hills" name designated to the area for several of the sports teams located within the area.
Landslides and
wildfires have occurred in Anaheim Hills during recent years.
Santa Ana Winds are a major factor in fueling the wildfires in the area.[46]
Landslides
A landslide in January 1993, destroyed over 30 homes and impacted over 200 others.[citation needed]
During the winter of 2005, a twenty-day rain event in Orange County led to not only flooding, but a landslide that caused the unstable hillside along the street of Ramsgate Drive to give way.[47][48] Three homes and a private street were destroyed in the landslide.
Wildfires
1982 Gypsum Canyon
The first major wildfire since the development of Anaheim Hills occurred in October 1982. Santa Ana Winds drove a fire that ended up causing
$50 million in property damage.[49] The fire burned 17,000 acres (69 km2) and destroyed 14 homes.[50]
2006 Sierra Peak
A wildfire broke out on February 7, 2006 in the
Cleveland National Forest, the National Forest that separates Anaheim Hills from the Riverside County Border. This fire grew and firefighters were unable to contain it due to 20 mph (32 km/h) winds and 80 °F (27 °C) temperatures. On the morning of February 9, 2006, the fire worsened, which forced the evacuation of a large section of Anaheim Hills. Nearly 75% of the Community of Anaheim Hills was either under voluntary or mandatory evacuation. [citation needed] This resulted in the closing of two local elementary schools for two days, and several other schools served as shelters for the evacuees during the day.[citation needed]
The fire burned over 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and caused significant natural resource damage by burning a recovering
Tecate cypress grove. [citation needed] It was later determined that a controlled blaze set by the Cleveland National Forest started the fire, and the National Forestry Service was forced to pay the cost from the firefighting efforts.[citation needed]
2007 Windy Ridge
On Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 07:53 AM (PST), a fire possibly started by a stolen vehicle on the southbound 241 Windy Ridge Toll Plaza, destroyed over 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) in Anaheim Hills and the city of
Orange. Due to winds moving as fast as 35 mph (56 km/h), an estimated 2,500 homes were evacuated, with 2 injuries reported.[51]
2008 Freeway Complex
The
Freeway Complex Fire broke out in the
Corona area at around 9am[52] on Saturday, November 15, 2008,[53] which burned south-westerly into Anaheim Hills, forcing the immediate evacuation of 3,100 homes in the Weir Canyon area. In total, more than 200 residences were destroyed by the fire, of which fourteen houses and 86 apartments were burned within Anaheim Hills.[54]
Canyon Fire 2 was driven by fast moving winds and low humidity. By noon on the day the fire began, it had burned 800 acres (1.3 sq mi).[55] By 2:30, fueled by high winds and low humidity, it had burned 2,000 acres (3.1 sq mi) and was 0 percent contained.[56]
Canyon Fire 2 lead to the evacuation of 16,570 residents of
Anaheim,
Orange, North Tustin, Orange Park Acres and
Tustin and the destruction of 25 homes located in Anaheim Hills and Orange.[57]