Find a complete list of all Villa Park street names plus, where available, the origin of each street name. Villa Park street names include contributors and pioneers of Villa Park, self-descriptive names, landmarks, destinations and themes.
The etymology of a street name is sometimes very obvious, but at other times it might be obscure or even forgotten. There is a lot of input that goes into a street name including requests from developers of new sub-divisions, building and engineering department review and veto power from police and fire. Often times police and fire will reject street names that are not unique or unintelligible or it would be difficult to find a property in an emergency. The post office might also review for deliverability reasons.
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List of Villa Park Streets | Street Name Meanings |
Villa Park Street Name Meanings
Adams Circle – One of the first ranching families in Villa Park dating back to 1890 when John and Agnes Adams bought the general store and a ranch on the southeast corner of Center and Villa Park Road. Their son Al and his wife Becky bought a ranch south of there, which is where Adams Circle and Ranch Road are located today. The family continued to live there even after the tracts were developed.
Adams Ranch Road – See Adams Circle.
Arden Villa Drive – Arden Villa, plus Hummingbird, Morningstar, Orange Blossom, Sunkist Circle, and Three Arches Circle are all part of themed streets within the gated Villa Park Orchards community. The streets are an ode to Villa Park’s past where the houses also reside on the old Sunkist Packing House. The street is named after a Villa Park Orchards Association Valencia Orange Label from the 1930s. The inspiration for the label possibly comes from Helena Modjeska’s home which she named Arden after the forest from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” There is also a famous mansion in Los Angeles that was built in 1913 called Arden Villa.
Beardsley Circle – Two streets were named after two, then-young Civil Engineers: Robert Frank Beardsley and Forrest Fredrick Dunbar (Fredrick Drive) who, in 1972, working for Salkin Engineering Corporation in Orange, designed the lot layouts, grading, streets and other infrastructure for the residential subdivision containing these streets.
Bixby Circle – The Bixby family owned land from Santa Barbara to Orange County including in Villa Park. The Jotham Bixby Co. is responsible for naming Cerro Villa Heights, turning the area into orange groves and selling large parcels of land to ranchers. George Bixby lived at the top of Loma St in a 14 room house.
Brewer Way – Harold Brewer came to Villa Park in 1923 to grow Valencia Oranges and resided in Villa Park until his death in 1990. He was the second president of the Villa Park Orchards Association. His land was in Cerro Villa Heights where Brewer Way can be found today, including his home.
Briley Way (North side of Taft) – Built in 1963 and was the first subdivision in Villa Park.
Canyon Drive – Canyon Dr. is a self -descriptive street.
Canyon Circle – Canyon Cir. was named after Canyon Dr. Prior to 1977 Canyon Cir was owned by one owner who lived at the corner of Canyon Dr. and Las Flores where he had about 8 horses and an equestrian ring. He kept the house and about 2 acres and sold the rest to a developer. Canyon Cir. and the houses were developed at that time.
Center Drive – This is one of the oldest streets in Villa Park and Villa Park’s version of a main street. At one point this street was lined with Eucalyptus trees.
Cerro Villa Drive – See Bixby Circle.
Collins Avenue – Named after Mrs. Mary Priscilla Collins who arrived in the area following the death of her husband where she bought 27 acres and farmed the land with her sons.
Daron Dr. & Derek Dr. – The grandsons of the person that bought the land from the Morrows and subdivided it.
Durfee Circle – The Durfee’s came to Villa Park in 1887 where they lived on a large ranch where Durfee Cir. and Ln. are located today. The Durfee family played a large role in establishing Villa Park.
Durfee Lane – See Durfee Circle.
El Moro Way – El Moro and El Rito were most likely proposed by the developer of these two streets so the reason for these street names may be lost. El Moro means The Promontory or The Headland and there is also the El Morro National Monument in New Mexico. This is relevant because there is also an El Rito, New Mexico. The developer described the estate area as “nestled beautifully in the panoramic hills” which would match their vision of the area with the street names.
El Rito Drive – El Rito is Spanish for Little River. See also El Moro Way.
Hazel Circle – Hazel Circle is named after the wife of Harold Brewer (see Brewer Way for more information). The Brewer’s daughter, Kathryn, married Arthur Craft who became the first Mayor of Villa Park.
Helena Circle – Helena Modjeska was one the most famous actresses of her time and took up residence in what is now called Modjeska Canyon. Helena would visit the Bixby house in Cerro Villa Heights on occasion.
Henderson Circle – Named for Dortha Henderson. She remarried & became Dortha Kellar. Her property was actually on Mesa.
Hummingbird Circle – Hummingbirds are native to the Villa Park area and it’s the City’s official bird. See also Arden Villa for more details.
Fitschen Ranch Road – The only road in Villa Park nobody lives on. In 1938 and 1940 the Fitschen’s bought 20 acres of orchards from what is now Collins and Wanda to Lincoln and Wanda. This was known as Fitschen Ranch. Originally this road was called Little Wanda Road since it was parallel to Wanda Rd. but that caused confusion for giving directions and in 1991 it was changed to Fitschen Ranch which many residents still didn’t like because they had no say in the matter.
Florence Circle – Named after Florence Morrow and also the wife of the named Morrow Circle.
Fredrick Drive – See Beardsley Circle.
Joshua Tree Circle – Along with Peppertree and Smoketree these are themed streets most likely named by the developer, Patrician-Butler. The Joshua tree is a type of palm tree named by Mormon immigrants as it reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hand up to the sky in prayer. There is also Joshua Tree National Park in California.
Katella Avenue – While not officially in Villa Park but since it borders VP as it turns into Villa Park Rd. and then Santiago Canyon we’ll cover it. John Rea bought a ranch in Anaheim to start a walnut orchard. He had two daughters named Kate and Ella and decided to combine the two names and call it Katella Ranch. The dirt road was also called Katella.
Knuth Circle – The Knuth’s were long time ranchers in Villa Park and Margaret Knuth also married James Workman. Both Workman and Knuth Circles are side by side to each other off Santiago Rd. Margaret Knuth Workman was very involved in the community.
Lemon Street – Nothing fancy here, lemons were grown in Villa Park and there was the Central Lemon Packing House on Katella and Villa Park Road. It’s one of the first streets in Villa Park. Also, at one point in the 60’s Orange County had plans to make this a four lane road all the way up to Cerro Villa Drive.
Little John Way – LJW, Sherwood Cir. and Robin Hood Cir. are themed streets named by the developer Buccola Homes. They also built other communities in other cities with similar names.
Loma Street – Loma St. dates back to the late 1800s when George Bixby built his house at the top of Loma. Loma in Spanish means hill or knoll which would be appropriate for where Loma is located today.
Mesa Drive – Mesa describes the area where the street resides and is one of the first in Villa Park.
Morningstar Circle – Jacob Morningstar worked at both VPOA and the Central Lemon Packing House. There was also a Morningstar Ranch. See also Arden Villa Drive.
Morrow Circle – The Morrows came to Villa Park in 1881 and many generations of Morrows have lived in Villa Park since.
Mountain View Circle – This was the original name of Villa Park until the post office rejected the name because the name was already taken by a northern California city.
Nichols Avenue – Hervey Nichols and his family arrived in Villa Park in 1918 in order to become the Villa Park Orchards foreman. Hervey would later serve as manager for 35 years while living on their 12 acre ranch in Villa Park.
Orange Blossom Circle – The orange blossom was one might expect is tied to the orange groves. Many Villa Park residents used orange blossoms for bouquets and in their hair for formal events. See also Arden Villa Drive.
Orangegrove Circle – A self-descriptive name of the Villa Park area of the past.
Orchard Lane – A self-descriptive name of the Villa Park area of the past.
Park Villa Circle – Flip the city’s name and you have Park Villa. To add to the originality of these street names the developer named the 16 homes in this area Villa Park Estates.
Park Villa Lane – See Park Villa Circle.
Patrician Drive – This area and several other areas in Villa Park were built by Patrician-Butler thus the name.
Peppertree Drive – Although probably not named for this, Peppertrees were planted in Villa Park including at Villa Park Elementary in the 1880s. See also Joshua Tree Circle.
Prado Circle – See below, Prado Woods Dr.
Prado Woods Drive – Named after the development of home on this street.
Radec Court – Radec is cedar backwards which is all we have on this one for now.
Ragan Circle – Named after Bob and Marcine Ragan and his father who owned the property along Taft.
Robin Hood Circle – Theme street. See Little John Way.
Rosanne Circle – Rosanne Circle was named after Roseann Winn, the wife of Don Winn, one of the first mayors in Villa Park. See also Winn Circle.
Rosenau Circle – The Rosenau’s were ranchers in Villa Park for over half a century before Olga Rosenau sold her 11 1/2 acre parcel of land south of Cerro Villa Drive where Rosenau Cir. and Dr. are located today. Olga also taught at Villa Park School.
Rosenau Drive – See Rosenau Circle.
Ryan Circle – Claud Ryan lived on Santiago and Lemon with his parents. He helped design “The Spirit of St. Louis” that was flown by Charles Lindbergh and started a flying service in Villa Park.
Santiago Boulevard – The name is derived from the Portola expedition which passed through Orange County in July of 1769 on its way toward Monterey. Santiago stands for Saint James and on July 29th, 1769 (Saint James’ Day) the expedition stopped at the Santiago creek near Chapman Ave. and named it Santiago Portola.
Sherwood Circle – Theme street. See Little John Way.
Squires Circle – Chauncey and Lillian Squires owned 5 acres on Santiago, east of Center, right where you can find Squires Cir. today.
Serrano Avenue – In the mid 1800s Leandro Serrano owned the lands in and around Villa Park and also land in Riverside County. In 1868 Serrano’s heirs received this land. The name has been perpetuated many times e.g. Serrano Heights, Serrano Water District and Serrano Elementary.
Smoketree Circle – Smoketrees have wispy clumps of filaments that look like puffs of smoke. See also Joshua Tree Circle.
Smoketree Lane – See also Smoketree Circle and Joshua Tree Circle.
Sterling Avenue – Sterling Murdock was grandson of Van and Amelia Durfee and in addition to the Durfee Ranch he served as President of the Serrano Irrigation District Board of Directors for 20 years.
Sunkist Circle – This street is named after the old Sunkist Packing House where Sunkist Circle now resides. See also Arden Villa Drive for more details.
Taft Avenue – Named after the 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft.
Three Arches Circle – The street is named after a Villa Park Orchards Association Valencia Orange Label. The label depicts the rock formation Three Arches in Laguna Beach. See also Arden Villa Drive for more details.
Timothy Lane – Originally named Platanal Drive, this street was renamed in 1995 after a 4 year old boy named Timothy Doyle. Timothy was selling lemonade with his brothers when, for an unknown reason, he darted onto Lemon St and was stuck by a car. The death was ruled an accident and the driver was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Tritt Circle – The Tritt’s were prominent ranchers and citrus growers in Villa Park.
Valencia Circle – Villa Park’s primary citrus in the 1900s was Valencia Oranges.
Valley Drive – Valley describes the area where the street resides and is one of the first in Villa Park.
Villa Isles Drive – Villa Isles Dr. and Cir. was a planned development of 15 homes and the developer called these home Villa Isles. Thus, the streets were named the same. Villa means a large country house which is how the developer described these homes. Isles means peninsula or island and at the time of construction these homes were set along rolling ridges and canyons without much development behind them.
Villa Isles Circle – See Villa Isles Dr.
Villa Park Road – Hopefully this needs no explaining and this is one of the very first roads in Villa Park.
Wanda Road – Wanda Road was named after the Southern Pacific Wanda Station which was located where Wanda Rd and Villa Park Rd stand today. Most likely Wanda station was named after a Southern Pacific railroad employee’s wife, daughter or other relation.
Winn Circle – Named after Don Winn, one of the early Mayors of Villa Park.
Workman Circle – James Workman was one of the main proponents of incorporating Villa Park, served on the first city council, eventually became mayor, graduated from Orange High School and by the way also won an Olympic gold medal in rowing at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
Wulff Drive – John and Agnes Adams sold their ranch to the Wulff’s in 1907 right where Wulff Dr. exists today. Lincoln used to dead end at Center and that is where the Wulff driveway began.
This list of street names meaning is being updated periodically. Find out about the history of Villa Park neighborhoods.
Villa Park Street Names
Abbott Lane | Gloria Circle | Portsmouth Circle |
Aberdeen Lane | Hallsworth Circle | Potter Circle |
Adams Circle | Haninger Way | Prado Circle |
Adams Ranch Road | Hastings Drive | Prado Woods Drive |
Albany Circle | Hazel Circle | Providence Drive |
Alice Lane | Helena Circle | Radec Court |
Alma Lane | Henderson Way | Ragan Circle |
Alta Drive | Hidden Valley Drive | Rama Street |
Amate Circle | Hillcrest Avenue | Regency Circle |
Arden Villa Drive | Hummingbird Circle | Ridgeview Circle |
Athens Avenue | Hunting Circle | Ridgeview Road |
Aubrey Circle | Huntington Circle | Ridgewood Lane |
Balliet Drive | James Circle | Robbie Circle |
Beardsley Circle | James Road | Robin Hood Circle |
Beckley Circle | Janice Circle | Robin Way |
Bishop Circle | Jerome Street | Rosanne Circle |
Bixby Circle | Jocotal Avenue | Rosenau Circle |
Brewer Way | Joshua Tree Circle | Rosenau Drive |
Briley Way | Katawpa Circle | Ryan Circle |
Brynmar Drive | Kenwick Drive | San Miguel Drive |
Brynmar Lane | Knuth Circle | San Ramon Circle |
Camden Circle | Laconia Drive | Sandra Circle |
Cannon Street | Larson Circle | Santiago Boulevard |
Canyon Circle | Las Flores Circle | Serrano Avenue |
Canyon Crest Drive | Leatrice Drive | Sharon Lane |
Canyon Drive | Leigh Circle | Sharon Lynn Road |
Cardinal Circle | Lemon Street | Sherwood Circle |
Carmel Drive | Lincoln Circle | Smoketree Circle |
Carolyn Circle | Lincoln Street | Smoketree Lane |
Carpenter Circle | Lipps Lane | Smokewood Drive |
Castleford Drive | Little John Way | Squires Circle |
Catherine Circle | Loma Street | Sterling Avenue |
Cedarhill Circle | Ludwig Street | Stratford Circle |
Center Drive | Marion Way | Sunkist Circle |
Cerro Villa Drive | Mariposa Drive | Sycamore Circle |
Charter Road | Mark Circle | Sycamore Street |
Christine Circle | Martinique Court | Tacoma Circle |
Churchill Lane | Mary Circle | Taft Avenue |
Collins Avenue | Mendocino Circle | Three Arches Circle |
Colony Circle | Mesa Drive | Timothy Lane |
Colony Grove Lane | Miller Circle | Tritt Circle |
Coral Tree Circle | Montana Circle | Valencia Circle |
Covington Circle | Monte Vista Circle | Valley Drive |
Crestview Circle | Morningstar Circle | Verde Lomas Circle |
Daron Drive | Morrow Circle | Verde Lomas Drive |
Derek Drive | Mountain View Circle | Via Bravo |
Dodson Way | Nathan Circle | Via Corta |
Dorchester Circle | Nichols Avenue | Vida Drive |
Dorothy Circle | Oakfield Drive | Villa Drive |
Durfee Circle | Oakwood Circle | Villa Isle Circle |
Durfee Lane | Old Lamplighter Circle | Villa Isle Drive |
Eastwood Circle | Old Lamplighter Lane | Villa Park Road |
Edgewood Avenue | Old Ranch Circle | Villa Vista Way |
El Moro Way | Orange Blossom Circle | Villa Woods Circle |
El Rito Drive | Orangegrove Circle | Villa Woods Drive |
Estates Drive | Orchard Lane | Walker Ranch Circle |
Evergreen Circle | Pamela Place | Wellington Circle |
Featherhill Drive | Park Villa Circle | Westwood Drive |
Fernando Circle | Park Villa Lane | Wildwood Circle |
Fitschen Ranch Road | Park Villa Place | Wildwood Way |
Fleet Road | Parker Circle | Winchester Circle |
Flintridge Drive | Patrician Drive | Windsor Drive |
Florence Circle | Patrick Drive | Winn Circle |
Francisco Drive | Peppertree Drive | Workman Circle |
Fredrick Drive | Phelan Drive | Wulff Drive |