That's Orange County. And if our County
were a country, its economy would rank 31st
among the nearly 200 nations in the world,
larger than Israel or Ireland.
Orange County is one of the most important
and dynamic centers in the California economy
-- and the world.
When our Council was founded, Orange County
was a quiet rural community. But today,
by all measures, it is one of the top 20
economic areas in the entire United States.
Located halfway between Los Angeles and
San Diego, we host two of the world's greatest
tourist parks, Disneyland and Knott's Berry
Farm. We're the birthplace of Richard Nixon,
whose Presidential Library is here, and
the home of the legendary John Wayne, for
whom we named our airport.
This is where Tiger Woods learned how to
swing a golf club, and Wimbledon Champion
Lindsay Davenport learned how to lob 'em.
Almost 70 Orange Countians represented their
countries at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney,
and figure skater Sasha Cohen made us proud
at Salt Lake City.
Hollywood's Michelle Pfeiffer used to clerk
in a local grocery store, and Harrison Ford
debuted at a Laguna Beach playhouse.
Orange County is the headquarters of such
global corporations as Fluor Daniel, Lincoln
Mercury, Taco Bell, Allergan, Broadcom,
and Ocean Pacific -- and hundreds of the
most dynamic growing enterprises in the
United States. The world's autos are designed
here, and we're a trend-setter in fashion,
retailing, and popular culture. In 2002
our companies will export nearly $18 billion
to the world.
We host the University of California Irvine,
California State University Fullerton, Chapman
University, Soka University, and other great
institutions of higher learning.
Ours is a diverse international population
that includes Little Saigon (America's largest
Vietnamese community) and significant Chinese,
Korean, Iranian, and Hispanic residents.
We have the largest mosque west of the Mississippi.
And with six members of Congress and two
major newspapers, the Orange County Register
(circulation 360,000) and the Los Angeles
Times, we are a major center of
political influence in California and the
nation.
That's Orange County, California -- a thriving
international economic and cultural center
-- and the home of the World Affairs Council
of Orange County.
Orange County is going global !