Brea was established in 1917 as a city known for its oil and citrus groves. But even before it was a city, people passed through Brea, and in 1869, the explorer Portola made his way through Brea Canyon. Brea also has history within its schools with Laurel, the Junior High, and BOHS dating back to the 20th century.
Oil made Brea what it is today by giving people a place to work and being so important that the two villages Olinda and Randolph combined into the city Brea, which is a Spanish word that means tar.
The explorer Gaspar de Portolà went on an expedition, looking to spread Christianity to the natives and help people settle in Upper (Northern) California. Father Junìperro Serra also came along, and the party soon reached Brea Canyon. They camped in the canyon, and eventually, they made it all the way to Monterey Bay.
