ATWOOD : FOCUS : Atwood Wasn’t Always That

In 1887 a small section of what is now Placentia was given a name that made perfect sense--Richfield. Oil wells pervaded much of the area, proving that it truly was rich in black gold, Texas Tea .

Richfield was one of the most important oil fields in California history. But in 1924, a name change was needed when it was discovered there was already another Richfield in Southern California.

Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Co. owned most of the oil in this area, and to honor purchasing agent W.J. Atwood it named the colony after him. Atwood’s oil boom ended more than 25 years ago, but Texaco oil pumps, still visible throughout the area, are constant reminders of bygone days.

The area was once just a stop on the Santa Fe Railroad, and the only relic left of that era is a big sign--ATWOOD--at the tracks. Directly across Orangethorpe Avenue from the tracks is the only shopping center or mini-mall, consisting of a post office, convenience store, video rental center, a Mexican restaurant and a “wannabe” meat market.

Latinos dominate the 35-acre community, which is in the southeast corner of the city of Placentia. Said to be one of the oldest settlements--more than 100 years old--in Orange County, it is largely unchanged from earlier days. In the early 1960s the county put in curbs and replaced some dirt paths with sidewalks.

In 1969, Orangethorpe Avenue, Atwood’s main street, was widened. In the process much of the community was leveled. Atwood subsequently relinquished its independence by choosing to become a part of Placentia instead of Anaheim. In doing so, it preserved its residential nature.

Statistics Population: (1987 est.) 34 Median household income: $25,000 Racial/ethnic mix: white, 79.4%; Latino, 20.6%; black, 0%; other, 20.6% (Total is more than 100% because racial/ethnic breakdowns overlap)

Employment status Employed persons: 18 Unemployed: 0 Not in labor force: 4

Education Adults over 25 Years of school completed: 0-11 years: 33.3% 12 years: 25.0% 13-15 years: 16.7% 16+ years: 25.0% Median years completed: 12.3

Population Median Age: 24.2 years

Statistics: Donnelley Demographics