Fullerton, city in Orange County, southwestern California, in the southwest portion of the metropolitan region centered on Los Angeles. The aerospace and health care industries are important to the economy of the city. Manufactures include electronic and aerospace equipment, medical instruments, paper products, and processed food. California State University-Fullerton (1957), Pacific Christian College (1928), colleges of law and optometry, and a junior college are located in the city, as are Fullerton Arboretum and Muckenthaler Cultural Center.
Fullerton was settled in 1887 and is named for George H. Fullerton, a land developer who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to the city. It incorporated in 1904. In the early 1920s oil was discovered nearby, fueling a spurt of growth.
