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INTRODUCTION Santa Ana was incorporated as a city in 1886. When Orange County separated from Los Angeles County in 1889, Santa Ana was designated the county seat. Historic preservation of the city's cultural and architectural heritage is an essential part of the City of Santa Ana's economic vitality and city identity. Santa Ana residents take pride in the architectural heritage of the city, including its historical buildings and unique neighborhood character. Sites such as the Old Orange County Courthouse, Pacific Substation, and Yost Theatre reflect the city's rich cultural history and architectural diversity. The City's preservation efforts are consistent with local implementation programs and local ordinances, such as the Santa Ana Municipal Code, specifically Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance), Chapter 41 (Zoning Code), and the State Historical Building Code, adopted by reference in Chapter 8 (Building and Structures). CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN Additional direction is provided in the Citywide Design Guidelines, Chapter 13 (Historic Structures Guidelines), Chapter 8 (Downtown Development Guidelines), and Appendix A (Santa Ana Architectural Styles). In 2014, the City passed the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance to encourage the preservation and use of historical buildings. Incentives to preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings include the Mills Act and the federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. The City of Santa Ana has two listed National Register historic districts: Downtown Santa Ana and French Park. The City also maintains zoning protection for the historical resources in French Park through Specific Development 19 (SD-19) and in the Heninger Park neighborhood through SD-40. . Downtown Santa Ana A view of the Downtown Historic District, including dozens of historic buildings along 4th Street, Sycamore Street, Main Street, and Broadway Photo courtesy of Lisandro Orozco