Placentia is a small suburban city in Orange County, California, southeast of Los Angeles, with a population of around 50,000. The name comes from the Latin for "a pleasant place," bestowed in 1879.
The city has an interesting agricultural past — it was here that the first commercial Valencia orange grove in Orange County was planted in 1880, contributing to the region's name and identity. The George Key Ranch, built in 1898, is the oldest standing house in Placentia and a local historic landmark. The Bradford House and the site of the 19th-century Ontiveros Adobe on Crowther Avenue are the other main historic points of interest.
As a travel destination, Placentia is primarily of interest as a quiet residential base for visiting Disneyland (a few miles west in Anaheim) and other Orange County attractions. Old Town Placentia is the closest thing to a walkable centre, and the nearby Fullerton Arboretum is the best outdoor stop. The city is effectively built out and has the character of a mature bedroom community rather than a visitor destination in its own right.