origins

The first true community to be developed in the Norco Valley was known as “Citrus Belt” in 1909: prior to this future, Horse Town USA was home to scattered alfalfa farmers, cattle ranchers, coyotes, rabbits and rattle snakes.

Prospective homeowners were told that, with a bit of hard work, they too could turn a ten-acre piece of rock hard land into a Paradise by cashing in on the citrus boom just like Corona to the south. Unfortunately, the Valley was prone to frost and the Santa Ana Winds: meaning what lemon or orange trees didn’t freeze got knocked flat by gale force winds.

But, the early pioneers banded together, didn’t give up, and began to plant seasonal crops such as berries, potatoes, and other crops that were cultivated before the frost season and too low to the ground to be blown over. 

In 1920, Rex Clark purchased the struggling community and in 1923 renamed it “Norco”. His goal was not to simply create an agricultural suburb of Corona, but a standalone township with a vibrant downtown complete with general store, restaurants, movie theater and other shops, surrounded by small lot, weekend getaway homes followed by ranches and farms producing grapes, berries, lettuce, and hogs. But, very quickly it became clear that Norco’s future rested with chickens: seems the climate was perfect and the industry thrived.

The early and very tough residents banded together to build the community and took on floods, drought, bad roads, and, eventually became famous for their “Norco Spirit”.