In 1922, farmer John Harper laid out streets, installed sidewalks and by the next year began to sell lots near Seal Beach, between Wintersburg and Gospel Swamp. This area became known as MIDWAY CITY, due to its central location halfway between Santa Ana and Seal Beach.

Stagecoach travelers started using the area as a watering hole and wealthy Huntington Beach oilmen took up residence in the area to escape the smell of the black gold.

MIDWAY CITY is the only area in Orange County that incorporates its
chamber of commerce (1924) and homeowners association, which in concert act like a city council. Monthly meetings, formerly held at the American Legion Post, now take place in front of big audiences at the new MIDWAY CITY Community Center. The fact that someone brings homemade cakes and coffee to these meetings might have something to do with the great attendance. Street lights, water supply, zoning and Neighborhood Watch are some of the topics that are dealt with regularly. And while the final decision is up to the County Supervisor, the Chamber of Commerce and Homeowners Association and the MIDWAY CITY Community Organization (1983) is taken quite seriously and usually gets good results.

This close-knit unincorporated area bears a close resemblance to many Midwestern communities. In fact much of Midway City was horse property up until the 1970's. There are still some people in Midway City who first met here, went to school here, wed here, and are now celebrating their anniversaries here. Midway City citizens are extremely friendly and proud of their small-town heritage.

The Midway City Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1935. The above photo, circa 1938, shows the original station which was located on the northwest corner of Bolsa Avenue and Beach Blvd. (which at that time was called Huntington Beach Blvd, or State Highway 39). Mounted on front of the hose tower to the rear of the apparatus barn is the siren that was used to call the volunteers when there was an alarm. In those days there were no paid county fire department employees, and the volunteers were trained and managed by the state Division of Forestry. The county paid for and owned the trucks but the volunteers had to raise the money from the local citizens to buy the rest of their equipment. The volunteer stations had their own chiefs and captains that they elected themselves.

The Midway City Volunteer Fire Department served nearby Westminster for about 15 years. In February of 1950, the Westminster Fire Department was operational, but in the old days, Midway City Volunteer Fire Department and Knott's Berry Farm's Volunteer Fire Department responded to fires between Buena Park and Huntington Beach.

The present Midway City Fire Station (Orange County Fire Authority Station #25) is a modern up-to-date full service manned fire department located at 8171 Bolsa Avenue was built in 1952. The land was acquired from Kenneth and Dorothy Van Druff on October 17, 1951 for $3,200. The construction cost for that station was $32,000 in 1952.

Midway's City Fire Department is now a permanent part of the Orange County Fire Authority.