There's a Huntington Street in Huntington Beach. But Phil Brigandi says that wasn't the original name.

"Sometimes people imported names from other areas. Sometimes they just played off them."

Brigandi wrote "Orange County Street Names A-Z."

He says, "when the town of Huntington Beach was started in 1901, it was originally known as Pacific City, which is a turn on Atlantic City on the east coast."

Pacific City's promoters had visions of a resort town that would rival Atlantic City. But transportation was a problem. Developers approached Henry Huntington, who owned the electric railway company, and offered him a sweetheart deal. In exchange for bringing his rail line to town, Huntington was offered oceanfront property, stock in the real estate company, and naming rights for the new town. Pacific City lasted just two years. Huntington Beach lives on.

(Airdate: 7/5/2008)