Manzana Insurance - Fruitvale Branch

Manzana Insurance was founded in Sebastopol, California, in 1902 and originally specialized in orchard and farm insurance. Following the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, however, the company saw an opportunity to expand its business throughout northern California by buying several insurers who had been driven to near-bankruptcy by the catastrophe. In 1944, anticipating the end of World War II and foreseeing a boom in home ownership in southern California, the company purchased the Santa Ana Underwriting, Casualty and Escrow company. By 1953, Manzana had established itself as the second largest home and commercial property insurer in California.