First American Corporation

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This article is about The First American Corporation; for the similarly named banks see First American National Bank

The First American Logo

Officially referred to as The First American Corporation, the Fortune 500 company is America's largest provider of business information. First American combines advanced analytics with its vast data resources to supply businesses and consumers with valuable information products to support the major economic events of people's lives, such as getting a job, renting an apartment, buying a car or house, securing a mortgage and opening or buying a business. The First American Family of Companies, many of which command leading market share positions in their respective industries, operate within five primary business segments, including: Title Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance, Mortgage Information, Property Information, and Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions. With revenues of $8.1 billion in 2005, First American has approximately 2,100 offices throughout the United States and abroad.

First American offices in Santa Ana, CA

[edit] Company History

Based in Santa Ana, California, the company traces its roots to 1889, when Orange County, California split off from the county of Los Angeles. Two firms opened to handle title matters in the brand-new county. Five years later, C.E. Parker, a local businessman, succeeded in merging the two competitors into a single entity. He was named president of the resulting company, Orange County Title Company, the immediate predecessor to today's First American Title Insurance Company, the largest subsidiary of The First American Corporation.

In 1924, the company became one of the first abstract companies in California to qualify to issue policies of title insurance. By 1963, the company was operating in four states and had changed its name to First American. In 1964, the company had its initial public offering on the over-the-counter market. Two years later, First American was restructured into a general holding company, The First American Financial Corporation, which conducted its title operations through First American Title Insurance Company and a trust business through First American Trust Company. By 1982, First American Title served every region of the country. On December 3, 1993, the company moved its shares onto the New York Stock Exchange, where it continues to trade under the ticker symbol FAF. In May 2000, the company changed its name to The First American Corporation to more accurately reflect the company's diverse business mix, which includes a number of non-financial services.