Come join the thousand that are flocking to the city known as Lake Forest, California. Originally known as El Toro, Lake Forest is a city that has respect for its natural environment. Lake Forest was created in December 20, 1991 and its residents voted to name the city Lake Forest, after an expensive gated residential community, denying the longer claim to the territory by the community of El Toro.it has since, expanded its limits to include the new communities of Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills.