Garden Grove

by The Linguist

With a population of over 175,000 as of the 2020 census, Garden Grove is the third largest city in Orange County, California. Located in the heart of Orange County, Garden Grove has steadily grown from its early days as a small farming community to become a thriving suburban city known for its diversity, amenities, and central location.

Population and Demographics

Garden Grove has seen its population boom in recent decades. In 1970, the city had around 85,000 residents. By 1990 that number grew to over 143,000. The latest census in 2020 counted 175,155 residents in Garden Grove, making it the 27th largest city in California.

Garden Grove is an extremely diverse city, with large Asian and Hispanic communities. According to the 2020 census, 40.8% of residents are Asian, 34.2% are Hispanic or Latino, and 17.7% are White. The two largest Asian ethnic groups are Vietnamese (28.1%) and Korean (4.6%). Other sizable ethnic communities include Mexican, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Cambodian.

Over 43% of households in Garden Grove speak a language other than English at home. Some of the most common languages spoken besides English are Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, Persian, and Japanese.

The median age in Garden Grove is 35.8 years old. About 23.5% of the population is under age 18 and 10.4% is age 65 or older.

Economy and Major Employers

Garden Grove features a thriving economic scene, anchored by thriving healthcare, education, technology, and retail sectors. Some of the major employers in the city include:

Other major companies with large operations in Garden Grove include CKE Restaurants (parent of Carl’s Jr.), Boeing, TAM Facility Services, and Nestle.

In addition to large corporations, Garden Grove also has a thriving small business community. The city is home to over 9,000 small businesses across various industries like healthcare, professional services, construction, retail, and food service.

Some of the city’s major business districts and commercial hubs include Downtown Garden Grove, Garden Grove Boulevard, Brookhurst Street, Harbor Boulevard, and Chapman Avenue.

Parks, Landmarks, and Attractions

Despite being a suburban community, Garden Grove offers residents and visitors many options for entertainment, recreation, and leisure.

The Garden Grove Park System includes over 50 parks located throughout the city. The largest parks are Village Green Park and Atlantis Play Center, both offering swimming pools, sports fields, playgrounds, and recreational facilities. Other popular parks include Sigler Park, Bolsa Park, Chapman Sports Complex, and Heritage Park.

Major landmarks and cultural attractions in Garden Grove include:

The city also has a lively arts and culture scene. The Gem Theater is a historic performing arts venue that hosts concerts, plays, comedy shows, and other community events. The Art Town complex features working artist studios, galleries, shops, and hosts exhibitions and arts education programs.

Sports and Local Teams

Although Garden Grove does not have any major professional sports teams, residents are passionate supporters of local high school and college athletics.

The city’s high school athletic programs regularly produce championship-contending teams. The football teams of local high schools like Garden Grove High School, Pacifica High School, and Santiago High School have won multiple league titles and appeared in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Many Garden Grove residents also root for nearby sports teams including:

Garden Grove is home to the West Coast branch of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), the national governing body for recreational softball leagues and tournaments. The USSSA complex in Garden Grove hosts youth and adult softball tournaments throughout the year.

Local Government

Garden Grove is a charter city governed by a council-manager form of government. The City Council is made up of 5 members who appoint a professional city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations.

Some of the city’s departments and services include:

Residents elect City Council members to 4-year terms during municipal elections held in November of even-numbered years. The current Mayor is Steve Jones and the other Council members are Bob Brimmer, Thu Hieu Nguyen, John O’Neill, and Kim Nguyen.

Living in Garden Grove

Known for its family-friendly neighborhoods, strong school system, and diversity, Garden Grove is a popular suburb for families looking to settle down in Orange County. The city has 17 public elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 comprehensive high schools managed by the Garden Grove Unified School District. Supplementing the public schools are several private and charter school options.

Housing ranges from cozy bungalows in the city’s oldest neighborhoods near Main Street to spacious single-family homes in subdivisions built in the 1970s/1980s. More recent developments include modern townhomes, condos, and apartments on infill sites and along major corridors like Harbor Boulevard.

While lacking the glitz and glamour of coastal cities like Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, Garden Grove does provide residents with a comfortable suburban lifestyle and convenient access to jobs, shopping, and entertainment thanks to its central location in the heart of Orange County.