Santa Ana

by The Linguist

 

Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana is a city in Orange County, California with a population of 334,136 as of 2020, making it the second most populous city in the county after Anaheim and the 11th most populous city in California. The city is known for its historic downtown and architectural heritage as well as attractions like the Bowers Museum and Discovery Cube Science Center.

History

Santa Ana was founded in 1869 when William H. Spurgeon purchased 74 acres of land from the old Spanish land grant Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. The town was incorporated in 1886 with a population of 2000. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad that same year sparked the city’s growth as an agricultural center. By the early 1900s, Santa Ana was a thriving downtown with a courthouse, city hall, opera house, and other civic buildings.[1]

Geography and Population

Santa Ana is located in southwestern Orange County, about 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by the cities of Tustin, Orange, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, and Fountain Valley. Santa Ana covers an area of 27.5 square miles.

As of 2020, Santa Ana had an estimated population of 334,136. It has a population density of 11,721 residents per square mile. Santa Ana is 51.7% Hispanic/Latino, 25.2% white, 9.2% Asian, and 1.1% black. Nearly three-quarters of residents speak a language other than English at home.

Economy and Major Employers

Santa Ana has a diverse economy with strong healthcare, manufacturing, retail, education, and government sectors. Top employers include the County of Orange at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92701, phone (714) 834-3000,[2] Kaiperm Santa Ana at 341 E. 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701, phone (714) 558-8851, Coast Community College District at 1370 Adams Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, phone (714) 438-4888,[3] JPMorgan Chase at 2321 N. Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705, phone (800) 935-9935, and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union at 15651 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92618, phone (888) 462-8328.[4]

Other major industries include retail, education, manufacturing, finance, and healthcare. The Santa Ana Unified School District is a major employer with headquarters at 1601 E. Chestnut Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92701, phone (714) 558-5501.[5]

Transportation

Santa Ana is served by several major highways and transportation services. Interstate 5 runs through the city’s downtown and connects it to Los Angeles and San Diego. State Routes 55 and 57 also pass through Santa Ana. The city has a station for Amtrak and Metrolink commuter rail as well as the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center that serves over 8 million passengers per year.

The Orange County Transportation Authority provides local bus service throughout Santa Ana and to other cities in Orange County. John Wayne Airport is located nearby in the city of Irvine and provides air service to Santa Ana.

Education

Public education in Santa Ana is provided by the Santa Ana Unified School District, which serves over 47,000 students. The district operates 37 elementary schools, nine intermediate schools, eight high schools, and five alternative/special education schools. Some of the district’s high-performing schools include Valley High School, Middle College High School, and Segerstrom High School.

Higher education options include Santa Ana College, a public community college founded in 1915 with over 18,000 students. The Peter and Merle Mullin Center Art Gallery displays artwork by students and local artists. The college is located at 1530 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706, phone (714) 564-6000.[6]

Chapman University and Coastline Community College also have branch campuses in Santa Ana. The University of California, Irvine is located nearby in the city of Irvine.

Parks and Recreation

Santa Ana has over 420 acres of public parks and community centers located throughout the city. Notable parks include Heritage Park, Prentice Park, Centennial Regional Park, and Santiago Park. The Santa Ana Zoo is located within Prentice Park and is home to over 300 animals.

The Discovery Cube Orange County museum is located in Santa Ana and features interactive science exhibits. The Santa Ana Public Library system operates four city libraries including a main library located at 26 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701, phone (714) 647-5250.[7]

Landmarks and Points of Interest

  • Old Orange County Courthouse – Built in 1901, this historic courthouse is an iconic Santa Ana landmark located downtown at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. GPS: 33°44’33.0″N 117°54’47.8″W
  • Discovery Cube Orange County – This science museum features exhibits and an IMAX theater. Located at 2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Phone: (714) 542-2823. GPS: 33°45’26.3″N 117°52’07.3″W
  • Bowers Museum – Art and cultural history museum displaying traveling exhibits and its own collection. Located at 2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706. Phone: (714) 567-3600. GPS: 33°45’28.2″N 117°52’08.1″W

Other landmarks include the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, the Old Orange County Hall of Records, and the Santa Ana Civic Center.

Sports

The Los Angeles Angels have their Major League Baseball team based in Anaheim at Angel Stadium located at 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806. Phone: (714) 940-2000.[8] Many residents of Santa Ana are fans of the Angels baseball team.

Santa Ana is also home to the Santa Ana Winds professional ultimate disc team. The Winds compete in the Western Division of the American Ultimate Disc League.

Additional Local Resources