Rancho Santa Margarita, California | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lago Santa Margarita  City Hall  Public Library | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Rancho Santa Margarita withinOrange County, California. | |
  Rancho Santa Margarita, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°38′29″N117°35′40″W / 33.64139°N 117.59444°W /33.64139; -117.59444 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Orange |
| Incorporated | January 1, 2000[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | L. Anthony Beall[2] |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Bradley J. McGirr |
| • City Council | Keri Lynn Baert Anne D. Figueroa Jerry Holloway |
| • City Manager | Jennifer M. Cervantez |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.94 sq mi (33.52 km2) |
| • Land | 12.90 sq mi (33.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.046 sq mi (0.12 km2) 0.27% |
| Elevation | 925 ft (282 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 47,949 |
| • Density | 3,718/sq mi (1,435.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 92679, 92688 |
| Area code | 949 |
| FIPS code | 06-59587 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1867054,2411517 |
| Website | cityofrsm.org |
Rancho Santa Margarita (RAN-chohSAN-tuh mar-guh-REE-tuh) is a city inOrange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is amaster-planned community. The population was 47,949 at the 2020 census, up from 47,853 at the 2010 census.[5] Although it is named forRancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which was inSan Diego County, the city limits fall within the borders ofRancho Mission Viejo. At 20 characters long (22 including spaces), it is the longest city name in California.
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The area is the ancestral lands of theAcjachemen people. The village ofAlume was located in Rancho Santa Margarita, betweenTrabuco Creek andTijeras Creek.[7][8] In 1810, the Trabuco Adobe was constructed near the village as an outpost ofMission San Juan Capistrano.[6]
The city seal has the brands ofRancho Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita and Las Flores on the border, with artwork containingSantiago Peak in the background. The tower in the foreground symbolizes the Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Tower.
Hughes Aircraft Company's Microelectronic Systems Division moved to Rancho Santa Margarita in May 1988 from Irvine. In August 1992, the Hughes plant closed its facilities and moved the division toCarlsbad, California due to budget constraints in the aerospace industry.[9]
Rolling Hills Estates had the longest city name in California with 19 letters until January 1, 2000, when the title was ceded to Rancho Santa Margarita (20 letters) upon the latter's incorporation.
The city is a general law city and operates under the council-manager form of government. Rancho Santa Margarita is a contract city. Police services are provided through contract with the Orange County Sheriff. Fire protection services are provided through the Orange County Fire Authority.
Rancho Santa Margarita is located at33°38′29″N117°35′40″W / 33.64139°N 117.59444°W /33.64139; -117.59444 (33.641518, −117.594524).[10] It occupies much of a high plateau known as Plano Trabuco.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.0 square miles (34 km2). 13.0 square miles (34 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.27%) is water.
Rancho Santa Margarita is bordered by the city ofMission Viejo on the west, thecensus-designated placesCoto de Caza andLas Flores on the south, the unincorporatedTrabuco Canyon on the north, and theCleveland National Forest on the east.
Vehicular access is provided byCalifornia State Route 241 (a toll road), in addition to several surface streets. Santa Margarita Parkway and Antonio Parkway are the city's major thoroughfares, with Avenida De Las Banderas, Avenida Empresa, Avenida De Las Flores, and Alma Aldea being minor thoroughfares. In addition, Alicia Parkway terminates in the city providing access to Mission Viejo.
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Rancho Santa Margarita, like most of southern California, generally has aMediterranean climate.
According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[11] the top 10 employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applied Medical | 2,700 |
| 2 | O'Connell Landscape Maintenance | 1,000 |
| 3 | Saddleback Valley Unified School District | 288 |
| 4 | Target | 255 |
| 5 | Lucas & Mercier Construction | 250 |
| 6 | Capistrano Unified School District | 215 |
| 7 | Control Components Inc. | 200 |
| 8 | PADI | 180 |
| 9 | Santa Margarita Catholic High School | 175 |
| 10 | Car Sound Exhaust System | 150 |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11,390 | — | |
| 2000 | 47,214 | 314.5% | |
| 2010 | 47,853 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 47,949 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1860–1870[13][14] 1880-1890[15] 1900[16] 1910[17] 1920[18] 1930[19] 1940[20] 1950[21] 1960[22] 1970[23] 1980[24] 1990[25]2000[26] 2010[27] 2020[28] | |||
Rancho Santa Margarita first appeared as acensus designated place in the1990 U.S. census;[25] and as a city in the2010 U.S. census.[27]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[29] | Pop 2010[30] | Pop 2020[28] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 35,132 | 32,054 | 27,930 | 74.41% | 66.98% | 58.25% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 787 | 788 | 761 | 1.67% | 1.65% | 1.59% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 131 | 82 | 73 | 0.28% | 0.17% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,440 | 4,268 | 5,711 | 7.29% | 8.92% | 11.91% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 90 | 88 | 92 | 0.19% | 0.18% | 0.19% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 91 | 91 | 225 | 0.19% | 0.19% | 0.47% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,404 | 1,580 | 2,860 | 2.97% | 3.30% | 5.96% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6,139 | 8,902 | 10,297 | 13.00% | 18.60% | 21.47% |
| Total | 47,214 | 47,853 | 47,949 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that Rancho Santa Margarita had a population of 47,949. The population density was 3,718.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,435.6/km2). The racial makeup was 62.9%White, 1.7%African American, 0.6%Native American, 12.2%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 7.1% fromother races, and 15.3% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.5% of the population.[31]
The census reported that 99.9% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[31]
There were 17,188 households, out of which 37.0% included children under the age of 18, 60.9% were married-couple households, 5.0% werecohabiting couple households, 21.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.3% had a male householder with no partner present. 18.5% of households were one person, and 6.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79.[31] There were 13,048families (75.9% of all households).[32]
The age distribution was 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% aged 18 to 24, 25.2% aged 25 to 44, 31.8% aged 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males.[31]
There were 17,606 housing units at an average density of 1,365.2 units per square mile (527.1 units/km2), of which 17,188 (97.6%) were occupied. Of these, 69.6% were owner-occupied, and 30.4% were occupied by renters.[31]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $146,827, and theper capita income was $63,535. About 4.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line.[33]
The2010 United States census[34] reported that Rancho Santa Margarita had a population of 47,853. The population density was 3,683.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,422.1/km2). The racial makeup of Rancho Santa Margarita was 37,421 (78.2%)White (67.0% Non-Hispanic White),[35] 887 (1.9%)African American, 182 (0.4%)Native American, 4,350 (9.1%)Asian, 102 (0.2%)Pacific Islander, 2,674 (5.6%) fromother races, and 2,237 (4.7%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 8,902 persons (18.6%).
31.8% of the population possessed a bachelor's degree, with 16.4% possessing a Graduate or Professional Degree. The educational attainment level in Rancho Santa Margarita significantly exceeds the averages throughout the rest of California.
The Census reported that 47,851 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 16,665 households, out of which 7,699 (46.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,144 (60.9%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 1,703 (10.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 700 (4.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 747 (4.5%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 103 (0.6%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,199 households (19.2%) were made up of individuals, and 761 (4.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87. There were 12,547families (75.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.33.
The population was spread out, with 13,879 people (29.0%) under the age of 18, 3,793 people (7.9%) aged 18 to 24, 13,706 people (28.6%) aged 25 to 44, 13,764 people (28.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,711 people (5.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
There were 17,260 housing units at an average density of 1,328.4 per square mile (512.9/km2), of which 11,906 (71.4%) were owner-occupied, and 4,759 (28.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 35,737 people (74.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 12,114 people (25.3%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Rancho Santa Margarita had a median household income of $104,113, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[35]
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Rancho Santa Margarita is inthe 38th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Catherine Blakespear, and inthe 71st Assembly district, represented byRepublican Kate Sanchez.
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Rancho Santa Margarita is inCalifornia's 40th congressional district, represented byRepublican Young Kim.[36]
According to theCalifornia Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Rancho Santa Margarita has 28,462 registered voters. Of those, 11,877 (41.73%) are registered Republicans, 7,511 (26.39%) are registered Democrats, and 7,819 (27.47%) have no political party preference/are independents.[37]
Rancho Santa Margarita has voted Republican in every presidential election since the city's incorporation.
The city is served bySaddleback Valley Unified School District and theCapistrano Unified School District.
The television seriesThe Real Housewives of Orange County, although based inCoto De Caza, is mainly filmed in Rancho Santa Margarita where many of the housewives do business, shopping, commuting, dentistry, and dining.[38]
The Dove Canyon, Rancho Cielo, and Robinson Ranch neighborhoods, while all part of the city, have a ZIP Code of 92679, although the 92688 ZIP Code is far more common in the Rancho Santa Margarita area.
A map of Orange County seen in season four ofArrested Development places the fictionalBluth Company–developed community of Sudden Valley northeast of Mission Viejo and Las Flores, in the approximate location of Rancho Santa Margarita.
Blum, a Ladera Ranch resident who grew up in Rancho Santa Margarita, is a professional hockey player for HC Sochi in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.
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