Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Last updated

Rancho Santa Margarita
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Lago Santa Margarita
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City Hall
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Public Library
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Orange County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rancho Santa Margarita Highlighted.svg
Location of Rancho Santa Margarita within Orange County, California.
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Rancho Santa Margarita
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 aka Toll Road Tony Beall [2]
   Mayor Pro Tem Bradley J. McGirr
   City Council Keri Lynn Baert
Anne D. Figueroa
Jerry Holloway
   City Manager Jennifer M. Cervantez
Area
[3]
  Total
12.94 sq mi (33.52 km2)
  Land12.90 sq mi (33.40 km2)
  Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)  0.27%
Elevation
[4]
925 ft (282 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
47,949
  Density3,714.02/sq mi (1,435.60/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-choh SAN-tuh mar-guh-REE-tuh) is a city in Orange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master-planned community. The population was 47,949 at the 2020 census, up from 47,853 at the 2010 census. [5] Although it is named for Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which was in San Diego County, the city limits fall within the borders of Rancho Mission Viejo. At 20 characters long (22 including spaces), it is the longest city name in California.

Contents

History

The ruins of the Trabuco Adobe, built by Californios in 1810, at the Acjachemen village of Alume. Trabuco Adobe, Rancho Santa Margarita, Nov 1967.jpg
The ruins of the Trabuco Adobe, built by Californios in 1810, at the Acjachemen village of Alume.

The area is the ancestral lands of the Acjachemen people. The village of Alume was located in Rancho Santa Margarita, between Trabuco Creek and Tijeras Creek. [7] [8] In 1810, the Trabuco Adobe was constructed near the village as an outpost of Mission San Juan Capistrano. [6]

The city seal has the brands of Rancho Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita and Las Flores on the border, with artwork containing Santiago 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 to Carlsbad, 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.

Geography

Upper Oso Reservoir. 20140131-0173 Oso Lake.jpg
Upper Oso Reservoir.

Rancho Santa Margarita is located at 33°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 the United 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 of Mission Viejo on the west, the census-designated places Coto de Caza and Las Flores on the south, the unincorporated Trabuco Canyon on the north, and the Cleveland National Forest on the east.

Vehicular access is provided by California 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.

Climate

Rancho Santa Margarita, like most of southern California, generally has a Mediterranean climate.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [11] the top 10 employers in the city are:

#Employer# of employees
1Applied Medical2,700
2O'Connell Landscape Maintenance1,000
3 Saddleback Valley Unified School District 288
4 Target 255
5Lucas & Mercier Construction250
6 Capistrano Unified School District 215
7 Control Components Inc. 200
8 PADI 180
9Santa Margarita Catholic High School175
10Car Sound Exhaust System150

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1990 11,390
2000 47,214314.5%
2010 47,8531.4%
2020 47,9490.2%
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 a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. Census; [25] and as a city in the 2010 U.S. Census. [27]

Rancho Santa Margarita city, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 [29] Pop 2010 [30] Pop 2020 [28] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)35,13232,05427,93074.41%66.98%58.25%
Black or African American alone (NH)7877887611.67%1.65%1.59%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)13182730.28%0.17%0.15%
Asian alone (NH)3,4404,2685,7117.29%8.92%11.91%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)9088920.19%0.18%0.19%
Other race alone (NH)91912250.19%0.19%0.47%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1,4041,5802,8602.97%3.30%5.96%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)6,1398,90210,29713.00%18.60%21.47%
Total47,21447,85347,949100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020

Rancho Santa Margarita Central Park 20131208-0532 Rancho Santa Margarita.JPG
Rancho Santa Margarita Central Park

The 2020 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% from other 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% were cohabiting 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 13,048 families (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 the per capita income was $63,535. About 4.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line. [33]

2010

Shops in Rancho Santa Margarita Rancho Santa Margarita plaza.jpg
Shops in Rancho Santa Margarita

The 2010 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%) from other races, and 2,237 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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%) were opposite-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 12,547 families (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 20092013, Rancho Santa Margarita had a median household income of $104,113, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. [35]

Government and politics

Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall. 20131208-0533 RSM.JPG
Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Rancho Santa Margarita is in the 38th senatorial district , represented by Democrat Catherine Blakespear, and in the 71st Assembly district , represented by Republican Kate Sanchez.

In the United States House of Representatives, Rancho Santa Margarita is in California's 40th congressional district , represented by Republican Young Kim. [36]

According to the California 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.

Education

Rancho Santa Margarita Library 20140907-0210 Rancho Santa Margarita.JPG
Rancho Santa Margarita Library

The city is served by Saddleback Valley Unified School District and the Capistrano Unified School District.

Television

The television series The Real Housewives of Orange County , although based in Coto 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 of Arrested Development places the fictional Bluth Company-developed community of Sudden Valley northeast of Mission Viejo and Las Flores, in the approximate location of Rancho Santa Margarita.

Notable people

Jonathon Blum Jon blum 2.jpg
Jonathon Blum

See also

References

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  2. "Mayor and City Council". Rancho Santa Margarita. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "City of Rancho Santa Margarita". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  5. "QuickFacts: Rancho Santa Margarita city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
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  7. Merriam, C Hart (1968). Heizer, Robert F. (ed.). University of California Archaeological Survey (PDF). Berkeley: University of California Archaeological Research Facility. p. 123.
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