Costa Mesa, California


Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, one of the region's largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The population was 111,918 at the 2020 census.

History

Members of the Tongva and Acjachemen nations long inhabited the area. The Tongva villages of Lupukngna, at least 3,000 years old, and the shared Tongva and Acjachemen village of Genga, at least 9,500 years old, were located in the area on the bluffs along the Santa Ana River.
After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Junípero Serra named the area Vallejo de Santa Ana. On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement in Alta California, New Spain.
In 1801, the Spanish Empire granted to Jose Antonio Yorba, which he named Rancho San Antonio.
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States, and American settlers arrived in this area and formed the town of Fairview in the 1880s near the modern intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue.
To the south, meanwhile, the community of Harper had arisen on a siding of the Santa Ana and Newport Railway, named after a local rancher. This town prospered on its agricultural goods. On May 11, 1920, Harper changed its name to Costa Mesa, which means "coastal tableland" in Spanish. This is a reference to the city's geography as being a plateau by the coast. Fanny Bixby Spencer and her husband sponsored the contest which selected the city's new name.
Costa Mesa surged in population during and after World War II, as many thousands trained at Santa Ana Army Air Base and returned after the war with their families. Within three decades of incorporation, the city's population had nearly quintupled.

Geography

Costa Mesa is located southeast of Los Angeles, and northwest of San Diego. Costa Mesa encompasses a total of with its southernmost border only from the Pacific Ocean.

Climate

Costa Mesa has a semi-arid climate with mild temperatures year round. Rain falls primarily in the winter months and is close to nonexistent during the summer.

Demographics

Costa Mesa was first listed as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census as part of unincorporated Newport Beach Township; and listed as a city in the 1960 U.S. census.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010
White alone 68,81369,49361,77856,99354,16983.35%72.12%56.82%51.83%48.40%
Black or African American alone 5341,1401,3131,3521,3060.65%1.18%1.21%1.23%1.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 5382403292662320.65%0.35%0.30%0.24%0.21%
Asian alone 4,1625,9987,4218,4839,4555.04%6.22%6.83%7.71%8.45%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone 4,1625,9986014864125.04%6.22%0.55%0.44%0.37%
Other race alone 166672202436180.20%0.07%0.20%0.22%0.55%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx2,5392,7344,931xx2.34%2.49%4.41%
Hispanic or Latino 8,34919,31934,52339,40340,79510.11%20.05%31.75%35.83%36.45%
Total82,56296,357108,724109,960111,918100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Costa Mesa had a population of 111,918. The population density was. The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 54.1% White, 1.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 8.7% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 19.1% from other races, and 15.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.5% of the population.
The census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households, 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.
There were 42,179 households, out of which 28.2% included children under the age of 18, 41.2% were married-couple households, 9.5% were cohabiting couple households, 27.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 22.3% had a male householder with no partner present. 26.5% of households were one person, and 8.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61. There were 25,143 families.
The age distribution was 19.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% aged 18 to 24, 35.0% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 35.9years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males.
There were 44,047 housing units at an average density of, of which 42,179 were occupied. Of these, 38.9% were owner-occupied, and 61.1% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $110,073, and the per capita income was $56,625. About 5.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Costa Mesa had a population of 109,960. The population density was. The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 75,335 White, 1,640 African American, 686 Native American, 8,654 Asian, 527 Pacific Islander, 17,992 from other races, and 5,126 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39,403 persons.
The Census reported that 106,990 people lived in households, 2,232 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 738 were institutionalized.
There were 39,946 households, 12,298 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,478 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,369 had a female householder with no husband present, 2,392 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,013 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 281 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 10,963 households were one person and 2,775 had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 23,239 families ; the average family size was 3.30.
The age distribution was 23,682 people under the age of 18, 12,847 people aged 18 to 24, 38,211 people aged 25 to 44, 25,106 people aged 45 to 64, and 10,114 people who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.
There were 42,120 housing units at an average density of 2,682.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,799 were owner-occupied and 24,147 were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 42,517 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 64,473 people lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Costa Mesa had a median household income of $65,830, with 15.1% of the population living below the poverty line.

Housing

Measure Y is a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2016. It requires public approval of projects that have a general plan amendment or zoning change and would add 40 or more dwelling units or 10,000 or more square feet of commercial space. The median housing price is $807,000 and $3,500 for the median rent per month. Measure Y was amended in 2022 by Measure K.

Economy

The city's economy relies heavily on retail and services. The largest center of commercial activity is South Coast Plaza, a shopping center noted for its architecture and size. The volume of sales generated by South Coast Plaza, on the strength of its more than 270 stores, places it among the highest volume regional shopping centers in the nation. It generates more than $1 billion per year in revenue. South Coast Metro is a commercial, cultural, and residential district surrounding South Coast Plaza in northern Costa Mesa and southern Santa Ana, itself part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city.
Some manufacturing activity also takes place in the city, mostly in the industrial, southwestern quarter, which is home to a number of electronics, pharmaceuticals and plastics firms. Business services company Experian has its North American headquarters in Costa Mesa.
Anduril Industries, Ceradyne, El Pollo Loco, Emulex, Hurley, RVCA, Toyota Racing Development, Vans, and Volcom are among the businesses headquartered in Costa Mesa. A local newspaper, the Daily Pilot, is published by the Los Angeles Times.
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was headquartered in Costa Mesa until it relocated most of its operations. In addition, the Calvary Chapel denomination, along with its "mother church" Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, is located in the city.
Wahoo's Fish Taco was founded in Costa Mesa in 1988 by Chinese-Brazilian brothers Eduardo "Ed" Lee, Renato "Mingo" Lee and Wing Lam.
Costa Mesa offers 26 parks, a municipal golf course, 26 public schools and two libraries.

Top employers

According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of employees
1EPL Intermediate, Inc.3,998
2Experian3,700
3Coast Community College District2,900
4Orange Coast College1,900
5Automobile Club of Southern California1,773
6Anduril Industries1,100
7Deloitte & Touche LLP700
8FileNet600
9Vans550
10Vanguard University319