Community Considerations

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A historic building with a clocktower, the Spurgeon Building in Santa Ana, stands tall as cars zip by on the streets below. The day is turning to night. The sky is deep blue and clouds rush past.
A long exposure photo of cars travelling on 5th St in Santa Ana at night
An aerial shot of Santa Ana in the daytime with mountains visible in the background.

Community Considerations

Incorporated in 1886, the City of Santa Ana has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The City of Santa Ana is the county seat, and boasts an eclectic urban environment, burgeoning employment centers, transit hub, and historic neighborhoods and downtown. With a current population exceeding 300,000 residents, the City ranks among the largest and most densely populated in California, and is one of the youngest by age in the County. As the seat for Orange County, the Civic Center area contains federal, state, and local governmental facilities including courts, criminal justice facilities, administrative offices, and service centers. Santa Ana also hosts numerous cultural institutions including Bowers Museum, Discovery Cube, and Santa Ana Zoo.

While Santa Ana is a densely populated urban center with one of the most diverse international populations in Orange County, it can generally be characterized as a city of neighborhoods. Santa Ana has over 60 neighborhoods which are distinguished by their history, architecture, housing types, amenities, and unique character.

Its central location in Orange County, proximity to transportation hubs (e.g., John Wayne Airport and major freeways, a major railroad line, and the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center) make Santa Ana an ideal place for locating a business and an important economic driver in the region. Santa Ana is home to businesses that range from small, family owned, one to two person operations to Fortune 500 corporate operations, that grows employment and economic opportunities for residents and the broader Orange County region.

Santa Ana seeks to continue to be a dynamic urban center, acclaimed for its investment in its youth, neighborhood pride, enriching cultural experiences, appreciation of diversity, thriving economic climate, quality governmental services, and leadership among California cities. This Santa Ana General Plan provides a strong foundation to further qualities, and affirm the City as a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable urban center into the future.

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