Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Its name means "Coast Mesa" in Spanish, with "mesa" meaning a flat-topped hill. The city was incorporated, or officially became a city, in 1953. At that time, it was a small farming community with about 16,840 people.

Since then, Costa Mesa has grown a lot. It is now an urban area and part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, which is one of the biggest commercial areas in the region. The city's economy is based on retail shopping, business activities, and light manufacturing. As of the 2020 census, Costa Mesa had a population of 111,918 people. Today, it is a busy and important place in the area.

History

The area now known as Costa Mesa has been home to the Tongva and Acjachemen people for thousands of years. Early European settlers arrived in the late 1700s, and the area was later named Rancho San Antonio.

In the late 1800s, American settlers created a town called Fairview, and another community named Harper grew nearby. In 1920, Harper changed its name to Costa Mesa, meaning "coastal tableland" in Spanish, reflecting its location. The city grew quickly after World War II as many people moved there.

Geography

Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. It is located about 37 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 87 miles northwest of San Diego. The city covers an area of 16 square miles, and its southern edge is just 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean.

The climate in Costa Mesa is mild all year, with most of the rain falling during the winter. Summers are usually dry with very little rainfall.

Demographics

Costa Mesa was first listed as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census and became a city in the 1960 U.S. census.

2020

The 2020 United States census counted 111,918 people in Costa Mesa. Most people lived in homes, with a few in group homes or other places.

There were many different groups of people living there. About half were White, with smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. Many were from other races or from two or more races. Over a third of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.

Most people lived in homes with families or alone. The city had many homes for people to rent or buy.

2010

In the 2010 census, Costa Mesa had 109,960 people. The groups of people were similar to 2020, but the numbers were a little different.

Most people lived in homes with families or alone. There were many homes to rent or buy.

Housing

Further information: California housing shortage

In 2016, voters approved a rule called Measure Y. This rule says that big building projects need public approval. By 2023, the cost of a home was about $807,000, and renting a home cost about $3,500 each month. Later, in 2022, Measure Y was changed by Measure K.

Economy

The economy of Costa Mesa is mostly based on shopping and different kinds of services. The biggest shopping place is South Coast Plaza, which is very famous for its size and design. With over 270 stores, it brings in more than $1 billion each year.

The city also has some factories, especially in the southwest part, making things like electronics, medicines, and plastics. Some big companies such as Experian, El Pollo Loco, Vans, and Volcom have their main offices in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa has many places to enjoy, including 26 parks, a golf course, 26 public schools, and two libraries.

Top employers

Arts and culture

The Orange County Fair happens in Costa Mesa every July and welcomes over a million visitors each year.

The Pacific Amphitheatre near the Fairgrounds has welcomed famous performers like Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Steppenwolf, and Kelly Clarkson. The city is also home to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the South Coast Repertory Theater.

Since 2024, Costa Mesa has hosted the training camp for the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. Before that, from 2017 to 2024, it was the training center and headquarters for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers used a building called the Jack Hammett Sports Complex, which they renovated for over $3.8 million. After moving to El Segundo in 2024, the facility became the training camp home for the Las Vegas Raiders. Before it was a sports facility, the land was a lima bean farm owned by a Swedish immigrant family who later became important developers in Orange County.

Government

Costa Mesa is a city that uses a special kind of government called "council-manager." In 2016, people in Costa Mesa voted to change how their leaders are chosen. Now, there are six areas in the city, each with its own leader, and one mayor who leads the group. The mayor and some leaders are chosen every two years.

The city is managed by a professional city manager and a team of about 460 workers. Costa Mesa also works with several water districts to provide services to its residents.

In the California State Legislature, Costa Mesa is part of the 37th senatorial district and the 73rd Assembly district. In the United States House of Representatives, it is in California's 47th congressional district.

According to records from February 2024, Costa Mesa has many registered voters. For many years, the city often voted for Republican leaders, but in recent elections, more people have voted for Democratic leaders.

In 2008, Costa Mesa was one of four cities in Orange County to vote against a statewide measure.

Education

Costa Mesa has several places for learning. There are three colleges: Orange Coast College, Vanguard University (which works with the Assemblies of God), and Sofia University. There was also a school called Whittier Law School that is no longer there.

The city has two public high schools: Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School. There are two public middle schools: TeWinkle Middle School, named after the city’s first mayor, and Costa Mesa Middle School, which shares its campus with Costa Mesa High School. There are also some other high schools, like Back Bay High School, Monte Vista High School, and Coastline Early College High School. All these schools are part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Transportation

Costa Mesa has several bus lines run by the Orange County Transportation Authority, but most people drive cars to get around. Two important roads, State Route 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and State Route 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway), start or end in Costa Mesa. The San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) also goes through the city.

Infrastructure

The Costa Mesa Civic Center covers 9.5 acres and is located at 77 Fair Drive. It includes city hall, a five-story building where the city’s main work happens. The center also has Council Chambers, a police facility, a communications building, and Fire Station No. 5.

The city’s fire protection is handled by the Costa Mesa Fire Department. The Costa Mesa Police Department takes care of law enforcement. Emergency medical help is provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department and Care Ambulance Service.

Notable people

See List of people from Costa Mesa, California

Sister city

Costa Mesa has a sister city, which is Wyndham in Australia. Sister cities are towns or cities in different countries that work together to support each other and learn from each other.