Mission Viejo has a tradition that dates back to the days of men on horses driving cattle. Almost 25 years ago, the Mission Viejo Co. bought a 10,000-acre section of Rancho Mission Viejo, which once owned much of the land along the southern California coast. The company created a master plan for the community, with specifics determining the number of parks, homes, recreational activities and retail spaces.
Location/Distances Between Towns/Cities
Mission Viejo is in Orange County, in the Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area. Mission Viejo is southeast of Anaheim, 60 miles from Los Angeles, within a 15 minute drive from the Pacific Ocean.
Airports
Orange County is served primarily by John Wayne International Airport in Costa Mesa. Other major airports in the vicinity are Ontario International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Terrain
Mission Viejo is characterized by a valley of rolling hills, once home to multitudes of grazing cattle. The total land area is 18.7 sq. miles. Mission Viejo is known for its beautiful lake that is open only to its 90,000 residents. The city is at an elevation of 400 feet, and very close to one of the most spectacular stretches on the California Pacific Coast with beautiful vistas of land and sea with rolling hills and secluded coves.
Population
The estimated population is 96,000. Ninety-four percent of the adult population of Mission Viejo has completed high school, and fifty-four percent have an undergraduate or advanced degree.
Jobs
Mission Viejo has a diverse economy. The largest employers in the city are Mission Hospital Regional Medical, Saddleback College, Unisys Corporation, Cendant Mobility and Coldwell Banker. The median household income is $78,248.
Colleges/Universities
There are a number of colleges and universities within 10 miles of Mission Viejo, including: Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California State University – Fullerton, and California State University – Irvine.
Housing
Mission Viejo is suburban in nature. It is mainly residential, although there are a number of offices and businesses within its city limits. The city is a planned community and features a very large number of single-family homes, and some condominiums. The median house value in Mission Viejo is $293,300.
Historic Buildings
In the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains is the home of world renowned actress Madame Helena Modjeska. The grounds, which resemble the Forest of Arden in the Shakespeare's play, As You Like It, are being restored to recapture the ambiance of her time. “Arden” is designated a National Historic Landmark.
Heritage Hill Historical Park is Orange County’s first historic park. There are four early California structures, with period furnishings and landscaping: including: the Serrano Adobe (circa 1863), the El Toro Grammar School (1890), St. George's Episcopal Mission (1891), and the Bennett Ranch House (1908).
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
There are many recreational opportunities throughout the city for Mission Viejo residents. There are numerous parks (averaging two per square mile!) including Aegean Hills Park, Alicia Park, Pebble Creek Park, Aurora Park, Doria Park Wilderness Glen Park, Barcelona Park, Bart Spendlove Memorial Park and Christopher Park. Open spaces, trails, and sports fields provide additional outdoor recreation.
There are three golf courses in Mission Viejo: Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club and Casta del Sol golf course, which are both public 18-hole courses, and the Mission Viejo Country Club, with a private 18-hole course. There are numerous other opportunities for golf in the area, including Monarch Beach golf links, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course, with outstanding Pacific Ocean views from 13 holes!
Special Attractions/Events
Every Easter the community celebrates with an annual egg hunt at Oso Viejo Park.
Mission Viejo’s biggest celebration of the year is 4th of July, with the annual Street Faire, with games, booths, concerts, and of course fireworks.
Interesting Facts
The city tree is the Coast Live Oak.
Mission Viejo is home to the internationally recognized Nadadores swim team.
In 2003, Mission Viejo was rated the third safest city in America.
