Laguna Hills, California

Laguna Hills(/ləˈɡuːnə/;lagunabeingSpanishfor 'lagoon') is a city in southernOrange County, California, United States. Its name refers to its proximity toLaguna Canyonand the much olderLaguna Beach. Other newer cities nearby—Laguna NiguelandLaguna Woods—are similarly named. The population was 31,374 at the2020 census.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17 km).  6.7 square miles (17 km) of it is land and 0.025 square miles (0.065 km) of it (0.37%) is water.
Laguna Hills is built on one of the major land grants developed during theranchoera. FollowingMexico'sindependencefromSpainin 1821, those who had served in the government or who had friends in authority, were given vast lands for cattle grazing.Rancho Lomas de Santiago,Rancho San Joaquin, andRancho Niguelcovered much of the western portion of theSaddleback Valley. Don Juan Avila was granted the 13,000-acre Rancho Niguel on which Laguna Hills is located.
In 1894, Lewis Moulton purchased Rancho Niguel from Don Juan Avila and increased the original grant to 22,000 acres (89 km). Moulton and his partner, Jean Piedra Daguerre, used the ranch to raise sheep and cattle. The Moulton Ranch was eventually subdivided in the early 1960s, and part of the division became today's Laguna Hills.
Incorporation efforts began in 1987 and on March 5, 1991, 86% of the residents voted in favor of forming the City of Laguna Hills. On December 20, 1991, Laguna Hills officially became a City. Subsequent annexations have included the North Laguna Hills (1996) and the "Westside Annexation" (2000) areas. The latter included 149 acres (0.60 km) of residential land, including theAliso ViejoCommunity Association'sSheep HillsPark.
In 2004, Laguna Hills'City Hallwas moved to an existing office building at 24035El Toro Road, which was bought and renovated by the city. The city also rents out commercial space in the building, providing the city with a positive net income.
Interstate 5travels along the eastern border of Laguna Hills, forming the border withLake ForestandMission Viejo. I-5 has five interchanges in the city, from south to north: Oso Parkway, La Paz Road, Alicia Parkway, El Toro Road (Highway S18), and Lake Forest Drive.
County Route S18, also known as El Toro Road, is a major road in Laguna Hills, encompassing the border of Laguna Hills at the 5 Freeway, up to the 73 Toll Road.
In addition to the highways listed above, Alicia Parkway and Oso Parkway (which turns into Pacific Park Drive at the Laguna Hills-Aliso Viejoborder) are major north-south thoroughfares and Moulton Parkway is a major east-west thoroughfare.
Laguna Hills first appeared as anunincorporated communityin the1970 U.S. Census;and as acensus designated placein the1980 U.S. Census.After incorporation, it was listed as a city in the2000 U.S. Census.
The2010 United States Censusreported that Laguna Hills had a population of 30,344. The population density was 4,532.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,750.0/km). The racial makeup of Laguna Hills was 22,045 (72.7%)White(61.7% Non-Hispanic White),420 (1.4%)African American, 101 (0.3%)Native American, 3,829 (12.6%)Asian, 58 (0.2%)Pacific Islander, 2,470 (8.1%) fromother races, and 1,421 (4.7%) from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 6,242 persons (20.6%).
The Census reported that 29,975 people (98.8% of the population) lived in households, 233 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 136 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 10,469 households, of which 3,637 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,278 (60.0%) wereopposite-sex married couplesliving together, 983 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 472 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 445 (4.3%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 101 (1.0%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,041 households (19.5%) were made up of individuals, and 822 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86. There were 7,733families(73.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.25.
6,762 people (22.3%) were under the age of 18; 2,617 people (8.6%) aged 18 to 24; 7,638 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44; 9,437 people (31.1%) aged 45 to 64; and 3,890 people (12.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
There were 11,046 housing units at an average density of 1,649.9 per square mile (637.0/km), of which 7,820 (74.7%) were owner-occupied, and 2,649 (25.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.2%.  22,307 people (73.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,668 people (25.3%) lived in rental housing units.
At the 2000census,there were 31,178 people, 10,895 households and 7,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,911.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,896.2/km). There were 11,303 housing units at an average density of 1,780.4 per square mile (687.4/km). The racial makeup of the city was 76.83%White, 1.38%African American, 0.44%Native American, 10.20%Asian, 0.15%Pacific Islander, 7.19% fromother races, and 3.81% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 16.40% of the population.
There were 10,895 households, of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.29.
26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, themedian household incomewas $89,781 and the median family income was $102,191.Males had a median income of $59,144 versus $38,761 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $36,133.  About 3.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Laguna Hills is inthe  38th Senate District, represented byDemocratCatherine Blakespear, and inthe  72nd Assembly District, represented byRepublicanDiane Dixon.
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Laguna Hills is split betweenCalifornia's  40th congressional district, represented byRepublicanYoung Kim,andCalifornia's  47th congressional district, represented byDemocratDave Min.
Laguna Hills is historically a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. In2020, however,Joe Bidenbecame the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the city since its incorporation.
According to theCalifornia Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Laguna Hills has 18,217 registered voters. Of those, 7,002 (38.44%) are registered Republicans, 5,261 (28.88%) are registered Democrats, and 5,143 (28.23%) have no political party preference/are independents.
The Laguna Hills Civic Center was an existing office building at 24035 El Toro Road – near theLaguna Hills Mall– which was bought and totally renovated by the city. The city moved its City Hall there in 2004, but also rents out space in the building on a commercial basis, providing the city with a positive net income on the building.
Laguna Hills is home to one of theCalifornia DMVfield offices, where driving tests and other services are administered. The office serves much of south Orange County as the only other location in the region is inSan Clemente.
Fire protection in Laguna Hills is provided by theOrange County Fire Authoritywith ambulance service byCare Ambulance Service. There is also theMemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, a hospital equipped with a full emergency room. Law enforcement is provided by theOrange County Sheriff's Department.
Centers of economic activity include:
Laguna Hills is served by theSaddleback Valley Unified School District. Laguna Hills students attend a variety of high performing elementary schools; Lomarena Elementary School, San Joaquin Elementary School and Valencia Elementary School. Laguna Hills middle schools are La Paz Intermediate School and Los Alisos Intermediate School in neighboring Mission Viejo. The city has its own high school,Laguna Hills High School, the smallest school in the district built in 1978 and one of the smallest in south Orange County with fewer than 1,700 students. LHHS has been named a National Blue Ribbon School and a California Distinguished School on multiple occasions.