Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Its name means "Coast Mesa" in Spanish. “Mesa” means a flat-topped hill.

The city became official in 1953. At that time, it was a small farming place 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. This is one of the biggest commercial areas in the region. The city's work is based on shopping, business, and light factories. 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. European settlers arrived in the late 1700s, and the area was 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. 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 about 37 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 87 miles northwest of San Diego. The city covers an area of 16 square miles. Its southern edge is just 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean.

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

Demographics

Costa Mesa was first listed as a 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

Costa Mesa's economy is mostly based on shopping and services. The biggest shopping place is South Coast Plaza, famous for its size and design. It has over 270 stores.

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

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

Top employers

Arts and culture

The Orange County Fair happens in Costa Mesa every July and welcomes many 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 for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers used a building called the Jack Hammett Sports Complex. 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 farm owned by a family who later became important developers in Orange County.

Government

Costa Mesa has a special kind of government called "council-manager." In 2016, people 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 city manager and a team of workers. Costa Mesa also works with water districts to help 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.

Costa Mesa has many registered voters. For 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, 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 and Costa Mesa Middle School. All these schools are part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Transportation

Costa Mesa has bus lines run by the Orange County Transportation Authority, but most people drive cars. 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 passes through the city.

Infrastructure

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

The city’s fire services are provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department. The Costa Mesa Police Department handles law enforcement. Emergency medical help comes from 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, Wyndham in Australia. Sister cities are towns in different countries that help each other and learn together.