SafekipediaBuena Park, California
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Buena Park is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 84,034 people. The name "Buena Park" comes from the Spanish word "buena," which means "good."
The city is well-known for its fun places to visit, such as Knott's Berry Farm, an exciting theme park. Buena Park is located about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of downtown Santa Ana, the county seat. It is also part of the larger Los Angeles metropolitan area, which means many people live and work nearby.
History
The area of Buena Park was home to the Tongva village named Juyubit. This village was one of the largest in the region, located near Coyote Creek at the base of the West Coyote Hills. The Tongva people used local oak trees for food and hunted animals like rabbit and mule deer for meat.
Later, the Spanish established Mission San Gabriel nearby in 1771. Many villagers from Juyubit were brought to the mission to live and work. Sadly, many did not survive due to difficult conditions. Eventually, Spanish settlers began creating large farms called ranchos in the area.
In 1887, a man named James A. Whitaker founded the City of Buena Park. The city's name might come from a place in Chicago or from a park-like area with a special well. Buena Park started as a place for farming but is now mostly a home for families and a busy shopping area. Today, it is known for places like Knott's Berry Farm.
Points of interest
Buena Park has many fun places to visit! In the E-Zone district along Beach Boulevard, you can find Knott's Berry Farm, a famous theme park, and its water park, Knott's Soak City. There are also fun shows like the Pirate's Dinner Adventure and Medieval Times.
Other spots include Los Coyotes Country Club with its big golf course and Ralph B. Clark Regional Park, which has walking trails, a fishing pond, and a small museum with interesting exhibits. There was also a Nabisco factory that made tasty cookies like Honey Maid graham crackers and Ritz Crackers before it closed.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, Buena Park covers an area of 10.6 square miles (27 km2). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water. People in Buena Park are proud that their city is near the center of the southland area.
Buena Park is split into North and South Buena Park by State Route 91. The city shares borders with Fullerton to the east, Anaheim to the southeast, Cypress to the southwest, Cerritos and La Palma to the west, and La Mirada to the north.
Demographics
Buena Park was first listed as a community in the 1950 U.S. census and became a city in the 1960 U.S. census.
As of the 2020 census, Buena Park had a population of 84,034 people. The median age was 37.9 years, with many families and households making up the community. Most people lived in homes, either owning or renting them.
The 2010 United States census reported that Buena Park had a population of 80,530. The racial makeup included many different groups, and most people lived in households with families.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated the median household income was $108,187, with a small percentage of the population living below the poverty line.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 48,883 | 40,298 | 29,885 | 22,302 | 16,331 | 76.18% | 58.59% | 38.18% | 27.69% | 19.43% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 686 | 1,640 | 2,826 | 2,809 | 2,504 | 1.07% | 2.38% | 3.61% | 3.49% | 2.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 441 | 406 | 315 | 188 | 174 | 0.69% | 0.59% | 0.40% | 0.23% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,628 | 5,979 | 16,338 | 21,232 | 27,499 | 4.10% | 8.69% | 20.87% | 26.37% | 32.72% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 358 | 389 | 373 | 0.46% | 0.48% | 0.44% | ||||
| Other race alone (NH) | 112 | 114 | 154 | 139 | 345 | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.20% | 0.17% | 0.41% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 2,185 | 1,833 | 2,478 | x | x | 2.79% | 2.28% | 2.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11,415 | 16,879 | 26,221 | 31,638 | 34,330 | 17.79% | 24.53% | 33.50% | 39.29% | 40.85% |
| Total | 64,165 | 68,784 | 78,282 | 80,530 | 84,034 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 21,799 | 25.9% |
| Black or African American | 2,717 | 3.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,079 | 1.3% |
| Asian | 27,858 | 33.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 434 | 0.5% |
| Some other race | 18,807 | 22.4% |
| Two or more races | 11,340 | 13.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 34,330 | 40.9% |
Economy
Buena Park has many jobs, with big companies helping the city’s work. Some of the top places to work are listed in a report from 2021.
One well-known store, 99 Ranch Market, started in Buena Park. There was also a big factory for Nabisco snacks that opened in 1965, but it closed and was taken down in 2006.
The Source OC is a fun Korean shopping place with three floors. It has a theater, a golf area, and a karaoke room. You can find Korean grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, and even a boba shop. It opened with excitement but has had money troubles, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inside, you might see spots like K-Pop Music Town and shops such as Imvely and The Mirror.
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knott's Berry Farm | 5,071 |
| 2 | Leach | 483 |
| 3 | PepsiCo | 477 |
| 4 | Access Business Group | 372 |
| 5 | Yamaha | 350 |
| 6 | RIA Financial/AFEX Money Express | 348 |
| 7 | City of Buena Park | 281 |
| 8 | Walmart | 269 |
| 9 | Exemplis Manufacturing | 250 |
| 10 | House of Imports | 249 |
Government
Buena Park became an official city on January 27, 1953. In 2008, the people of Buena Park voted to create a City Charter, which guides how the city is run.
The city uses a council-manager system. This means that a group of five elected leaders, called the City Council, make the rules, and a City Manager takes care of running the city’s day-to-day activities. One of the council members serves as the mayor.
Buena Park is represented by different leaders at the state and national levels. In the California State Senate, it is split between two districts. In the California State Assembly, it is part of one district. In the United States House of Representatives, Buena Park is in California's 45th congressional district.
As of October 2022, there were over 43,000 registered voters in Buena Park. Most of them were registered with one of two main political groups, with many choosing not to state a political party.
The Buena Park Post Office is located at 7377 La Palma Avenue.
Education
Buena Park has a special library district that helps the community with reading and learning. The library started in 1905 and now has over 125,000 books and materials.
The city has several school districts that help children learn. Most of the northern part of Buena Park is covered by the Buena Park School District, which sends students to high schools in the Fullerton area. Other parts of the city are served by different school districts, and students can attend high schools in nearby cities like Anaheim and Fullerton. Buena Park High School is the only high school located inside the city itself.
Infrastructure
Los Cerritos Community News serves the city of Buena Park.
Fire protection is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority, and law enforcement is handled by the Buena Park Police Department. Ambulance service is also available.
Beach Boulevard, also known as California State Route 39, is the main commercial road in Buena Park. It connects the civic center, the E-Zone entertainment district, and the Buena Park Downtown shopping center.
Three major highways run through Buena Park: Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway), California State Route 39 (Beach Boulevard), and California State Route 91 (Artesia Freeway). These highways link Buena Park with nearby cities. The Orange County Transportation Authority offers public bus services, though most people use cars to get around. Additionally, a Metrolink station opened in Buena Park in September 2007, and the LA Metro route 460 bus connects to downtown Los Angeles and Crypto.com Arena.
The closest airport is Fullerton Municipal Airport, but the nearest one with commercial flights is Long Beach Airport, about 13 miles away. Union Pacific and BNSF railroad tracks also cross the city.
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Buena Park, California, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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