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Costa Mesa, CA

Frequently asked questions

Costa Mesa, CA

Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, one of the region's largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The city is home to the two tallest skyscrapers in Orange County. The population was 111,918 at the 2020 census.

Costa Mesa is located 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Los Angeles, 87 miles (140 km) northwest of San Diego, and 425 miles (684 km) southeast of San Francisco. Costa Mesa encompasses a total of 16 square miles (41 km2) with its southernmost border only 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Pacific Ocean.

Members of the Tongva and Acjachemen nations long inhabited the area. The Tongva villages of Lupukngna, at least 3,000 years old, and the shared Tongva and Acjachemen village of Genga, at least 9,500 years old, were located in the area on the bluffs along the Santa Ana River.

After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Junípero Serra named the area Vallejo de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement in Alta California, New Spain.

In 1801, the Spanish Empire granted 62,500 acres (253 km2) to Jose Antonio Yorba, which he named Rancho San Antonio.

After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States, and American settlers arrived in this area and formed the town of Fairview in the 1880s near the modern intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

Costa Mesa focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Costa Mesa’s Recreation and Community Services Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Planet Fitness, Curl Fitness, and UFC Gym. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Costa Mesa, such as the Talbert Nature Preserve and the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Costa Mesa, CA are Orange County Museum of Art, Noguchi Garden, and The Pacific Amphitheatre.

Population: 109,131 (2024). ZIP codes: 92626–92628. Area codes: 714, 657, 949. Elevation: 30 m. Area: 15.81 sq mi (40.96 km2).

FAQs

Is Costa Mesa, CA a wealthy area?

The per capita income in Costa Mesa in 2018 was $47,636, which is upper middle income relative to California, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $190,544 for a family of four. However, Costa Mesa contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

Is Costa Mesa, CA a good city to live in?

Costa Mesa is in Orange County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Costa Mesa offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes.  In Costa Mesa, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Costa Mesa and residents tend to be liberal. 

What is Costa Mesa, CA known for?

Today, with its southernmost border only one mile from the Pacific Ocean, Costa Mesa has evolved from a town with agricultural roots to become a world-class center for fashion with South Coast Plaza, a mecca for arts and theater with Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and a renowned dining destination, garnering national recognition and offering James Beard Award-nominated and TV celebrity chefs. Costa Mesa is also home to the OC Fair & Event Center, which hosts the annual Orange County Fair, one of the largest in the United States. Costa Mesa's center for retail is South Coast Plaza, a global shopping destination renowned for its breadth and depth of luxury boutiques, everything from Prada and Gucci to Cartier and Tiffany. 

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa’s Recreation and Community Services Department

Planet Fitness

Curl Fitness 

UFC Gym

Talbert Nature Preserve 

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Orange County Museum of Art

Noguchi Garden

The Pacific Amphitheatre

NeighborhoodScout

Niche

Travel Costa Mesa

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