Population Growth

Most of the County's population growth, measured in numbers of residents, has occurred in areas generally regarded as North County.

 POPULATION  BY JURISDICTION
Total Population
 
1990
2000
 Population 
 Increase
North/South
Jurisdiction
Aliso Viejo
7,612
40,166
S
Anaheim
266,406
328,014
N
Brea
32,873
35,410
N
Buena Park
68,784
78,282
N
Costa Mesa
96,357
108,724
N
Coto de Caza
2,853
13,057
S
Cypress
42,655
46,229
N
Dana Point
31,896
35,110
S
Foothill Ranch
10,899
S
Fountain Valley
53,691
54,978
N
Fullerton
114,144
126,003
N
Garden Grove
143,050
165,196
N
Huntington Beach
181,519
189,594
N
Irvine
110,330
143,072
S
Laguna Beach
23,170
23,727
S
Laguna Hills
46,731
31,178
S
Laguna Niguel
44,400
61,891
S
Laguna Woods  
16,507
 
S
La Habra
51,266
55,897
N
Lake Forest
62,685
58,707
S
Las Flores
5,625
S
La Palma
15,392
15,408
N
Los Alamitos
11,676
11,536
N
Mission Viejo
72,820
93,102
S
Newport Beach/Coast
66,643
72,703
N
Orange
110,658
128,821
N
Placentia
41,259
46,488
N
Portola Hills
2,677
6,391
 
S
R. Santa Margarita
11,390
47,214
 
S
Rossmoor
9,893
10,298
 
N
San Clemente
41,100
49,936
S
San Juan Capistrano
26,183
33,826
S
San Joaquin Hills
2,959
S
Santa Ana
293,742
337,977
N
Seal Beach
25,098
24,157
N
Stanton
30,491
37,403
N
Tustin
50,689
67,504
N
Tustin Foothills
24,358
24,044
N
Villa Park
6,299
5,999
N
Westminster
78,118
88,207
N
Yorba Linda
52,422
58,918
N
     
Total Orange County 2,351,330
2,794,234
   442,904  
Total North County 1,867,483 2,120,867    253,384
 N
Total South County    483,847    673,367    189,520
S
1990
 

2000

Source:  U.S. Census data by city, published in the O.C. Register, March 30, 2001 pg L3
Page 1 story provides slightly different numbers.

Analysis of data from 1980 to 1998 showed the same result:  North County has experienced greater  population growth than South County.
 
 
Jan 1, 
1980
Jan 1, 
1998
Population increase
Total Orange County 1,921,500 2,722,291    800,791
Total North County 1,487,750 1,939,935    452,185
Total South County    433,750    786,356    352,606

Sources: California Department of Finance, and Center for Demographic Research, CSU Fullerton.

23July99 Center For Demographic Research