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city in Orange County, California, United States
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Costa Mesa ( KOH-stə MAY-sə; Spanish for 'Mesa Coast') 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 population was 111,918 at the 2020 census.
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.
To the south, meanwhile, the community of Harper had arisen on a siding of the Santa Ana and Newport Railway, named after a local rancher. This town prospered on its agricultural goods. On May 11, 1920, Harper changed its name to Costa Mesa, which means "coastal tableland" in Spanish. This is a reference to the city's geography as being a plateau by the coast. Fanny Bixby Spencer and her husband sponsored the contest which selected the city's new name.
Costa Mesa surged in population during and after World War II, as many thousands trained at Santa Ana Army Air Base and returned after the war with their families. Within three decades of incorporation, the city's population had nearly quintupled.
Costa Mesa is located 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Los Angeles, and 87 miles (140 km) northwest of San Diego. 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.
Costa Mesa has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with mild temperatures year round. Rain falls primarily in the winter months and is close to nonexistent during the summer.
Costa Mesa was first listed as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census as part of unincorporated Newport Beach Township; and listed as a city in the 1960 U.S. census.
The 2020 United States census reported that Costa Mesa had a population of 111,918. The population density was 7,080.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,733.9/km2). The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 54.1% White, 1.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 8.7% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 19.1% from other races, and 15.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.5% of the population.
The census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households, 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.
There were 42,179 households, out of which 28.2% included children under the age of 18, 41.2% were married-couple households, 9.5% were cohabiting couple households, 27.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 22.3% had a male householder with no partner present. 26.5% of households were one person, and 8.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61. There were 25,143 families (59.6% of all households).
The age distribution was 19.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% aged 18 to 24, 35.0% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males.
There were 44,047 housing units at an average density of 2,786.7 units per square mile (1,076.0 units/km2), of which 42,179 (95.8%) were occupied. Of these, 38.9% were owner-occupied, and 61.1% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $110,073, and the per capita income was $56,625. About 5.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line.
At the 2010 census Costa Mesa had a population of 109,960. The population density was 7,004.0 inhabitants per square mile (2,704.3/km2). The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 75,335 (68.5%) White (51.8% Non-Hispanic White), 1,640 (1.5%) African American, 686 (0.6%) Native American, 8,654 (7.9%) Asian, 527 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 17,992 (16.4%) from other races, and 5,126 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39,403 persons (35.8%).
The Census reported that 106,990 people (97.3% of the population) lived in households, 2,232 (2.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 738 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 39,946 households, 12,298 (30.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,478 (41.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,369 (10.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,392 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,013 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 281 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 10,963 households (27.4%) were one person and 2,775 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 23,239 families (58.2% of households); the average family size was 3.30.
The age distribution was 23,682 people (21.5%) under the age of 18, 12,847 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 38,211 people (34.7%) aged 25 to 44, 25,106 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,114 people (9.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.
There were 42,120 housing units at an average density of 2,682.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,799 (39.6%) were owner-occupied and 24,147 (60.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 42,517 people (38.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 64,473 people (58.6%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Costa Mesa had a median household income of $65,830, with 15.1% of the population living below the poverty line.
Measure Y is a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2016. It requires public approval of projects that have a general plan amendment or zoning change and would add 40 or more dwelling units or 10,000 or more square feet of commercial space. The median housing price is $807,000 ($505 per sq ft) and $3,500 for the median rent per month. Measure Y was amended in 2022 by Measure K.
The city's economy relies heavily on retail and services. The largest center of commercial activity is South Coast Plaza, a shopping center noted for its architecture and size. The volume of sales generated by South Coast Plaza, on the strength of its more than 270 stores, places it among the highest volume regional shopping centers in the nation. It generates more than $1 billion per year in revenue. South Coast Metro is a commercial, cultural, and residential district surrounding South Coast Plaza in northern Costa Mesa and southern Santa Ana, itself part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city.
Some manufacturing activity also takes place in the city, mostly in the industrial, southwestern quarter, which is home to a number of electronics, pharmaceuticals and plastics firms. Business services company Experian has its North American headquarters in Costa Mesa.
Anduril Industries, Ceradyne, El Pollo Loco, Emulex, Hurley, RVCA, Toyota Racing Development, Vans, and Volcom are among the businesses headquartered in Costa Mesa. A local newspaper, the Daily Pilot, is published by the Los Angeles Times.
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was headquartered in Costa Mesa (and had its main production studio there) until it relocated most of its operations. In addition, the Calvary Chapel denomination, along with its "mother church" Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, is located in the city.
Wahoo's Fish Taco was founded in Costa Mesa in 1988 by Chinese-Brazilian brothers Eduardo "Ed" Lee, Renato "Mingo" Lee and Wing Lam.
Costa Mesa offers 26 parks, a municipal golf course, 26 public schools and two libraries.
According to the city's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, the top employers in the city are:
The Orange County Fair takes place at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa each July. The Fair receives more than one million visitors each year.
The Annual Scarecrow & Pumpkin Festival was first held in 1938, went on hiatus for seven decades, and then was restarted in 2013.
Adjacent to the Fairgrounds is the Pacific Amphitheatre, which has hosted acts such as Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Steppenwolf, and Kelly Clarkson.
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory Theater are based in the city.
Costa Mesa has been home to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders training camp since 2024. Previously it was home to the training center, training camp and corporate headquarters of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 to 2024. The team agreed to a lease of the facility they moved into prior to their relocation from San Diego.
The building, called the Jack Hammett Sports Complex is a former office space, but Chargers players and coaches said it was an upgrade from what the team had in San Diego. The Chargers occupied the facility until 2024 when they left for a purpose-built practice facility in El Segundo. The team gutted the first floor of the building to make room for team rooms. Construction cost more than $3.8 million. After the Chargers departed for El Segundo, the facility became the training camp home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Decades prior, the facility was a lima bean farm owned by a Swedish immigrant family who became prominent developers in Orange County.
A general law city, Costa Mesa has a council-manager form of government. In November 2016, voters approved changing the City Council seats from five at-large seats to six voting districts and a directly elected mayor, who acts as the chairperson for the council and head of the government. The mayor serves two-year terms and councilmembers serve four year terms, with each office having a two-term limit. Municipal elections are held every two years, during which the mayor and three councilmembers are up for election.
Day to day, the city is run by a professional city manager and staff of approximately 460 full-time employees. Residents of the city are also serviced by various special districts, including the Mesa Water District, the Orange County Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, the Irvine Ranch Water District, and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
In the California State Legislature, Costa Mesa is in the 37th senatorial district, represented by Republican Steven Choi, and in the 73rd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris.
In the United States House of Representatives, Costa Mesa is in California's 47th congressional district, represented by Democrat Dave Min.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 20, 2024, Costa Mesa has 60,789 registered voters. Of those, 22,661 (37.3%) are registered Democrats, 19,888 (32.7%) are registered Republicans, 15,204 (25%) have declined to state a political party/are independents, 2,717 (4.5%) are registered American Independents, and 319 (0.5%) are registered to the Green Party.
Until 2008, Costa Mesa was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. Since 2008, Costa Mesa has mostly voted Democratic in presidential elections, owing to the GOP's shift towards cultural conservatism. In 2008, Barack Obama was the first Democrat to carry Costa Mesa in decades, while Republican nominee Mitt Romney carried the city by only 364 votes in the 2012 presidential election. Costa Mesa flipped back to Democratic in 2016, voting for Hillary Clinton by a 10.2% margin, and for Joe Biden by a 14.6% margin in 2020.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Costa Mesa, California”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.