| City of Yorba Linda | |||
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| — City — | |||
| One of many similar welcome signs throughout the city | |||
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| Motto: Land of gracious living[1] | |||
| Location of Yorba Linda within Orange County, California. | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Orange | ||
| Incorporated | November 2, 1967 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | City Council (five seats) | ||
| • City Council | Mayor Mark Schwing Tom Lindsey John Anderson Jim Winder Nancy Rikel |
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| • City Manager | Dave Adams | ||
| • City Treasurer | David Christian | ||
| Area[2] | |||
| • Total | 20.018 sq mi (51.847 km2) | ||
| • Land | 19.483 sq mi (50.460 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.535 sq mi (1.387 km2) 2.67% | ||
| Elevation | 270 ft (82.3 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 64,234 | ||
| • Density | 3,208.8/sq mi (1,238.9/km2) | ||
| • Demonym | Yorba Lindan | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 92885, 92886, 92887 | ||
| Area code(s) | 657, 714 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-86832 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1652817 | ||
| Website | City website | ||
Yorba Linda is an affluent suburban community in northeastern Orange County, California, approximately 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Downtown Santa Ana, and 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Yorba Linda is often identified as the richest city in the U.S. by the U.S. Census Bureau that shows a median household income of $121,075 higher than any other city [2], [3], [4].
As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 64,234. Its most famous resident was Richard Nixon, who was born there; however, his father moved the family away before Yorba Linda became a city. The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is therefore probably the most well-known and visited site in the city.
Yorba Linda is known for having large residential lots[3] as well as 30 horse trails,[4] which are 100 miles (160 km) in aggregate length.[5]
In 2005 CNN ranked Yorba Linda 21st among the best places in the U.S. to live.[6] Similarly, in an article by CNN Money, Yorba Linda was one of the richest U.S. cities and the highest in Orange County as reported by the Census data, showing median household income of over $120K: "Among towns of between 65,000 and 250,000 in population, Yorba Linda, California, where six-figure incomes are the rule, had the highest median income at $121,075"[7][8]
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This area was the home of the Luiseno, Tongva, and Juaneño Indians at one time.
In 1834 Jose Antonio Yorba's most successful son Bernardo Yorba (whom the city would later be named after) was granted the 13,328-acre (53.94 km2) Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana by Mexican governor José Figueroa. Most of this original land was retained after the Mexican American war in 1848, by descendants of the original Yorba family. A portion of the city's land is still owned and developed by descendants of Samuel Kraemer, who acquired it through his marriage to Angelina Yorba, the great granddaughter of Bernardo Yorba. The Yorba family still owns portions of Yorba Linda, and there is still the Yorba Ranch on the side of the 91 freeway. The site of the Bernardo Yorba Hacienda, referred to as the Don Bernardo Yorba Ranch House Site, is listed as a California Historical Landmark.[9]
Near that same site sits the second oldest private cemetery in the county, the Historic Yorba Cemetery.[10] The land was given to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Bernardo[10] in the year of his death, 1858,[11] since Orange County was not established out of Los Angeles County as a separate county until 1889.[12] The cemetery closed in 1939 and was subsequently vandalized; however, in the 1960s, the Orange County Board of Supervisors took possession of the property in order to begin to undo the damage, and tours are now available one day per month.[10]
A section of the land was sold in 1907 to the Janss Investment Company, which first called the area Yorba Linda,[13] and proceeded to subdivide the land and sell it for agriculture and manufacturing. In 1910, the agricultural aspect of that endeavor materialized, and the first of many lemon and orange groves were planted: at the time, the population was still less than 50.[11] A year later, The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company began serving Yorba Linda, and the first school was constructed.[11]
In 1912 several things happened in Yorba Linda: it received its first post office; the Yorba Linda Citrus Association was founded; the Southern California Edison Company began providing electricity; and the first church was constructed.[11] The area that would later become downtown was also connected to Los Angeles by the Pacific Electric Railway in 1912, primarily for citrus transport.[13]
In 1913, Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, the chamber of commerce was set up, a library opened as part of the school, and avocado trees were first planted.[11] A year later a separate district was established for the library system.[11]
In 1915, the Susanna Bixby Bryant Ranch house was constructed.[11] It is now a museum and can be toured by the public.[14]
In 1917, the Yorba Linda Star began publication.[15] It has since become an online section of the OC Register.[16] However, a printed version of just the Star still exists and is available at various city buildings free of charge and is delivered to every household in Yorba Linda each Thursday.[17] Moreover, its past articles are available for viewing on microfilm at the Yorba Linda Public Library.[18] In that same year, the first street was paved, Yorba Linda Boulevard.[11]
The population exceeded 300 for the first time prior to 1920.[11] In 1929, the citrus association's packing house burned down, as it was made of wood.[11] It reopened the next year.[11]
The small town had grown significantly by the 1960s, with over 1,000 residents by the 1960 Census, and survived or fought off three annexation considerations or attempts: one by Brea in 1958 and one each by Anaheim and Placentia in 1963.[11] These experiences culminated in incorporation, which occurred in 1967.[13]
The new city drew up and implemented its municipal general plan in 1972.[11] By the 1980 Census, the population was nearing 30,000.[11] Within ten years it exceeded 50,000.[11]
In 1990, the Birthplace of Richard Nixon opened as a public library and museum.[11] It would later become a federal presidential library.[19] In 1994, the community center opened.[11]
In 2007, Yorba Linda High School finally broke ground after many years of planning.[11]
In November 2008, eastern Yorba Linda suffered from fires that destroyed 113 homes and damaged 50 others. The destruction was due largely to erratic winds causing embers to fly up to half a mile away. William Lockhart, captain of the Orange County Fire Authority, reported that water pressure is good when fighting a single family home fire, but during a profound firestorm, as was the case in this event, perfect pressure from every single hydrant at the same time is not possible.[20][21]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2). 19.5 square miles (51 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) of it (2.67%) is water.
It has two ZIP codes, 92886 and 92887, which approximately serve the western and eastern portions of the city, respectively. A third, 92885, also exists, exclusively for PO Boxes.[22] The city is served by area codes 657 and 714 in a geographical overlay situation, in which 714 numbers were running out, so that 657 numbers are now also being issued in the same area. Ten-digit dialing is therefore now required for local calls.
It is bordered by Anaheim on the south, Placentia on the west and southwest, Brea on the northwest, Chino Hills State Park on the north, and Corona on the east.
The two nearest seismic faults are the Whittier Fault and the Chino Fault, both of which are part of the Elsinore Fault Zone.[23]
The city receives 14 to 15 inches of rain per year on average.[24] The average temperatures in January and July are 55 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, with the overall average for the year at 63.[24] Humidity, likewise respectively, is 52%, 60%, and 56% on average.[24]
The two main commercially zoned areas of the city are Savi Ranch, which straddles Weir Canyon Road / Yorba Linda Boulevard and is discussed in more detail below, and a section along the north side of La Palma Avenue, which is primarily an office park.[4]
There are other, smaller shopping centers as well, however, which are primarily retail, including, among others:
There are over 1,000 commercial businesses in the city in all, with more than 1,500 additional ones based out of residents' homes.[30] The city also owns[31] Black Gold Golf Club.[32]
Savi Ranch today contains retailers, auto dealers, restaurants, hotels, and office buildings. The major stores are Best Buy, Petsmart, Staples, La-Z-Boy, Denny's Diner, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, Sprouts and Costco Wholesale.[33] The eastern side of Savi Ranch is the Yorba Linda side and is larger than the western side, which lies within Anaheim.
Originally, the city pursued construction of an auto mall on the entire Savi Ranch site.[34] Although multiple car lots do presently exist, the original plan was rejected by residents, in favor of a combination of retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and office buildings. Moreover, as of 2010, two of the three car dealer locations sit empty, one of which only sold used cars. For a time, all three sat in disrepair, and the only dealer in operation now is a custom one that caters to high-end buyers.[35]
As a significant source of sales tax revenue to Yorba Linda and as one of the first anchor tenants (along with Best Buy),[36] The Home Depot became a political talking point in its own right.[37]
This is due to the fact that Savi Ranch is divided into two sections, East and West. Savi Ranch East is the Yorba Linda side, while Savi Ranch West lies within Anaheim. At the inception of Savi Ranch, The Home Depot was located in Savi Ranch East. In the early 2000s, however, the Super Kmart location in Savi Ranch West went out of business, and The Home Depot moved into that location to build what was at the time the company's largest store and in the process took the sales tax across the city boundary.
According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[38] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CareFusion | 389 |
| 2 | Nobel Biocare | 328 |
| 3 | Costco | 276 |
| 4 | City of Yorba Linda | 194 |
| 5 | Vons | 165 |
| 6 | Kohl's | 158 |
| 7 | Best Buy | 129 |
| 8 | Sunrise Senior Living | 126 |
| 9 | Office Solutions | 92 |
| 10 | Cobra Engineering | 80 |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,198 |
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| 1970 | 11,856 | 889.6% | |
| 1980 | 28,254 | 138.3% | |
| 1990 | 52,422 | 85.5% | |
| 2000 | 58,918 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 64,234 | 9.0% | |
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The 2010 United States Census[39] reported that Yorba Linda had a population of 64,234. The population density was 3,208.8 people per square mile (1,238.9/km²). The racial makeup of Yorba Linda was 48,246 (75.1%) White, 835 (1.3%) African American, 230 (0.4%) Native American, 10,030 (15.6%) Asian, 85 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,256 (3.5%) from other races, and 2,552 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,220 persons (14.4%).
The Census reported that 64,044 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 97 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 93 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 21,576 households, out of which 8,535 (39.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 15,102 (70.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,844 (8.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 758 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 554 (2.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 101 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,119 households (14.5%) were made up of individuals and 1,515 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97. There were 17,704 families (82.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.29.
The population was spread out with 15,792 people (24.6%) under the age of 18, 5,574 people (8.7%) aged 18 to 24, 13,848 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 21,414 people (33.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 7,606 people (11.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
There were 22,305 housing units at an average density of 1,114.2 per square mile (430.2/km²), of which 18,108 (83.9%) were owner-occupied, and 3,468 (16.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 54,464 people (84.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,580 people (14.9%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the 2000 Census[41], there were 58,918 people, 19,252 households, and 16,094 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,042.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,174.4/km²). There were 19,567 housing units at an average density of 1,010.4 per square mile (390.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.5% White, 1.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 11.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.3% of the population.[42]
There were 19,252 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median household income in the city was $109,681, and the median income for a family was $122,373.[43] Males had a median income of $66,712 versus $41,820 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,173. About 0% of the population were below the poverty line.
Yorba Linda was one of just three California cities to pass a measure in their city council proclaiming its support for the controversial Arizona immigration law, SB1070.[44]
The city council consists of five members that are elected by residents to four-year terms, with a three-term limits.[45] A city manager is hired by the council to run day-to-day operations of the city. The council elects its own mayor at the end of every year from within its ranks, whose duty is to "preside over the meetings and represent the city at various functions."[45] The combination of these two things means that the city employs a council-manager form of government.
The council members are:
Management of the city and coordination of city services is provided by:
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Steve Rudometkin |
| Community Development Director | Steve Harris[50] |
| Finance Director | David Christian |
| Library Director | Melinda Steep[51] |
| City Attorney | Sonia R. Carvalho |
| Fire Chief, Orange County Fire Authority | Keith Richter |
| Parks & Recreation Director | Susan Leto[52] |
| Police Chief, Brea Police Department | Billy L. Hutchinson |
| Public Works Director/City Engineer | Mark L. Stowell |
Yorba Linda has four commissions, which meet monthly or bimonthly, to advise the city council about their respective projects.[53]
The library commission operates the Yorba Linda Public Library, which has existed in some form since 1913, and is composed of five residents whose duties include selecting new materials for the library to acquire and establishing guidelines and regulations, among other things.[54]
The planning commission is in charge of matters pertaining to land use, zoning, annexation, right-of-ways, and construction of new buildings, among other things; however, its five members are appointed by the council.[55]
The traffic commission seeks to address issues of safety, flow, public complaints, parking, and others.[56] Members serve terms of two years.[56]
The parks and recreation commission is composed of council-appointed members as well and is tasked with a variety of responsibilities for all of the city's facilities and trails.[57]
The schedules for all of the commissions' meeting times and places can be viewed here.[53]
Law enforcement is currently contracted out to the Brea Police Department,[58] which has a satellite administrative office in Yorba Linda.[59]
This arrangement began in the 1970s, marking the first time in the state's history that a municipality, as opposed to a county sheriff's department, provided police services to another municipality.[60] Prior to this setup, but after the city's incorporation in 1967, Yorba Linda did contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which was and still is typical for municipalities that are not large enough or simply choose not to maintain an in-house police department. These few years, from 1967 to the switch to Brea's force, would have therefore been natural, as any sheriff's department is tasked with serving the unincorporated areas in its county.
In the past, Yorba Linda has been rated one of the safest cities in the United States.
Fire services are provided by the Orange County Fire Authority.
The Yorba Linda Water District, headquartered in Placentia,[61] serves nearly all residents.[62] Golden State Water, which also has a field office in Placentia,[63] serves the remainder.[62]
The city contracts out[62] waste collection to Yorba Linda Disposal.[64]
Natural gas is provided by Southern California Gas Company, and electricity is provided by Southern California Edison.[62]
Yorba Linda is part of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.[65] This district is home to nearly 28,000 students.
Several schools in the district have received the California Distinguished School award.
The districts schools are categorized below.
Elementary:
Middle:
High school:
St. Francis of Assisi School serves as the only Catholic school in the city. Many parents seeking a private school education for their children send their PS-8th graders to Heritage Oak Private School and high schoolers to nearby Lutheran High School of Orange County in the city of Orange, Servite High School (boys) or Rosary High School (girls) in Anaheim, or Mater Dei High School (co-ed) in Santa Ana.
The brand-new Yorba Linda High School, home of the Mustangs, opened it's doors in the Fall of 2009 to Freshmen and Sophomores only. The first full graduating class from YLHS will be the Class of 2012. As of 2011, one private high school, Friends Christian High School is currently under construction. Historically, a majority of Yorba Linda students also attend Esperanza[100] in Anaheim, Troy High School in nearby Fullerton, or El Dorado[101] in Placentia.
There are two Montessori Preschools in Yorba Linda:
In the state legislature Yorba Linda is located in the 29th Senate District, which is represented by Republican Bob Huff.[102] From the eastern part of the city towards the west, roughly, Yorba Linda is in the 60th and 72nd Assembly Districts, which are respectively represented by Republicans Curt Hagman[103] and Chris Norby.[104]
In the United States House of Representatives, the city is located in the 42nd District, which has a Cook PVI of R +10[105] and is represented by Republican Gary Miller.[106]
Current or former Yorba Lindans of note include:
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