Garden Grove, California

Garden Grove, is a city centrally located in northern Orange County, California. As of 2004, the city had a total population of 170,000 people. California State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city from east to west. Garden Grove is home to a substantial Vietnamese population, forming the northern edge of Orange County's Little Saigon, and also to a large Korean population centered along Garden Grove Boulevard west of Brookhurst Street. The city is possibly best known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral, from which religious broadcasts are made.

Garden Grove was founded by Alonzo Cook in 1874. A school district and Methodist church were organized that year. It remained a small rural crossroads until the arrival of the railroad in 1905. The rail connection helped the town prosper with crops of oranges, walnuts, chili peppers and -- later -- strawberries. In 1933, much of the town's central business district was destroyed by the Long Beach earthquake, and one person was killed. The post-World War II boom led to rapid development, and Garden Grove was incorporated as a city in 1956 with about 44,000 residents.

By 1960, population had grown to 85,000; by 1970 it was 120,000. In the late Seventies and Eighties a significant Asian population (primarily Vietnamese and Korean) began to locate in the area. In recent years, Harbor Boulevard has become a booming entertainment and tourism area, served by nine high-rise hotels. Well-known Garden Grove residents include actor Steve Martin, adventurer Steve Fossett and baseball star Lenny Dysktra.

Geography

Garden Grove is located at 33°46'44" North, 117°57'37" West (33.778766, -117.960267)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.7 km² (18.0 mi²). 46.7 km² (18.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.11% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 165,196 people, 45,791 households, and 36,449 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,539.5/km² (9,165.2/mi²). There are 46,703 housing units at an average density of 1,000.7/km² (2,591.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 46.88% White, 30.92% Asian, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.65% Pacific Islander, 15.35% from other races, and 4.12% from two or more races. 32.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 45,791 households out of which 42.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% are married couples living together, 13.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% are non-families. 15.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.56 and the average family size is 3.90.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,754, and the median income for a family is $49,697. Males have a median income of $33,295 versus $26,709 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,209. 13.9% of the population and 10.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government

As of November 2004, the city's mayor is William Dalton, and the city council members are Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Rosen, Harry Krebs, Mark Leyes and Janet Nguyen. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.