Orange County is one of the most popular places to live in California. The county boasts attractions such as Disneyland and multiple popular beaches. With its booming tourism industry and warm climate, it comes to no surprise that it would be a well-populated area. Here are some of the most heavily populated cities located in Orange County.
Anaheim
Anaheim is the most populous city in Orange County, according to the 2010 census. That makes sense, knowing that Anaheim is home to multiple theme parks, the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey club, the Angels baseball team, and the Anaheim Convention Center. The economy of Anaheim is based on tourism with the Walt Disney Company being the largest employer in the area. Major city attractions include the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim GardenWalk, the Honda Center, and the Oak Canyon Nature Center.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana serves as the county seat for Orange County. It’s the second most populous city in Orange County. Santa Ana shares its name with the Santa Ana Freeway that runs through it, and the Santa Ana winds and Santa Ana Mountains. The city is home to multiple corporate headquarters including CoreLogic, First American Corporation, STEC, TTM Technologies, Behr Paint, and Wahoo’s Fish Taco. The top employer is the County of Orange. Santa Ana boasts an abundance of parks and is located close to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. Beaches are also located nearby and the city has many shopping centers and dining areas to choose from.
Irvine
Irvine is another heavily populated city in Orange County. Many tech companies and companies in the semiconductor sector call the affluent city of Irvine their home. There are many higher education facilities in Irvine that include the University of California, Irvine (UCI), the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California, and the University of La Verne, just to name a few. Irvine’s top employers are the University of California, Irvine, and Edwards Lifesciences. The city is home to many community and neighborhood parks. It also hosts The Irvine Global Village Festival and is often used as a filming location for multiple productions.
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach is another city in Orange County that boasts a heavy population. This beach city was named after a railroad magnate. The city is well-known for its beach culture. It contains a nearly 10-mile sandy beach stretch with waves that are ideal for surfing year round. Huntington Beach is often referred to as “Surf City”. Boeing, Quiksilver, and Cambro Manufacturing are the largest employers in the city.
Garden Grove
In the Northern part of Orange County is the well-populated city of Garden Grove. West Garden Grove is the western part of the city. The city has a strong art culture with two home theaters at Garden Grove, the Festival Amphitheater and the Gem Theater. An annual Shakespeare festival is hosted by the Festival Amphitheater. The top employers in Huntington Beach include Air Industries Corp, American Apparel Knit & Dye, Prime Healthcare Services, and Walmart.
