The City of Costa Mesa— just one mile from the Pacific Coast in the heart of Orange County—is one of California’s most eclectic and vibrant cities. The city is home to South Coast Plaza, one of the nation’s largest shopping centers, and the world-class Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory theater. Costa Mesa is also the capitol of the action sports industry and the headquarters for companies such as Hurley International, Volcom, RVCA and Paul Frank Industries.
The city’s diverse dining scene has earned Costa Mesa the award from Rand/McNally and USA Today as being the best small town for restaurants west of the Mississippi River. Costa Mesa’s creative bent has given rise to The Lab and The Camp, two counter-culture retail developments, and the SoCo Collection, a cutting edge, environmentally friendly shopping center.
Costa Mesa encompasses 16 square miles and has a population of about 110,000. Since its incorporation in 1953, Costa Mesa has evolved from a semi-rural farming community of 15,000 to a city with robust local economy that generates tax revenues of about $100 million annually. A general law city, Costa Mesa has a council-manager form of government and staff of approximately 450 full-time employees.
Costa Mesa offers 28 parks, two municipal golf courses, 20 public schools and three libraries. Orange Coast College, Coastline Community College, Vanguard University, and Whittier Law School have their campuses in Costa Mesa. The Orange County Fair and Event Center is also within the city limits.
Costa Mesa residents enjoy a mild Southern California climate. The City’s location provides easy access to many of Southern California’s major attractions, including beaches, mountain areas, high and low deserts, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Palm Springs and Los Angeles.
