Tustin, California

History

Members of the Tongva and Juaneño/Luiseño nations long inhabited this area. After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Father Junipero 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. Yorba's great rancho included the lands where the cities of Olive, Orange, Villa Park, Santa Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach stand today. Smaller ranchos evolved from this large rancho including the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana.

After the Mexican-American war, Alta California became part of the United States and American settlers arrived in this area. Columbus Tustin, a carriage maker from Northern California, founded the city in the 1870s on 1,300 acres (5 km²) of land from the former Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. The city was incorporated in 1927 with a population of about 900. The townsite was bordered by Camino Real on the south, Newport Avenue on the east, 1st Street on the north, & the Costa Mesa Freeway on the west. During World War II, a Navy anti-submarine airship base (later to become a Marine Corps helicopter station) was established in unincorporated land south of the city; the two dirigible hangars are among the largest wooden structures ever built and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and ASCE List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks. Suburban growth after the war resulted in increased population, annexation of nearby unincorporated land including the base, and development of orchards and farmland into housing tracts and shopping malls.

Geography

Tustin is located at 33°44′23″N 117°48′49″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²)

It is bordered by Irvine on the south and east, Orange and the census designated Tustin Foothills on the north, and Santa Ana on the west.

Climate

Tustin has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa).

Top employers

According to the City's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile (2,632.0/km²). The racial makeup of Tustin was 39,729 (52.6%) White (34.8% Non-Hispanic White), 1,722 (2.3%) African American, 442 (0.6%) Native American, 15,299 (20.3%) Asian, 268 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 14,499 (19.2%) from other races, and 3,581 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30,024 persons (39.7%).

The Census reported that 75,020 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 340 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 180 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 25,203 households, out of which 10,465 (41.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,969 (51.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,494 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,472 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,568 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 193 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,178 households (20.5%) were made up of individuals and 1,403 (5.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98. There were 17,935 families (71.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.46.

The population was spread out with 20,212 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 6,856 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 25,033 people (33.1%) aged 25 to 44, 17,006 people (22.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,433 people (8.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.4 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

There were 26,476 housing units at an average density of 2,389.2 per square mile (922.5/km²), of which 12,813 (50.8%) were owner-occupied, and 12,390 (49.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 36,783 people (48.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 38,237 people (50.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Tustin had a median household income of $74,011, with 12.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 67,504 people, 23,831 households, and 16,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,921.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,286.3/km²). There were 25,501 housing units at an average density of 2,236.9 per square mile (863.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.72% White, 2.92% African American, 0.66% Native American, 14.90% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 17.94% from other races, and 4.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.24% of the population.

There were 23,831 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,985, and the median income for a family was $60,092. Males had a median income of $42,456 versus $33,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,932. About 5.8% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local

The Tustin City Council is composed of five members elected at large; the Mayorship rotates among the council members and is primarily a ceremonial role.

Mayor Allan Bernstein was elected to the Tustin City Council in December 2016 and Al Murray was appointed Mayor Pro Tem. Rebecca "Beckie" Gomez, Charles "Chuck" Puckett and Letitia Clark also serve on the City Council as councilmembers.

Local politics in the late 1990s and early 2000s have been dominated by the 1997 closure of the local Marine Corps Air Station and plans for subsequent commercial development of the land, including an unsuccessful bid by neighboring Santa Ana to build a school on the land, part of which is within Santa Ana Unified School District's territory.

Emergency services

Fire protection in Tustin is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority. Law enforcement is provided by the Tustin Police Department.

State and federal

In the California State Legislature, Tustin is in the 37th Senate District, represented by Republican John Moorlach, and in the 68th Assembly District, represented by Republican Steven Choi.

In the United States House of Representatives, Tustin is in California's 45th congressional district, represented by Republican Mimi Walters.

Education

Primary and secondary education in Tustin and surrounding unincorporated areas is overseen by the Tustin Unified School District. Tustin High School is a California Distinguished School, as is Foothill High School. Arnold O. Beckman High School is in the Best High Schools according to U.S. News & World Report. Tustin High School is also well-known regionally for its strong Model United Nations program. Springfield College, a nonprofit, private, higher education institute, is located in the city of Tustin.

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