San Juan Capistrano, California

City of San Juan Capistrano
City
Location of San Juan Capistrano within Orange County, California.
Country	United States
State	California
County	Orange
Government
• Mayor	Sam Allevato
Area
• Total	14.3 sq mi (37.1 km2)
• Land	14.2 sq mi (36.8 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	75−118 ft (37 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	33,826
• Density	2,380/sq mi (919.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
Zip Code	92675
Area code	949
FIPS code	06-68028
GNIS feature ID	1661383
Website	http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org

San Juan Capistrano (Template:Pron-en, Spanish: [saŋ ˈxwan kapisˈtɾano]) is a city in southern Orange County, California, located approximately 23 miles (37 km) southeast of Downtown Santa Ana. The current OMB metropolitan designation for San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” The population was 33,826 at the 2000 census. The city was created around Mission San Juan Capistrano, and many of the homes and strip malls resemble the Spanish architecture that compose the building. It is home to the widest variety of homes in Orange County, including those built prior to 1900 in its central district (some being adobes from the 18th century), a number of 10 million-dollar homes in the gated communities of the hills, and working ranches in its foothills. San Juan Capistrano is probably best known for the annual migration of the cliff swallows that reputedly migrate each year from Argentina to the Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,826 people, 10,930 households, and 8,196 families residing in the city. The population density was 919.1/km² (2,381.2/mi²). There were 11,320 housing units at an average density of 307.6 persons/km² (796.9 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.47% White, 0.78% African American, 1.07% Native American, 1.92% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 14.21% from other races, and 3.43% from two or more races. 33.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 10,930 households, 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,392, and the median income for a family was $69,481. Males had a median income of $47,574 versus $34,821 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,926. About 10.7% of the population and 6.6% of families were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature San Juan Capistrano is located in the 38th Senate District, represented by Republican Mark Wyland, and in the 73rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Diane Harkey. Federally, San Juan Capistrano is located in California's 44th and 48th congressional districts, which have Cook PVIs of R +6 and R +8 respectively and is represented by Republicans Ken Calvert and John Campbell respectively. As of the 2010 elections, the city council members are: Sam Allevato (Mayor), Laura Freese, Larry Kramer(Mayor Pro Tem), John Taylor, and Derek Reeve.

Geography

San Juan Capistrano is located in south Orange County and is bisected by Interstate 5. 33°29′58″N 117°39′42″W (33.499493, -117.661614).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.1 km² (14.3 mi²). 36.8 km² (14.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.98%) is water.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	Capistrano Unified School District	4,403
2	Savings & Recovery	1,550
3	Quest Diagnostics	1,400
4	Thefridj.com	500
5	Costco	269
6	Endevco	260
7	United States Postal Service	240
8	St. Margaret's Episcopal School	195
9	24 Hour Fitness	172
10	Fluidmaster	150
11	Marbella Country Club	106

Historical notes

The Mission San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano is the site of a Catholic mission for which it is named, Mission San Juan Capistrano. When the Mission was founded in 1776, the region was populated by the Acjachemen band of Native Americans, called Juaneños by the Spanish. The mission was named after the Franciscan saint Giovanni da Capistrano (1386-1456).

The city is the site of California's oldest residential neighborhood, Los Rios. It is also the home of the oldest in use building in California, the Serra Chapel in the Mission. The area was the site of both the first vineyard and first winery in California.

In the 1830s Richard Henry Dana, Jr., author of the classic Two Years Before the Mast visited the area as a sailor engaged in the hide trade on board the ship Pilgrim. Describing the locale, which then included what is now the neighboring city of Dana Point, he gushed, "San Juan is the only romantic spot in California." The area was also the locale of the first Zorro novella, The Curse of Capistrano, published in 1919 (later renamed The Mark of Zorro after the success of the film of the same name).

The 85-foot (26 m) high main rotunda and 104-foot (32 m) bell tower make Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano the tallest building in town. Designed "in the spirit and likeness" of the "Great Stone Church," which is in ruins in the Mission. Pope John Paul II conferred the rank of Minor Basilica to this facility on February 14, 2000.

San Juan Capistrano is also known for its cliff swallows. The protected birds are reputed to return from migration, traditionally originating in the town of Goya, Argentina, on St. Joseph's Day (March 19) each year, a day celebrated by the city's annual Swallows' Day Parade and other festive events and old west 1890s style Melodrama at the Camino Real Playhouse starring San Juan's Villain at Large Professor Mack played by Gary McCarver of The New Home for American Melodrama. The swallows are reputed to leave on October 23, the former feast day of St. John of Capistrano. The 1940 hit song "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano", written by Leon René, is a love song centering on these annual events.

Education

The city is served by Capistrano Unified School District. In the 2007-2008 academic year San Juan Hills High School opened with about 600 freshmen students. It is the city's only public high school. Ultimately, nearly all San Juan Capistrano's high school students will move to this campus as well as some students from Capistrano Beach, and many from the crowded San Clemente High school, and southern Ladera Ranch. Residents from these other communities did not want to attend a school in San Juan on the basis that is was farther than the current schools they were attending and that the communities had too many differences. Many residents wanted to stay at the established high schools their communities had been attending for years. Much of the tension has died down, but there is still substantial resentment that children of residents in Capistrano Beach, who have historically attended San Clemente High School, should be compelled to take the long journey to the new high school. These residents contend the County of Orange should follow its original long range plan and complete La Pata Parkway through to San Clemente which would permit students in the Talega subdivision to attend the school which was built and intended for their use and redirect those students away from San Clemente High School.

This city also has four private, Christian, college prep schools named Capistrano Valley Christian Schools (Pre-K through 12th grade), Saddleback Valley Christian School (Pre-K through 12th grade), St. Margaret's Episcopal School (also Pre-K through 12th grade), and J. Serra Catholic High School (9th through 12th grade).

The city also has two private kindergarten through eighth grade schools named Mission Parish School and Rancho Capistrano Christian School. Mission Parish School is located on the historic Mission grounds, utilizes some of the historic buildings as classrooms, and is situated next to Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano. The other is Rancho Capistrano Christian School, located off Highway 5 on the Crystal Cathedral's south campus. The campus at Rancho Capistrano is also host to meetings and conventions, as well as summer camps.

Points of interest

• Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano
• Trabuco Creek
• El Adobe de Capistrano
• The Depot
• Los Rios District
• Swallows Inn
• Regency Theatres Ricks Cafe and VIP Cinema

Twin cities

• Capestrano, Italy
• Goya, Argentina (sister city)

See also

• San Juan Capistrano (Amtrak station)

City links

• City of San Juan Capistrano official website
• San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce

Schools

• Capistrano Valley Christian Schools Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, JK - 12 Private, Christian, College preparatory School. Named as one of the top schools in Orange County by the Orange County Register.
• JSerra Catholic High School JSerra Catholic High School, 9 - 12 Private School
• Mission Parish School Mission Parish School, K-8 Private School
• St. Margaret's Episcopal School St. Margaret's Episcopal School, K - 12 Private School
• Capistrano Unified School District CUSD, Public School System
• San Juan Hills High School