Mission Viejo, Ca My City!

The city of Mission Viejo is located in the southern part of Orange County, CA, to the east of us is Saddleback Mountain and to the west (5 miles) is the Pacific Ocean. It has been named the safest city in the U.S.A. from 2005-2007 but in 2008 we fell to second place. Considered to be one of the first and largest master planned communities ever built as a single project, today it stands as an example for what can be done. The Mission Viejo Company was formed in 1963 and consisted of 3 of the original land owners family decedents. The idea was to build a city and not destroy the natural rolling hills. Before 1963 the land was part of the area called Rancho Mission Viejo. The development was sold to the public as the place to live and work for the “California Dream”. You could have the life style and beauty not attainable anywhere else. The city to this day is still beautiful. Every main street is landscaped and maintained all year long. It now is referred to as the “city of trees”. All this took place from 1963 till 1993 when we became a city in our own right. We have continued to hold the values and ideals to this day.
The city today has a population of over 98,000 and is mainly a residential community. Located in the city are single family homes, condominiums, a retirement community, a regional mall, a community college and a hospital.
Mission Hospital is one of the finest and largest in Orange County. The hospital serves as the south county’s regional trauma center and includes Children’s Hospital of Orange County. It has continued to grow over the years to keep up with the growth of the area know as a whole as Saddleback Valley. This encumbers several surrounding cities.
The city’s name is derived from the Spanish term meaning “old mission” (mision vieja). Even though there never was a mission located here.
The city prides itself on providing many recreation activities and areas for its diversified population. The Norman P. Murry Community Center and Senior Center is surrounded by parks for all kinds of outdoor functions. Mission Viejo has an average of 2 parks for every square mile. There are 3 golf courses to challenge every level of ability. The center of our pride is the man-made 125 acre lake, Lake Mission Viejo. A private association membership to Lake Mission Viejo is offered to all residents of Mission Viejo to enjoy swimming at 2 sandy beaches, fishing from shore or from a boat, BBQs and picnics on the grassy slopes along the beach areas. There are planed activities throughout the year.
Along 2 sides of the lake are customs homes, some water front lots, condominiums, restaurants, parks and small shops.