Anaheim, California

Anaheim (pronounced ) is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 336,265, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States. The city anticipates that the population will surpass 400,000 by 2014 because of rapid development in its Platinum Triangle area as well as in Anaheim Hills. The Platinum Triangle is the fastest growing area in Orange County. Anaheim is the second largest city in Orange County in terms of land area (after Irvine), and is known for its theme parks, sports teams and convention center.

Founded by fifty German families in 1857 and incorporated as the second city in Los Angeles County on February 10, 1870, Anaheim developed into an industrial center, producing electronics, aircraft parts and canned fruit. It is the site of the Disneyland Resort, a world-famous grouping of theme parks and hotels which opened in 1955, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Honda Center and Anaheim Convention Center, the largest convention center on the West Coast.

Anaheim's city limits stretch from Cypress in the west to the Riverside County line in the east and encompass a diverse collection of neighborhoods and communities. Anaheim Hills is a master-planned community located in the city's eastern stretches that is home to many sports stars and executives. Downtown Anaheim has three mixed-use historic districts, the largest of which is the Anaheim Colony. The Anaheim Resort, a commercial district, includes Disneyland and numerous hotels and retail complexes. The Platinum Triangle, a neo-urban redevelopment district surrounding Angel Stadium, is planned to be populated with mixed-use streets and high-rises. Finally, The Canyon is an industrial district north of SR 91 and east of SR 57.

Etymology
Anaheim's name is a blend of "Ana", after the nearby Santa Ana River, and "heim", a common German language place name compound originally meaning "home".

History
The city of Anaheim was founded in 1857 by grape farmers and wine makers from the region around Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Franconia in Bavaria. The first such settler was Daniel Kraemer. The colony was situated on 1165 acre. Settlers voted to call the community Annaheim, meaning "home by the Santa Anna River" in German. The name later was changed slightly, to Anaheim. To the Spanish-speaking neighbors, the settlement was known as Campo Alemán (Spanish for German Field). The grape industry was destroyed in the 1880s by an insect pest. Other crops – walnuts, lemons and, of course oranges – soon filled the void, fruits and vegetables having become viable cash crops when the Los Angeles – Orange County region was connected to the continental railroad network in 1886.



The famous Polish actress Helena Modjeska settled in Anaheim with her husband and various friends, among them Henryk Sienkiewicz, Julian Sypniewski and Łucjan Paprocki. While living in Anaheim, Helena Modjeska became good friends with Clementine Langenberger, the second wife of August Langenberger. Helena Street and Clementine Street are named after these two ladies, and the streets are located adjacent to each other as a symbol of the strong friendship which Helena Modjeska and Clementine Lagenberger shared. Modjeska Park in West Anaheim, is also named after Helena Modjeska.

During the first half of the 20th century, before Disneyland opened its doors to the public, Anaheim was a massive rural community inhabited by orange groves, and the landowners who farmed them. One of the landowners was a man by the name of Bennett Payne Baxter. He owned much land in northeast Anaheim that today is the location of Angel Stadium, He came up with many new ideas for irrigating orange groves and shared his ideas with other landowners. He was not only successful, he helped other landowners and businesspeople succeed as well. Ben Baxter and other landowners helped to make Anaheim a thriving rural community before Disneyland changed the city forever. Today, a street runs along Edison Park which is named Baxter Street. Also during this time, Rudolph Boysen served as Anaheim's first Park Superintendent from 1921 to 1950. Boysen created a hybrid berry which Walter Knott later named the boysenberry, after Rudy Boysen. Boysen Park in East Anaheim was also named after him.

The Disneyland theme park was constructed in Anaheim from July 16, 1954 to July 17, 1955, and opened to the public on July 17, 1955, and has since become one of the world's most visited tourist attractions. The location was formerly 160 acre of orange and walnut trees, some of which remain inside Disneyland property. Hotels and motels began to spread and residential districts soon followed, with increasing property values. In 2001, Disney's California Adventure, since renamed Disney California Adventure Park in 2010, the most expansive project in the theme park's history, opened to the public.

In 1970, the Census Bureau reported Anaheim's population as 9.3% Hispanic and 89.2% non-Hispanic white. In the late 20th century, Anaheim grew rapidly in population. Today, Anaheim has a diverse ethnic and racial composition.

During the large expansion of the Disneyland resort in the 1990s, the city of Anaheim then recognized itself as a resort epicenter, thus creating the Anaheim Resort. It includes the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim Convention Center, the Honda Center—home of the NHL Anaheim Ducks (formerly known as the "Mighty Ducks"), and Angel Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The city has undergone a rigorous transformation in creating metropolitan beautification to attract tourism. In 2007, the city celebrated its sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) by opening the Anaheim Walk of Fame near the Harbor Boulevard entrance to the Disneyland Resort. The first star to be placed on the Anaheim Walk of Fame was Walt Disney, the man most responsible for making Anaheim the hugely popular tourist destination it is today.

In 2012, fatal police shooting in Anaheim sparked violent protests.

Geography
Anaheim is located at 33.83617°N, -117.88977°W. and is approximately 25 mi south east of Downtown Los Angeles.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.8 sqmi. 49.8 sqmi of it is land and 1.0 sqmi of it (1.92%) is water.

The current federal Office of Management and Budget metropolitan designation for Anaheim and the Orange County Area is "Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA".

Cityscape
The city recognizes several districts, including the Anaheim Resort (the area surrounding Disneyland), The Canyon (an industrial area north of the Riverside Freeway and east of the Orange Freeway) and the Platinum Triangle (the area surrounding Angel Stadium). Anaheim Hills also maintains a distinct identity.

Communities and neighborhoods
Downtown Anaheim is located in the heart of the Colonial District. Downtown is the administrative heart of the city where you find City Hall, Anaheim West Tower, Anaheim Police Headquarters, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and the Main Library. Anaheim Ice (formerly Disney Ice), the Downtown Anaheim Farmer's Market and the Center Street Promenade are also located in Downtown Anaheim. In the Fall of 2007, The Muzeo, the newest major museum in Orange County, opened its doors for the first time and is located next to Anaheim West Tower. Pearson Park is also located in Downtown Anaheim, and is named after Charles Pearson, who was Mayor of Anaheim during the time Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim. One of the major attractions located in Pearson Park is the Pearson Park Amphitheater. In the Colonial District just west of Downtown Anaheim is the Mother Colony House, which was built by George Hanson], the Founder of Anaheim. Today, it is Anaheim's and Orange County's oldest museum still open to the public. The Stoffel House is a Victorian Mansion located next door to the Mother Colony House. Originally the Victorian Home was occupied by the Stoffel Family, early pioneer residents of Anaheim. The home served as headquarters for the local Red Cross until the early 1990s. In 2010-2011, the Woelke-Stoeffel house became refurnished and is now part of the Founder's Park complex. Founder's Park includes the Mother Colony house and a carriage house, which serves as a museum of Anaheim's agricultural history. These three buildings are open every first Saturday from 9 to 12 pm.

The bulk of the Hispanic population of Anaheim, and other less prosperous portions of the population, lives in the western portion of Anaheim, "the flatlands". Much of the more prosperous portion of the population, and most city council members, live in Anaheim Hills, a planned community in the eastern portion of the city with a median household income of $123,000 a year as of 2010.

Climate
Like many other South Coast cities, Anaheim maintains a Mediterranean climate, enjoying warm winters and hot summers.

City government
Under its city charter, Anaheim operates under a council-manager government. Legislative authority is vested in a city council of five nonpartisan members, who hire a professional city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The mayor serves as the presiding officer of the city council in a first among equals role. All council seats are elected at large. Voters elect the mayor and four other members of the city council to serve four-year staggered terms. Elections for two council seats are held in years divisible by four while elections for the mayor and the two other council seats are held during the intervening even-numbered years. Under the city's term limits, an individual may serve a maximum of two terms as a city council member and two terms as the mayor.


 * Mayor: Tom Tait (since 2010)
 * City Council
 * Jordan Brandman (since 2012)
 * Gail Eastman (since 2010)
 * Lucille Kring (since 2012)
 * Kris Murray (since 2010)

Emergency services
Fire protection is provided by the Anaheim Fire Department, Disneyland Resort has its own Fire Department, though it does rely on the Anaheim Fire Department for support, and for Paramedic Services. Law enforcement is provided by the Anaheim Police Department. Ambulance service is provided by Care Ambulance Service.

Anaheim Public Utilities
Anaheim Public Utilities is the only municipal owned water and electric utility in Orange County, providing residential and business customers with water and electric services. The utility is regulated and governed locally by the City Council. A Public Utilities Board, made up of Anaheim residents, advises the City Council on major utility issues.

Anaheim is the only city in the United States that has decided to bury power lines along their major transportation corridors, converting its electricity system for aesthetic and reliability reasons. To minimize the impact on customer bills, undergrounding is taking place slowly over a period of 50 years, funded by a 4% surcharge on electric bills.

Federal, state and county representation
In the United States House of Representatives, Anaheim is split among three Congressional districts:
 * 39th, represented by Ed Royce (R) since 1993
 * 45th, represented by John Campbell (R) since 2005
 * 46th, represented by Loretta Sanchez (D) since 1997

In the California State Senate, Anaheim is split among three districts:
 * 29th, represented by Bob Huff (R) since 2008
 * 34th, represented by Lou Correa (D) since 2006
 * 37th, represented by Mimi Walters (R) since 2008

In the California State Assembly, Anaheim is split among three districts:
 * 65th, represented by Sharon Quirk-Silva (D) since 2012
 * 68th, represented by Don Wagner (R) since 2010
 * 69th, represented by Tom Daly (D) since 2012

On the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Anaheim is divided between two districts, with Anaheim Hills lying in the 3rd District and the remainder of Anaheim lying in the 4th District:
 * 3rd, represented by Todd Spitzer since 2013
 * 4th, represented by Shawn Nelson since 2010

Economy
Anaheim's largest and most important industry is tourism. Its Anaheim Convention Center is home to many national conferences, and The Walt Disney Company is the city's largest employer. Many hotels, especially in the city's Resort district, serve theme park tourists and conventiongoers.

The Anaheim Canyon business park makes up 63% of Anaheim's industrial space and is the largest industrial district in Orange County. Anaheim Canyon is also home to the second largest business park in Orange County. Anaheim Canyon houses 2,600 businesses, which employ over 55,000 workers.

Several notable companies have corporate offices and/or headquarters within Anaheim.
 * Anaheim Memorial Medical Center
 * AT&T
 * Banco Popular, a bank based in Puerto Rico, has a North American headquarters in Anaheim.
 * Bridgford Foods, develops, produces, sells and distributor of food products
 * CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito, and Red Burrito restaurant chains
 * Extron Electronics, designs, manufactures, and services A/V electronics worldwide
 * Fisker Automotive
 * Fujitsu, computer & peripheral manufacturer
 * Ganahl Lumber, oldest lumberyard in California
 * General Dynamics
 * Hewlett Packard
 * Isuzu North American headquarters
 * Kaiser Foundation
 * L-3 Communications
 * Pacific Sunwear
 * Panasonic
 * Pendarvis Manufacturing
 * Raytheon
 * Seagate
 * Sunny Delight
 * Taormina Industries
 * Targus, a computer peripheral manufacturer
 * Tenet Healthcare
 * Universal Alloy
 * YKK Corporation, world's largest zipper manufacturing firm
 * Yogurtland
 * Zyxel, maker of routers, switches and other networking products

Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Retail
Larger retail centers include the power centers Anaheim Plaza in western Anaheim (347,000 ft2), and Anaheim Town Square in East Anaheim (374,000 ft2), as well as the Anaheim GardenWalk lifestyle center (440,000 ft2 of retail, dining and entertainment located in the Anaheim Resort).

Crime
In 2003, Anaheim reported nine murders, this rate was one-third of the national average. Rape within the city is relatively low as well, but has been increasing, along with the national average. Robbery (410 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (824 incidents) rank among the highest violent crimes in the city, but robbery rates are still only half of the national average, and aggravated assaults are at 68% of the average. 1,971 burglaries were reported, as well as 6,708 thefts, 1,767 car thefts, and 654 car accidents. All three types of crime were below average. There were 43 cases of arson reported in 2003, 43% of the national average.

Despite the 1992 Los Angeles Riots reaching almost all of Los Angeles county, Anaheim, and other cities of Orange County, were spared from violence and the city was mostly calm.

July, 2012 protests
In July 2012, political protests by Hispanic residents occurred following the fatal shooting of two Latino men. Other issues included significant gang activity, failure of the city to provide appropriate services to residents, domination of the city by commercial interests, and lack of political representation of Hispanic residents in the city government.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Anaheim had a population of 336,265. The population density was 6,618.0 people per square mile (2,555.2/km²). The racial makeup of Anaheim was 177,237 (52.7%) White (27.5% non-Hispanic White alone), 9,347 (2.8%) African American, 2,648 (0.8%) Native American, 49,857 (14.8%) Asian (4.4% Vietnamese, 3.6% Filipino, 2.0% Korean, 1.4% Chinese, 1.3% Indian, 0.6% Japanese, 0.2% Pakistani, 0.2% Cambodian, 0.2% Laotian, 0.1% Thai), 1,607 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 80,705 (24.0%) from other races, and 14,864 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 177,467 persons (52.8%); 46.0% of Anaheim's population is Mexican, 1.2% Salvadoran, 1.0% Guatemalan, 0.4% Puerto Rican, 0.4% Peruvian, 0.3% Cuban, 0.3% Colombian, 0.2% Honduran, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Argentinean.

Anaheim has historically been predominantly white. The city's formerly most populous ethnic group, non-Hispanic white, has declined from 89.2% in 1970 to 27.5% in 2010.

The Census reported that 332,708 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 2,020 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,537 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 98,294 households, out of which 44,045 (44.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 52,518 (53.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 14,553 (14.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 7,223 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 6,173 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 733 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 17,448 households (17.8%) were made up of individuals and 6,396 (6.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.38. There were 74,294 families (75.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.79.

The population was spread out with 91,917 people (27.3%) under the age of 18, 36,506 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 101,110 people (30.1%) aged 25 to 44, 75,510 people (22.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 31,222 people (9.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

There were 104,237 housing units at an average density of 2,051.5 per square mile (792.1/km²), of which 47,677 (48.5%) were owner-occupied, and 50,617 (51.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 160,843 people (47.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 171,865 people (51.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 328,014 people, 96,969 households, and 73,502 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,842.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,587.8/km²). There were 99,719 housing units at an average density of 2,037.5 per square mile (786.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55% White, 3% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 12% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 24% from other races, and 5% from two or more races. 46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

Of Anaheim's 96,969 households, 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.34 and the average family size was 3.75.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income household income was $47,122, and the median family income was $49,969. Males had a median income of $33,870 versus $28,837 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,266. About 10.4% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
As of May 2006, Anaheim is served by eight public school districts:


 * Anaheim City School District
 * Anaheim Union High School District
 * Centralia School District
 * Magnolia School District
 * North Orange County Community College District
 * Orange Unified School District
 * Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
 * Savanna School District

Furthermore, Anaheim is home to 84 public schools:


 * Elementary 46
 * Junior High 9
 * High School 14
 * Alternative Education 6

Private schools in the city include Acaciawood Preparatory Academy, Cornelia Connelly High School, Fairmont Preparatory Academy and Servite High School.

Higher education
The City of Anaheim hosts two private universities: Anaheim University and Southern California Institute of Technology (SCIT).

Libraries
Anaheim has eight public library branches.

Transportation
In the western portion of the city (not including Anaheim Hills), the major surface streets run east to west, starting with the northernmost, Orangethorpe Avenue, La Palma Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Ball Road and Katella Avenue. The major surface streets running north-south, starting with the westernmost, are Knott Avenue, Beach Boulevard (SR 39), Magnolia Avenue, Brookhurst Street, Euclid Street, Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim Boulevard and State College Boulevard.

The Santa Ana Freeway (I-5), the Orange Freeway (SR 57) and the Riverside Freeway (SR 91) all pass through Anaheim. The Costa Mesa Freeway (SR 55), and the Eastern Transportation Corridor (SR 241) also have short stretches within the city limits.

Anaheim is served by two major railroads, the Union Pacific Railroad and the BNSF Railway. In addition, the Anaheim Amtrak station, a major regional train station near Angel Stadium, serves both Amtrak and Metrolink rail lines, and the Anaheim Canyon Metrolink station serves Metrolink's IEOC Line.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) provides bus service for Anaheim with local and county-wide routes, and both the OCTA and the Los Angeles County Metro offer routes connecting Anaheim to Los Angeles County. Also, the not-for-profit Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) provides local shuttle service in the Disneyland Resort area serving local hotels and both the California Adventure and Disneyland theme parks, and Disney GOALS, operates daily free bus service for low-income youth in the central Anaheim area.

Anaheim is equidistant from both John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport (15 miles), but is also accessible from nearby Los Angeles International (30 miles), and Ontario (35 miles) airports.

The city will also be the home to the ARTIC transportation center, which will connect bus, rail including the California High-Speed Rail Network and the proposed Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor.

Attractions

 * Adventure City
 * Anaheim GardenWalk, 440,000 s.f. of retail, dining and entertainment located in the Anaheim Resort
 * Anaheim Convention Center, Largest convention center on West Coast
 * Angel Stadium of Anaheim
 * Battle of the Dance dinner theater (closed in 2012)
 * Disneyland Resort
 * Disneyland
 * Disney California Adventure Park
 * Downtown Disney
 * ESPN Zone
 * House of Blues
 * The Grove of Anaheim, formerly the Sun Theater, formerly Tinseltown Studios
 * Honda Center, formerly the "Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim"
 * Anaheim Ice, Public rink for 6,000+ skaters per week
 * American Sports Centers, Home of U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team
 * Anaheim Hills Golf Course
 * Dad Miller Golf Course
 * Oak Canyon Nature Center
 * MUZEO, Art Museum located in Downtown Anaheim
 * Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars

Current teams

 * NHL team: Anaheim Ducks – 2007 Stanley Cup Champions
 * MLB team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 2002 World Series Champions
 * PASL-Pro team: Anaheim Bolts

Defunct teams

 * NLL team: Anaheim Storm (Folded after 2004–2005 season because of low attendance)
 * NFL team: Los Angeles Rams played in Anaheim from 1980 through 1994 before moving to their current home of St. Louis.
 * World Football League team: The Southern California Sun played at Anaheim Stadium from 1974–1975.
 * Arena Football League team: Anaheim Piranhas played at the Arrowhead Pond from 1994 to 1997.
 * Roller Hockey International team: Anaheim Bullfrogs played in the RHI from 1993 to 1997 and 1999, winning the Murphy Cup Championship twice.
 * American Basketball Association team: Anaheim Amigos played at the Anaheim Convention Center during the 1967–68 Season, then moved to Los Angeles.
 * ABA2000 team: Southern California Surf played at the Anaheim Convention Center from 2001–2002.
 * NBADL team: Anaheim Arsenal played at the Anaheim Convention Center from 2006–2009. The team is moving to Springfield, Massachusetts and being renamed for the 2009–2010 season.
 * World Team Tennis: The Anaheim Oranges played in 1978.
 * Continental Indoor Soccer League Team: The Anaheim Splash, played from 1994 to 1997.
 * California Surf of the now defunct North American Soccer League played from 1978 to 1981.

Court battle against the Angels
On January 3, 2005, Angels Baseball LP, the ownership group for the Anaheim Angels, announced that it would change the name of the club to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Arturo Moreno believed Team spokesmen pointed out that from its inception, the Angels had been granted territorial rights by Major League Baseball to the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino in addition to Orange County. The new owner knew the name would help him market the team to the entire Southern California region rather than just Orange County. The "of Anaheim" was included in the official name to comply with a provision of the team's lease at Angel Stadium which requires that "Anaheim" be included in the team's name.

Mayor Curt Pringle and other city officials countered that the name change violated the spirit of the lease clause, even if it were in technical compliance. They argued that a name change was a major bargaining chip in negotiations between the city and Disney Baseball Enterprises, Inc., then the ownership group for the Angels. They further argued that the city would never have agreed to the new lease without the name change, because the new lease required that the city partially fund the stadium's renovation but provided very little revenue for the city. Anaheim sued Angels Baseball LP in Orange County Superior Court, and a jury trial was completed in early February 2006, resulting in a victory for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise.

Anaheim appealed the court decision with the California Court of Appeal in May 2006. The case was tied up in the Appeals Court for over two years. In December 2008, the Appeals Court upheld the February 2006 Decision and ruled in favor of The Angels Organization. In January 2009, The Anaheim City Council voted not to appeal the court case any further, bringing an end to the four year legal dispute between the City of Anaheim and the Angels Organization.

Notable people

 * Joseph M. Acaba – NASA astronaut
 * Rebecca Black – Singer who rose to controversial fame after uploading the now much maligned video to the popular video network YouTube, "Friday"
 * Amanda Babin – 4th-placer on Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model
 * Michelle Babin – 5th-placer on Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model
 * Angela Perez Baraquio, former Miss America (2001)
 * Larry Beckett – poet and songwriter
 * Moon Bloodgood – actress
 * Rudolph Boysen – horticulturist who created the boysenberry
 * Jeff Buckley – singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * Tim Buckley – singer-songwriter, experimental vocalist, and musician
 * Austin Butler – actor
 * Mark William Calaway – professional wrestler known as The Undertaker in the WWE.
 * Rod Carew – former Major League Baseball player
 * Carlos Cavazo – former guitarist for the heavy metal, glam metal and hard rock band Quiet Riot
 * Milorad Čavić – Serbian swimmer
 * Rosalind Chao – actress
 * Lou Correa – politician and California State Legislator
 * Don Davis – film score composer, conductor, and orchestrator
 * Joe DeRenzo – jazz musician
 * Reuben Droughns – National Football League player
 * Rob Dyrdek – Professional skater
 * Eden Espinosa – singer and stage actress
 * Jim Fassel – head coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League
 * Jeff Feagles – Former National Football League player
 * Daniel Fells – National Football League player
 * Jim Fielder – bassist for rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears
 * Jorge Flores – professional soccer player


 * Lori Harrigan – Olympic softball player
 * Bobby Hatfield – singer, one half of the musical duo the Righteous Brothers
 * Stephen Hillenburg – creator of SpongeBob SquarePants
 * John Huarte – former National Football League player
 * Tommy John – former Major League Baseball player
 * Carl and Margaret Karcher – founders of the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain
 * Frankie Kazarian – professional wrestler
 * Samuel Kraemer – rancher, oilman, and businessman
 * Thomas H. Kuchel – United States Senator and Republican Party whip
 * Mark Langston – former Major League Baseball player
 * Crystal Lewis – Singer
 * Rob Liefeld – comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher
 * Mike Lockwood – professional wrestler, best known as Crash Holly
 * Chris Manderino – National Football League player
 * Alli Mauzey – Actress/Singer


 * Donnie Moore – former Major League Baseball player
 * Marcus Mumford – Lead singer of Grammy-nominated folk band Mumford and Sons.
 * Bill Murphy – Major League Baseball player
 * Naomi Nari Nam – figure skater
 * Connie Needham – actress
 * Augie Nieto – entrepreneur and founder of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis charity Augie's Quest
 * Brian Noble – former National Football League player
 * No Doubt – Grammy Award-winning rock group


 * Curt Pringle – politician, Mayor of Anaheim, and Speaker of the California State Assembly
 * Alyson Reed – dancer and actress
 * Linda Sánchez – U.S. Congresswoman
 * Loretta Sanchez – U.S. Congresswoman
 * Steve Scarsone – former Major League Baseball player
 * John F. Seymour – United States Senator and Mayor of Anaheim
 * Dana Schoenfield – 1972 Olympic Games Silver Medalist in Swimming
 * Teemu Selänne – National Hockey League player
 * Harry Sidhu – politician and Anaheim City Councilman
 * Steve Soto – punk musician and bassist for Agent Orange and The Adolescents
 * Stacey Q – synthpop and dance-pop singer, dancer, and actress
 * Gwen Stefani – singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and frontwoman of the rock band No Doubt
 * Tairrie B – former rapper and later alternative metal frontwoman for Tura Satana and My Ruin
 * Chris Tillman, Baseball player: Baltimore Orioles pitcher
 * Kenneth Michael Trentadue
 * Mark Trumbo – Major League Baseball player
 * Lisa Tucker – singer and finalist on the fifth season of American Idol
 * Milo Ventimiglia – actor
 * Jennifer Warnes, Oscar-winning singer of "I Had The Time Of My Life" from Dirty Dancing.
 * Tiger Woods, professional golfer.
 * Jaret Wright – former Major League Baseball player

Sister cities

 * 🇯🇵 Mito, Japan
 * 🇪🇸 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
 * 🇪🇷 Asmara, Eritrea

Twin Sister cities

 * 🇪🇷 Asmara, Eritrea