Laguna Beach, California

Laguna Beach is a city located in southern Orange County, California, approximately 24 miles southeast of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 23,727 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Government and Politics
- 3.1 Emergency services
4 Culture
- 4.1 Festival of Arts
5 Entertainment
6 Education
7 External Links

[edit] Geography

Laguna Beach is located at 33°31′53″N, 117°46′9″W (33.531525, -117.769043)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.2 km² (9.7 mi²). 22.9 km² (8.9 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (9.24%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 23,727 people, 11,511 households, and 5,778 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,035.1/km² (2,681.5/mi²). There were 12,965 housing units at an average density of 565.6/km² (1,465.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.99% White, 0.80% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.21% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.62% of the population.

There were 11,511 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.8% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.8% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $75,808, and the median income for a family was $100,778. Males had a median income of $66,221 versus $46,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $58,732. About 2.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government and Politics

Condos on the beach at Laguna Beach

Of the 17,084 registered voters in Laguna Beach; 35.8% are Democrats and 41.2% are Republicans. The remaining 23% either declined to state political affiliation or are registered with one of the many minor political parties.

Although there are more registered Republicans, Laguna Beach is one of the most liberal cities in Orange County, and voted for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry over President Bush in 2004 by a margin of 57%-42%[1]. It was one of only three places in the generally conservative Orange County not to have a majority supporting the Republican Party. The other two cities were Laguna Woods (which consists almost entirely of a retirement community) and Santa Ana, the county's most ethnically diverse city. Laguna Beach is considered the least corrupt city in the United States. The other second and third cities that are least corrupt are Mission Viejo, California and Menlo Park, California.

The entire city of Laguna Beach lies within California's 48th congressional district. The district is represented by Republican Congressman John Campbell.

Republican Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider serves as Laguna Beach's mayor and Steve Dicterow as Mayor Pro Tem. The other three city council members are Jane Egly, Toni Iseman, and Cheryl Kinsman.

[edit] Emergency services

Fire protection in Laguna Beach is provided by the Laguna Beach Fire Department with ambulance service by Doctor's Ambulance. Law enforcement is provided by the Laguna Beach Police Department.

[edit] Culture

Compared with other Orange County beach communities, Laguna Beach is paradoxically both wealthier and mellower. As early as the late Nineteenth Century, Laguna Beach had a reputation as a secluded beach resort, accessible only through canyon trails. Its longstanding artistic tradition and its history as an artists' colony still show today in the dozens of art galleries that line Laguna's streets.

Laguna Beach also hosts a large gay community and one of the highest gay and lesbian indices out of any place in the country. The gay and lesbian index of Laguna Beach is 478, meaning the percentage of same-sex couples living in the city is 378% higher than the national average. This is one percentage point less than that of San Francisco which has a gay and lesbian index of 479. This explains why Laguna Beach has more males than females, why the percentage of married couples is much lower than in surrounding communities, and why the percentage of people under age 18 and households with children is much lower, as the majority of gay couples do not have children.

[edit] Festival of Arts

The city's most famous institution is the Festival of Arts, an annual art exhibition in the summer which has given the city a reputation for being "artsy." Apart from bringing together artists and art collectors, the Festival is also famous for the Pageant of the Masters, an annual living statue show where local volunteers reproduce several dozen famous artworks in an evening (with the help of elaborate costumes and makeup). The Pageant is apparently the only show of its type and scale in western North America. Another famous annual event is the Sawdust Art Festival. Its summer art show features local artisans exhibiting paintings, sculpturel, jewelry and fine and creative craft in an artist village which is built each year. Because of occasional financial problems, the Festival has occasionally considered licensing the Pageant concept to other cities, but each time has ultimately refused. Licensing the Pageant would decrease the unique character of Laguna Beach.

[edit] Entertainment

Laguna Beach is the world mecca for skimboarding, the sport having been invented by the town's lifeguards over half a century ago.

The city also gained some national exposure in 2004 as the setting for the MTV reality soap opera Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County which is popular among the American youth today, now in its third season. The publicity from the T.V. series has been good for Laguna Beach merchants, who have profitted from increased tourism, but has sometimes been disruptive to the community and has painted a negative picture of its character. More than one local has been hit by the MTV film crew van as it tears around downtown Laguna's pedestrian areas. One elderly woman has even been even sent to the hospital in a coma, after being shot by a cast member. Additionally, the reality show has given Laguna Beach a name as a borough of spoiled, shallow jocks and beauty queens whose only concern is what to wear to the prom and whom is "hooking up" with whom. Crime rate has also increased since the show's production, in part of the increasing tourism.