Editing Laguna Woods, California (section)

==History==

=== Indigenous ===
The [[Acjachemen]] and the [[Tongva]] were the original inhabitants of this area and throughout Orange County. The Acjachemen were the main residents dating back 16,000 years while the Tongva had less villages in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhibit – Laguna Woods History Center |url=https://lagunawoodshistory.org/exhibit#:~:text=About%2016,000%20years%20ago,%20the,Nation)%20for%2039%20years.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-05-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
Laguna Woods, California occupies approximately three-square miles of land that was once a part of South Orange County's expansive Moulton Ranch. Prior to the 1960s, dry farming and cattle grazing dominated the area, with a few scattered ranch dwellings and barns.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/about-us/ |website=City of Laguna Woods, California}}</ref>

In 1962, Ross Cortese, a young developer whose previous projects included Rossmoor and Leisure World Seal Beach, purchased a portion of the Moulton Ranch. His goal was to create a second Leisure World community or, as he said, “to supply the basic needs of life for people aged 52 and older; create a serene atmosphere of beauty; and provide security, recreation, and religious facilities – then leave the living to the individual.” His dream materialized and in 1964 Leisure World Laguna Hills received its first residents.

The prospect of incorporation first arose in 1971 and was a lingering issue until 1996, when the potential for a reduction in county services and the possibility of a commercial airport at the nearby site of the former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, became very real concerns. Proponents of cityhood were successful in placing the issue of incorporation on the ballot for a special election on March 2, 1999.

On March 24, 1999, Laguna Woods officially became Orange County's 32nd city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2016 |title=The Story of Laguna Woods |url=https://lagunawoodshistory.org/community |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=Laguna Woods History Center |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116204221/https://lagunawoodshistory.org/community |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
On May 15, 2022, a [[2022 Laguna Woods shooting|shooting occurred]] at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. One person was killed and five others were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tebor |first=Christal Hayes and Celina |title='Exceptional heroism': California churchgoers stopped rampage, hogtied suspect after deadly shooting |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/15/geneva-presbyterian-church-shooting-suspect-victims/9788206002/ |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515231203/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/15/geneva-presbyterian-church-shooting-suspect-victims/9788206002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The attack is believed to have been motivated by anti-Taiwanese sentiment.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Taxin |first1=Amy |last2=Bharath |first2=Deepa |last3=Dazio |first3=Stefanie |last4=Antczak |first4=John |last5=Shafner |first5=Rhonda |others=The Associated Press |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Authorities say hate against Taiwanese people led to California church attack |work=PBS NewsHour |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/authorities-say-hate-against-taiwanese-people-led-to-california-church-attack |access-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517141335/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/authorities-say-hate-against-taiwanese-people-led-to-california-church-attack |url-status=live }}</ref>