Editing Costa Mesa, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Costa Mesa, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| nickname           = Goat Hill<ref>{{cite web | url=https://orangecounty.net/occities/CostaMesa_history.html | title=Costa Mesa, California - Community Guide }}</ref>
| motto              = "City of the Arts"
| image_skyline      = Diego_Sepúlveda_Adobe_2013-11-02_17-26-03.jpg
| image_caption      = [[Diego Sepúlveda Adobe]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Costa Mesa, California.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of Costa Mesa, California.png
| image_map          = File:Orange County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Costa Mesa Highlighted 0616532.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Costa Mesa in [[Orange County, California]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Los Angeles#California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Greater Los Angeles]]##Location in California##Location in the United States
| pushpin_label      = Costa Mesa
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Orange County, California|Orange]]
| government_type    = [[Council-manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = John Stephens
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1       = Manuel Chavez
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-council |title= Costa Mesa City Council |publisher= City of Costa Mesa |access-date= February 16, 2019 |archive-date= June 30, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190630044413/https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-council |url-status= live }}</ref>
| leader_name2       = Mike Buley<br/>Loren Gameros<br />Andrea Marr<br />Arlis Reynolds<br />Jeff Pettis
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Lori Ann Farrell Harrison<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/city-manager-s-office |title=City Manager's Office |publisher=City of Costa Mesa |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809201601/https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/city-manager-s-office |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = June 29, 1953<ref>{{cite web
   | url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
   | title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
   | format=Word 
   | publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
   | access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
   | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
   | archive-date= November 3, 2014
 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318033728/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 15.81
| area_land_sq_mi    = 15.81
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| area_total_km2     = 40.96
| area_land_km2      = 40.94
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_water_percent = 0.29
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652692|Costa Mesa|access-date= October 19, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 98
| elevation_m        = 30
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|39|54|N|117|54|44|W|type:city_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 111918
| population_rank    = [[Orange County, California|8th]] in Orange County<br />[[List of largest California cities by population|63rd]] in California
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 2733.85
| population_demonym = Costa Mesan
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 92626–92628
| area_code          = [[Area code 714|714]]/[[Area code 657|657]]/[[Area code 949|949]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|16532}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1652692}}, {{GNIS 4|2410239}}
| website            = {{URL|www.costamesaca.gov}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 7080.73
}}

'''Costa Mesa''' ({{IPAc-en|,|k|oʊ|s|t|ə|_|'|m|eɪ|s|ə}}; [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "coastal tableland")<ref name="cityname">{{cite web |title=Costa Mesa: from small Native American village to world-class city |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/community/about/history#:~:text=On%20May%2011%2C%201920%2C%20Harper,tomatoes%2C%20strawberries%2C%20and%20apples. |website=City of Costa Mesa |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> is a city in [[Orange County, California]], United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the [[South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city]], one of the region's largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The city is home to the two tallest skyscrapers in Orange County.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ocalmanac.com/Structures/st01.htm |website=OC Almanac |title=Tallest Structures in Orange County |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055224/http://www.ocalmanac.com/Structures/st01.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The population was 111,918 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
[[File:Portrait_of_Don_Bernardo_Yorba_by_an_unknown_artist.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Don [[Bernardo Yorba]], a wealthy [[Californio]] ranchero, owned [[Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana]], which included all of modern-day Costa Mesa.]]
Members of the [[Tongva people|Tongva]] and [[Acjachemen]] nations long inhabited the area. The Tongva villages of [[Lupukngna]], at least 3,000 years old, and the shared Tongva and Acjachemen village of [[Genga, California|Genga]], at least 9,500 years old, were located in the area on the bluffs along the [[Santa Ana River]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/276818569 |title=Early Costa Mesa |date=2009 |publisher=Arcadia Pub |others=Costa Mesa Historical Society |isbn=978-0-7385-6976-5 |location=Charleston, SC |pages=7 |oclc=276818569}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Koerper |first1=Henry |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/745176510 |title=Catalysts to complexity : late Holocene societies of the California coast |last2=Mason |first2=Roger |last3=Peterson |first3=Mark |date=2002 |publisher=Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA |others=Jon Erlandson, Terry L. Jones, Jeanne E. Arnold, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA |isbn=978-1-938770-67-8 |location=Los Angeles |pages=64 |oclc=745176510 |access-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111080309/https://www.worldcat.org/title/745176510 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the 1769 expedition of [[Gaspar de Portolà]], a [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] expedition led by [[Junípero Serra]] named the area [[Vallejo de Santa Ana]] (Valley of Saint Anne). On November 1, 1776, [[Mission San Juan Capistrano]] became the area's first permanent European settlement in [[Alta California]], [[New Spain]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 8, 1988 |title=Mission San Juan Capistrano |work=L.A. Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-08-li-941-story.html |access-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317155113/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-08-li-941-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1801, the [[Spanish Empire]] granted {{convert|62500|acre|km2}} to [[Jose Antonio Yorba]], which he named Rancho San Antonio.

After the [[Mexican-American War]], California became part of the United States, and American settlers arrived in this area and formed the town of Fairview in the 1880s near the modern intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

To the south, meanwhile, the community of Harper had arisen on a siding of the [[Santa Ana and Newport Railway]], named after a local rancher. This town prospered on its agricultural goods. On May 11, 1920, Harper changed its name to Costa Mesa, which means "coastal tableland" in Spanish.<ref name="cityname"/> This is a reference to the city's geography as being a plateau by the coast. [[Fanny Bixby Spencer]] and her husband sponsored the contest which selected the city's new name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historical society hosts city 'founder' |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2013-02-12-tn-dpt-0213-fanny-bixby-spencer-20130212-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 12, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726143444/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2013-02-12-tn-dpt-0213-fanny-bixby-spencer-20130212-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Costa Mesa surged in population during and after World War II, as many thousands trained at [[Santa Ana Army Air Base]] and returned after the war with their families. Within three decades of incorporation, the city's population had nearly quintupled.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-cm-council-advance-20190301-story.html|title=Costa Mesa council to screen project that would add 1,057 residential units, office and retail space north of 405|last=Money|first=Luke|date=March 1, 2019|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 1, 2019|archive-date=March 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302105038/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-cm-council-advance-20190301-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
Costa Mesa is located {{convert|37|mi|km}} southeast of [[Los Angeles]], {{convert|87|mi|km}} northwest of [[San Diego]] and {{convert|425|mi|km}} southeast of [[San Francisco]]. Costa Mesa encompasses a total of {{convert|16|sqmi|km2}} with its southernmost border only {{convert|1|mi|km}} from the Pacific Ocean.

===Climate===
Costa Mesa has a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSh'') with mild temperatures year round. Rain falls primarily in the winter months and is close to nonexistent during the summer.

{{weather box|single line=yes|precipitation colour=green|width=auto|location=[[John Wayne Airport]], California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present
|Jan record high F = 90
|Feb record high F = 91
|Mar record high F = 95
|Apr record high F = 99
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 96
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 110
|Oct record high F = 106
|Nov record high F = 100
|Dec record high F = 90
|year record high F= 
|Jan avg record high F = 83.1
|Feb avg record high F = 81.5
|Mar avg record high F = 83.2
|Apr avg record high F = 87.3
|May avg record high F = 85.6
|Jun avg record high F = 85.0
|Jul avg record high F = 89.0
|Aug avg record high F = 90.5
|Sep avg record high F = 97.0
|Oct avg record high F = 93.8
|Nov avg record high F = 88.6
|Dec avg record high F = 79.7
|year avg record high F= 99.6
|Jan high F = 67.0
|Feb high F = 66.7
|Mar high F = 67.7
|Apr high F = 70.2
|May high F = 71.3
|Jun high F = 74.1
|Jul high F = 78.9
|Aug high F = 80.4
|Sep high F = 79.9
|Oct high F = 76.5
|Nov high F = 71.9
|Dec high F = 66.5
|year high F= 72.6
|Jan mean F = 57.8
|Feb mean F = 58.4
|Mar mean F = 60.0
|Apr mean F = 62.6
|May mean F = 65.3
|Jun mean F = 68.3
|Jul mean F = 72.5
|Aug mean F = 73.8
|Sep mean F = 72.5
|Oct mean F = 67.8
|Nov mean F = 62.6
|Dec mean F = 57.4
|year mean F= 64.9
|Jan low F = 48.6
|Feb low F = 50.1
|Mar low F = 52.3
|Apr low F = 54.9
|May low F = 59.3
|Jun low F = 62.6
|Jul low F = 66.2
|Aug low F = 67.1	
|Sep low F = 65.0	
|Oct low F = 59.2
|Nov low F = 53.3
|Dec low F = 48.3
|year low F= 57.2
|Jan avg record low F = 39.8
|Feb avg record low F = 40.7
|Mar avg record low F = 44.8
|Apr avg record low F = 48.8
|May avg record low F = 53.5
|Jun avg record low F = 58.3
|Jul avg record low F = 61.8
|Aug avg record low F = 62.7
|Sep avg record low F = 59.7
|Oct avg record low F = 53.3
|Nov avg record low F = 44.8
|Dec avg record low F = 39.2
|year avg record low F= 37.7
|Jan record low F = 33
|Feb record low F = 36
|Mar record low F = 41
|Apr record low F = 41
|May record low F = 49
|Jun record low F = 54
|Jul record low F = 57
|Aug record low F = 58
|Sep record low F = 56
|Oct record low F = 46
|Nov record low F = 37
|Dec record low F = 36
|year record low F= 
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.59
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.64
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.62
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.52
|May precipitation inch = 0.27
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.01
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.04
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.01
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.10
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.54
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.80
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.04
|year precipitation inch= 11.18
|Jan precipitation days = 5.6
|Feb precipitation days = 7.4
|Mar precipitation days = 5.7
|Apr precipitation days = 3.7
|May precipitation days = 1.9
|Jun precipitation days = 0.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.7
|Aug precipitation days = 0.1
|Sep precipitation days = 0.6
|Oct precipitation days = 3.3
|Nov precipitation days = 4.7
|Dec precipitation days = 6.9
|year precipitation days= 41.3
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
 |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sgx
 |title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
 |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
 |access-date = August 27, 2022
|archive-date = March 24, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324092557/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sgx
 |url-status = live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00048587&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
 |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 |access-date = August 27, 2022
|archive-date = August 28, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220828041304/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00048587&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
 |url-status = live
 }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 11844
|1960= 37550
|1970= 72660
|1980= 82562
|1990= 96357
|2000= 108724
|2010= 109960
|2020= 111918
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Costa Mesa was first listed as an unincorporated community in the [[1950 U.S. Census]] as part of unincorporated Newport Beach Township;<ref name=1950CensusCA/> and listed as a city in the [[1960 U.S. Census]].<ref name=1960CensusCA/> 

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Costa Mesa, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Costa Mesa city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0616532&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Costa Mesa city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0616532&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Costa Mesa city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0616532&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|61,778
|56,993
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54,169
|56.82%
|51.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |48.40%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,313
|1,352
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,306
|1.21%
|1.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.17%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|329
|266
|style='background: #ffffe6; |232
|0.30%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|7,421
|8,483
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,455
|6.83%
|7.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.45%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|601
|486
|style='background: #ffffe6; |412
|0.55%
|0.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|220
|243
|style='background: #ffffe6; |618
|0.20%
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.55%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,539
|2,734
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,931
|2.34%
|2.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.41%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|34,523
|39,403
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40,795
|31.75%
|35.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36.45%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''108,724'''
|'''109,960'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''111,918'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Costa Mesa had a population of 109,960. The population density was {{convert|7,004.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 75,335 (68.5%) White (51.8% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">{{cite web |title= United States QuickFacts |url= http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0616532.html |access-date= December 12, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120917053137/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0616532.html |archive-date= September 17, 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> 1,640 (1.5%) African American, 686 (0.6%) Native American, 8,654 (7.9%) Asian, 527 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 17,992 (16.4%) from other races, and 5,126 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39,403 persons (35.8%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0616532|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024228/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0616532|url-status=dead|archive-date=  July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Costa Mesa city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date= July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The [[United States Census Bureau|Census]] reported that 106,990 people (97.3% of the population) lived in households, 2,232 (2.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 738 (0.7%) were institutionalized.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

There were 39,946 households, 12,298 (30.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,478 (41.3%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 4,369 (10.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,392 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,013 (7.5%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 281 (0.7%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 10,963 households (27.4%) were one person and 2,775 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 23,239 families (58.2% of households); the average family size was 3.30.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The age distribution was 23,682 people (21.5%) under the age of 18, 12,847 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 38,211 people (34.7%) aged 25 to 44, 25,106 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,114 people (9.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

There were 42,120 housing units at an average density of 2,682.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,799 (39.6%) were owner-occupied and 24,147 (60.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 42,517 people (38.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 64,473 people (58.6%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Costa Mesa had a median household income of $65,830, with 15.1% of the population living below the poverty line.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 108,724 people in 39,206 households, including 22,778 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|6,956.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 40,406 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,585.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 69.48% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 6.90% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 16.57% from other races, and 4.27% from two or more races. 31.75% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Of the 39,206 households 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 28.1% of households were one person and 6.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.34.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 39.0% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The median household income was $50,732 and the median family income was $55,456. Males had a median income of $38,670 versus $32,365 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,342. About 8.2% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===Housing===
{{Further|California housing shortage}}
Measure Y is a ballot initiative [[Municipal elections in Costa Mesa, California#2016 Measure Y and Measure Z Election|approved by voters in 2016]]. It requires public approval of projects that have a general plan amendment or zoning change and would add 40 or more dwelling units or 10,000 or more square feet of commercial space.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-cm-one-metro-west-20190306-story.html|title=Proposed 1,057-unit residential complex with office and retail space moves ahead in Costa Mesa|last=Money|first=Luke|date=March 6, 2019|website=Daily Pilot|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308224318/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-cm-one-metro-west-20190306-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The median housing price is $807,000 ($505 per sq ft) and $3,500 for the median rent per month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Costa_Mesa-California/|title=Real Estate Overview for Costa Mesa, CA - Trulia|website=www.trulia.com|language=en|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726235205/https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Costa_Mesa-California/|url-status=live}}</ref> Measure Y was amended in 2022 by [[Municipal elections in Costa Mesa, California#2022 Measure K Election|Measure K]].

==Economy==
The city's economy relies heavily on retail and [[service economy|services]]. The largest center of commercial activity is [[South Coast Plaza]], a shopping center noted for its architecture and size. The volume of sales generated by South Coast Plaza, on the strength of its more than 270 stores, places it among the highest volume regional shopping centers in the nation. It generates more than $1 billion per year in revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021–2022 |title=Open Budget |url=https://openbudget.costamesaca.gov/#!/year/2021%20%20-%20%202022/revenue/0/categories |access-date=October 22, 2023 |website= |publisher=City of Costa Mesa |language=en}}</ref> [[South Coast Metro]] is a commercial, cultural, and residential district surrounding South Coast Plaza in northern Costa Mesa and southern Santa Ana, itself part of the [[South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city]].

Some manufacturing activity also takes place in the city, mostly in the industrial, southwestern quarter, which is home to a number of electronics, [[pharmaceuticals]] and plastics firms. Business services company [[Experian]] has its North American headquarters in Costa Mesa.

[[Anduril Industries]], [[Ceradyne]], [[El Pollo Loco]], [[Emulex]], [[Hurley International|Hurley]], [[RVCA]], [[Toyota Racing Development]], [[Vans]], and [[Volcom]] are among the businesses headquartered in Costa Mesa. A local newspaper, the ''[[Daily Pilot]]'', is published by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.  [[File:Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa, 1950s.jpg|thumb|right|Newport Boulevard, 1950s]]  The [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] was headquartered in Costa Mesa (and had its main production studio there) until it relocated most of its operations to Texas but still maintains a presence in the city.

[[Wahoo's Fish Taco]] was founded in Costa Mesa in 1988 by [[Chinese people|Chinese]]-[[Brazilian people|Brazilian]] brothers Eduardo "Ed" Lee, Renato "Mingo" Lee and Wing Lam.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.midweek.com/content/story/theweekend_coverstory/somethings_fishy_wahoos/ |title= Something's Fishy @ Wahoo's |access-date=December 27, 2007 |author=Sunderland, Susan |date= March 2, 2007 |publisher=MidWeek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202091422/http://www.midweek.com/content/story/theweekend_coverstory/somethings_fishy_wahoos/ |archive-date= February 2, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Costa Mesa offers 26 parks, a municipal golf course, 26 public schools and two libraries.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===Top employers ===
According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.costamesaca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/56330/638477324029000000 | work = City of Costa Mesa | title = 22-23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report | access-date = April 28, 2024}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
|1
|[[El Pollo Loco|EPL Intermediate, Inc.]]
|3,998
|-
|2
|[[Experian]]
|3,700
|-
|3
|Coast Community College District
|2,900
|-
|4
|[[Orange Coast College]]
|1,900
|-
|5
|[[Automobile Club of Southern California]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cardine |first=Sara |date=2024-08-01 |title=On the road again — AAA's plans to grow Costa Mesa hub may resume after long hiatus |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2024-07-31/on-the-road-again-aaas-plans-to-grow-costa-mesa-site-may-resume-after-long-hiatus |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=Daily Pilot |language=en-US}}</ref>
|1,773
|-
|6
|[[Anduril Industries]]
|1,100
|-
|7
|[[Deloitte|Deloitte & Touche LLP]]
|700
|-
|8
|[[FileNet]]
|600
|-
|9
|[[Vans]]
|550
|-
|10
|[[Vanguard University]]
|319
|}

==Arts and culture==
===Annual cultural events===

The [[Orange County Fair (California)|Orange County Fair]] takes place at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa each July. The Fair receives more than one million visitors each year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Money |first=Luke |date=August 24, 2018 |title=Record 1.47 million visitors pack 2018 O.C. Fair |work=Daily Pilot |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-oc-fair-numbers-20180814-story.html |access-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317155114/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-oc-fair-numbers-20180814-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Annual Scarecrow & Pumpkin Festival was first held in 1938, went on hiatus for seven decades, and then was restarted in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Jordan|title=Scarecrows face off in Costa Mesa competition|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/19/scarecrows-face-off-in-costa-mesa-competition|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=October 18, 2015|access-date=July 12, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715033218/https://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/19/scarecrows-face-off-in-costa-mesa-competition/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Facilities===
[[File:Costa-mesa-ca.jpg|alt=|thumb|Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, in 2020]]Adjacent to the [[OC Fair & Event Center|Fairgrounds]] is the [[Pacific Amphitheatre]], which has hosted acts such as [[Madonna]], [[Jessica Simpson]], [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]], and [[Kelly Clarkson]].

The [[Segerstrom Center for the Arts]] and [[South Coast Repertory]] Theater are based in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SCFTA - Directions |url=https://www.scfta.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Directions-Parking.aspx |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=www.scfta.org |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309132013/https://www.scfta.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Directions-Parking.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

===National Football League===
Costa Mesa has been home to the [[National Football League|NFL]]'s [[Las Vegas Raiders]] training camp since 2024. Previously it was home to the training center, training camp and corporate headquarters of the [[Los Angeles Chargers ]] from 2017 to 2024. The team agreed to a lease of the facility they moved into prior to their relocation from San Diego.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Money |first=Luke |date=January 27, 2017 |title=Chargers have 10-year lease for Costa Mesa HQ and training facility |work=Daily Pilot |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-me-costa-mesa-chargers-20170127-story.html |access-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622171938/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-me-costa-mesa-chargers-20170127-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The building, called the Jack Hammett Sports Complex is a former office space, but Chargers players and coaches said it was an upgrade from what the team had in San Diego.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/26/a-look-at-the-los-angeles-chargers-training-camp-in-costa-mesa/ |title=A look at the LA Chargers training camp |date=2017 |website=The Orange County Register|last1=Snibbe|first1=Kurt|access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511145715/https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/26/a-look-at-the-los-angeles-chargers-training-camp-in-costa-mesa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chargers occupied the facility until 2024 when they left for a purpose-built practice facility in [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]]. The team gutted the first floor of the building to make room for team rooms. Construction cost more than $3.8 million. After the Chargers departed for El Segundo, the facility became the training camp home of the [[Las Vegas Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snel |first=Alan |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Raiders Fans In SoCal Rejoice: Silver and Black Will Hold Summer Training Camp In Costa Mesa |url=https://lvsportsbiz.com/2024/05/13/raiders-fans-in-socal-rejoice-silver-and-black-will-hold-summer-training-camp-in-costa-mesa/ |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=LVSportsBiz |language=en-US}}</ref>

Decades prior, the facility was a lima bean farm owned by a Swedish immigrant family who became prominent developers in Orange County.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jack Wang |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2017/06/30/chargers-settling-into-costa-mesa-after-months-of-relocation/ |title=Chargers settling into Costa Mesa after months of relocation – Daily News |date=June 30, 2017 |publisher=Dailynews.com |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511214616/https://www.dailynews.com/2017/06/30/chargers-settling-into-costa-mesa-after-months-of-relocation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Government==
===Local===
A general law city, Costa Mesa has a [[Council–manager government|council-manager form of government]]. In [[Municipal elections in Costa Mesa, California#2016 Measure EE Election|November 2016]], voters approved changing the City Council seats from five at-large seats to six voting districts and a directly elected mayor, who acts as the chairperson for the council and head of the government.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Money |first=Luke |date=September 28, 2016 |title=Election 2016: Costa Mesa has all-time high 8 ballot measures in November |work=[[Daily Pilot]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-me-costa-mesa-ballot-initiatives-20160928-story.html |access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref> The mayor serves two-year terms and councilmembers serve four year terms, with each office having a two-term limit. [[Municipal elections in Costa Mesa, California|Municipal elections]] are held every two years, during which the mayor and three councilmembers are up for election.

Day to day, the city is run by a professional city manager and staff of approximately 460 full-time employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Costa Mesa {{!}} City of Costa Mesa |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/about |access-date=June 22, 2022 |website=www.costamesaca.gov |language=en |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108225254/https://www.costamesaca.gov/about |url-status=live }}</ref> Management of the city and coordination of city services are provided by:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/cafr/cafr-07-08.pdf | work = City of Costa Mesa | title = COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT |date= | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090625180859/http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/cafr/cafr-07-08.pdf | access-date = June 4, 2009| archive-date = June 25, 2009 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Office
! Officeholder
|-
|City Manager
|Lori Ann Farrell Harrison
|-
|Assistant City Manager
|Cecilia Gallardo-Daly
|-
|City Attorney
|Kimberly Hall Barlow
|-
|City Clerk
|Brenda Green
|-
|Economic & Development Services Director
|Carrie Tai
|-
|Finance Director
|Carol Molina
|-
|I.T. Director
|Steve Ely
|-
|Public Works Director
|Raja Sethuraman
|-
|Parks and Community Services Director
|Brian Gruner
|-
|Fire Chief
|Dan Stefano
|-
|Police Chief
|Ronald Lawrence
|}
Residents of the city are also governed by various [[Special district (United States)|special districts]], including the [[Mesa Water District]], the [[Orange County Water District]], the [[Municipal Water District of Orange County]], the [[Irvine Ranch Water District]], and the [[Costa Mesa Sanitary District]].

===State and federal===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Costa Mesa is in {{Representative|casd|37|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|73|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date= November 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date= February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Costa Mesa is in {{Representative|cacd|47|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|48}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Costa Mesa city vote<br/> by party in presidential elections
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/GEN2020/Run_27/sov.pdf|title=Votes cast|website=ocvote.com|access-date=January 18, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111091518/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/GEN2020/Run_27/sov.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.00%''' ''29,804''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.44% ''22,056''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.55% ''1,358''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/sov.pdf |title=Data |year=2016 |website=ocvote.com |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412181918/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/sov.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.95%''' ''21,528''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.75% ''17,219''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|8.30% ''3,507''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2012/sov-for-web.pdf |title=Data |year=2012 |website=ocvote.com |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412182258/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2012/sov-for-web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.66% ''18,414''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.60%''' ''18,778''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.74% ''1,443''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Data |year=2008 |website=ocvote.com |url=https://www.ocvote.com/ |access-date=February 18, 2019 |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223055056/https://www.ocvote.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.88%''' ''20,542''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.32% ''17,945''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.80% ''1,107''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/e13/sov1.pdf |title=Info |website=www.ocvote.com |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412175322/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/e13/sov1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.91% ''16,442''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.55%''' ''21,284''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.54% ''590''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2000/gen2000-SOV.pdf |title=SOV.xls |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412175330/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2000/gen2000-SOV.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.06% ''13,733''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.13%''' ''18,556''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.81% ''1,990''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/details/statementofvote51996cali |title=Statement of the Vote | location=Sacramento, Calif |publisher= California Secretary of State | via = Internet Archive |year=1996|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.97% ''11,949''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.16%''' ''16,213''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|12.87% ''4,161''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/details/statementofvote31992cali | title=Statement of the Vote | location=Sacramento, Calif |publisher= California Secretary of State | via = Internet Archive |year=1968 |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.46% ''12,702''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''40.02%''' ''15,659''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|27.52% ''10,769''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote81988cali | title=Statement of the Vote | location=Sacramento, Calif |publisher= California Secretary of State | via = Internet Archive| year=1968}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.90% ''11,849''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.47%''' ''22,534''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.63% ''571''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote61984cali | title=Statement of the Vote| publisher=Sacramento, Calif. : The Secretary| year=1968}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|26.16% ''8,908''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''72.39%''' ''24,652''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.45% ''493''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote41980cali| title=Statement of the Vote | location=Sacramento, Calif |publisher= California Secretary of State | via = Internet Archive| year= 1980}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|24.67% ''7,796''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.38%''' ''20,028''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|11.95% ''3,775''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote1976cali | title=Statement of the Vote | location=Sacramento, Calif |publisher= California Secretary of State | via = Internet Archive| year= 1976}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.51% ''9,805''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.16%''' ''17,161''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.33% ''643''
|}

===Politics===
According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 20, 2024, Costa Mesa has 60,789 registered voters. Of those, 22,661 (37.3%) are registered Democrats, 19,888 (32.7%) are registered Republicans, 15,204 (25%) have declined to state a political party/are independents, 2,717 (4.5%) are registered [[American Independent Party|American Independents]], and 319 (0.5%) are registered to the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Weber |first=Shirley |date=February 20, 2024 |title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2024 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-presprim-2024/complete-ror.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715032137/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-presprim-2024/complete-ror.pdf |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=ca.gov}}</ref>

Until 2008, Costa Mesa was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold in presidential elections. Since 2008, Costa Mesa has mostly voted [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] in presidential elections, owing to the GOP's shift towards cultural conservatism. In 2008, [[Barack Obama]] was the first Democrat to carry Costa Mesa in decades, while Republican nominee [[Mitt Romney]] carried the city by only 364 votes in the 2012 presidential election. Costa Mesa flipped back to Democratic in 2016, voting for [[Hillary Clinton]] by a 10.2% margin, and for [[Joe Biden]] by a 14.6% margin in 2020. {{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 2008, Costa Mesa was one of four cities in Orange County to vote against [[Proposition 8]] (along with Aliso Viejo, Irvine, and Laguna Beach), a statewide ballot measure that banned same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2013 |title=Will Laguna Beach Voters Get Their Way on Same Sex Marriage? |url=https://patch.com/california/lagunabeach/will-laguna-beach-voters-get-their-way-on-same-sex-marriage |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Laguna Beach, CA Patch |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126200212/https://patch.com/california/lagunabeach/will-laguna-beach-voters-get-their-way-on-same-sex-marriage |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education==
Institutions of higher learning located in Costa Mesa include [[Orange Coast College]], and [[Vanguard University of Southern California|Vanguard University]] (affiliated with the [[Assemblies of God]]). [[Whittier Law School]] was a former school.

Costa Mesa has two public high schools, [[Costa Mesa High School]] and [[Estancia High School]]. There are also two public middle schools; TeWinkle Middle School, which was named after Costa Mesa's first mayor, and Costa Mesa Middle School which shares the same campus as Costa Mesa High School. Costa Mesa also has two alternative high schools that share the same campus, Back Bay High School and Monte Vista High School and another, Coastline Early College High School which is on its own facility. These are located in the [[Newport-Mesa Unified School District]].

==Transportation==
[[File:OCTA Unit 5509.jpg|thumb|OC Bus in Costa Mesa]]
Costa Mesa is served by several bus lines of the [[Orange County Transportation Authority]] (OCTA), but most transportation is by automobile. Two state highways, [[California State Route 55|State Route 55]] (Costa Mesa Freeway) and [[California State Route 73|State Route 73]] (Corona del Mar Freeway), have their respective southern and northern terminus points within Costa Mesa. The [[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405)]] also runs through the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Mesa · California |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Costa+Mesa,+CA/@33.6636032,-117.9443638,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x80dcdf6ffc576f79:0xef018412d803c0da!8m2!3d33.6638439!4d-117.9047429 |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Costa Mesa · California |language=en |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019222741/https://www.google.com/maps/place/Costa+Mesa,+CA/@33.6636032,-117.9443638,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x80dcdf6ffc576f79:0xef018412d803c0da!8m2!3d33.6638439!4d-117.9047429 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Civic Center===
The {{convert|9.5|acre|ha e3m2|abbr=off}} Costa Mesa Civic Center is located at 77 Fair Drive. City hall is a five-story building where the primary administrative functions of the city are conducted. Also contained in the Civic Center complex are Council Chambers, the Police facility, Communications building and Fire Station No. 5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City departments {{!}} City of Costa Mesa |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=www.costamesaca.gov |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809201620/https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Emergency services===
Fire protection is provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue {{!}} City of Costa Mesa |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/fire-rescue |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=www.costamesaca.gov |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228222741/https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/fire-rescue |url-status=live }}</ref> Law enforcement is the responsibility of the [[Costa Mesa Police Department]]. Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department and [[Care Ambulance Service]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rescue ambulance {{!}} City of Costa Mesa |url=https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/fire-rescue/emergency-services-vehicles/rescue-ambulance |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=www.costamesaca.gov |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314202008/https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/fire-rescue/emergency-services-vehicles/rescue-ambulance |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* ''See [[List of people from Costa Mesa, California]]''

==Sister city==
* [[City of Wyndham|Wyndham]], Australia<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.costamesaca.gov/index.aspx?page=1415
 | title = Sister City Program
 | publisher = City of Costa Mesa
 | access-date = November 6, 2014
 | archive-date = September 1, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140901133540/http://costamesaca.gov/index.aspx?page=1415
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Los Angeles Times suburban sections#Daily sections|''Los Angeles Times'' suburban sections]]
* [[Otherside Farms]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Costa Mesa}}
* {{official website|http://www.costamesaca.gov/}}
* [http://www.costamesachamber.com/ City of Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://travelcostamesa.com/ City of Costa Mesa official Conference & Visitor Bureau]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre =Costa Mesa
 | North = [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]] 
 | Northeast = [[John Wayne Airport]]
 | East = [[Upper Newport Bay]]- [[Irvine, California|Irvine]]-[[Turtle Rock, Irvine, California|Turtle Rock]]
 | Southeast = [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
 | South = [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
 | Southwest = [[Santa Ana River]] to the Pacific Ocean
 | West = [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]]
 | Northwest = [[Fountain Valley, California|Fountain Valley]]
 | image =
}}
{{Costa Mesa}}
{{Cities of Orange County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Southern California megaregion}}
{{Portal bar|Greater Los Angeles}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Costa Mesa, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Santa Ana River]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1953]]