Editing Rancho Santa Margarita, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{distinguish|Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Santa Margarita, California]], a town in San Luis Obispo County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Rancho Santa Margarita, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = Rancho Santa Margarita California photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
| image_caption      = Rancho Santa Margarita
| image_flag         = Flag of Rancho Santa Margarita, California.png
| image_seal         = RanchoLogo.jpg
| image_map          = Orange County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rancho Santa Margarita Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Rancho Santa Margarita within [[Orange County, California]].
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|38|29|N|117|35|40|W|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Orange County, California|Orange]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = January 1, 2000<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
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>

<!-- Area------------------>
| government_type    = [[Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Carol A. Gamble<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.cityofrsm.org/160/Mayor-City-Council
 | title = Mayor and City Council
 | publisher = Rancho Santa Margarita
 | access-date = November 18, 2024}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1       = Bradley J. McGirr
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = L. Anthony Beall <br> Anne D. Figueroa<br> Jerry Holloway
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Jennifer M. Cervantez
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 33.52
| area_total_sq_mi   = 12.94
| area_land_km2      = 33.40
| area_land_sq_mi    = 12.90
| area_water_km2     = 0.12
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05
| area_water_percent = 0.27
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|2411517|City of Rancho Santa Margarita|access-date=February 25, 2015}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 282
| elevation_ft       = 925
| population_total   = 47949
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 1435.60
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 92679, 92688
| area_code          = [[Area code 949|949]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.cityofrsm.org|cityofrsm.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|59587}}
| blank1_name        = [[GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1867054}}, {{GNIS 4|2411517}}
| population_density_sq_mi = 3714.02
}}

'''Rancho Santa Margarita''' is a city in [[Orange County, California]], United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a [[planned community|master-planned community]]. The population was 47,853 at the 2010 census, up from 47,214 at the 2000 census. Although it is named for [[Las Flores Estancia|Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores]], which was in [[San Diego County]], the city limits fall within the borders of [[Rancho Mission Viejo]]. At 20 characters long (22 including spaces), it is the longest city name in California.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2015}}
[[File:Trabuco_Adobe,_Rancho_Santa_Margarita,_Nov_1967.jpg|left|thumb|170x170px|The ruins of the Trabuco Adobe in 1967, first built in 1810, at the [[Acjachemen]] village of [[Alume]].<ref name=":4" />]]
The area is the ancestral lands of the [[Acjachemen]] people. The village of [[Alume]] was located in Rancho Santa Margarita, between [[Trabuco Creek]] and [[Tijeras creek|Tijeras Creek]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Merriam |first=C Hart |url=http://www.tongvapeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/village-names.pdf |title=University of California Archaeological Survey |publisher=University of California Archaeological Research Facility |year=1968 |editor-last=Heizer |editor-first=Robert F. |location=Berkeley |pages=123}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Koerper |first=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=64–66, 79 |oclc=745176510}}</ref> In 1810, the Trabuco Adobe was constructed near the village as an outpost of [[Mission San Juan Capistrano]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Brigandi |first=Phil |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/914181947 |title=Orange County chronicles |date=2013 |isbn=978-1-62584-588-7 |location=Charleston |oclc=914181947}}</ref>

The city seal has the brands of [[Rancho Mission Viejo]] and Rancho Santa Margarita and Las Flores on the border, with artwork containing [[Santiago Peak]] in the background. The tower in the foreground symbolizes the Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Tower.

[[Hughes Aircraft]] Company's Microelectronic Systems Division moved to Rancho Santa Margarita in May 1988 from Irvine. In August 1992, the Hughes plant closed its facilities and moved the division to [[Carlsbad, California]] due to budget constraints in the aerospace industry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Takahashi, Christian |first=Dean, Susan |date=February 13, 1992 |title=Hughes Aircraft to Close Division in South O.C. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-13-mn-3182-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

[[Rolling Hills Estates]] had the longest city name in California with 19 letters until January 1, 2000, when the title was ceded to Rancho Santa Margarita (20 letters) upon the latter's incorporation.

The city is a general law city and operates under the council-manager form of government. Rancho Santa Margarita is a contract city. Police services are provided through contract with the Orange County Sheriff. Fire Protection services are provided through the Orange County Fire Authority.

==Geography==
Rancho Santa Margarita is located at {{Coord|33|38|29|N|117|35|40|W|type:city}} (33.641518, -117.594524).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It occupies much of a high plateau known as Plano Trabuco.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|13.0|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|13.0|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.27%) is water.

Rancho Santa Margarita is bordered by the city of [[Mission Viejo]] on the west, the [[census-designated place|census-designated]] places [[Coto de Caza]] and [[Las Flores, California|Las Flores]] on the south, the unincorporated [[Trabuco Canyon]] on the north, and the [[Cleveland National Forest]] on the east.

Vehicular access is provided by [[California State Route 241]] (a toll road), in addition to several surface streets. Santa Margarita Parkway and Antonio Parkway are the city's major thoroughfares, with Avenida De Las Banderas, Avenida Empresa, Avenida De Las Flores, and Alma Aldea being minor thoroughfares. In addition, Alicia Parkway terminates in the city providing access to Mission Viejo.

==Major homeowners associations and communities==
The majority of the neighborhoods in Rancho Santa Margarita are maintained by larger [[homeowners association]]s including SAMLARC, Dove Canyon, Rancho Cielo, Robinson Ranch, Walden and Trabuco Highlands. Dove Canyon, Trabuco Highlands, Robinson Ranch, Walden and Rancho Cielo were all established before Rancho Santa Margarita was an incorporated city. East of Plano Trabuco Road is designated with a Trabuco Canyon (92679) zip code even though the area falls within the City of Rancho Santa Margarita boundary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofrsm.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4364|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004175432/http://www.cityofrsm.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4364|url-status=dead|title=City Zoning Map|archive-date=October 4, 2007}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2014}}
Rancho Santa Margarita, like most of southern California, generally has a [[Mediterranean climate]].

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Rancho Santa Margarita California Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Year Ending June 30, 2020|url=https://www.cityofrsm.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/185}}</ref> the top 10 employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
| 1
|Applied Medical
|2,700
|-
| 2
|O'Connell Landscape Maintenance
|1,000
|-
| 3
|[[Saddleback Valley Unified School District]]
|288
|-
| 4
|[[Target Corporation|Target]]
|255
|-
| 5
|Lucas & Mercier Construction
|250
|-
| 6
|[[Capistrano Unified School District]]
|215
|-
| 7
|[[IMI plc|Control Components Inc.]]
|200
|-
| 8
|[[PADI]]
|180
|-
| 9
|Santa Margarita Catholic High School
|175
|-
| 10
|Car Sound Exhaust System
|150
|}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 11390
|2000= 47214
|2010= 47853
|2020= 48119
|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=|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023553/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907072108/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828190324/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164053/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050629/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828162810/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918190408/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921120611/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823052400/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814213918/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</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]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204210903/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Rancho Santa Margarita first appeared as a [[census designated place]] in the [[1990 U.S. Census]];<ref name=1990CensusCA/> and as a city in the [[2010 U.S. Census]].<ref name=2010CensusCA/>

===2020===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Rancho Santa Margarita city, 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 – Rancho Santa Margarita city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0659587&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</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) – Rancho Santa Margarita city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0659587&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</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) – Rancho Santa Margarita city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0659587&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|35,132
|32,054
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27,930
|74.41%
|66.98%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |58.25%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|787
|788
|style='background: #ffffe6; |761
|1.67%
|1.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.59%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|131
|82
|style='background: #ffffe6; |73
|0.28%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|3,440
|4,268
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,711
|7.29%
|8.92%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.91%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|90
|88
|style='background: #ffffe6; |92
|0.19%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|91
|91
|style='background: #ffffe6; |225
|0.19%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,404
|1,580
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,860
|2.97%
|3.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.96%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|6,139
|8,902
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,297
|13.00%
|18.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21.47%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''47,214'''
|'''47,853'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''47,949'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported a population of 48,119. The racial makeup was 75.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 10.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 21.7% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0659587|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032641/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0659587|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Rancho Santa Margarita city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Rancho Santa Margarita had a population of 47,853. The population density was {{convert|3,683.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Rancho Santa Margarita was 37,421 (78.2%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (67.0% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name=quick>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0659587.html|title=Rancho Santa Margarita (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 28, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215155420/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0659587.html|archive-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref> 887 (1.9%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 182 (0.4%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4,350 (9.1%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 102 (0.2%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2,674 (5.6%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 2,237 (4.7%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8,902 persons (18.6%).

31.8% of the population possessed a bachelor's degree, with 16.4% possessing a Graduate or Professional Degree.  The educational attainment level in Rancho Santa Margarita significantly exceeds the averages throughout the rest of California.

The Census reported that 47,851 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 16,665 households, out of which 7,699 (46.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,144 (60.9%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 1,703 (10.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 700 (4.2%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 747 (4.5%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 103 (0.6%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 3,199 households (19.2%) were made up of individuals, and 761 (4.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87.  There were 12,547 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (75.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.33.

The population was spread out, with 13,879 people (29.0%) under the age of 18, 3,793 people (7.9%) aged 18 to 24, 13,706 people (28.6%) aged 25 to 44, 13,764 people (28.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,711 people (5.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

There were 17,260 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,328.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 11,906 (71.4%) were owner-occupied, and 4,759 (28.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 35,737 people (74.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 12,114 people (25.3%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009&ndash;2013, Rancho Santa Margarita had a median household income of $104,113, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name=quick/>

==Government and politics==
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Rancho Santa Margarita 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/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/Orange/LiveResults/precincts_6.pdf|title=Precinct results |date=2020 |website=www.ocvote.com |access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.91% ''13,310''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.88%''' ''13,857''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.22% ''616''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/sov.pdf |title=SOV.xls |publisher=www.ocvote.com |date=2016 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.76% ''9,564''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.24%''' ''11,238''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.01% ''1,567''
|-
|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=SOV.xls |publisher=www.ocvote.com |date=2012 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.99% ''7,914''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.78%''' ''13,004''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.23% ''478''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2008/sov.pdf |title=SOV.xls |publisher=www.ocvote.com |date=2008 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.82% ''9,494''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.29%''' ''12,259''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.89% ''420''
|-
|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=SOV.xls |publisher=www.ocvote.com |date=2013 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.81% ''6,671''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.33%''' ''14,119''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.86% ''181''
|-
|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 |publisher=www.ocvote.com |date=2000 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.70% ''6,117''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.40%''' ''11,508''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.90% ''526''
|}

=== State and federal representation ===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Rancho Santa Margarita is in {{Representative|casd|38|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|71|fmt=adistrict}}.

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Rancho Santa Margarita is in {{Representative|cacd|40|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|40}}</ref>

According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 10, 2019, Rancho Santa Margarita has 28,462 registered voters. Of those, 11,877 (41.73%) are registered Republicans, 7,511 (26.39%) are registered Democrats, and 7,819 (27.47%) have no political party preference/are independents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2019/politicalsub.pdf|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019|website=ca.gov|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>

Rancho Santa Margarita has voted Republican in every presidential election since the city's incorporation.

==Education==
The city is served by [[Saddleback Valley Unified School District]] and the [[Capistrano Unified School District]].
*Students in SVUSD boundaries attend [[Trabuco Hills High School]] or [[Mission Viejo High School]], both outside of Rancho Santa Margarita in the city of Mission Viejo. Students in CUSD boundaries attend Tesoro High School located in the Las Flores neighborhood.
* Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School (SVUSD) and Las Flores Middle School (CUSD) serve the city.
* Public Elementary schools include Cielo Vista, Trabuco Mesa, Robinson Ranch, Arroyo Vista, Melinda Heights, and Tijeras Creek.
* Private Elementary and Middle Schools include St. John's Episcopal Day School, Serra Catholic, and Mission Hills Christian School.
*[[Santa Margarita Catholic High School]] is a private [[Roman Catholic]] [[High school (North America)|high school]] associated with the Catholic Diocese of Orange. SMCHS is located in Rancho Santa Margarita.

==Popular culture==

===Television===
The television series ''[[The Real Housewives of Orange County]]'', although based in [[Coto De Caza]], is mainly filmed in Rancho Santa Margarita where many of the housewives do business, shopping, commuting, dentistry, and dining.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives_3/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028122806/http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives_3/index.php|url-status=dead|title=BRAVOtv.com: The Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 3 (Home)|archive-date=October 28, 2007}}</ref>

The Dove Canyon, Rancho Cielo, and Robinson Ranch neighborhoods, while all part of the city, have a zip code of 92679, although the 92688 ZIP code is far more common in the Rancho Santa Margarita area.

A map of Orange County seen in season four of ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' places the fictional [[List of Arrested Development characters|Bluth Company]]-developed community of Sudden Valley northeast of Mission Viejo and Las Flores, in the approximate location of Rancho Santa Margarita.

==Notable people==
[[File:Jon blum 2.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Jonathon Blum]]]]
*[[Jonathon Blum]] (born 1989), [[National Hockey League]] player, 2018 Winter Olympian 
* [[Joy Fawcett]], Olympic soccer gold medalist<ref>{{Cite news|last =Perkes
| first =Courtney
  | title =Ex-Olympian battles rheumatoid arthritis
  | newspaper =[[The Orange County Register]]
  | pages =Life, etc. 2
  | date =July 23, 2008
}}</ref>
* [[Joshua Fuentes]], MLB player<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fuentjo01.shtml |title=Baseball-Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=July 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701192845/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fuentjo01.shtml |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
* [[Warren G]], rapper and producer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/1999-11-25/features/not-angry-no-more/ |title=Not Angry No More &#124; OC Weekly |website=www.ocweekly.com |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140820063652/http://www.ocweekly.com/1999-11-25/features/not-angry-no-more/ |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Carson Palmer]], American football player; attended [[Santa Margarita Catholic High School]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/carsonpalmer/2505245/profile |title=Carson Palmer, QB for the Arizona Cardinals |work=NFL.com |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Mark Sanchez]] (born 1986), [[National Football League]] [[quarterback]]<ref>{{cite news|title=A Strong Arm and a Strong Mind |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/sports/ncaafootball/13usc.html |work=The New York Times |author=Witz, Billy |date=September 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417074235/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/sports/ncaafootball/13usc.html |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=November 20, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Teemu Selänne]], ice hockey player<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tsysf.org/ |title=Teemu Selänne Youth Sports Foundation |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Klay Thompson]], basketball player; attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Klay-Thompson/Summary/4717 |title=Klay Thompson Player Profile, Golden State Warriors |work=RealGM Basketball |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
* Members of the band [[Movements (band)|Movements]].
* [[Velvet Revolver]], rock band

==Controversies==
* In March 2008, then city attorney John Cavanaugh was suddenly asked to resign by then-Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Thompson with no explanation given or in the record.<ref>{{Cite news|last =
| first =
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Former Rancho Santa Margarita city attorney was asked to resign, councilman says
  | newspaper =[[The Orange County Register]]
  | pages =Local News
  | date =March 17, 2008
  | url = https://www.ocregister.com/2008/03/17/former-rancho-santa-margarita-city-attorney-was-asked-to-resign-councilman-says/
  }}</ref>
* In April 2010 city councilmen Gary Thompson and Neil C. Blais as part of a financial audit in the city of Menifee for billing and contract overbilling.<ref>{{Cite news|last =Sforza
| first =Teri
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Councilman to explain $300,000 'errors'
  | newspaper =[[The Orange County Register]]
  | pages =Local News
  | date =April 21, 2010
  | url = https://www.ocregister.com/2010/04/21/councilman-to-explain-300000-errors/
  }}</ref>
* In February 2011 Mayor Tony Beall tried to remove councilman Jesse Petrilla while he was on California Army National Guard deployment.<ref>{{Cite news|last =
| first =
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Rancho council to replace member on military duty
  | newspaper =[[The Orange County Register]]
  | pages =Local News
  | date =February 24, 2011
  | url = https://www.ocregister.com/2011/02/24/rancho-council-to-replace-member-on-military-duty/
  }}</ref>
* In September 2019 residents of the city started a recall campaign against long-time city councilman L. Anthony (Tony) Beall.<ref>{{Cite news|last =Park
| first =Jeong
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Residents start a recall process against Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Tony Beall
  | newspaper =[[The Orange County Register]]
  | pages =Local News
  | date =September 20, 2019
  | url = https://www.ocregister.com/2019/09/20/residents-start-a-recall-process-against-rancho-santa-margarita-councilman-tony-beall/
  }}</ref>
* In November 2019 long-time city councilwoman and city founder Carol Gamble was found guilty by the FPPC of campaign finance violations.<ref>{{Cite news|last =
| first =
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Fair Political Practices Commission Stipulation, Decision And Order
  | agency =[[California Fair Political Practices Commission]]
  | pages =
  | date =November 5, 2019
  | url = http://fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/documents/enf_letter/1-28-20/Carol%20Gamble%20for%20RSM%20City%20Council%202016%20-%20201901301.pdf
  }}</ref>
* In December 2019 long-time city councilman L. Anthony (Tony) Beall was fined by the FPPC for campaign finance reporting issues.<ref>{{Cite news|last =
| first =
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Fair Political Practices Commission Stipulation, Decision And Order
  | agency =[[California Fair Political Practices Commission]]
  | pages =
  | date =December 19, 2019
  | url = http://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/documents/Stipulations/2019/December/Anthony%20Beall%20-%20Stip.pdf
  }}</ref>
* In October 2024 city co-founder and long-time city councilwoman Carol Gamble committed felony perjury on her re-election campaign paperwork. The Orange County District Attorney agreed to a plea bargain. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of 18660(a) of the California Elections Code and ruled ineligible to hold office, resulting in her suspending her campaign, which she ultimately lost.<ref>{{Cite news|last =
| first =
  | author-link =
  | last2 =
  | first2 =
  | author2-link =
  | title =Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor and Longtime City Councilmember Admits to Falsifying Nomination Paperwork to Run for Re-election
  | agency =[[Orange County District Attorney]]
  | pages =
  | date =October 30, 2024
  | url = https://orangecountyda.org/press/former-rancho-santa-margarita-mayor-and-longtime-city-councilmember-admits-to-falsifying-nomination-paperwork-to-run-for-re-election/
  }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Coto De Caza]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Orange County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Portal bar|Greater Los Angeles}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:2000 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Former census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 2000]]