Laguna Woods, California

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Laguna Woods (Laguna being Template:Langnf) is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 17,644 at the 2020 census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> up from 16,192 at the 2010 census, with a median age of 74.5 (as of 2021).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Laguna Woods became Orange County's 32nd city on March 24, 1999, after local residents voted to incorporate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> About ninety percent of the city consists of Laguna Woods Village, a private gated retirement community, formerly known as Leisure World. The other ten percent consists of businesses, some homes and the city hall, which are accessible to the public. Incorporation efforts in the late 1990s were largely driven by the need for residents to have a stronger voice against the prospective construction of an international airport at the nearby decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The airport proposal was defeated, and the land in question has been tabbed for development as the Orange County Great Park.

History

Indigenous

The Acjachemen and the Tongva were the original inhabitants of this area and throughout Orange County. The Acjachemen were the main residents dating back 16,000 years while the Tongva had less villages in the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

20th century

Laguna Woods, California occupies approximately three-square miles of land that was once a part of South Orange County's expansive Moulton Ranch. Prior to the 1960s, dry farming and cattle grazing dominated the area, with a few scattered ranch dwellings and barns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

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

On March 24, 1999, Laguna Woods officially became Orange County's 32nd city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

21st century

On May 15, 2022, a shooting occurred at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. One person was killed and five others were injured.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The attack is believed to have been motivated by anti-Taiwanese sentiment.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Laguna Woods is located at Template:Coord (33.609165, -117.732791).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, which is virtually all land.

It is bordered by Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, as well as the Laguna Coast State Park and other natural open spaces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Laguna Woods itself has no public schools. The city is located in the Capistrano Unified School District and the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, as well as the South Orange County Community College District.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

Laguna Woods first appeared as a city in the 2000 U.S. Census.<ref name=2000CensusCA/>

2020

**Laguna Woods city, California – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	15,580	13,600	12,206	94.38%	83.99%	69.18%
Black or African American alone (NH)	41	105	158	0.25%	0.65%	0.90%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	18	17	9	0.11%	0.10%	0.05%
Asian alone (NH)	412	1,613	3,796	2.50%	9.96%	21.51%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	4	10	10	0.02%	0.06%	0.06%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	7	18	35	0.04%	0.11%	0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	105	179	491	0.64%	1.11%	2.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	340	650	939	2.06%	4.01%	5.32%
Total	16,507	16,192	17,644	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

The 2020 United States census reported a population of 17,701. The racial makeup was 74.4% White, 0.5% African American, 21.2% Asian, and 5.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010

At the 2010 census Laguna Woods had a population of 16,192. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Laguna Woods was 14,133 (87.3%) White (84.0% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">Template:Cite web</ref> 110 (0.7%) African American, 24 (0.1%) Native American, 1,624 (10.0%) Asian, 10 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 90 (0.6%) from other races, and 201 (1.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 650 people (4.0%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The census reported that 16,025 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 167 (1.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 11,302 households, 36 (0.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,278 (29.0%) were married couples living together, 482 (4.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 113 (1.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 194 (1.7%) unmarried couples or partnerships, and 54 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,924 households (61.3%) were one person and 6,097 (53.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.42. There were 3,873 families (34.3% of households); the average family size was 2.07.

The age distribution was 48 people (0.3%) under the age of 18, 56 people (0.3%) aged 18 to 24, 266 people (1.6%) aged 25 to 44, 2,948 people (18.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,874 people (79.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 77.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 55.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 55.0 males.

There were 13,016 housing units at an average density of 4,177.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 8,730 (77.2%) were owner-occupied and 2,572 (22.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%. 12,456 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,569 people (22.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Laguna Woods had a median household income of $36,818, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

2000

At the 2000 census there were 16,507 people in 11,699 households, including 3,989 families, in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 12,650 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.12% White, 0.25% Black, 0.12% American Indian, 2.50% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.06%.<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 11,699 households 0.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 65.9% were non-families. 62.2% of households were one person and 57.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.40 and the average family size was 2.06.

The age distribution was 0.6% under the age of 18, 0.2% from 18 to 24, 2.2% from 25 to 44, 10.6% from 45 to 64, and 86.4% 65 or older. The median age was 78 years. For every 100 females, there were 51.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 51.6 males.

The median household income was $30,493 and the median family income was $46,889. Males had a median income of $56,563 versus $35,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,071. About 2.6% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the state legislature, Laguna Woods is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the United States House of Representatives, Laguna Woods is in Template:Representative,<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref> and in California's 47th congressional district, represented by Democrat Dave Min since 2025.

Additionally, in the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Laguna Woods is in the fifth district, represented by Katrina Foley.

According to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, as of May 14, 2025, Laguna Woods has 15,420 registered voters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Of those, 5,081 (36.22%) are registered Republicans, 5,041 (35.94%) are registered Democrats, and 3,392 (24.18%) have declined to state a political party/are independents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Crime

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR), collected annually by the FBI, compiles police statistics from local and state law enforcement agencies across the nation. The UCR records Part I and Part II crimes. Part I crimes become known to law enforcement and are considered the most serious crimes including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Part II crimes only include arrest data.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2023 UCR Data for Laguna Woods is listed below:

2023 UCR Data<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Aggravated Assault	Homicide	Rape	Robbery	Burglary	Larceny Theft	Motor Vehicle Theft	Arson
Laguna Woods	5	1	0	3	14	70	8	2

Infrastructure

Public Safety services

Fire protection in Laguna Woods is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority with ambulance service by Care Ambulance Service. Law enforcement is provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Security services within Laguna Woods Village<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> are provided by Laguna Woods Village Security.