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With a population of 2,846,289 (2000 census), Orange County is the second most populous county in the state of California and the fifth most populous in the United States. It is a part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. The county is known for its wealth and political conservatism.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,455 km² (948 mi²). 2,045 km² (789 mi²) of it is land and 411 km² (159 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 16.73% water.
Orange County is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Los Angeles County, on the northeast by San Bernardino County, on the east by Riverside County, and on the south by San Diego County. It was named after the citrus fruit that was prevalent in the region, although in recent years fewer oranges have been grown here. The county seat is Santa Ana.
The area's warm weather and year-round beaches attract millions of tourists annually; many come to visit Disneyland in Anaheim or Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
Some of the most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhoods in the U.S. are located here, many along the Orange Coast. Large shopping malls exist throughout the county, such as South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Fashion Island in Newport Beach, and The Block in Orange.
The county is home to the University of California, Irvine, California State University, Fullerton, Mission San Juan Capistrano, and the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace (the only privately-controlled presidential library in the nation since the government began constructing these libraries in 1939) in Yorba Linda.
Surfing is a favorite pastime. The county's Major League Baseball team, the Anaheim Angels, won the World Series in 2002. The county's National Hockey League team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, lost the 2003 Stanley Cup finals after winning three games in a seven-game series.
In U.S. Politics, Orange County has long been typified as a bastion of conservative Republicanism. Changing demographics have split the county more evenly between the two major parties as the traditionally pro-Democrat Hispanic population continues to grow; however, Republicans continue to hold a 3-2 voter registration margin over the Democrats. In 1996, Democrat Loretta Sanchez defeated long-time Republican Congressman Robert Dornan. Republicans have since made more explicit efforts to appeal to Hispanics. Sanchez and five Republicans currently represent the county in the House of Representatives. A plotline in the popular TV drama The West Wing involves a Democrat unexpectedly winning a seat in the House of Representatives from an Orange County district. Four of Orange County's five State Senators are Republicans while seven of its nine State Assembly members are Republicans. The California State Legislature is composed of 40 State Senators and 80 State Assembly members.
Orange County is the place in which Kim Stanley Robinson's Three Californias Trilogy is set. These books depict three different futures of the Orange County (survivors of a nuclear war in The Wild Shore, a developer's dream gone mad in The Gold Coast, and an ecotopian utopia in Pacific Edge). It is the setting of the 2002 movie Orange County. It is also the setting of the 2003 Fox Network shows The O.C. and Arrested Development.
Philip K. Dick's novel A Scanner Darkly was set in Orange County.
Popular Punk rock bands such as Thrice, The Offspring, Pennywise, and the bands No Doubt, Lit, Sugar Ray, Social Distortion, and Rage all hail from Orange County.
Orange County was created in 1889 from parts of Los Angeles County.
The county was probably named after the City of Orange, which in turn may have been named after the orange groves that existed there in the 1870s.
In 1969, Yorba Linda born and Orange County native Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States.
A spectacular investment fund melt-down in 1994 led to the criminal prosecution of Orange County treasurer Robert Citron. On December 6, 1994, Orange County declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy, from which it emerged in June 1995; this was the largest ever municipal bankruptcy in the USA. The county lost about 1.6 billion dollars through high-risk investments into derivatives.
In recent years, the county has been characterized by conflict between the older northern and newer southern cities over development, the building of new toll roads, and a recently defeated proposal to build an international airport at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to supplement the crowded John Wayne Airport.
As of the census of 2000, there are 2,846,289 people, 935,287 households, and 667,794 families residing in the county. The population density is 1,392/km² (3,606/mi²). There are 969,484 housing units at an average density of 474/km² (1,228/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 64.81% White, 1.67% African American, 0.70% Native American, 13.59% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 14.80% from other races, and 4.12% from two or more races. 30.76% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 935,287 households out of which 37.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% are married couples living together, 10.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% are non-families. 21.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.20% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.00 and the average family size is 3.48.
In the county the population is spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $58,820, and the median income for a family is $64,611. Males have a median income of $45,059 versus $34,026 for females. The per capita income for the county is $25,826. 10.30% of the population and 7.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.20% are under the age of 18 and 6.20% are 65 or older.
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