Mission Viejo

^{Located in the Saddleback Valley of Orange County, Mission Viejo is considered a commuter city which means it’s primarily residential. It also means that people who live in towns such as these normally work in other cities; thus, “commuter city”, going from home to work and back.}

^{While many other cities nearby tore down their old homes, the residents of Mission Viejo generally kept many of the old homes, many of which were built prior to 1920.}

^{Known to be one of the biggest master-planned communities ever built as a single project in the United States, Mission Viejo is popular for neighborhoods that are lined with trees. In fact, it was recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation.}

^{The name is derived from the name Rancho Mission Viejo which was part of a large Spanish land grant. During the march of San Diego to invade Los Angeles in the time of Mexican-American War, a man named Don Juan Forster provided horses to the United States military forces. Don Juan was an English-born Mexican ranchero.}

^{Mission Viejo was not of much value to farmers due its hilly disposition so it was mostly used for cattle and sheep to graze. This land seemed to be of little use to anyone at the time and was even dismissed as “undevelopable” by early developers in 1960.}

^{Its geologic features didn’t deter everyone, however. Later on, a man named Donald Bren drafted a master plan that accentuated the whole area placing roads in the valleys and homes along the hills. Bren eventually became the president of the Irvine Company. His plan was fruitful and by 1980 Mission Viejo was on its way to completion. A short decade after the area was considered “undevelopable”, there was a housing boom that flooded the city with sales even before any type of home was erected.}

^{Many of the homes and even the shopping areas are very Spanish mission styled, complete with “adobe”-like stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs. Bren was later known for his works in Mission Viejo, Newport Beach and Irvine.}

^{Today, Mission Viejo is a thriving community that provides peace of mind and a sense of safety to its residents. The views of the city are lovely and since its tucked between San Diego and Los Angeles, there’s easy and quick access to “city life” as desired.}

^{The median household income is $114,688 as of 2019.}

^{Population: Approximately 95,516 as of 2019}

^{Well Known Places near Mission Viejo}

^{Mission Viejo Lake}

^{Oso Creek Trail}

^{Fact Sheet}

^{Carl Glassford, an artist and former resident of Mission Viejo, designed the seal of the city.}

^{Mission Viejo is only 15 minutes away from John Wayne Airport.}