Rancho Santa Margarita

^{Rancho Santa Margarita is one of Orange County’s youngest cities. Set upon rolling hills, this city was master planned and has the longest city name in all of California. It has about 13 square miles of land and about 0.04 square miles of water. Just like much of Southern California, this area was once inhabited by Native Americans, namely the Shoshonean Native Americans called Acjachemen. When a Spanish expedition under Captain Gaspar de Portola arrived in the area on July 23, 1769, the Native American positioning started to change. The Spanish had rule over the area up until 1821. Shortly after that time, the land was acquired by Mexico.}

^{The portion of land went through quite a few changes in terms of division and ownership including being purchased by Juan Forster who gave it a different name, La Victoria. Juan owned so much land at the time and could not keep up with the maintenance of it. When he died, his heirs sold a lot of the land he owned. Eventually, the land was sold and divided further creating Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.}

^{It was planned to be an “Urban Village” and offers that city life with a little bit of village life. In fact, it was so much in accordance with the “Urban Village” feel that the Celebrating the Vision Committee created this vision statement: “A Small City with the Soul of a Small Village”.} 

^{The median household income is $121,017 as of 2019.}

^{Population: Approximately 48,503 as of 2019}

^{Well Known Places in Rancho Santa Margarita}

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

^{Rancho Santa Margarita Central Park}

^{Fact Sheet}

^{The city was incorporated in January 2000 and became the 33rd City in the County of Orange.}