San Clemente

^{San Clemente is an 80 year old community and was one of the first communities in the United States that followed a master plan for its growth and expansion. This plan was based on a Spanish architectural style that rolled over to restaurants, residences, parks, a fishing pier and much more. Located in Orange County, San Clemente is about an hour away from Los Angeles. Los Angeles and San Diego were the only two major cities in Southern California in the 1920s but the city’s founder, Ole Hanson, held tightly to his vision for the wide open land before him.}

^{His dreams appeared so far-fetched at the time that his plans were rejected by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. They saw the plan as futile since there was not even one building erected in the area. Yet, Ole Hanson was requesting funding for streets. Instead of tossing his plans aside, he ventured ahead with a somewhat devious marketing plan. He whitewashed roadways to make them look like they were paved in the brochures he produced.}

^{One blessed day in December of 1925, 600 people from Los Angeles and some surrounding areas met with Hanson to hear his great plan. Lavish marketing and offerings included the devious brochures, limousines and hot meals created enough of a stir to get these people interested and invested. Lots sold for anywhere from $300 to $1,500 and by the end of 6 months, he had sold 1,200 lots. San Clemente was born. Ole Hanson was very involved in every process of developing his Spanish Village and ensured that every land owner honored the mandate to comply with strict Spanish Colonial Revival style homes. This included handmade red tile roofs and whitewash stucco walls.}

^{Hanson was so stuck on his vision for a Spanish Village that he would pay to correct any home that didn’t follow the rules or he would purchase the property and have it redone to meet the guidelines he had set.}

^{These days, the Spanish Village by the Sea is far more diversified than Hanson might have wished but even so, the past and the present homeowners and newcomers have a great respect for the red tiled roofs and whitewash stucco walls. City codes still protect the historic homes of San Clemente. As the demographics change, the charm of the Mediterranean community still hovers which inspires development officials to channel funds in ways that revitalize and rehabilitate the downtown area of San Clemente.}

^{The median household income is $91,749 as of 2019.}

^{Population: Approximately 64,878 as of 2019}

^{Well Known Places in San Clemente}

^{San Clemente Pier}

^{Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens}

^{San Clemente Coastal Trails}

^{San Clemente State Beach}

^{Fact Sheet}

^{It was named after an offshore San Clemente island.}

^{Ole Hanson, the founder of San Clemente, was a former mayor of Seattle.}

^{The city exceeds the average number of sunny days in Orange County with a total number 281 sunny days per year.}