Anaheim has claimed the title of most populous city in Orange County, ending nearby Santa Ana’s historic hold.
Anaheim just edged into the top spot with 341,034 residents, according to this week’s Busi-ness Journal list, which is based on data from the state’s Department of Finance.
Santa Ana’s population is 325,228.
The county’s overall population grew by about 1% for the year, to 3,029,859, according to the data.
The totals are based on the state’s annual population estimates for 2010. This year’s totals reflect adjustments made by the state based on data from U.S. Census Bureau after its once-a-decade national headcount last year.
The shift in positions might bring some bragging rights to Anaheim and trim Santa Ana’s publicity sails.
It likely makes little tangible difference, at least immediately, in the daily lives and economies of the two cities.
Calling Cards
Anaheim has long been a center of tourism thanks to the Disneyland Resort, with its two theme parks and retail district that are globally renown. It boasts big-league status thanks to the professional baseball and hockey teams—the Angels and Ducks, respectively—that call the city home.
Santa Ana is the seat of county government, which in turn makes it a hub for various levels of government, with everything from the federal courthouse to the various state agencies with offices there.
Both cities count residential neighborhoods and commercial landscapes that go well be-yond those more obvious calling cards. An-aheim has tourism and sports to power its service sector. It also has a base of manufacturers, professional firms and retailers, among other economic contributors.
Santa Ana can claim a strong suit with law firms, lobbyists and other government-related businesses, but also has a mix of segments on par with Anaheim. It’s home to the headquarters of Ingram Micro Inc., the largest company based in Orange County, by revenue.
Differences
Differences in the two cities can be seen at a glance.
Santa Ana is a political hotbed, with elected officials who often insert themselves into private-sector matters publicly and sometimes controversially. A recent dispute between retail tenants and a property owner in downtown Santa Ana provided an example when a member of the City Council compared a major landlord to Adolph Hitler.
Anecdotal evidence points to another factor that likely reduced the population of Santa Ana, where more than half the population is Hispanic. The recent recession and spotty re-covery has led many immigrants from Mex-ico and Central America to return to their homelands in recent years.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido did not return a call for comment on this story.
Density
Former Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, whose public relations firm is based there, said the city’s gain in population stems from efforts by local government to take a reasonable view toward business. He also pointed to efforts to foster high-density development in the Platinum Triangle near Angel Stadium a key factor in the population growth.
“As far back as 2004, the city of Anaheim really changed its general plan in a way to allow higher density and infill development,” Pringle said. “It will continue to add population in the decades ahead.”
Pringle said he foresees economic growth in various areas, including the Canyon Business District in the eastern part of the city.
“There are common misperceptions that miss the industrial base of the city,” Pringle said. “If you look at Anaheim from State College Boulevard to the Canyon Business District it rivals the amount of industrial square footage you’ll see in nearly any part of Orange County.”
Other factors drew Shaheen Sadeghi to Anaheim. His Lab Holding LLC owns retail centers called The Lab and The Camp on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, to Anaheim. Sadeghi recently announced plans for a similar developments at an old packing house and the City Center Promenade in Anaheim.
Sadeghi saw a recent plan for a retail center in San Clemente turned back in a vote there.
He said he decided on Anaheim because “some cities have become so overly political that it’s become difficult for them to get things done.”
Anaheim’s mix of population—not necessarily its size—was just as important for Sad-eghi.
“Orange County has really become much more international in terms of demographic, and I feel that Anaheim has done an excellent job of embracing the different cultures,” said Sadeghi, who was born in Iran, raised in the Midwestern U.S., and went to college on the East Coast. “Anaheim has significant Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian and Latino communities alongside whites. I look at that as the future demographic of OC, and we need that international mix.”
Other Changes
Five other cities in Orange County shifted ranks on this year’s list, which ranks all 34 on their total populations.
Aliso Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita switched places. Aliso Viejo had a gain of about 1%, to 48,320 residents, to move up to No. 21. Rancho Santa Margarita was about flat, and slipped to the No. 22 spot (see list on page 17).
Cypress fell to No. 23 from No. 21, with a population of 47,907.
San Juan Capistrano came in No. 26 (34,734), switching places with No. 27 Dana Point (33,429).
No. 3 Irvine posted the largest percentage and actual increase, with a 3.3% gain to 219,156.
