Santa Ana is the largest city and the county seat of Orange County, California. It lies approximately 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, on the largely seasonal Santa Ana River. The Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) runs through the city, and the Costa Mesa Freeway (55 Freeway) and Garden Grove Freeway (22 Freeway) travel along its edges. It is today best-known for its enormous Mexican American population, now comprising over 75% of what was once a virtually all-white city. It has the highest percentage of Latinos among the 50 largest cities in America.

History
Don Gaspár de Portolá, a Spanish expedition party leader, discovered a picturesque valley and river in Southern California which he christened Santa Ana, in honor of Saint Anne, on July 26, 1769. José Antonio Yorba, a youthful expedition soldier, and his nephew Juan Peralta, were given a Spanish land grant for the area. They developed the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana for cattle grazing and productive farmland. In 1869, William H. Spurgeon purchased 70 acres from the Yorba family and plotted a townsite. The new town was given the name Santa Ana.

Quick Facts
Population 2000: 337,977
On the Santa Ana River
Locals are Santa Anans
Filming location for 1988 movie, “Rain Man” and 1963 movie, “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”
Census 2000 highlights: Eighth most crowded city in the U.S., with 12,471 people per square mile; Among major American cities, ranks No. 6 in percentage Hispanic population (76.1%)
Well-known residents have included: Diane Keaton, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, actress, Bill Medley, singer with the Righteous Brothers
Historic sites and museums: Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Discovery Museum of Orange County
Colleges and universities: California Coast University, Santa Ana College, Santa Barbara City College