Lake Forest, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Forest, California
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Aerial view showing portion of Lake Forest to the left
|
|||
|
|||
Location of Lake Forest in Orange County, California
|
|||
 Lake Forest, California
Location in the United States
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Orange | ||
| Incorporated | December 20, 1991 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 16.79 sq mi (43.49 km2) | ||
| • Land | 16.71 sq mi (43.29 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) 0.48% | ||
| Elevation | 489 ft (148 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 85,858 | ||
| • Rank | 94th in California | ||
| • Density | 5,113.6/sq mi (1,974.20/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
92609, 92610, 92630, 92679
|
||
| Area code(s) | 949 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-39496 | ||
| GNIS feature IDs | 1656503, 2411602 | ||
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California, United States. In 2020, about 85,858 people lived there.
The city of Lake Forest was officially created on December 20, 1991. Before this, the area was known as El Toro. In 2000, Lake Forest grew to include the areas of Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills. This brought new homes and shops to the city.
Lake Forest is named after its two man-made lakes. Condos and homes are built along their shores. Local groups manage the lakes, which offer tennis courts, gyms, pools, and clubhouses.
The "forest" part of the city's name comes from a large group of Eucalyptus trees. These trees were planted in the early 1900s by Dwight Whiting. He hoped to use the trees for lumber and encourage development. Later, in the 1960s, a company built homes around these growing eucalyptus groves.
Contents
History of Lake Forest
The area was known as El Toro starting in 1863. In 1847, José Serrano and his family lived on a large piece of land called Rancho Cañada de los Alisos. This land later belonged to Dwight Whiting, who helped bring the Santa Fe train line to the area.
For many years, the area around El Toro Road and the I-5 Freeway was a main center. Over time, many shops closed or moved away. The city then worked to create a new shopping area called "Arbor at Lake Forest." This new center now competes with larger malls nearby.
In 1991, residents voted to become a city and chose the name "Lake Forest." Some people liked the new name better than "El Toro." Others, especially long-time residents, felt it erased the town's history. El Toro High School kept its original name. After the city became Lake Forest, "El Toro" often referred to the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, a military base that closed in 1999.
Geography and Location
Lake Forest covers about 17.9 square miles (46.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The city is surrounded by other cities and natural areas. Irvine is to the west, and Mission Viejo is to the southeast. To the east, you'll find Trabuco Canyon and Silverado Canyon.
Lake Forest is in the middle of the Saddleback Valley. Its northeast side is near the Santa Ana Mountains. The city is also in the northern part of South Orange County.
The two man-made lakes have clubhouses. These are called the Beach and Tennis Club and the Sun and Sail Club.
City Infrastructure
Getting Around Lake Forest
Major Highways
Interstate 5 runs along the western edge of Lake Forest. It forms the border with Laguna Hills. Two exits on I-5 are in Lake Forest: Lake Forest Drive and El Toro Road.
California State Route 241 goes through the Foothill Ranch part of Lake Forest. This highway is close to many homes and businesses. It has three exits in Lake Forest: Alton Parkway, Lake Forest Drive, and Portola Parkway.
County Route S18, also known as El Toro Road, is a very important road in Lake Forest. It runs through the entire city, covering about 10.5 miles. El Toro Road passes through many communities, like Portola Hills. It eventually becomes Santiago Canyon Road, which marks the far northeast boundary of Lake Forest.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 8,654 | — | |
| 1980 | 38,153 | 340.9% | |
| 1990 | 62,685 | 64.3% | |
| 2000 | 58,707 | −6.3% | |
| 2010 | 77,264 | 31.6% | |
| 2020 | 85,858 | 11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
Before 2000, much of the area was listed as "El Toro" in the census. In 2000, most of this area became the city of Lake Forest.
Population in 2020
In 2020, Lake Forest had a population of 85,858 people. About 63.3% of the people were White. About 18.1% were Asian, and 23.2% were Hispanic or Latino.
Population in 2010
In 2010, Lake Forest had 77,264 people. About 70.3% of the people were White. About 13.1% were Asian, and 24.6% were Hispanic or Latino.
Most people (99.3%) lived in homes. The average household had about 2.93 people. About 39.7% of homes had children under 18. The average age in the city was 37.2 years old.
Population in 2000
In 2000, the city had 58,707 people. The average household had 2.89 people. About 39.2% of homes had children under 18. The average age was 35 years.
In 2007, the average income for a family in Lake Forest was about $96,133.
Economy and Jobs
Lake Forest is home to many company headquarters. These include eyewear maker Oakley, Inc., metals company Kaiser Aluminum, and in-flight entertainment provider Panasonic Avionics. Other companies include Johnny Rockets and Del Taco restaurants, and skateboarding companies like Etnies and Tilly's.
Top Employers in Lake Forest
Here are some of the biggest employers in the city, based on a 2020 report:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panasonic Avionics Corporation | 2,290 |
| 2 | LoanDepot | 2,049 |
| 3 | Oakley | 1,400 |
| 4 | Schneider Electric (Invensys) | 500 |
| 5 | Spectrum Brands | 494 |
| 6 | Cox Communications | 491 |
| 7 | Bal Seal Engineering | 423 |
| 8 | The Home Depot | 348 |
| 9 | Walmart | 340 |
| 10 | Alcon Research | 315 |
Arts and Culture
Lake Forest has two public libraries: the El Toro branch and the Foothill Ranch branch.
The city is home to Saddleback Church, a very large church led by Rick Warren.
Lake Forest hosts an annual summer concert at Pittsford Park. Other events include a Fourth of July run and fireworks show. On Wednesdays, there is a farmers market where you can buy local products.
In 2020, a classical music group called Chamber Music | OC moved its main office to Lake Forest.
Parks and Recreation
The Lake Forest Sports Park and Recreation Center opened in 2014. It is one of the largest sports parks in Orange County. The Recreation Center has classrooms and a gym for many programs.
Lake Forest also has two county parks. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is in the eastern part of the city.
Heritage Hill Historical Park and Museum has some of the oldest buildings in Orange County. These include the Jose Serrano Adobe, an old home built in 1863. You can also see El Toro's first school and church there. The park is a great place to learn about the area's history.
Lake Forest is also home to etnies Skatepark. It is the largest public skatepark in the area, covering over 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meters).
Education in Lake Forest
Lake Forest has one high school, El Toro High School, which opened in 1973. Another high school, Trabuco Hills High School, is on the border of Lake Forest and Mission Viejo. The city also has eight elementary schools and one middle school. All schools in Lake Forest are part of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.
Notable People from Lake Forest
- Nolan Arenado, a professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Lauren Chamberlain, a professional softball player.
- Matt Chapman (baseball), a professional baseball player.
- Jake Ellenberger, a UFC fighter.
- Ekaterina Gordeeva, an Olympic gold medalist in pair skating.
- Ilia Kulik, an Olympic gold medalist in men's single skating.
- Mark Muñoz, a UFC fighter.
- Eddie Paskey, an actor from Star Trek: The Original Series.
- Brandi Passante, a TV personality.
- Ginger Reyes, a rock bassist.
- Austin Romine, a professional baseball player.
- Kaitlin Sandeno, an Olympic swimming champion.
- Lindsay Soto, a football broadcaster.
- Christine Woods, an actress.
- Elaine Youngs, an Olympic volleyball champion.
Former Residents
- Florence Griffith Joyner – an Olympic gold medalist athlete.
- Diane Murphy - an actress from Bewitched.
- Erin Murphy - an actress from Bewitched.
- Nicole Brown Simpson - a former resident.
- Jonathan Thulin - a contemporary Christian singer.
See also
In Spanish: Lake Forest (California) para niños
