Midway City, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Midway City, California
Unincorporated community Census-designated place
Midway City, California Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Midway City, California Location in California Show map of California Midway City, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Orange
Area
• Total	0.632 sq mi (1.637 km2)
• Land	0.632 sq mi (1.637 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,825
• Density	13,964/sq mi (5,391.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	92655
Area code(s)	657 and 714
GNIS feature ID	2583081

Midway City is a special kind of community in Orange County, California. It's called an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's part of the county but doesn't have its own city government like a regular city.

Midway City is mostly surrounded by the city of Westminster. Huntington Beach is also nearby, to the southwest. The name "Midway City" makes sense because it's located right in the middle of Seal Beach (to the west) and Santa Ana (to the east). In 2020, about 8,825 people called Midway City home.

It's one of the oldest communities in Orange County. Many of its homes were built in the 1950s. The area has two mobile home parks, and many residents are older adults with moderate incomes. People like Midway City because it often has large lots for homes.

Since Midway City isn't a full city, nearby cities sometimes try to take over parts of it. This is called "annexation." But the people of Midway City often resist this. They want to keep their community as it is. This helps them keep water and property taxes lower than in neighboring cities.

However, some parts of Midway City have been annexed by Westminster. This often happens along busy roads like Beach Boulevard. Westminster wants to develop these areas to bring in more business tax money. Because of this, Midway City is now made up of four smaller "islands" of land. These islands mostly have homes, small businesses, and non-profit groups like churches.

A Look Back in Time: Midway City's History

Early Days: 1880s to 1930s

Midway City has a rich history. Its northern border, Hazard Avenue, is named after early American pioneers, Robert Samuel and Betsy Ann Hazard. They moved to the area in 1881. Betsy Ann was even a descendant of the White family, who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620!

In 1891, Midway City got its own post office. The community really started to grow in 1922. A man named John H. Harper bought 200 acres of land. This land was near a stagecoach stop and close to the Huntington Beach Oil Field. Harper divided his land into lots and started selling them in 1923. Many homes from the oil field area were moved to Midway City, which helped the community grow. Harper Street is named after him.

1921 map showing the Midway City area.

Before 1927, a company called Zenith Corporation made farm tools in Midway City. After Charles Lindbergh's famous flight across the Atlantic in 1927, Zenith's owners decided to build airplanes. By August 1927, they built a huge plane called the Schofield Albatross at the Midway City Airport. This plane was designed to carry 14 passengers. It was even used in a 1928 movie called Conquest! Zenith built another plane before the Great Depression hit in the 1930s.

1928 view of the Zenith Albatross Z-12.

In 1928, a group called the Ladies Social and Civic Club of Midway City built a community clubhouse. John Harper donated the land for it. This women's group was very active. They worked to keep unwanted businesses like roadhouses and landfills out of Midway City. In 1932, they changed their name to the Midway City Women's Club. They even helped start a branch of the Orange County Public Library in 1935.

In 1936, a group of seven families who ran the Midway City Dairy Association got a special loan. This loan came from a U.S. government program called the Resettlement Administration. It helped them improve their dairy farm. This was important because it was the first loan of its kind to a self-help cooperative.

Henry Lotz at the Midway City Dairy Association in 1937.

The 1930s also brought more services to Midway City. The United States Postal Service opened a post office in 1930. The Midway City Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1935. And in 1939, the Midway City Sanitary District was created. This group still provides sewer and trash services today.

Mid-Century Growth: 1940s to 1980s

In 1942, the Midway City Feed Store opened. It sold supplies for horses and also baby animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks, and ducklings. Six years later, in 1948, the Patrician Brothers religious order came to Midway City. They started a tradition that became one of Orange County's biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations!

In 1949, two local aviators, Dick Riedel and Bill Barris, set a world record. They kept their plane, the Sunkist Lady, flying for over 1,000 hours!

In 1956, the city of Westminster wanted to combine with Midway City and another area to form a new city called Tri-City. But Midway City decided not to join. They were worried about high taxes. So, in 1957, Westminster and the other area formed Westminster without Midway City.

Eli Hedley's Island Trade Store in 1965.

In 1981, a government agency decided that Midway City should be part of Westminster's "sphere of influence." This was a step towards Westminster possibly taking over Midway City. But Midway City's Chamber of Commerce protested, and the decision was reversed.

Later, in 1986, Orange County used government money to buy land in Midway City. They built Midway Meadows, an apartment complex for senior citizens. They also built a park there in 1987. This park was later renamed Stanton Park in 1989, after Roger R. Stanton, a county supervisor.

Modern Times: 1990s to Present

In 1990, the Celtic Gold Academy of Irish Dance was founded at the Brother's of St. Patrick. In 1994, the Ocean View School District banned a game called POGs from schools in Midway City. They thought it was too much like gambling.

In 1998, a Nigerian political prisoner named Beko Ransome-Kuti visited Midway City. He thanked residents for supporting him through letters and boycotts. In 1999, workers digging in Midway City found a 500-year-old human skull and teeth!

In 2001, the American Legion Post 555 in Midway City was renamed. It became the Albert E. Schwab American Legion Post. This honored Private First Class Albert Earnest Schwab, a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II. That same year, a 12-year-old Midway City resident, Ruben Hipolito, became an Eagle Scout. This is a very rare achievement at such a young age! He even represented the Boy Scouts of America to the U.S. president and Congress in 2009.

In 2003, a new apartment complex called Jackson Aisle Apartments opened in Midway City. It provides affordable housing for people with lower incomes. In 2010, Orange County approved a $350,000 memorial for Roger Stanton Park. This memorial honors both American and Vietnamese American history.

Midway City's Location

Midway City is located at 33.7447 degrees North latitude and -117.987 degrees West longitude. It covers about 0.632 square miles (1.637 square kilometers) of land. The community is made up of four main sections, or "islands," that are not connected. The largest section is about 296 acres.

	Westminster	Westminster	Westminster
	Westminster		Westminster
		Midway City
	Huntington Beach	Westminster	Westminster

The four sections that make up unincorporated Midway City.

People of Midway City

Midway City was first counted as a "census-designated place" in the 2010 U.S. Census.

Population in 2020

The 2020 census showed that Midway City had a population of 8,825 people. About 52% of the population was Asian, and about 31% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Population in 2010

In 2010, Midway City had 8,485 people. About 47% of the people were Asian, and 29% were Hispanic or Latino. The average household had 3.45 people. Many families lived in Midway City, with an average family size of 3.99 people.

About 24.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 37.1 years. This means half the people were younger than 37.1 and half were older.

Local Businesses and Economy

Midway City has a mix of businesses. You can find rural-style shops, places for retirees, and many Vietnamese businesses. For example, Dakao Poultry sells fresh chickens, ducks, and other animals. Baladi Poultry, another similar store, is also nearby.

The Midway City Feed Store, which opened in 1942, still sells rabbits, guinea pigs, and baby birds. The Animal Assistance League of Orange County, a non-profit group that helps lost pets, is also located here.

Fun Places to Visit

Even though it's not a city, Midway City has interesting places to see.

• The Albert E. Schwab American Legion Post has murals inside. These paintings show important U.S. World War II events, like the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Stanton Park has a $350,000 memorial. It celebrates both Vietnamese American and general American history.
• At the Midway City Feed Store, you can buy farm tools and see baby animals.
• You can enjoy one of Orange County's biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations at the Patrician Brothers center. They've been in Midway City since 1948.

Parks and Recreation

In 1989, a park built in Midway City was renamed Stanton Park. It was named after Roger R. Stanton, a supervisor for Orange County.

Schools in Midway City

Midway City doesn't have its own school district. However, the Westminster School District operates two public schools here: DeMille and Jessie Hayden Elementary School. The Ocean View School District also has a school in Midway City called Star View Elementary School.

How Midway City Gets Water and Services

Midway City gets its water from four different sources. Three of these are local water companies run by residents. They get water from underground wells. The fourth source is the Westminster Water Department. The water from the Eastside Water Association has even won awards!

A transit bus's bike rack in Midway City.

The Orange County Transportation Authority provides mass transit (bus) services for Midway City.

Famous People From Midway City

Midway City has been home to some well-known people:

• Pham Duy, a Vietnamese songwriter
• Montell Griffin, an American boxer
• Quang Le, a Vietnamese American singer
• Dedee Pfeiffer, an actress
• Michelle Pfeiffer, a famous actress
• Francis Townsend, who created the "Townsend Plan" during the Great Depression. This plan helped lead to the United States Social Security system.

Annexation: A Community Issue

Since Midway City is an unincorporated area, nearby cities sometimes try to annex (take over) parts of it. This is an ongoing issue for the community. Residents often strongly oppose these attempts. They want to keep Midway City as an unincorporated area of Orange County. This helps them keep water and property taxes lower than in neighboring cities.

However, some land along busy roads like Beach Boulevard has slowly been annexed by Westminster. Westminster wants to develop these areas to earn more business tax money. As a result, Midway City is now made up of four smaller "islands" of land.

Smaller islands (less than 150 acres) can be annexed without a vote from the people living there. For example, Midway City's southwest island is only about 40.5 acres. This area includes land along Beach Boulevard that Westminster might want to develop for business taxes.

Images for kids

• 

  The four sections that make up unincorporated Midway City.

See also

In Spanish: Midway City (California) para niños