Westminster, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westminster, California
City
Westminster City Hall, Tet 2024
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "The City of Progress Built on Pride."
Location of Westminster within Orange County, California
Westminster, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Orange
Incorporated (city)	March 27, 1957
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	10.04 sq mi (26.00 km2)
• Land	10.04 sq mi (26.00 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	90,911
• Rank	91st in California (2020)
• Density	9,055/sq mi (3,496.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	92683–92685
Area codes	657/714
FIPS code	06-84550
GNIS feature IDs	1652811, 2412236

Westminster is a city in western Orange County, California, United States. It was started in 1870 by Rev. Lemuel Webber. He wanted to create a Presbyterian community that encouraged people to avoid alcoholic drinks. The city officially became a city in 1957.

Westminster is surrounded by other cities. To the west is Seal Beach. To the north and east is Garden Grove. To the south are Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. Santa Ana, which is the main city of Orange County, is to the east.

Westminster is famous for having one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the United States. Many Vietnamese people settled in an area called Little Saigon. Because of this, Westminster is often called the "capital" for Vietnamese people living outside of Vietnam. In 2020, about 43.8% of the city's population, or 39,799 people, were Vietnamese Americans.

An important court case, Mendez v. Westminster, happened here in 1947. A Hispanic man sued the Westminster School District. He did this because his daughter, Sylvia Mendez, was forced to go to a separate school for Mexican children. They won the case, which helped start the process of ending segregation in schools. Sylvia Mendez later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011.

Westminster was recognized with the All-America City Award in 1996. This award celebrates cities that work together to solve local problems.

History of Westminster

Westminster was founded in 1870 by Rev. Lemuel Webber. He wanted to create a Presbyterian community that encouraged people to avoid alcoholic drinks. The city's name comes from the Westminster Assembly of 1643. This assembly helped set up the main beliefs of the Presbyterian faith. In the early days, farmers in Westminster even refused to grow grapes. This was because grapes were often used to make alcohol.

Westminster officially became a city in 1957. At that time, about 10,755 people lived there. The city was first going to be called Tri-City. This was because it planned to combine three areas: Westminster, Barber City, and Midway City. However, Midway City decided not to join. So, only Barber City became part of the new city of Westminster. The area that used to be Barber City is now in the western part of Westminster.

Westminster is a landlocked city, meaning it has no coastline. It is surrounded by other cities. These include Seal Beach to the west, Garden Grove to the north and east, and Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley to the south.

Westminster also surrounds most of Midway City. Midway City is an unincorporated area, meaning it is not officially a city itself.

Many Vietnamese refugees moved to Westminster in the 1980s. They mostly settled in an area now known as Little Saigon. This area is a very important center for Vietnamese people living outside of Vietnam. In 2010, about 40.2% of Westminster's residents were Vietnamese Americans. This was the highest percentage in any city in the United States.

Westminster received the All-America City Award in 1996.

Geography and Location

Westminster is located at 33°45′5″N 117°59′38″W / 33.75139°N 117.99389°W / 33.75139; -117.99389. The city covers a total area of about 10.0 square miles (26.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Two major highways pass through Westminster. These are the San Diego Freeway and a small part of the Garden Grove Freeway.

Population and People

Population in 2020

In 2020, Westminster had a population of 90,911 people. The city is known for its diverse population. A large part of the community is of Asian background, especially Vietnamese.

Here's a look at the different groups living in Westminster in 2020:

Population in 2010

In 2010, Westminster had 89,701 people. The city had about 8,926 people per square mile. About 47.5% of the population was Asian. This included 36,058 residents of Vietnamese background, which was 40.2% of the city. This was the highest number of Vietnamese Americans in any community in the United States.

Most people (99.3%) lived in homes. The average household had 3.40 people. The average family had 3.74 people. About 23.3% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 38.7 years.

More than half of the homes (57.8%) were owned by the people living in them. The rest (42.2%) were rented.

Population in 2000

In 2000, Westminster had 88,207 people. There were 26,406 households in the city. The average household had 3.32 people. The average family had 3.71 people.

About 25.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 34 years. The median income for a household was $49,450. About 13.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Economy and Businesses

Westminster has a strong economy with many different types of businesses.

Major Employers in the City

Here are some of the biggest employers in Westminster, based on a 2017 report:

Shopping and Other Businesses

Westminster Mall entrance

Westminster is home to the Westminster Mall. This large shopping mall has over 180 stores. You can find it south of the 405 freeway.

The city's Little Saigon area also has the Asian Garden Mall (Phước Lộc Thọ). This is a big mall that focuses on Asian goods and culture.

The DVS Shoes company, which makes footwear, moved its headquarters to Westminster. It is now located on Fenwick Lane.

Education in Westminster

Westminster is served by four different school districts. These districts manage schools in different parts of the city:

• Westminster School District (for elementary schools)
• Garden Grove Unified School District (for all grades, K-12)
• Huntington Beach Union High School District (for high schools in Westminster and Ocean View areas)
• Ocean View School District (for elementary schools)

Westminster High School is run by the Huntington Beach Union High School District. La Quinta High School is run by the Garden Grove Unified School District. Some students in the Huntington Beach Union High School District also attend Ocean View High School.

Asahi Gakuen, a part-time Japanese school, uses La Quinta High School on Saturdays for its Orange County campus.

Important Landmarks

Westminster has several important landmarks:

• A memorial for the victims of the Tenerife Disaster is located here. This was a major plane accident that happened on March 27, 1977.
• The Vietnam War Memorial is in Sid Goldstein Freedom Park. It is next to the Westminster Civic Center. This memorial was started in 1997 and finished in 2003.
• The final resting place for Bradley Nowell, the lead singer of the band Sublime, is in Westminster.
• There is a statue dedicated to Trần Hưng Đạo. He was a famous Vietnamese general. The road Bolsa Avenue is also known as "Đại Lộ Trần Hưng Đạo," which means "Trần Hưng Đạo Boulevard."
• The Westminster Museum helps preserve the city's history.

Famous People and Groups

Many interesting people and groups have connections to Westminster:

• Harrod Blank, a filmmaker who makes documentaries.
• Jeromy Burnitz, a former MLB (Major League Baseball) player.
• Mike Burns, also a former MLB player.
• Paul Caligiuri, a retired American soccer player.
• Mark Eaton, a former player for the Utah Jazz basketball team.
• Danny Flores (1929–2006), who led the rock group The Champs.
• Ken Hoang, a professional video gamer and a contestant on the TV show Survivor Gabon.
• Gerard Huerta, a designer famous for creating the AC/DC logo and other well-known logos.
• Ryan Klesko, a former MLB first baseman.
• Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (1930–2011), who was a former Prime Minister of South Vietnam. He lived in Westminster after leaving Vietnam.
• Iris Kyle, a 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder.
• Trent McDuffie, an NFL (National Football League) Cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Carlos Palomino, a former welterweight boxing champion.
• Vang Pao, a Hmong former Major General from Laos.
• Nam Phan, a professional mixed martial artist.
• Poreotics, a dance crew that won ABDC Season 5 in 2010.
• Dylan Rieder, an American professional skateboarder, artist, and model.
• Stafford Repp, an American film and television actor.
• Westminster Chorus, a singing group that won the Pavarotti Trophy of Choir of the World in 2009.
• Geoff Zanelli, an Emmy Award-Winning film and TV composer.

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See also

In Spanish: Westminster (California) para niños