Santa Ana is a city located in Orange County California. Santa Ana has a 2024 population of 310,304. It is also the county seat of Orange County. Santa Ana is currently declining at a rate of -0.08% annually and its population has decreased by -0.3% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 311,244 in 2020.
The average household income in Santa Ana is $104,106 with a poverty rate of 11.51%. The median age in Santa Ana is 33.4 years: 32.8 years for males, and 34.1 years for females.
Santa Ana is a city located in the state of California. More specifically, it is located in Orange County, where it serves as the county seat. Santa Ana is also one of the most densely populated cities in the United States, and it has also been ranked as one of the safest cities in the US.
Over 21% of the population falls below the federal poverty line. Over 161,000 residents are part of the civilian labor force. As previously mentioned, the city is home to the corporate and regional headquarters of many large companies. However, the county is the top employer, giving jobs to over 15,000 people. Ingram Micro, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Tenet Healthcare and the US Postal Service are other top employers in the city.
Santa Ana throughout most of its history has seen population growth. Significant growth was recorded between the censuses taken in 1950 and 1960, with the population growth over 120% to reach just over 100,000. In 1980, the population had more than doubled. In 2000, the city had more than 300,000 residents.
The census changes noted between 2000 and 2010 showed a loss of 4% of the population – the first and only time the population has dropped since the census of 1880. However, current numbers show that the population is once again on the rise, growing 3% since the last census in 2010.
The area that is now known as Santa Ana was first known to be inhabited by the Tongva and Juaneno/Luiseno tribes. The area was explored in 1769, at which time it was named Vallejo de Santa Ana. The Mission San Juan Capistrano was established in the area in 1776. Following the Mexican-American War, Americans began settling the area.
In 1869, William Spurgeon claimed a section of land in the area, and Santa Ana was incorporated as a city just seventeen years later in 1886. Just three years later, it was made the county seat of Orange County. In the late 1800s, the California Central Railway created a railroad connecting Los Angeles to San Diego, and Santa Ana served as a major intermediate station. The city continued to grow and expand, with the first auto route from LA to Santa Ana launching in 1935. This road later became the Santa Ana Freeway.
The Santa Ana Army Air Base was built during World War II. After the war, the population continued to grow as war veterans chose to live in the city. Continued development also lured in new inhabitants, including the construction of Fashion Square Mall in 1958, which still operates today under the name Westfield MainPlace. The city in the 1980s also began to revitalize its downtown area – an initiative which is still ongoing today. The Santa Ana Artist’s Village has been developed to bring in professionals and artists within the downtown area’s lofts and businesses.
The city’s economy is bolstered by several major companies, including but not limited to Behr Paint, STEC, Xerox and T-Mobile. The company is also home to the Rickenbacker instrument company. Santa Ana is also home to many small, locally-owned businesses. Nearby attractions including Disneyland and beautiful beaches also bring in tourists and residents.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Santa Ana was:
Other race
White
Two or more races
Asian
Native American
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 77,553 | 3.96 | 44.8 | 55.2 |
| Married | 42,542 | 4.57 | 49.1 | 50.9 |
| Non Family | 14,965 | 1.55 | 36 | 64 |
| Female | 13,352 | 4.55 | 42 | 58 |
| Male | 6,694 | 4.28 | 42.6 | 57.4 |
4.28
Average Family Size
3.96
Average Household Size
44.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 95.1%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 42.74%.
All
Male
Female
$37,492
Average Earnings
$40,908
Average Male
$33,153
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
21.72% of Santa Ana residents speak only English, while 78.28% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 67.61% of the population.
rate
11.51%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.68%
Male Poverty Rate
12.39%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Santa Ana is Islander, with 20.43% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Santa Ana is Native, with 7.81% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.02%. Among those working part-time, it was 9.94%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.96%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.4%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.6%
Male Marriage Rate
42.1%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.28%
Veteran Poverty Rate
33.14%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
66.7%
Labor Force Participation
63%
Employment Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
52.04%
Born in Santa Ana
59.1%
Native Born
40.9%
Foreign Born
22.58%
Non Citizen
18.32%
Naturalized
59.1% of Santa Ana residents were born in the United States, with 52.04% having been born in California. 22.58% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 309,129 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2028 | 309,364 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2027 | 309,599 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2026 | 309,834 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2025 | 310,069 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2024 | 310,304 | -235 | -0.08% |
| 2023 | 310,539 | -109 | -0.04% |
| 2022 | 310,648 | -518 | -0.17% |
| 2021 | 311,166 | -78 | -0.03% |
| 2020 | 311,244 | -19,666 | -5.94% |
| 2019 | 330,910 | -1,714 | -0.52% |
| 2018 | 332,624 | -1,281 | -0.38% |
| 2017 | 333,905 | -480 | -0.14% |
| 2016 | 334,385 | -138 | -0.04% |
| 2015 | 334,523 | 1,230 | 0.37% |
| 2014 | 333,293 | 1,502 | 0.45% |
| 2013 | 331,791 | 2,027 | 0.61% |
| 2012 | 329,764 | 2,033 | 0.62% |
| 2011 | 327,731 | 2,662 | 0.82% |
| 2010 | 325,069 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 337,977 | 44,235 | 15.06% |
| 1990 | 293,742 | 89,719 | 43.97% |
| 1980 | 204,023 | 48,313 | 31.03% |
| 1970 | 155,710 | 55,360 | 55.17% |
| 1960 | 100,350 | 54,817 | 120.39% |
| 1950 | 45,533 | 13,612 | 42.64% |
| 1940 | 31,921 | 1,599 | 5.27% |
| 1930 | 30,322 | 14,837 | 95.82% |
| 1920 | 15,485 | 7,056 | 83.71% |
| 1910 | 8,429 | 3,496 | 70.87% |
| 1900 | 4,933 | 1,305 | 35.97% |
| 1890 | 3,628 | 2,917 | 410.27% |
| 1880 | 711 | -434 | -37.9% |
| 1870 | 1,145 | -307,984 | -99.63% |