Irvine, California Population 2024

Irvine is a planned city that was developed during the 1960s in Orange County.

Interesting Facts about Irvine, CA

The city has been named as one of the best places to live in the United States. It has also been ranked multiple times as one of the country’s safest cities. It has also been named as one of the happiest places to live in the US. The city is home to many international company headquarters, including Mazda, Samsung, Toshiba, Kia, and Asics.

Irvine Population Growth

The city of Irvine's population grew substantially as city planning was underway. At the time of the 1970 census, the community was just over 10,000. This increased to over 62,000 over the next ten years. In its short history, it continues to grow at a rapid rate, most recently growing by over 25% between the 2010 census and estimates taken in 2016. The educational and employment opportunities offered by this planned city are just a few of the contributing factors to expected future population growth.

Irvine was first inhabited approximately 2,0000 years ago. It was settled by Europeans in 1769 and was used for private use and missions. The Irvine Ranch, as it was known, was parceled out by the Mexican government following Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821. In 1864, 50,000 acres of the land was sold to a group of men including James Irvine. The group also purchased a 47,000-acre parcel. Irvine then bought out his partners and owned 110,000 acres of land. After his death, Irvine’s son inherited the ranch and created The Irvine Company, which grew crops including olives and citrus. After James Irvine, Jr. died in the 1940s, his son took over. It was at that time that he allowed urban development to occur. After his death, the University of California purchased 1,000 acres for $1 for a new campus.

William Pereira and The Irvine Company partnered to create a planned city for 50,000 people. This new area would be known as Irvine, while the agricultural area was to be called East Irvine. In the 1970s, a vote was taken, and communities opted to create a larger city. Today, the city is divided into “villages” that are divided by streets. Each township village has a similar design and boasts commercial centers, schools, and churches. Today, Irvine is home to many higher education institutions, as well as the headquarters for many large companies in the tech and semiconductor industries.