Santa Ana, California Population 2024

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.

Santa Ana Population Statistics

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 Population Growth

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.