View source for Mission Viejo, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Redirect|Mission Viejo}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mission Viejo, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| motto              = "Make Living Your Mission"<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cityofmissionviejo.org/ |title= City of Mission Viejo California Website |publisher= City of Mission Viejo California Website |access-date= September 14, 2012}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a                         = 20131214-0138 Lake Mission Viejo.JPG
| photo2a                         = 20131228-0445 Mission Viejo.JPG
| photo2b                         = 20140801-0027 Olympiad Road.JPG
| photo3a                         = 20140518-0083 Oso Creek.JPG
| photo3b                         = Mission Viejo Library.jpg
| photo4a = 
| photo4b = 
| spacing = 2
| color_border = white 
| color = white
| size  = 280
| foot_montage = Clockwise from top: [[Lake Mission Viejo]], Olympiad Rd, Mission Viejo Library, [[Oso Creek]], Mission Viejo City Hall 
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Mission Viejo, California.gif
| image_seal         = Seal of Mission Viejo, California.svg
| image_map          = Orange_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mission_Viejo_Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Mission Viejo within [[Orange County, California]].
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Los Angeles#USA California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area##Location within the State of California##Location within the contiguous United States
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = Mission Viejo
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Orange County, California|Orange]]
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date3  = March 31, 1988<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017052413/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 }}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Bob Ruesch<ref name=cc>{{Cite web
 | url = https://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/government/city-council
 | title = City Council
 | publisher = City of Mission Viejo
 | access-date = October 10, 2025}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1       = Wendy Bucknum
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = Brian Goodell <br> Trish Kelley <br> Cynthia Vasquez
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Elaine Lister<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = https://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/government/city-directory
 | title = City Directory
 | publisher = City of Mission Viejo
 | access-date = August 9, 2024}}</ref>
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 18.03
| area_land_sq_mi    = 17.66
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.37
| area_total_km2     = 46.70
| area_land_km2      = 45.74
| area_water_km2     = 0.96
| area_water_percent = 2.05
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1661045|Mission Viejo|access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 410
| elevation_m        = 125
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|35|49|N|117|39|30|W|region:US-CA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=quif>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/missionviejocitycalifornia/POP010220|title=Mission Viejo (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 93653
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_rank    = [[List of largest California cities by population|86th]] in California
| population_density_sq_mi = 5344.64
| population_density_km2 = 2047.51
| population_urban   = 646,843 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 65th]])<ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|author=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1,526.3
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 3,953.0
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 92691–92692, 92694
| area_code          = [[Area code 949|949]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|48256}}
| blank1_name        = [[GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1661045}}, {{GNIS 4|2411123}}
| website            = {{URL|cityofmissionviejo.org}}
}}

'''Mission Viejo''' ({{IPAc-en|v|i|ˈ|eɪ|h|oʊ}} {{respell|vee|AY|hoh}}; [[language change|corruption]] of {{lang|es|Misión Vieja}} {{IPA|es|miˈsjon ˈbjexa|}}; {{langnf|es||Old Mission}}) is a [[Commuter town|commuter city]] in the [[Saddleback Valley]] in [[Orange County, California]], United States. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest [[Planned community|master-planned communities]] ever built under a single project in the United States{{Not verified in body|date=March 2025}} and is rivaled only by [[Highlands Ranch|Highlands Ranch, Colorado]] in size. Its population as of 2020 was 93,653.<ref name=quif/>

Mission Viejo is suburban in nature and culture, and consists of residential properties, offices and businesses. The city is noted for its tree-lined neighborhoods, receiving recognition from the [[National Arbor Day Foundation]]. The city's name is a reference to [[Rancho Mission Viejo]], a large Spanish land grant from which the community was founded.

The United States Census Bureau defines an [[urban area]] of Orange County cities not part of Los Angeles's urban area with Mission Viejo as the principal city: the Mission Viejo–[[Lake Forest, California|Lake Forest]]–[[Laguna Niguel, California|Laguna Niguel]], CA urban area had a population of 646,843 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], ranked [[List of United States urban areas|65th in the United States]].<ref name="urban area" />

==History==
[[Rancho Mission Viejo]] was purchased by [[Juan Forster|Don Juan Forster]], an English-born Mexican ranchero.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://sjchistoricalsociety.com/content/don-juan-forster/ | title=Don Juan Forster – SJC Historical Society }}</ref> During the [[Mexican–American War]], Forster provided fresh horses to United States military forces which were used on the march of San Diego to invade Los Angeles.

Mission Viejo was a hilly region primarily used as cattle and sheep [[grazing]] land, since it was of little use to farmers. This city was one of the last regions of Orange County to be urbanized due to its geologic complexity. In 1960, early developers dismissed most of the land in Mission Viejo as simply "undevelopable".<ref name=Epting>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_U7xVtLFR1gC&pg=PA33 |title=Vanishing Orange County |page=33 |first=Chris |last=Epting |publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] |date=2008 |access-date=March 8, 2011|isbn=9780738559742 }}</ref>

[[Donald Bren]], an urban planner who later became the president of the [[Irvine Company]], drafted a master plan which placed roads in the valleys and houses on the hills, and contoured to the geography of the area.<ref name=Epting/> The plan worked, and by 1980 much of the city of Mission Viejo was completed. During the late 1970s and the 1980s, houses in Mission Viejo were in such high demand that housing tracts often sold out before construction even began on them.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rebels Dig In to Defend Last Ridge in South : Growth: The city carved out by the Mission Viejo Co. is on edge over the developer's final step. The company's offer of recreational land may not be enough to take Naciente Ridge. |date=May 27, 1990|first1=FRANK |last1=MESSINA |first2=WENDY |last2=PAULSON |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 8, 2016 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-17-me-15934-story.html}}</ref> The houses and shopping centers in the city are almost uniformly designed in a Spanish mission style, with "adobe"-like stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs. Many point to Mission Viejo as the first and largest manifestation of Bren's obsession with [[Spanish architecture]]. Bren's company was also the creator of the developments in [[Irvine, California|Irvine]] and [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]. The company expanded its operations and went on to build the Lakes project in [[Tempe, Arizona]] and [[Mission Viejo, Aurora, Colorado|Mission Viejo Aurora]], and was the initial master planner of [[Highlands Ranch]], both located in the [[Denver metropolitan area|Denver, Colorado Metropolitan area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|18.0|sqmi|km2}}, {{convert|17.7|sqmi|km2}} of which is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}} (2.05%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> A significant portion of the surface water is held in [[Lake Mission Viejo]], an artificial lake stretching approximately one mile from Olympiad Road to Alicia Parkway along Marguerite Parkway.

Mission Viejo is located {{convert|49|mi|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Los Angeles]], and {{convert|73|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[San Diego]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+CA/Mission+Viejo,+CA/@33.8255164,-118.2311032,10z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!2m2!1d-118.2436849!2d34.0522342!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dcc2af93bd7d9b:0x276285924e314834!2m2!1d-117.6581562!2d33.5968913 | title=Los Angeles to Mission Viejo }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/San+Diego,+CA/Mission+Viejo,+CA/@33.2293933,-118.0628219,9z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x80d9530fad921e4b:0xd3a21fdfd15df79!2m2!1d-117.1610838!2d32.715738!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dcc2af93bd7d9b:0x276285924e314834!2m2!1d-117.6581562!2d33.5968913 | title=San Diego to Mission Viejo }}</ref> It is bordered by [[Lake Forest, California|Lake Forest]] on the northwest, [[Trabuco Canyon]] on the northeast, [[Rancho Santa Margarita, California|Rancho Santa Margarita]] and [[Ladera Ranch]] on the east, [[San Juan Capistrano]] on the south, and [[Laguna Niguel]] and [[Laguna Hills]] on the west.

===Climate===
Mission Viejo enjoys a borderline [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]]/[[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSh/Csa''), with mild temperatures and plentiful sunshine year-round. Rainfall totals, which average around {{convert|14|in|mm|abbr=off}} annually are focused primarily in the months from November to March. Summer is very dry and virtually rainless. Due to the city's proximity to the ocean, nighttime and morning clouds are fairly common, especially in May and June, a weather phenomenon commonly known as [[June Gloom]] or May Gray.

Like most of Southern California, the city is prone to dry [[Santa Ana winds]], bringing hot air from inland and punctuating the normally mild temperatures with noticeable jumps. For example, temperatures have reached highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and above throughout many months of the year, occasionally into autumn. From 2012 to 2016, California experienced the worst drought in a century. In 2016, California experienced more rainfall than expected and ended most of the drought. Orange County was the last to have drought restrictions lifted.

{{Weather box
|location = Mission Viejo, California
|single line = Y
|width=auto
<!--
|Jan record high F =  89
|Feb record high F =  92
|Mar record high F =  92
|Apr record high F =  97
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 104
|Nov record high F = 100
|Dec record high F =  90
|year record high F =108
-->
|Jan high F = 68
|Feb high F = 68
|Mar high F = 69
|Apr high F = 72
|May high F = 73
|Jun high F = 75
|Jul high F = 79
|Aug high F = 80
|Sep high F = 80
|Oct high F = 77
|Nov high F = 72
|Dec high F = 67
|year high F =
|Jan low F = 44
|Feb low F = 45
|Mar low F = 47
|Apr low F = 50
|May low F = 54
|Jun low F = 58
|Jul low F = 61
|Aug low F = 60
|Sep low F = 59
|Oct low F = 54
|Nov low F = 48
|Dec low F = 43
|year low F =
<!--
|Jan record low F = 21
|Feb record low F = 27
|Mar record low F = 28
|Apr record low F = 31
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 30
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 40
|Oct record low F = 33
|Nov record low F = 28
|Dec record low F = 24
|year record low F =21
-->
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.85
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.42
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.96
|Apr precipitation inch =  .88
|May precipitation inch =  .25
|Jun precipitation inch =  .11
|Jul precipitation inch =  .06
|Aug precipitation inch =  .03
|Sep precipitation inch =  .25
|Oct precipitation inch =  .65
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.09
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.38
|year precipitation inch=13.93
|source 1 = Weather Channel<ref>[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0712 "Average weather for Mission Viejo"] [[Weather Channel]]. Retrieved July 14, 2012.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 11933
|1980= 50666
|1990= 72820
|2000= 93102
|2010= 93305
|2020= 93653
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023553/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br>1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title=1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907072108/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title=1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828190324/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164053/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050629/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828162810/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918190408/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921120611/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812164028/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823052400/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814213918/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204210903/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Mission Viejo first appeared as an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] in the [[1970 U.S. census]];<ref name=1970CensusCA/> and was designated as a [[census-designated place]] in the [[1980 United States census]].<ref name=1980CensusCA/> After incorporation, it appeared as a city in the [[1990 U.S. census]].<ref name=2000CensusCA/>

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Mission Viejo, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mission Viejo city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0648256&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mission Viejo city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0648256&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mission Viejo city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0648256&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|70,735
|64,276
|style='background: #ffffe6; |57,790
|75.98%
|68.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.71%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,032
|1,129
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,134
|1.11%
|1.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.21%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|204
|176
|style='background: #ffffe6; |117
|0.22%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|7,085
|8,312
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,822
|7.61%
|8.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.56%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|159
|146
|style='background: #ffffe6; |152
|0.17%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|148
|201
|style='background: #ffffe6; |454
|0.16%
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.48%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,473
|3,188
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,198
|2.66%
|3.42%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.55%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|11,266
|15,877
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,986
|12.10%
|17.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19.20%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''93,102'''
|'''93,305'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''93,653'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Mission Viejo had a population of 93,653.<ref name="quif" />

There were 5,057 (5.4%) persons under the age of 5, 18,824 (20.3%) persons under the age of 18, and 19,948 (21.3%) persons over the age of 65. In the census, 47,295 (50.5%) of people were female while 46,358 (49.5%) were male.<ref name="quif" />

The Mission Viejo–Lake Forest–Laguna Niguel, CA [[urban area]] had a population of 646,843 as of 2020, making it the [[List of United States urban areas|65th most populous in the United States]].<ref name="urban area" />

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $136,071, and the [[per capita income]] was $60,816. About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission Viejo city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0648256 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 27, 2025}}</ref>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0648256|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715031627/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0648256|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Mission Viejo city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Mission Viejo had a population of 93,305. The population density was {{convert|5,148.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Mission Viejo was 74,493 (79.8%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (68.9% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0648256.html|title=Mission Viejo (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|work=census.gov|access-date=February 10, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216155509/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0648256.html|archive-date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> 1,210 (1.3%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 379 (0.4%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8,462 (9.1%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 153 (0.2%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4,332 (4.6%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 4,276 (4.6%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 15,877 persons (17.0%).

The Census reported that 92,363 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 859 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 33,208 households, out of which 11,767 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 20,792 (62.6%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 2,967 (8.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,306 (3.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,211 (3.6%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 225 (0.7%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 6,314 households (19.0%) were made up of individuals, and 2,949 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 25,065 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (75.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.18.

The population was spread out, with 21,270 people (22.8%) under the age of 18, 7,852 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 21,648 people (23.2%) aged 25 to 44, 29,003 people (31.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 13,532 people (14.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

There were 34,228 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,888.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 25,859 (77.9%) were owner-occupied, and 7,349 (22.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 72,390 people (77.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,973 people (21.4%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States census, Mission Viejo had a median household income of $96,088, with 5.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

The Mission Viejo-[[Lake Forest, California|Lake Forest]]-[[San Clemente]] urban area (which also includes the cities of [[Aliso Viejo]], [[Dana Point]], [[Laguna Beach]], [[Laguna Hills]], [[Laguna Niguel]], [[Laguna Woods]], [[Rancho Santa Margarita, California|Rancho Santa Margarita]] and [[San Juan Capistrano]]) had a population of 583,681 at the 2010 Census.

==Economy==
[[File:Mission Viejo California photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Lake Mission Viejo and surrounding developments, 2014.]]

According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cityofmissionviejo.org/sites/default/files/21-22-final-acfr.pdf |title=City of Mission Viejo CAFR |publisher=Cityofmissionviejo.org |access-date=August 24, 2023}}</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
| 1
|[[Mission Hospital (Mission Viejo, California)|Mission Hospital]]
|2,764
|-
|2
|[[Saddleback College]]
|1,429
|-
|3
|[[Saddleback Valley Unified School District]]
|917
|-
|4
|[[Target Corporation]]
|513
|-
|5
|[[James Hardie Industries|James Hardie Building Products]]
|436
|-
|6
|[[Capistrano Unified School District]]
|432
|-
|7
|[[Nordstrom]]
|362
|-
|8
|[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] Delivery Station
|266
|-
|9
|[[Macy's]]
|263
|-
|10
|City of Mission Viejo
|250
|}

[[Marie Callender's]] has its corporate headquarters in the Marie Callender's Corporate Support Center in Mission Viejo.<ref>"[http://www.mcpies.com/contact_us/ Contact Us]." Marie Callender's. Retrieved on May 27, 2012. "Mailing Address: Marie Callender's Corporate Support Center 27101 Puerta Real, Suite 260 Mission Viejo, CA 92691"</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[The Shops at Mission Viejo]] and the Kaleidoscope Center serve as the city's two main shopping, dining and entertainment centers. Both cater to an upper middle class customer demographic and feature family-oriented facilities and services.

Mission Viejo also hosts a number of athletic events such as 5K runs and triathlons throughout the year. The city holds a variety of annually recurring events to celebrate holidays including a street fair and fireworks for Independence Day and public decorations and interactive activities for children during the winter holiday season featuring representation for multiple popular religions.

==Sports==
[[File:20140629-0726 Olympiad Park.JPG|thumb|Florence Joyner Olympiad Park]]

Mission Viejo has a major youth athletic facility, Mission Viejo Youth Athletic Park. The park consists of eight baseball fields and five soccer fields. It is host to [http://www.district68.com Little League District 68], [http://www.ayso84.org/ AYSO Region 84], and four competitive soccer clubs: Pateadores Soccer Club, Mission Viejo Soccer Club, West Coast Futbol Club, and Saddleback United Soccer Club.

The [[Mission Viejo Nadadores]] Swimming and Mission Viejo Nadadores Diving Team won a string of national championships and produced a number of Olympians and world record holders in the 1970s and 1980s. Olympians included [[Shirley Babashoff]], [[Brian Goodell]], Larson Jenson, Maryanne Graham, Nicole Kramer, Casy Converse, Marcia Morey, [[Dara Torres]], and [[Greg Louganis]].

Mission Viejo hosted the [[Cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Road Cycling Events]] during the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] held in Los Angeles. The old O'Neill Road was renamed Olympiad Rd. in honor of the Olympic events in 1984. In 2004, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the 1984 Olympics Cycling Road Race, the City of Mission Viejo dedicated a permanent start/finish line and historic markers which are installed on Olympiad Road near the entrance to Lake Mission Viejo.<ref>In 2004, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the 1984 Olympics Cycling Road Race, Mission Viejo dedicated a permanent start/finish line and historic markers which are installed on Olympiad Road near the entrance to Lake Mission Viejo.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://patch.com/california/missionviejo/what-those-markers-are-all-over-town | title=What Those Markers Are All over Town | date=July 18, 2014 }}</ref>

There is also a soccer facility, now used by the town's youth soccer program, that was used as a training field by the United States men's national soccer team before and during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], hosted by the United States.

The Saddleback College ballpark hosted the [[Mission Viejo Vigilantes]] minor league baseball team of the [[Western Baseball League]] from 1996 to 2001. Now the ballpark has a semi-pro collegiate team, the Orange County Fire.

Mission Viejo is also the hometown of [[NFL]] quarterback [[Mark Sanchez]], [[Minnesota Twins]] pitcher [[Phil Hughes (baseball)|Phil Hughes]], and [[Chicago White Sox]] first baseman [[Adam LaRoche]], former [[Milwaukee Brewers]] pitcher [[Don August]], [[Boston Red Sox]] outfielder [[Allen Craig]], [[Top Shot (season 4)|Top Shot Season 4]] Champion [[Chris Cheng]], and PBA Tour Champion Scott Norton.

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Discover Mission Viejo Geocache.jpg|thumb|upright|GeoTour geocache at Potocki Center for the Arts]]

Recreational areas include the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cityofmissionviejo.org/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=1572 |title=Norman P Murray Community Center |publisher=City of Mission Viejo |date=March 4, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725173201/http://cityofmissionviejo.org/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=1572 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The city has about two parks per square mile, and three golf courses. At the center of the city is a man-made lake, [[Lake Mission Viejo]], accessible to a private association of Mission Viejo residents, with custom waterfront homes, condominiums, boat and paddle board rentals, fishing, and swim beaches. Lake Mission Viejo  holds events such as music concerts and movie screenings, usually complimentary for members and typically during the summer season.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

In 2023, the city launched GeoTour, [[Southern California]]'s first [[Geocaching]] tour, consisting of 27 geocaches hidden across the city, with most placed along the trail system at [[Oso Creek]] and at city recreation facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://coord.info/GCA94YR |title=Discover Mission Viejo GeoTour Kick-Off Event |publisher=Geocaching |date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=July 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geocaching.com/play/geotours/missionviejo |title=Discover Mission Viejo GeoTour |publisher=Geocaching |date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=July 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Government==
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Mission Viejo city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/GEN2020/Run_27/sov.pdf|title=Votes cast|website=www.ocvote.com |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.96%''' ''28,983''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.98% ''27,837''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.06% ''1,196''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Certified statement of the votes cast at the presidential general election in the County of Orange, State of California | date=November 8, 2016 | url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/sov.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217082248/https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/sov.pdf | archive-date=2017-02-17}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.71% ''21,051''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.68%''' ''23,930''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.61% ''3,184''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Certified statement of the votes cast at the presidential general election in the County of Orange, State of California | date=November 6, 2012 | url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2012/sov-for-web.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117103027/http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2012/sov-for-web.pdf | archive-date=2013-01-17}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.20% ''18,361''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.52%''' ''27,409''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.27% ''1,064''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Orange County Statement of Votes | url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2008/sov.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115165241/http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2008/sov.pdf | archive-date=2012-11-15}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.45% ''20,963''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.42%''' ''26,255''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.14% ''1,031''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Orange County Statement of Votes | date=2004-11-29 | url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/e13/sov1.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115165205/http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/e13/sov1.pdf | archive-date=2012-11-15}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.89% ''16,308''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.18%''' ''30,000''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.94% ''439''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Orange County Statement of Votes | date=2006-11-07 | url=https://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2000/gen2000-SOV.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115165533/http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sov/gen2000/gen2000-SOV.pdf | archive-date=2012-11-15}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.49% ''15,366''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.16%''' ''26,482''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.35% ''1,449''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote51996cali/ | title=Statement of vote | year=1968 }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.35% ''12,654''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.22%''' ''21,712''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|9.43% ''3,580''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote31992cali/ | title=Statement of vote | year=1968 }}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.05% ''10,406''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.41%''' ''17,590''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|24.55% ''9,108''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/statementofvote81988cali | title=Statement of the Vote| publisher=Sacramento, Calif. : The Secretary| year=1968}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|25.34% ''7,844''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.82%''' ''22,854''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.84% ''260''
|}

Of the 58,677 registered voters in the city, 24,639 (42.0%) are [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], 16,477 (28.1%) are [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 15,002 (25.6%) have no party preference, and the remaining are registered with a minor party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocvote.com/datacentral/|title=Data Central – Registration – Orange County Registrar of Voters|website=www.ocvote.com|access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref>

Mission Viejo is a [[general law city]], which operates under a [[council-manager]] form of government. The Mission Viejo City Council consists of five members elected at-large to staggered four-year terms. Each year, the City Council elects a Mayor and a Mayor Pro Tem amongst themselves to serve for one calendar year. The Mayor, who has equal legislative power with fellow members of the City Council, serves as the ceremonial leader of the city and as the presiding officer of the bi-weekly City Council meetings.

The current members of the City Council are [[Mayor]] Bob Ruesch, [[Mayor Pro Tem]] Wendy Bucknum, [[Brian Goodell]], Patricia "Trish" Kelley, and Cynthia Vasquez.

In county government, Mission Viejo is located in the 3rd District, currently represented by [[Donald P. Wagner]].

In the [[California State Legislature]], Mission Viejo is in {{Representative|casd|38|fmt=sdistrict}} and in {{Representative|caad|71|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = https://statewidedatabase.org/gis/districtscomp.html
 | title = California Districts
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = January 5, 2023
}}</ref>

Federally, Mission Viejo is located in [[California's 40th congressional district]], which has a [[Cook PVI]] of R+2 and is represented by Republican [[Young Kim]].

==Education==
[[File:20131228-0439 Mission Viejo.JPG|thumb|right|Mission Viejo Library]]

Mission Viejo is served by two school districts, the [[Capistrano Unified School District]] and [[Saddleback Valley Unified School District]]. Capistrano Unified serves the eastern, northeastern, and southern portions of the city with eight schools. Students from western Mission Viejo (north of Oso Parkway and west of Marguerite until Alicia Parkway) attend Saddleback Valley's [[Mission Viejo High School]]. Far northern Mission Viejo attends Saddleback Valley's [[Trabuco Hills High School]], though most of that school has students from Rancho Santa Margarita and Lake Forest. A few residents attend [[Tesoro High School]] in Las Flores or the private [[Santa Margarita Catholic High School]] in Rancho Santa Margarita.

[[Silverado High School (Mission Viejo)|Silverado High School]], Mira Monte High School, and Pathfinder are continuation and adult schools within the city. Silverado High School provides a day school environment while Mira Monte, which shares the same campus, is strictly independent study.

[[Saddleback College]], near [[The Shops at Mission Viejo]] and [[Capistrano Valley High School]], is a large community college in the southern half of the city. In addition, the [[University of California, Irvine]], [[Chapman University]], [[Soka University of America]], and [[California State University, Fullerton]] ([http://www.fullerton.edu/irvinecampus/ Irvine Campus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823072017/http://www.fullerton.edu/irvinecampus/ |date=August 23, 2014 }}), are nearby in adjacent cities.

La Tierra Elementary shut down in June 2009 due to budget cuts. It was chosen due to its small size and minimal student body. The school will remain closed until further notice. Mission Viejo residents refer to La Tierra as "The Little School with a Big Heart". Students there are reassigned to Del Cerro Elementary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-tierra-children-2276846-year-close|title=La Tierra Elementary copes with closure|work=The Orange County Register|access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref>

O'Neill Elementary, the city's first elementary school, closed in June 2009 also due to budget cuts in SVUSD. Students in the Deane Home community surrounding the school will be moved to nearby De Portola Elementary. Students living in the homes north of the lake will be moved to Melinda Heights Elementary in Rancho Santa Margarita.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mission-viejo-oneill-2332580-saddleback-school|title=Impending closure pains O'Neill school community|work=The Orange County Register|access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}

'''Elementary'''

'''Capistrano Unified'''
*[http://www.capousd.org/bhes/ Barcelona Hills Elementary School]-closed on June 30, 2012 
*[http://www.capousd.org/bges/ Bathgate Elementary School]
*[http://chhawks.schoolloop.com/ Carl Hankey K-8 School]
*[http://www.capousd.org/ctes/ Castille Elementary School]
*[http://www.capousd.org/pres/ Philip J Reilly Elementary School]
*[http://www.capousd.org/vjes/ Viejo Elementary School]

'''Saddleback Valley Unified'''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170706073320/http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=4458%2F Cordillera Elementary School]-closed in June 2020
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070709101627/http://www.delcerro.org/ Del Cerro Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170706073627/http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=3305%2F Del Lago Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170706072714/http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=5307%2F De Portola Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170706072355/http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=5472%2F Glen Yermo Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613035325/http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/schools/La_Tierra/ La Tierra Elementary School]—closed in June 2009
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070606081316/http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/Schools/linda_vista/ Linda Vista Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070606080204/http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/schools/Montevideo/ Montevideo Elementary School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170706071839/http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=5931%2F O'Neill Elementary School]—closed in June 2009

'''Private'''
* [http://thecardenacademy.com/ Carden Academy]
* [http://www.alridah.org/ Al Ridah Academy]—an Islamic Elementary School
* [https://soc.opaschools.org/ Oxford Preparatory Academy]
{{col-break|gap=5em}}

'''Middle school'''
*[http://chhawks.schoolloop.com/ Carl Hankey Middle School]—CUSD 
*[https://newhart.capousd.org/ Newhart Middle School]—CUSD
*[[La Paz Intermediate School]]—SVUSD
*[https://www.svusd.org/schools/intermediate/los-alisos/ Los Alisos Intermediate School]—SVUSD

'''High school'''
*[[Capistrano Valley High School]]—CUSD
*[[Halstrom High School]] (formerly Futures High School)—CUSD
*[[Mission Viejo High School]]—SVUSD
*[[Trabuco Hills High School]]—SVUSD
*[[Laguna Hills High School]]— SVUSD
*[[El Toro High School]]— SVUSD

'''College'''
*[[Saddleback College]]
{{col-end}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Buses====
The [[Orange County Transportation Authority]] (OCTA) operates the 82, 85, 86, 89, and 91 bus routes in Laguna Niguel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.octa.net/pdf/OCTASystemMap.pdf|title=OC Bus System Map|publisher=Orange County Transportation Authority|access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> The City of Mission Viejo operated MV Shuttle route 182.<ref>{{Cite web| title = MV Shuttle {{!}} City of Mission Viejo| access-date = May 12, 2019| url = https://cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/public-works/traffic-and-transportation/mv-shuttle}}</ref> The 85 and 182 bus lines provides connecting service to the [[Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station|Metrolink train station]].

====Rail====
The [[Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station]] near I-5 in [[Laguna Niguel]] is served by the [[Orange County Line]] and [[Inland Empire–Orange County Line]] of [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] commuter rail, providing service to points in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]], [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]] and [[San Diego County, California|San Diego]] Counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/stations/detail/station_id/101.html|title=Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station|publisher=Metrolink|access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> The [[Amtrak]] [[Pacific Surfliner]] served Laguna Niguel from 2007 to 2012, but has since ceased to stop here. Amtrak continues to serve the nearby [[Irvine Transportation Center|Irvine]] and [[San Juan Capistrano Depot|San Juan Capistrano]] stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/laguna.htm|title=Laguna Niguel-Mission Viejo|publisher=TrainWeb|access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref>

====Highways====
[[File:I-5 (CA).svg|27px|link=Interstate 5 in California]] [[Interstate 5]] travels within Mission Viejo's city limits and has five interchanges within the city: Avery Parkway, Crown Valley Parkway, Oso Parkway, La Paz Road, and Alicia Parkway.

[[File:California 241.svg|25px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 241]] travels within Mission Viejo's city limits and has one interchange within the city at Los Alisos Boulevard.

[[File:California 73.svg|25px|link=California State Route 73]] A very short portion of [[California State Route 73]] travels within Mission Viejo's city limits. There is a Mission Viejo population and elevation road sign directly beneath the northbound onramp that roughly marks the official city limits which travels down the center of Via Escolar to the rail tracks on either side of the interstate. The entrance to SR 73 from I-5 northbound is located in the nearby city of [[San Juan Capistrano]] as well as the off ramp from SR 73 to I-5 in the southbound direction. There are no exits or entrances to SR 73 within Mission Viejo.

[[File:Orange County S18.svg|27px|link=California county routes in zone S#S18]] County Route S18, also known as El Toro Road, travels within Mission Viejo's city limits between Marguerite Parkway / Saddleback Church and Glen Ranch Canyon Road in the most northern part of the city.

[[File:US 101 (CA historic).svg|27px|link=U.S. Route 101 in California#History]] The original route for [[U.S. Highway 101]] previously ran through Mission Viejo on what is now El Paseo and Camino Capistrano. A historical marker was placed by the City of Mission Viejo commemorating the historic road route which is located about 0.15 miles south of the intersection of Oso Parkway and Cabot Road, although it is located in the nearby city of [[Laguna Niguel]]. It was at the time the only major road connecting [[San Diego]] to [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco]]. It was abandoned when Interstate 5 was completed in the 1950s and has since been mostly removed to make way for interstate expansions and housing or commercial developments. There is a bridge on Camino Capistrano that crosses over [[Oso Creek]] that was built for U.S. 101 and dates back to 1938.

===Health care===
[[Mission Hospital (Mission Viejo, California)|Mission Hospital]] is the largest hospital in south Orange County and serves as the area's regional trauma center. It also offers one of two [[Children's Hospital of Orange County]] locations providing care for children.

==Notable people==
<!-- *NOTE*: Please add only people who already have a Wikipedia article. List is alphabetical by last name. -->
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* [[Lee J. Ames]] (1921–2011), illustrator and writer known for the ''Draw 50...'' learn-to-draw books
* [[Griffin Canning]] (born 1996), player for the [[New York Mets]] of [[Major League Baseball]]
* [[Chris Cheng]] (born 1979), [[Shooting sports|sports shooter]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Chris |title=Fishing and Food, Namu Gaji style |url=https://www.topshotchris.com/blog/archives/09-2013 |website=TopShotChris |access-date=August 21, 2025 |date=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Allen Craig]] (born 1984), former [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[Javin DeLaurier]] (born 1998), basketball player in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]
* [[Kevin Fagan (cartoonist)|Kevin Fagan]] (born 1956), syndicated cartoonist for ''[[Drabble (comic strip)|Drabble]]''
* [[Dave Farrell]] (born 1977), bassist for [[Linkin Park]].
* [[Brian Finneran]] (born 1976), former [[National Football League]] wide receiver
* [[Eddie Fisher (drummer)|Eddie Fisher]] (born 1973), musician, drummer for the band [[OneRepublic]]
* [[Julie Foudy]] (born 1971), former soccer player, member of [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]
* [[Debbie Friedman]] (1951–2011), singer and songwriter<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-debbie-friedman-20110111,0,4461079.story |title=Debbie Friedman, self-taught Jewish folk singer, dies at 59 |author=Elaine Woo |date=January 11, 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Kelly George (news anchor)|Kelly George]] (born 1982), [[Miss Arkansas USA]] 2007
* [[Globelamp]] song artist known as Elizabeth Le Fey<ref name="OC Register">{{cite news|date=December 12, 2013|title=Globelamp songwriter finds her footing|url=http://www.ocregister.com/soundcheck/fey-541413-band-globelamp.html|access-date=July 19, 2020|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]]}}</ref>
* [[Brian Goodell]] (born 1959), swimmer, gold medalist in [[1976 Summer Olympics]] and world-record holder, Mayor of Mission Viejo in 2020
* [[Kina Grannis]] (born 1985), singer and songwriter
* [[Jordan Harvey]] (born 1984), former soccer player
* [[Kyle Hendricks]] (born 1989) Major League Baseball pitcher for the [[Chicago Cubs]]
* [[David Henrie]] (born 1989), actor, ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]''
* [[Andrew J. Hinshaw]] (1923–2016), member of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] (1975–1977)
* [[Phil Hughes (baseball)|Phil Hughes]] (born 1986), former Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Chandler Hutchison]] (born 1996), professional basketball player
* [[Quinton "Rampage" Jackson]] (born 1978), fighter, former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion<ref>{{cite web |url= http://m.ufc.com/news/Rampage-Jackson-Theres-No-Place-Like-His-Second-Home|title= "Rampage" Jackson – There's No Place Like His Second Home|date= February 23, 2012|publisher= [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]|access-date= September 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Florence Griffith Joyner]] (1959–1998), track-and-field gold medalist in [[1988 Summer Olympics]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Longman|first=Jere|title=Griffith Joyner Died After Seizure in Sleep|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/23/sports/track-and-field-griffith-joyner-died-after-seizure-in-sleep.html |access-date=January 2, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 23, 1998}}</ref>
* [[Brianna Keilar]] (born 1980), [[CNN]] correspondent
* [[Eugene F. Lally]] (1934–2014), aerospace engineer, photographer, entrepreneur
* [[Adam LaRoche]] (born 1979), former Major League Baseball first baseman
* [[Pinky Lee]] (1907–1993), burlesque comic and children's television host
* [[Michael López-Alegría]] (born 1958), astronaut
* [[Greg Louganis]] (born 1960), Olympic gold medalist in [[Diving (sport)|diving]]
* [[Todd Marinovich]] (born 1969), former National Football League quarterback
* [[Mike Martir]] (born 1981), former professional Canadian football quarterback
* [[Tyler Matzek]] (born 1990), Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the [[Atlanta Braves]] 
* [[Tanner Bibee]] (born 1999), Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the [[Cleveland Guardians]]
* [[Megan McClung]] (1972–2006), first female [[United States Marine Corps]] officer killed in combat during the [[Iraq War]]
* [[Courtland Mead]] (born 1987), actor
* [[Noah Munck]] (born 1996), actor, ''[[iCarly]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/says-377962-noah-jennette.html|title=It's graduation time for the O.C. kids on 'iCarly'|work=The Orange County Register| date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Larsen |first=Peter |date=June 11, 2011 |title=O.C. kids are all right on 'iCarly' |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/says-304079-mccurdy-icarly.html |access-date=February 10, 2016 |work=The Orange County Register}}</ref>
* [[Yiliang "Peter" Peng]] (born 1993) better known as "Doublelift", former professional ''League of Legends'' AD Carry for [[Team Liquid]]
* [[Raymond Persinger]] (born 1959), sculptor
* [[Mark Sanchez]] (born 1986), former National Football League quarterback
* [[Kaitlin Sandeno]] (born 1983), former competition swimmer
* [[Patrick Sandoval]] (born 1996), Major League Baseball pitcher for the [[Los Angeles Angels]]
* [[Savannah (actress)|Savannah]] (1970–1994), pornographic actress
* [[Allison Scurich]] (born 1986), former soccer player
* [[Larry Sherry]] (1935–2006), former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, MVP of [[1959 World Series]]
* [[Emily Skinner (actress, born 2002)|Emily Skinner]] (born 2002), actress
* [[Matt Sorum]] (born 1960), drummer for [[Guns N' Roses]] from 1990 to 1997
* [[Kristy Swanson]] (born 1969), actress
* [[Cameron Tringale]] (born 1987), pro golfer
* [[Irv Weinstein]] (1930–2017), news anchor, relocated to Mission Viejo in the last years of his life
* [[Lea Moreno Young]] (born 1977), actress
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==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}
* [[Mission Viejo, Aurora, Colorado]] - a neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado with planned development in the style of Mission Viejo, California

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mission Viejo, California}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{wikivoyage|Mission Viejo}}
* {{Official website}}

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