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Laguna Niguel CA History & Facts

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Laguna Niguel is a suburban city in Orange County, California in the United States. The name Laguna Niguel is derived from the words "Laguna" (Spanish for "lagoon") and "Niguili" (the name of a Native American village once located near Aliso Creek). As of the 2010 census, the population was 62,979. Laguna Niguel is located in the San Joaquin Hills in the southeastern corner of Orange County, close to the Pacific Ocean, and borders the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano.

Laguna Niguel has its origins in the Rancho Niguel Mexican land grant, which was acquired in 1959 by the Laguna Niguel Corporation to develop one of California's first master-planned communities. As a predominantly residential city, Laguna Niguel serves as a bedroom community for the job centers of northern and central Orange County. Laguna Niguel has a median household income 31 percent above the Orange County average and nearly double the U.S. average. It is known for its mild coastal climate, low crime rate, and its numerous parks and public trails.

Over one-third of Laguna Niguel is designated as open space. This significant amount of open space is one of the key features defining the character and urban form of the City. The City has two community parks, 23 neighborhood parks, three mini-parks, one dog park, two county regional parks, two small county parks, and the Skate & Soccer Park.

The name “Laguna Niguel” is derived from the Spanish word “Laguna,” which means lagoon, and the word “Nigueli,” which was the name of a Juaneno Indian village once located near Aliso Creek. In 1821, California became Mexican territory and many rancheros were formed in Southern California, including Rancho Niguel. During this period, Rancho Niguel was primarily used as a sheep ranch. The first private landowner of the area was Juan Avila, a resident of San Juan Capistrano, who obtained land through a Mexican land grant in 1842. Juan Avila was also successful in re-establishing his title to the land after California became US territory in 1848 and remained the owner of “Rancho Niguel” until 1865.

In 1895, the “Rancho Niguel” land became part of the Moulton Company, a company that would eventually control over 19,000 acres of local ranch land.

The genesis of today’s Laguna Niguel was the establishment of the Laguna Niguel Corporation in 1959 by Cabot, Cabot and Forbes, making it one of the first master planned communities in California. The firm of Victor Gruen and Associates was retained to develop a detailed community plan for the approximately 7,100-acre site. Land sales started to occur in 1961 in Monarch Bay and Laguna Terrace subdivisions. Avco Community Developer acquired the Laguna Niguel Plan in 1971 and initiated development as set forth in the original Master Plan.

During the early years of development in Laguna Niguel, the Laguna Niguel Homeowner Association, later to become the Laguna Niguel Community Council, served in an advisory capacity to the Orange County Board of Supervisors on land use issues.

In 1986, Laguna Niguel residents, looking for local governance, took the first step toward cityhood by forming a Community Services District. Three years later, on November 7, 1989, 89% of the voters favored incorporation and on December 1, 1989, Laguna Niguel became the 29th city in Orange County.

FAMOUS PEOPLES FROM Laguna Niguel CA

Patricia Bates

Patricia Carmody "Pat" Bates is an American Republican politician currently serving in the California State Senate, representing the 36th Senate district, which encompasses parts of Orange and San Diego counties. She served as the Senate's minority leader from 2017 to 2019. She previously served as a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2014, and the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2004. She also served as the first mayor of Laguna Niguel, California following its incorporation in 1989, and continued to serve on the city council until 1998. Before serving as mayor, she had been employed as a social worker in Los Angeles County.

Patricia Carmody Bates was born in 1939 in Long Beach, California. She attended California State University, Long Beach and earned a Bachelor of Science from Occidental College before marrying architect John Bates.

Bates began her professional career as a social worker in South Central Los Angeles and served as a supervisor and a Deputy Director in the Aged, Blind and Disabled categorical aid programs for the Los Angeles Department of Social Services. Bates said it was this experience as a government bureaucrat that made her realize government's shortcomings and caused her to view some government programs unfavorably.

Gavyn Matthew Bailey

Gavyn Matthew Bailey is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He entered the music industry with his first EP, Sickly in Love which landed him at No. 4 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts in 2013. Gavyn has had music featured on MTV's Degrassi and FreeForm’s Party of Five (2020 TV series). Gavyn is also a published songwriter, signed by Adam Anders and Alan Melina to Bump Into Genius and Warner/Chappell Music. He is a co-writer of “Ville Ønske Jeg Havde Kendt Dig” performed by Emil, which came in third place at the 2020 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.

Laguna Niguel Points of Interest

Laguna Niguel Farmer’s Market
Crown Valley Community Park
Laguna Niguel Regional Park
Orange County Natural History Museum
Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park