La Palma, California

La Palma (Spanish for "The Palm") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 15,568 at the 2010 Census, up from 15,408 at the 2000 census.

History

La Palma was incorporated on October 26, 1955. It was originally incorporated as Dairyland, and was one of three dairy cities in the region (the other two being Dairy Valley, now Cerritos, and Dairy City, now Cypress) but when the dairies moved east in 1965, the name of the community was changed to La Palma, after the region's Spanish heritage and its main thoroughfare, La Palma Avenue.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (1.32%) is water. This makes it the smallest city in Orange County in terms of area.

Biogeography

The most common native species: Hairy Sand Verbena, Red Sand Verbena, and Pink Sand Verbena.

Demographics

La Palma was first listed as a city in the 1970 U.S. Census. Prior to that, the area was part of unincorporated Anaheim Township.

2020

2010

The 2010 US Census reported that La Palma had a population of 15,568. The population density was . The racial makeup of La Palma was 5,762 (37.0%) White (27.8% Non-Hispanic White),

802 (5.2%) African American, 56 (0.4%) Native American, 7,483 (48.1%) Asian, 41 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 760 (4.9%) from other races, and 664 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,487 persons (16.0%).

The census reported that 15,548 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 14 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,080 households, 1,949 (38.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,331 (65.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 641 (12.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 240 (4.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 134 (2.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 26 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 716 households (14.1%) were one person and 389 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.06. There were 4,212 families (82.9% of households); the average family size was 3.37.

The age distribution was 3,423 people (22.0%) under the age of 18, 1,418 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 3,805 people (24.4%) aged 25 to 44, 4,445 people (28.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,477 people (15.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

There were 5,224 housing units at an average density of 2,852.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,648 (71.8%) were owner-occupied and 1,432 (28.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 11,315 people (72.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,233 people (27.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, La Palma had a median household income of $87,289, with 7.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 15,408 people in 4,979 households, including 4,227 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 5,066 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 44.6% Asian, 36.3% White, 10.3% Hispanic, 4.5% Black, .3% Pacific Islander, .2% Native American, .2% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races.
Of the 4,979 households 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.1% were non-families. 11.6% of households were one person and 3.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.35.

The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median household income was $68,438 and the median family income was $74,524. Males had a median income of $50,988 versus $36,242 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,598. About 4.0% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to La Palma's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Government

According to th
Orange County Registrar of Voters
as of May 15, 2025, La Palma has 10,076 registered voters. Of those, 2,998 (35.87%) are registered Democrats, 2,637 (31.55%) are registered Republicans, and 2,446 (29.27%) have declined to state a political party/are independents.

Federal, state, and county representation

In the United States House of Representatives, La Palma is in since 2025.

In the California State Senate, La Palma resides within California's 36th senatorial district, represented by Republican Tony Strickland since 2025.

In the California State Assembly, La Palma resides within California's 67th State Assembly district, represented by Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva since 2016.

For the Orange County Board of Supervisors, La Palma resides within the 1st district, represented by Janet Nguyen since 2024.

Education

*Los Coyotes Elementary: Centralia Elementary School District
*G.B. Miller Elementary: Centralia Elementary School District
*Steve Luther Elementary: Cypress School District
*Walker Junior High School: Anaheim Union High School District
*John F. Kennedy High School: Anaheim Union High School District
*Beacon Day School for Children with Autism and Related Disorders: Private

Infrastructure

''Los Cerritos Community News'' serves the city.

Transportation

Orange County Transportation Authority operates three bus routes in La Palma.

Emergency services

Fire protection in La Palma is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service. The La Palma Police Department provides law enforcement services.

Health Care

La Palma is served by one health care facility:

La Palma Intercommunity Hospital
(Hospital)

Water Services

Water in La Palma is supplied by the City of La Palma Public Works & Community Services Department, which sources its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This water is imported from both Northern California and the Colorado River. Additionally, groundwater is supplied by Orange County Water District, sourced by an underground aquifer that replenishes from the Santa Ana River, local rainfall, and imported water.

Crime

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR), collected annually by the FBI, compiles police statistics from local and state law enforcement agencies across the nation. The UCR records Part I and Part II crimes. Part I crimes become known to law enforcement and are considered the most serious crimes including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Part II crimes only include arrest data. The 2023 UCR Data for La Palma is listed below:

Notable people

* Hugo Arellano (born 1998) – soccer player
* Nathan Baesel (born 1974) – actor
* Ami Bera (born 1965) – U.S. representative for California
* Derrick Deese Jr. (born 1998) – National Football League (NFL) player
* John Lamb (born 1990) – Major League Baseball (MLB) player
* Steve Rotter (born 1998) – volleyball player

References

External links

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Cities in Orange County, California
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1955
1955 establishments in California