Laguna Beach, California

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = City


official_name = Laguna Beach, California
imagesize =
image_caption =
image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Laguna Beach within Orange County, California.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Orange
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jane Egly
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 25.2
area_land_km2 = 22.9
area_water_km2 = 2.3
area_total_sq_mi = 9.7
area_land_sq_mi = 8.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.9
elevation_m = 6
elevation_ft = 20
latd = 33 |latm = 31 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 117 |longm = 46 |longs = 9 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 23727
population_density_km2 = 1036.1
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latitude = 33°31'53" N
longitude = 117°46'9" W
website = http://www.lagunabeachcity.net
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 92651, 92652
area_code = 949
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-39178
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1660874
footnotes =

Laguna Beach is a seaside resort and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, approximately convert|24|mi|km southeast of the county seat of Santa Ana. Its population was 23,727 at the 2000 census. It is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in southern California. The city has good hotels, unique shops and restaurants, world famous art galleries and art festivals. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed here.

Laguna Beach is known for its art festivals, including:

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS: Human models magically transform into reproductions of famous painting.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS: California's oldest and most prestigious art show. Featuring 150 Southern California artists. Exhibits open 10:30am - 11:30 pm daily. Includes art demonstrations, workshops, entertainment, and food.

SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL: An artists "village" in a wooded glen with waterfalls, trees, exotic plants, art exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, family oriented entertainment, and food.

ART-A-FAIR: Fine art and master crafts by more than 150 winners of a national juried competition.

Geography

Laguna Beach is located at coord|33|31|53|N|117|46|9|W|type:city_region:US|display=inline,titleGR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of convert|25.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on. convert|22.9|km2|sqmi|abbr=on of it is land and convert|2.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on of it is water. The total area is 9.24% water.

The land in and around Laguna Beach rises quickly from the shoreline into the hills and canyons of the San Joaquin Hills. The town's highest point, at an elevation of convert|1007|ft|m, is Temple Hill in the Top of the World neighborhood. [Gnis|1661555|Temple Hill] Because of its hilly topography and surrounding parklands, there are few roads into or out of town: only the Pacific Coast Highway connecting to Newport Beach to the northwest and to Dana Point to the south, and State Route 133 crossing the hills in a northeastern direction through Laguna Canyon.

In 1979, Laguna Beach was described as "a paradise, an inexhaustible source of inspiration" by artist Marco Sassone, one of the many artists who made the "idyllic" town home since the 1920s [ Mangan, Doreen. The Art Community: Haven and Inspiration. Laguna Beach, California. American Artist (Feb 1979) pp 74-75 ] .

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 23,727 people, 11,511 households, and 5,778 families residing in the city. The population density was convert|1035.1|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=1. There were 12,965 housing units at an average density of convert|565.6|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=1. The racial makeup of the city was 91.99% White, 0.80% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.21% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.62% of the population.

There were 11,511 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.8% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.8% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $75,808, and the median income for a family was $100,778. Males had a median income of $66,221 versus $46,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $58,732. About 2.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. The median price of a home in Laguna Beach is $1,533,000. [ [http://www.dqnews.com/ZIPLAT.shtm] Orange County home prices and sales, January, 2008] This is down 16% in the last 12 months, meaning that an average homeowner in Laguna Beach has lost about $20,000 per month, every month, during the last twelve months.

Government and politics

Of the 17,084 registered voters in Laguna Beach, 41.2% are Republicans and 35.8% are Democrats. The remaining 23% either declined to state political affiliation or are registered with a smaller political party.

Although registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in Laguna Beach, the city often supports candidates that are politically left of center. The city voted for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry over President George W. Bush in 2004 by a wide margin of 57%-42%. [ [http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/ssov/pres_general_ssov_all.pdf California Elections and Voter Information] (PDF)] It was one of only three cities in Orange County to not support Bush's re-election bid, along with Laguna Woods and Santa Ana.

The entire city of Laguna Beach lies within California's 48th congressional district, which is represented by Republican Congressman John Campbell. The city also lies in the 35th State Senate District, which is represented by Republican Senator Tom Harman, and in the 70th State Assembly District, which is represented by Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

Jane Egly serves as Laguna Beach's mayor and Cheryl Kinsman as Mayor Pro Tem. The other three city council members are Toni Iseman, Kelly Boyd, and Elizabeth Schneider.

Panorama simple

---

fullwidth = 18199
fullheight = 1780
caption = Panorama looking south from Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach.
height = 200

Environment

Laguna Beach has long embraced the environmentalist movement. In February 2007, its city council unanimously voted to join the U.S. Mayors Climate Initiative.

History

Laguna Beach was the point of origin and home base for the Brotherhood of Eternal Love (The Laguna Brotherhood) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Timothy Leary lived with the Brotherhood, until his arrest for possession of marijuana (in Laguna Beach) on Dec 26, 1968. [- WA, Aug 2008]

tate and Federal

In the state legislature Laguna Beach is located in the 35th Senate District, represented by Republican Tom Harman, and in the 70th Assembly District, represented by Republican Chuck DeVore. Federally, Laguna Beach is located in California's 48th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +8 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by Republican John Campbell.

Education

*Elementary Schools
**Top of the World Elementary
**El Morro Elementary

*Junior High Schools
**Thurston Middle School

*High Schools
**Laguna Beach High School

*Colleges and Universities
**Laguna College of Art and Design
**Soka University of America(nearby)
**University of California - Irvine(nearby)

Media

In 2004, MTV created a reality television show titled "", which has aired on MTV for 3 seasons. The show follows the lives of several young Laguna Beach residents as they finish high school and begin the next chapter of their lives. It had a very successful first two seasons and became the second highest rated MTV show. It made regular teenagers Stephen Colletti, Kristin Cavallari, and Lauren Conrad into celebrities. The show was famous for basic high school pranks and living the good life. However, in its third season, the cast from the first two seasons were replaced. Because of negative audience reactions to the new cast, the ratings significantly fell during the show's third season. After the third season flopped, the location of the show changed from Laguna Beach High School to Newport Harbor, a city near Laguna Beach. The show held an entirely new cast and its ratings were higher than the third season of Laguna Beach but not nearly as high as season 1 or 2 of Laguna Beach. Many locals of Laguna Beach have criticized the show as many agree that it wrongfully depicts the citizens of the town.

Infrastructure

Fire protection in Laguna Beach is provided by the Laguna Beach Fire Department with ambulance service by Doctor's Ambulance. Law enforcement is provided by the Laguna Beach Police Department. Marine safety services are provided jointly by Laguna Beach City Lifeguards in north Laguna Beach and by U.S. Ocean Safety Lifeguards in south Laguna Beach.

ister city

Laguna Beach is twinned with: [ [http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/CA Sister Cities International] ]
*flagicon|France Menton, France

References

External links

* [http://www.lagunabeachinfo.org Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau - Tourism]
* [http://www.lagunabeach.com Laguna Beach Hotels]
* [http://www.beachcalifornia.com/laguna.html photos & information]
* [http://www.lagunabeachweather.com/ Laguna Beach Weather and Live cams]
* [http://www.rafaelstudio.com/Laguna.htm Aerial Photos of Laguna Beach]
* [http://www.100besteverything.com/best-beaches/LagunaMainBeach.html Laguna Beach Info Pictures and Videos]