City, Orange County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 92861
Small upscale
bedroom town. Lowest population
among Orange County cities. Almost surrounded by City of Orange, which means it
has little room to grow. www.mccormacks.com
Dominated
by single homes — 99 percent. Nice-looking town. Clean. Unusually well maintained.
Population 6,259.
Served by
Orange Unified School District. Most children attend Serrano and Villa Park
Elementary schools, Cerro Villa Middle and Villa Park High. Scores at the
elementary and middle schools land in top 25 percent of state, at high school,
top 10 percent — indicates strong support for education. See Schools.
Click for regional or detailed map
Zero homicides in 2005, 2004, 2003,
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998. In 1997, a woman was murdered at her home.
Newspapers said it was first homicide in 10-15 years. Villa Park contracts with
the sheriff’s department for police protection. See Crime.
Low-keyed
city. Rarely makes the news. In 2006, city council voted 3-2 not to start
meetings with a prayer. Too divisive, said one. Other tiffs concerned parking
around the high school and whether to drop ban against holiday fireworks. The
ban was kept. Paying for police is the largest expense in the city’s budget.
State in
2008 counted 2,021 housing units — 1,992 single detached, 18 single
attached, 6 multiples, 5 mobiles. The 1990 census counted 6,299 residents; the
2000 census 5,999. www.mccormacks.com
Median age
of residents is 44 years; those under 21 make up 28 percent of town (census
2000). Stable town, even in marriage. Among those age 15 and older, the
divorced account for 9 percent of the county's population. In Villa Park, it's
4 percent.
Villa Park
mixes mansions, custom homes and luxury tract models, many of which have fine
touches. The opulent stuff is at the north end, where Villa Park rises into
gentle hills that afford views of the countryside. The typical home is a
one-story rancher spread over a large lot. The trees are mature, the landscaping
extensive, the appearance of the town and just about every home pleasing. Some
people keep horses.
About 25
percent of Villa Park’s housing was built in the 1960s, about 55 percent in the
1970s. Upscale homes, many with horse setups, located to east of Villa Park.
Small
shopping center (bank, supermarket, bakery). No chamber of commerce. No parks;
kids use school grounds. Branch library that is raising money to add a children’s
reading room and better equipment.
Residents
join activities in City of Orange, which also has shops, malls, restaurants.
Many residents probably can afford their own recreation: pools, tennis, golf,
etc. Community college and regional park to east. Annual mother-daughter lunch. www.mccormacks.com
Community
foundation sponsors summer picnic, July Fourth festival, Halloween Fest, Santa
tour and New Year’s party. Little League starts its season with a parade.
Highway 55 to west of city. Other freeways, toll highways close by.
City hall (714) 998-1500.
City web
site: www.villapark.org
