From its inception, Mission Viejo was designed by the Mission Viejo Company to be a well-balanced community. From wilderness areas to business parks, the originators of this master-planned community aimed to balance residential life and community activities with the business world.
The success of this plan was recognized in 1986 when Mission Viejo became the first American city to be honored as a “World Class Community” at the First International New Town Conference. It also received the Award for Excellence in 1992 from the Urban Land Institute, which stated that the city “stands as one of the most successful American new towns ever realized.” In addition, a 2006 FBI crime statistic survey reported Mission Viejo to be the fourth safest city in the United States.
Primarily a residential area, Mission Viejo’s population numbers about 103,000. Like Irvine, it is a planned community, with an original blueprint dating back to 1963. The diverse neighborhoods, many maintained by homeowners associations, offer housing types and price ranges that attract young professionals, growing families and mature adults. Executives can relax in the luxury of custom golf-course homes or fulfill their dream of lakefront living. Other housing options include single-family homes, condominiums and a college area.
Saddleback College, a community college, was established in Mission Viejo in 1968. It has since earned a reputation for its exceptional physics and chemistry programs. Primarily known as a commuter college, it also has active participation of its intercollegiate athletic teams, student newspaper The Lariat, and the student government.
The college is not the only source of interest within the community. Entrepreneurs, small businesses and large corporations value the region’s transportation system, highly skilled labor pool and the business-friendly atmosphere the city offers. The 1999 Kosmont Cost of Doing Business Survey ranked Mission Viejo the second least-expensive city in which to do business in Southern California.
Senior residents also have a wide range of housing alternatives tailored to fit their lifestyles and budgets. With a total of 40 parks and more in the works, every home in Mission Viejo is within a mile of a park. With parks, the Mission Viejo Reservoir, sports fields and recreation centers, residents can hike, bike, swim, fish, golf and boat, all within their city’s borders.
There are also other activities on a Mission Viejo resident’s list of things to do. For one, they can check out the Kaleidoscope Courtyards – a three-story entertainment and shopping center. For a more artsy experience, there’s the Saddleback Civic Light Opera that offers summer entertainment in the McKinney Theater at Saddleback College. Then the Shops at Mission Viejo have more shopping options, such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s.
