Orange County encompasses 798 square miles and borders on the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. There are 143,915 acres dedicated to residential use, with 25,115 acres for commercial use and 112,112 acres of open space, including 42 miles of coastline with sandy beaches, most of which are open to the public. The elevation ranges from sea level to 5,687 feet at Santiago Peak.

O. C. consists of 31 incorporated cities, each is directed by an elected Mayor or Council and appointed Manager. The county is governed by 5 elected supervisors and administrative officer appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Orange Oounty was incorporated in 1889. Sales tax is added on all retail purchases which are subject to the 7.75% current tax rate. Property taxes are limited to one percent of market value, after adjustment for applicable exemptions, plus any approved bonded indebtedness, which includes school bonds, water district charges, sewers, or other special assessments

It's sunny in Orange County 80% of the time. The ocean keeps the weather moderate on the coast while inland the summers are warmer and winters cooler. Year around temperatures range from 54 - 75 degrees and rainfall averages 13 inches annually.

By the 1980's Orange County was no longer a bedroom community of Los Angeles. It had its own identity, its own multicultural population, even its own Performing Arts Center. By the 1990's John Wayne Airport got a new terminal, sports fans got the Ducks, commuters got tollroads and Disney got the okay for a new theme park.

O. C. is known for many things. For one, it's home to some of the world's best tourist and business destinations, being in Southern California and a part of our nations second largest metropolitan area, Los Angeles. Thanks to the sales tax, Measure M, The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), billions are being spent to improve freeways, streets, intersections and commuter train transportation.