Ethnicity and Age
Orange County is a racially and ethnically diverse region:
- 43.9% of Orange County residents self-identify as Non-Hispanic White, followed by 33.8% Hispanic, and 18.3% Asian/Pacific Islander.
- 1.5% of residents are African American, another 2.2% are two or more races, and 0.4% are American Indian/Alaska Native or any other single race.
Orange County has a substantially higher proportion of foreign-born residents (30%) than the national average (13%)
In 2010, Orange County’s median age was 36 years:
- This is slightly younger than the national median age of 37 years
Average Household Size
The average household size in Orange County is 2.97 persons:
- Among the more than 3,000 counties in the nation, only 196 had an average household size larger than Orange County’s.
- Orange County’s average household size is larger than California (2.89) and the United States (2.59).
Density
Census 2010 data shows Orange County remains one of the most densely populated areas in the United States, ranking 18th among all counties in the nation:
- Orange County’s population density in 2010 was 3,808 persons per square mile, an increase of 6% since 2000.
- Population density is much lower in unincorporated areas (439 persons per square mile), which include large areas of parkland and open space.
Land Use
Orange County covers 798 square miles of land, including 42 miles of coastline:
- A substantial portion (27%) of the county’s land is devoted to various types of residential housing.
- Approximately a quarter (24%) of the county’s land is classified “Governmental/Public,” including open space and parks.
- Transportation infrastructure (e.g. roads, rails) accounts for 12% of county land, followed by 10% devoted to commercial and industrial uses.
For more facts and figures about Orange County and its 34 cities, visit the Center for Demographic Research at Cal State Fullerton.
Source: OCgov.com
Visit
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Education
California is home to the largest number of colleges and universities of any state in the nation. Southern California boasts an impressive selection of some of the top private colleges and university in the nation. Centrally located, Orange County sits a short commute away from many of California’s top schools.