Tustin

[tuhs-tin]

Tustin, residential city (1990 pop. 50,689), Orange co., S Calif., part of the greater Los Angeles area; founded 1868, inc. 1927. Plastics, furniture, computers, and electronic equipment are manufactured. Tustin's population increased dramatically in the late 20th cent.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press

Tustin, California

Tustin is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 70,871. The city is located next to the county seat, Santa Ana, and does not include the Tustin Foothills. The East side and Tustin Ranch communities are home to upper income residents.

Geography

Tustin is located at (33.739618, -117.813533).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.5 km² (11.4 mi²)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 67,504 people, 23,831 households, and 16,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,286.3/km² (5,921.4/mi²). There were 25,501 housing units at an average density of 863.7/km² (2,236.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.72% White, 2.92% African American, 0.66% Native American, 14.90% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 17.94% from other races, and 4.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.24% of the population.

There were 23,831 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,985, and the median income for a family was $60,092. Males had a median income of $42,456 versus $33,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,932. About 5.8% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Members of the Tongva and Juaneño/Luiseño nations long inhabited this area. After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Father Junipero Serra named the area Vallejo de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement in Alta California, New Spain.

In 1801, the Spanish Empire granted to Jose Antonio Yorba, which he named Rancho San Antonio. Yorba's great rancho included the lands where the cities of Olive, Orange, Villa Park, Santa Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach stand today. Smaller ranchos evolved from this large rancho including the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana.

After the Mexican-American war, Alta California became part of the United States and American settlers arrived in this area. Columbus Tustin, a carriage maker from Northern California, founded the city in the 1870s on 1,300 acres (5 km²) of land from the former Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. The city was incorporated in 1927 with a population of about 900. During World War II, a Navy anti-submarine airship base (later to become a Marine Corps helicopter station) was established in unincorporated land south of the city; the two blimp hangars are among the largest wooden structures ever built and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and ASCE List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks. Suburban growth after the war resulted in rapid increase in population, annexation of nearby unincorporated land including the base, and development of orchards and farmland into housing tracts and shopping malls.

Government

Local

The Tustin City Council is composed of five members elected at large; the Mayorship rotates among the council members and is primarily a ceremonial role.

Local politics in the late 1990s and early 2000s have been dominated by the 1997 closure of the local Marine Corps Air Station and plans for subsequent commercial development of the land, including an unsuccessful bid by neighboring Santa Ana to build a school on the land, part of which is within Santa Ana Unified School District's territory.

Emergency services

Fire protection in Tustin is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority with ambulance service by Doctor's Ambulance. Law enforcement is provided by the Tustin Police Department.

State and Federal

In the state legislature Tustin is located in the 33rd Senate District, represented by Republican Dick Ackerman, and in the 70th and 71st Assembly District, represented by Republicans Chuck DeVore and Todd Spitzer respectively. Federally, Tustin is located in California's 48th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +8 and is represented by Republican John Campbell.

Education

Primary and secondary education in Tustin and surrounding unincorporated areas is overseen by the Tustin Unified School District. Tustin High School is a California Distinguished School as is Foothill High School (Santa Ana, California). Tustin High School is also well-known regionally for its strong Model United Nations program. About half of university-bound high school graduates attend nearby University of California, Irvine.

Points of Interest

Famous People

Eva Angelina, adult film actress
Richard Umphrey III, NFL Offensive Center of the New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers. Graduated from Tustin High School
Deshaun Foster, NFL Running Back of the San Francisco 49ers, graduated from Tustin High School; Also set a California single season rushing record of 59 Touchdowns
Matt McCoy, NFL Linebacker of the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted in 2005 - 2nd round (31st pick), graduated from Tustin High School
Chris Chester, NFL Offensive Lineman of the Baltimore Ravens, drafted in 2006 - 3rd round, graduated from Tustin High School
Frostee Rucker, NFL Defensive End of the Cincinnati Bengals, drafted in 2006 - 4th round, graduated from Tustin High School
Alfonso Gomez, professional boxer and participant in The Contender 1
Cuba Gooding Jr. attended Tustin High School, but did not graduate from that school.
Mark Grace, former all-star Major League Baseball player of the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, attended Tustin High School, coined the phrase "slump buster"
Shawn Green, all- star major league baseball player
Rex Hudler, former Major League Baseball player and announcer of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Phil Hughes, New York Yankees starting pitcher, graduated from Foothill High School.
Corky King, founder of Summum, graduated from Tustin High School.
Mary Kay Letourneau
John Locke, a fictional character on the television show LOST is from Tustin.
Matthew Lillard, actor attended Foothill High School of the Tustin Unified School District.
Jonathan Bakken, ESPN Sportscenter Anchor, graduated from Tustin High School
Billy Hart, professional baseball player
Redhill Avenue, Band