Stanton, California
City
StateCalifornia
CountyOrange
MayorDavid J. Shawver
Mayor Pro-TemGary Taylor
City council
  • Victor Barrios
  • John D. Warren
  • Donald Torres
City ManagerHannah Shin-Heydorn
Founded1911
IncorporatedJune 4, 1956[1]
Unit prefImperial
Area total3.10 sq mi
Area land3.10 sq mi
Area water0.00 sq mi
Area total8.03 km²
Area land8.03 km²
Area water0.00 km²
Area water percent0
Elevation66 ft
Elevation20 m
Coordinates33°48′9″N 117°59′40″W
Population as of2020
Population total37,962
Population density4715.07 km²
Time zonePST (UTC-8)
Time zone (DST)PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code90680
Area code657/714
GNIS feature ID1661501[2]
Websitewww.stantonca.gov
Population density12213.55 sq mi

Stanton is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The population was 37,962 at the 2020 United States census. The city was incorporated in 1956 and operates under the council–manager form of government, providing a full range of municipal services. Stanton is bounded by Cypress on the west, Anaheim on the north and east, and Garden Grove on the east and south.

History

During the Spanish colonial period, northern Orange County along with much of the LA Basin had been granted to Manuel Nieto in 1784 under the Rancho Los Nietos.[3] After Nietos' death, his heirs partitioned the land into five smaller ranchos under Mexican governance.[4] The current boundaries of the city roughly lies over two of five descending ranchos of Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Coyotes.[4]

On November 4, 1905, the Los Angeles Interurban Railway[5] started service on the Santa Ana Line. It ran along an almost perfectly straight line between Watts and Santa Ana. Access to transportation allowed the population of the rural area to grow. This area is now Stanton and West Anaheim.[citation needed]

The original name recorded by the Railway was Benedict.[6] In 1911, the name was changed to Stanton after Philip A. Stanton, a Republican assemblyman for Los Angeles from 1903 to 1909, who was recorded to have assisted the formation of the territory.[7]

In 1908, the privately owned Pacific Electric Railway leased the Santa Ana Line and took over the service, extending its regional light-rail system. Passenger service to Santa Ana was discontinued in 1950, shortly after the railway was taken over by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. Today, the easement still is owned by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). It crosses the intersections of Beach Boulevard/Pacific Street and Cerritos Avenue/Western Avenue.[citation needed]

The first City of Stanton was incorporated in 1911 and was then the largest city in Orange County by area.[8] The main motivation for incorporation was the City of Anaheim's plan to build a "sewage farm" to the west of their city. Former Speaker of the California State Assembly Phillip Ackley Stanton assisted in the incorporation and the city was named Stanton in his honor. In 1924, the residents voted to dis-incorporate to avoid the cost of building roads in the city.[9]

In the early 1950s, the area had experienced a post-war population boom and the neighboring cities rapidly annexed land. In May 1956, the citizens responded by re-incorporating into today's City of Stanton.[citation needed]

The city was impacted by the Garden Grove chemical leak, as 85% of the city was evacuated.[10]

Geography

Stanton is directly bordered by Anaheim to the north and Cypress to the west. A southern salient of the city largely bisects the city of Garden Grove from its West Garden Grove neighborhood, making the city as a whole a neighbor of Stanton to the east, south, and west.[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.15 square miles (8.2 km2), all land.

Demographics

Stanton first appeared as a city in the 1920 U.S. census and was coextensive with the now defunct Stanton Township.[12] In 1960, it was assigned to the newly defined Santa-Ana Orange census county division.[13]

Racial and ethnic composition

Stanton city, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980[14]Pop 1990[15]Pop 2000[16]Pop 2010[17][18]% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010
White alone (NH)16,90415,99211,2958,340style='background: #ffffe6; |5,96871.26%52.45%30.20%21.84%style='background: #ffffe6; |15.72%
Black or African American alone (NH)208650721703style='background: #ffffe6; |6660.88%2.13%1.93%1.84%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.75%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)251123155107style='background: #ffffe6; |581.06%0.40%0.41%0.28%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%
Asian alone (NH)1,4803,4765,7218,708style='background: #ffffe6; |11,2506.24%11.40%15.30%22.80%style='background: #ffffe6; |29.63%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)322202style='background: #ffffe6; |2080.86%0.53%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.55%
Other race alone (NH)32415775style='background: #ffffe6; |1980.13%0.13%0.15%0.20%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)xx847634style='background: #ffffe6; |807xx2.26%1.66%style='background: #ffffe6; |2.13%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)4,84810,20918,28519,417style='background: #ffffe6; |18,80720.44%33.48%48.89%50.85%style='background: #ffffe6; |49.54%
Total23,72330,49137,40338,186style='background: #ffffe6; |37,962100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Stanton had a population of 37,962 and a population density of 12,241.9 inhabitants per square mile (4,726.6 /km2).[19][20] The census reported that 98.2% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.0% were institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[19][21]

There were 11,018 households in Stanton, of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 7.2% were cohabiting couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39. There were 8,399 families (76.2% of all households).[19][22][21]

The median age was 37.4 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 9.9% were aged 18 to 24, 26.9% were aged 25 to 44, 26.9% were aged 45 to 64, and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.4 males age 18 and over.[19]

There were 11,361 housing units at an average density of 3,663.7 /mi2. Of these, 97.0% were occupied, 49.4% were owner-occupied, and 50.6% were renter-occupied. The vacancy rate was 3.0%, including a homeowner vacancy rate of 0.5% and a rental vacancy rate of 3.2%.[19][21]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census[23] reported that Stanton had a population of 38,186. The population density was 12,122.5 inhabitants per square mile (4,680.5 /km2). The racial makeup of Stanton was 16,991 (44.5%) White, 858 (2.2%) African American, 405 (1.1%) Native American, 8,831 (23.1%) Asian, 217 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 9,274 (24.3%) from other races, and 1,610 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19,417 persons (50.8%). Non-Hispanic Whites were 21.8% of the population.[24]

The Census reported that 37,836 people (99.1% of the population) lived in households, 92 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 258 (0.7%) were institutionalized.

There were 10,825 households, out of which 5,015 (46.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,551 (51.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,798 (16.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 860 (7.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 645 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 74 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,958 households (18.1%) were made up of individuals, and 846 (7.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50. There were 8,209 families (75.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.90.

The population was spread out, with 10,566 people (27.7%) under the age of 18, 4,062 people (10.6%) aged 18 to 24, 11,289 people (29.6%) aged 25 to 44, 8,455 people (22.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,814 people (10.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

There were 11,283 housing units at an average density of 3,582.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,383.0 /km2), of which 5,418 (50.1%) were owner-occupied, and 5,407 (49.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%. 18,033 people (47.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,803 people (51.9%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Stanton had a median household income of $50,542, with 16.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[25]

Economic characteristics

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $81,455, and the per capita income was $36,027. About 9.4% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line.[26]

Crime

2023 Uniform Crime Report data[27]
Aggravated AssaultHomicideRapeRobberyBurglaryLarceny TheftMotor Vehicle TheftArson
Stanton115310491195291276

Economy

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[28] the top employers in the city are:

Employer
  1. of Employees
1Rowntree Gardens334
2The Home Depot165
3Super King Market128
4CR Transfer Inc.122
5Great Scott Tree Service122
6All Metals Process105
7Adventure City105
8Custom Pipe & Coupling104
9USS Cal Builders95
10Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market93

Arts and culture

The Orange County Public Library has a branch Library in Stanton.

Parks and recreation

Stanton has ten parks,[29] including Stanton Central Park, which features a tennis center, sports complex, and community garden.[30] Lions-Stock Park includes a sports facility and community center.[31]

Adventure City is an amusement park in Stanton.

Government

Local

Under its city charter, Stanton operates under a council–manager government. Legislative authority is vested in a city council of five nonpartisan members, who hire a professional city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The mayor serves as the presiding officer of the city council in a first among equals role. Under the city's term limits, an individual may serve a maximum of two terms as a city council member.

In response to a California Voting Rights Act lawsuit, the city transitioned to council members elected by district instead of at large.[32]

David J. Shawver is mayor.[33]

Federal, state and county representation

In the United States House of Representatives,[33]

  • since 2017.

In the California State Senate,

  • since 2020, and
  • since 2022.

In the California State Assembly,

  • since 2022.

On the Orange County Board of Supervisors,

Education

Residents of the city are served by the following public school districts:

Saint Polycarp School is a K-8 Catholic School.[citation needed]

Infrastructure

Roads

Though Stanton has no freeways within its city limits, one California state highway, Beach Boulevard (SR 39), runs north-south through the city. Other north-south roads include Knott, Western, Dale, and Magnolia Avenues. East-west streets in Stanton include Lampson, Chapman, Orangewood, Katella and Cerritos Avenues. Garden Grove Boulevard and Gilbert Street have short sections along the city limits of Stanton to the south and east, respectively. SR 39 provides access to the Garden Grove Freeway (SR 22) south of the city limits of Stanton.

Bus

Orange County Transportation Authority operates bus transportation in Stanton.[36]

Emergency services

Fire protection in Stanton is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority, with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service.[37] The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) provides law enforcement services under the command of Police Chief Cruz Alday.[38] In 1987 the city disbanded its police and fire departments and contracted with county agencies.[39]

Water Services

Water in Stanton is supplied by the Golden State Water,[40] which sources its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, importing water from the Colorado River Aqueduct and the State Water Project. In addition, groundwater is pumped from the Orange County Groundwater Basin.[9]

References

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Milestones in California History". California History. 67 (2). 1988. doi:10.2307/25177242. ISSN 0162-2897. JSTOR 25177242
  4. ^ "Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of Orange County". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Pacific Electric Santa Ana Line". www.erha.org
  6. ^ Brigandi, Phil (June 1, 2006). Orange County Place Names A to Z. 1st ed. San Diego, California: Sunbelt Publications. ISBN 978-0932653796.
  7. ^ Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of California. North American Book Dist LLC. Page 443. ISBN 9780403093182.
  8. ^ See https://www.ocregister.com/2010/05/20/stanton-the-city-that-was-born-twice/
  9. ^ "water-quality-west-orange-county 2024"
  10. ^ Arellano, Gustavo. "Arellano: OC.'s most overlooked city weathers chemical crisis". MSN. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  11. ^ "City Boundaries". Orange County GIS. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions". United States Census Bureau. Archived August 12, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California". United States Census Bureau. Archived August 12, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "California 1980 Census"
  15. ^ "California 1990 Census"
  16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Stanton city, California". United States Census Bureau
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stanton city, California". United States Census Bureau
  18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stanton city, California". United States Census Bureau
  19. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  21. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  22. ^ "Stanton city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Stanton city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  24. ^ "Stanton (city), California". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  25. ^ "Stanton (City) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  26. ^ "Stanton city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  27. ^ "https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend". cde.ucr.cjis.gov. Archived 2025-05-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  28. ^ "City Finance Information". www.stantonca.gov
  29. ^ "City Of Stanton, California". www.stantonca.gov
  30. ^ "Dog park, parkette approved". Orange County Tribune. 2022.
  31. ^ "History of the Stanton Lions Club". stantonlions.org
  32. ^ "District Elections". City of Stanton. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  33. ^ "City Council". City of Stanton. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  34. ^ See Savanna School District website
  35. ^ See Magnolia School District website
  36. ^ "2024 Stanton Fact Sheet". www.octa.net. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  37. ^ "OCFA - Orange County Fire Authority". www.ocfa.org
  38. ^ "Stanton | Orange County California - Sheriff's Department". www.ocsheriff.gov
  39. ^ "Stanton Will Disband Its Police, Contract With Sheriff Department". LA Times. 1987.
  40. ^ "City Of Stanton, California". www.stantonca.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-24.