Located in Orange County, Calif., Laguna Niguel is an attractive and affluent community located directly south of Laguna Beach along the Pacific Ocean. One-third of the city's land is designated open space, making this hillside community both breathtakingly beautiful and highly desirable. Its name comes from the Spanish word "laguna," meaning lagoon, and "Nigueli," the name of a former Janeno Indian village located nearby. Home to nearly 63,000 proud residents, Laguna Niguel offers SoCal living at its best.
During the 19th century, rancheros were established throughout Southern California, including Rancho Niguel. This formerly active sheep ranch eventually became part of the Moulton Company, which controlled 19,000 acres of local land. In 1959, the Laguna Niguel Corporation was established. The Laguna Niguel Corporation set out to plan one of the first master-planned communities in California. In 1989, the community's residents voted to incorporate as a separate city. Laguna Niguel then became the 29th city in Orange County.
Those searching for Laguna Niguel apartments for rent will love the area's natural beauty, master-planned amenities and access to the Southern California beachfront.
Laguna Niguel is a safe and family-oriented community. The city's uses are generally sharply divided, as 3,559 acres of space are set aside for residential use, 276 acres for commercial space, 3,650 acres of parks and open places, and just 223 acres of mixed-use space. Laguna Niguel's spaces are well-maintained and lovely to enjoy, and residents take pride in their civic and residential surroundings.
The city of Laguna Niguel analyzed its residents by Tapestry Segmentation, a process that categorizes residents into groups based on their income levels, interests, careers, family situations and attitudes. Tapestry Segmentation suggested that 27 percent of the population classified as "Connoisseurs," a group which consisted of a median age of 47 years, are generally married and have an affluent lifestyle. After Connoisseurs, the top tapestry segments in the town were Urban Chic, Suburban Splendor, Enterprising Professionals and Top Rung. This upscale community is known for its corresponding high quality of life and many civic amenities.
Although Laguna Niguel is not home to any major college or university, numerous institutes of higher learning are located within commutable distance of the city. Saddleback College, Brandman University, Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, University of California, Irvine and Orange Coast College are all located within 15 miles of Laguna Niguel.
Because it is largely a residential community, Laguna Niguel sees its population decrease by about 26 percent on workdays due to commuting. However, there are numerous opportunities for employment within the city, mainly in retail and service industries. According to the city's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in Laguna Niguel are Costco, Walmart, Home Depot, Interface Associates, First Team Real Estate, Miguel's Auto Broker, Calstar Properties, Kohl's, Pacific Line Clean-Up and Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel.
Those searching for Laguna Niguel apartments should be aware that the cost of living index in the city is 126.4, which is 26.4 percent higher than the U.S. average. Although finding a rental may be challenging with a 28 percent renter-occupancy rate, it should not be impossible. However, because most residents living in the area have commutes to other cities, renters should factor commuting costs into their monthly budgets. The median gross rent in the city is $1,737 per month.
Laguna Niguel's 18-acre botanical garden, located within Crown Valley Community Park, showcases hundreds of plants from similar climates around the world. The garden was created in 1981 and originally served the purpose of a community vegetable garden. In 1984, it was incorporated as a nonprofit. Walking trails connect regionally themed exhibits of Australian, African, South American, Mediterranean and native species. Residents take pride in the garden's past, present and future.
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