Make the Optimal Choice, Call Optimal Garage Doors!
Beach, CA
Your garage is your second front door—you use it every day and depend on it for convenience and safety. If your garage is experiencing any issues, it can be a sign of larger, more dangerous problems. But repairs and inspections don’t have to interrupt your day. When your garage door starts making odd noises or becomes jammed when opening, get help from the professionals at Optimal Garage Doors.
Protect Your Family—Get A Garage Inspection Today
Five-Star Testimonials
Services Near Me
Residential Garage Door Installation in Santa Ana, California
Residential Garage Door Installation is a home improvement project that can add value to your property and make your life easier. A new garage door is also an important safety feature for your home, so be sure to invest in the latest technology.
Residential Garage Door Installation
Before deciding to install a new garage door, it's crucial to consider several factors: type of door, size and weather conditions. These will influence the time and labor costs for your project.
The most common types of garage doors include single panel, sectional and swing-out/sliding. Each type of door has its own unique features and benefits.
Single Panel
Composed of a single panel, a single-panel door is the least expensive to install. They're typically priced from $400 to $1,000, but can vary greatly depending on the style and manufacturer.
Swing-out/Sliding
A swing-out or sliding door is a more common type of garage door and usually includes a curved section that can be opened like a regular door. They can be as costly as $1,000 to $2,000, but can add significant visual appeal to your home.
Sectional
A sectional garage door is a popular choice and is the most commonly installed door in the United States. Each section of the door is connected with hinges that bend over a curved track. This allows the door to sit parallel to the ceiling when fully open and in line with the walls when completely closed.
Attach the upper and lower tracks to the wall with 5/16" x 1-1/2" lags. Ensure the upper and lower sections are parallel with the flag bracket at the top of the track. Next, secure the end bearing plate to the horizontal section with one 3/8" bolt. When tight, the flange should be even with the flag bracket and pointing away from the door.
BOTTOM SECTION
To complete the bottom section, first attach the hinges with 2 lags per stile, even with the bottom corner of the door section. Then, slip the looped cable ends onto their studs on the bottom fixtures. Once that's done, lag the rollers on each of the stiles with two lags, leaving an extra 1/2" at each end.
Winding the Springs
To wind up the springs, insert a bar into the hole on the casting and crank it out and up until you feel the cast end begin to move inward toward the shaft. Then, turn down the set screws until they contact the shaft, then 1-1/2 to 2 turns more.
When you're finished, tighten the set screws until they're snug. This will give you a good idea of how well the springs are tensioned.
If you're installing a spring-tensioned door, be sure to use the right size springs. The stronger the springs, the more force they'll require to open and close the door. Using the correct springs will save you money over time and help your door last longer.
Opener Repair in Santa Ana, California
If your garage door opener isn't opening all the way, making strange noises or not working at all, you need to have it repaired immediately. Having your opener repaired can save you money, ensure safe operation and increase the lifespan of the machine.
Garage Door Opener Repair Symptoms
If the door won't open all the way or make a loud noise, it's likely an issue with your motor or chain drive. We'll repair the motor or chain drive to restore function so you can use your garage door opener again with ease.
Usually this is an easy fix and can be done by anyone with basic DIY skills.
The most common cause of a broken garage door opener is a bad main gear drive. This is the plastic gear that comes in direct contact with the worm drive on your motor. If your garage door opener makes a grinding noise but the door won't move, it's probably time for this component to be replaced.
This is a bit more complicated than the other repairs in this article but still fairly simple to do by yourself.
Besides repairing the main drive gear, you can also fix the trolley carriage and the rail that attaches to it. You'll need to remove your opener's header bracket and disconnect the trolley from the motor and then slide off the old one and replace it with a new one.
Another simple and affordable repair to make is to replace the weather stripping around your garage door. This helps to seal the gap between your garage floor and the door, which can prevent your opener from slipping off its track.
You should have your door inspected at least once a year to make sure it's in good condition. It's also a good idea to have it serviced by a professional to ensure there are no problems with the tracks, rollers or springs that will cause damage to your door or opener.
A broken garage door opener can be dangerous. The opener's motor hoists a heavy door up and down the tracks multiple times a day, so it can exert an incredible amount of stress on the parts.
This can damage the tracks, causing them to bend or break. It can also make the door difficult to open and close.
Other possible signs that your opener needs to be repaired include a faulty keypad, remote control or wall control panel, damaged safety eyes, and a malfunctioning logic board. Having these components fixed or replaced by your Precision Garage Door Technician will help restore functionality and ensure your opener continues to operate safely.
Regardless of the type of garage door opener you have, Precision is always prepared to perform any necessary garage door opener repairs and maintenance. We have the tools and skills to provide quick and efficient service for a variety of brands, including LiftMaster, Wayne Dalton, Chamberlain, Genie, Stanley and more.
Opener Installation in Santa Ana, California
The garage door opener is one of the most important parts of a garage door system. If it's not installed correctly, it can cause damage to other components and make your garage door more difficult to open and close.
How to Properly Install a Garage Door Opener
When buying an opener, choose the right type for your home — whether it's a belt-drive, chain-drive, or electric opener. The type of opener you choose should be based on the size of your garage and the style of the door it will be opening, as well as your budget.
1. Consider a Pro Installation
For heavy doors or those with tall, steep sides, it's best to hire a professional for opener installation. They'll be able to install the opener in a safe, fast, and efficient manner.
2. Check Your Spring and Rollers
It's a good idea to have a professional check out your current opener before installing a new one. They'll be able to diagnose any issues and ensure that your door is working properly.
If your door doesn't open as easily or loudly as it should, start by checking for broken or wobbly rollers and brackets. Also, check the torsion spring (mounted on the header above the door opening) for breaks in the coils. If you find a spring that is broken, replace it as soon as possible, or else your garage door may stop working completely.
3. Adjust Your Opening Force
If you have a manual opener, take a look at the instructions to see where the opening force adjustment screws are located. If the screw isn't in its proper position, turn it just a little to the left or right until you have the force you want.
4. Check Your Safety Systems
If your opener has a safety reverse system or an electric eye, it's important to make sure they're functioning properly. It's recommended to check them every month and readjust them if necessary.
5. Change Your Wires
If the wires that run from your opener to the photo eyes and the wall button are exposed, you should replace them with new ones. These wires have probably been in your garage for a long time and they're likely to be nicked or worn. It only takes about 15 minutes to run a new wire, but it's worth the cost and inconvenience to prevent damage to your garage door.
6. Test Your Remote Control
If you have a remote opener, test it to see if the button works. If it's not working, call a technician for repair or replacement.
7. Test Your Garage Door
Once you've had your new garage door opener installed, it's a good idea to test it out by opening and closing it manually. If you notice a significant amount of resistance when the door is opened, it could be caused by your finger getting caught in the track.
If you have any questions about your garage door or opener, don't hesitate to contact us at AAA Garage Door Inc. We'll help you get your door and opener in top working condition again.
Spring Repair in Santa Ana, California
Garage Door Spring Repair Basics
Garage door springs are a major part of the operation of your garage doors. They extend and contract with the help of cables and pulleys to open and close the garage door. Unfortunately, they sometimes break, causing your garage door to either open or close improperly. If this happens, you can fix a broken spring yourself or call a professional. But before you start, it’s important to understand how they work and why they might need repair.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are used in most garage doors. They are mounted on the wall above the garage and extend or collapse with the help of cables and pulleys attached to the horizontal tracks that run through the ceiling of the garage. A damaged or broken torsion spring can cause the door to open or close erratically or not at all.
Depending on the size of your garage, you may have one or two torsion springs. If you have a single torsion spring, it will be attached directly to the door, while if you have a double torsion spring, it will be connected to the cable and pulleys in the track.
It’s a good idea to replace torsion springs as soon as they are damaged or break, and that includes the ones that are closest to the motor. If you do not, you could end up putting unnecessary stress on the motor and damaging it.
If you’re inexperienced with spring repairs, it’s a good idea to hire a professional. They have the proper tools and training to complete the job safely.
Compression Springs
Coil springs, which are found on many vehicles, work in conjunction with shocks and struts to maintain suspension movement. They absorb shock and force, allowing the truck to smoothly shift over bumps and dips on the road.
These springs are not only essential in a vehicle’s suspension, but they also help to prevent the wheels from rubbing together. If a coil spring is damaged or worn, it will not be able to do its job effectively, and your vehicle’s suspension will fail.
To keep your coil springs in tip-top condition, it’s a good idea to spray them with a silicone-based lubricant three or four times per year. This will keep them from rusting, which can significantly shorten their lifespans.
You should replace your coil springs in pairs—for example, both front coil springs—to ensure the entire car rides evenly. This will allow your vehicle to run at its best.
If you don’t know what type of spring your garage door requires, it’s a good idea to ask the professionals at White’s Automotive Center. They will be able to provide you with the right replacement springs for your specific model of door.
There are three common types of extension springs: open-looped, double-looped and clipped. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. You can purchase replacement springs from your local hardware store or through a manufacturer. However, it is more cost-effective to buy them from a company that specializes in garage door springs. They will have them in stock and can easily answer your questions.
Garage Door Panel Repair in Santa Ana, California
Garage Door Panel Repair - How to Fix a Dent
Panels form the mainstay of your garage door, keeping it safe and secure while adding to its aesthetic appeal.
Garage doors come in a range of materials, such as wood. Depending on the style and material of your door, you may have several options for repairing or replacing its panels.
1. DIY: Do It Yourself
If you are experienced working with tools and can perform minor repairs on your own, fixing a damaged garage door panel may not be too difficult for you. However, be mindful of safety precautions and make sure all necessary tools are available.
2. If you don't know how to tackle it yourself, contact a professional who can take care of the task for you.
3. Repairing a Dent: When It's Possible
When your garage door panel has been dented, it may be more cost-effective and easier to repair the affected area than replace the entire panel. Dents can be caused by hailstones or other storm debris, physical objects like balls that get kicked into the door, or even just from impact from cars.
4. If you don't have access to a hammer or other tool, heating the dent may be enough to straighten it out in its upright position.
5. Metal doors with dent can be repaired using adhesive.
6. If your wooden door is older, you may need to replace the entire panel.
7. If the dent is minor, you can use aluminum foil to apply heat to it and restore its original look. This will help straighten out the area and restore your car's paint job back to new.
8. If the dent is extensive, you can hire a company to repair it for you.
9. The most frequent cause of garage door denting is accidental impact from a vehicle.
Denting in your panel can be both frustrating and irritating. It could also lead to other issues, such as the door buckling or damaging other components of the interior.
It can be challenging to tell whether your panel is actually broken or just showing signs of wear and tear, so take the time to inspect it regularly.
Once you determine how severely damaged a panel is, it's essential to get it repaired promptly in order to avoid further harm and extend the lifespan of your garage door.
Once you know how much it needs replacing, begin searching for a replacement panel that matches your garage door's size and shape. Aesthetics are usually top of mind when selecting a new garage door, so finding one that matches what you currently have can be an advantageous move.
Panel replacement costs can range anywhere from $200 to $800, so it's essential that you consider the total cost when making your decision. Include labor, setup and mobilization fees as well as any extra charges associated with hiring a general contractor to oversee the project.
Garage Door Maintenance in Santa Ana, California
Simple Garage Door Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
The garage door is an important part of your home, and it can be a safety hazard if you don't keep it maintained. If you haven't had a professional tune up your garage door in a while, there are some simple maintenance steps you can perform yourself to help improve your safety conditions and decrease repair costs for years to come.
Visual Inspection
A visual inspection of the garage door is a must every six months. Look for peeling, fading or cracking that could affect your curb appeal and cause moisture to leak into your garage. Also, check your weatherstripping for tears or rips that can allow moisture to enter your garage and encourage mold growth.
Adjust the Photo-Eye Sensors
A common problem that causes garage doors to not automatically reverse is a misalignment of the photo-eye sensors. To fix this, remove any debris and clean the sensors. Then, realign them until the indicator light no longer flashes.
Tune Up Your Spring System
The springs on your garage door help it raise and lower. Regularly checking and maintaining the springs can keep them in good condition and extend the lifespan of your door. You can do a simple test to see whether or not your springs are properly balanced by pulling the release handle when you shut the door, then lifting it halfway up. If it stays in place, it's balanced; if it starts to slowly rise or drop, the springs are worn and need to be replaced.
Grease Your Overhead Springs and Chain or Screw
Keeping your garage door parts greased up will help them last longer and prevent corrosion. You can do this by spraying a white lithium grease, available at your local garage door specialist, on the opener's chain or screw. Then, you can add some spray lubricant to the springs.
Inspect the Tracks and Lift Cables
When your garage door is closed, it rests on the horizontal tracks that are attached to the wall on either side of your opening. The tracks can be damaged from rust or other damage, and they'll affect how your door opens and closes. Inspect the tracks for bending, rust or other signs of damage and contact a professional to repair them if necessary.
Install a Weather Seal Strip
The rubber weather seal strips on your garage door's bottom help keep water and other outside elements out of your garage. They're available at hardware and home improvement stores in different sizes, and can be installed in just a few minutes. They're a simple way to save energy and keep out unwanted drafts, insects and rodents.
Inspect Your Hinges and Vertical Tracks
When the hinges on your overhead door panels bend or sag, you'll need to replace them with new ones. Inspect the jamb brackets and strut that connect the vertical tracks to the framework on either side of your garage opening for excessive wear or dents.
If you notice a gap or tear in the weather seals or weather stripping, call a professional to have them replaced. This will ensure that you're not having to pay for repairs in the future, and will help keep out unwanted insects, critters and water from entering your garage.
Garage Door Repair in Santa Ana, California
When you’re looking for a local garage door repair company, it’s important to do your research. Check their reviews, find out if they offer payment plans and look for one that has strong work guarantees.
Pros and Cons of Doing Garage Door Repair by Yourself
If you’re handy and enjoy working with your hands, do-it-yourself garage door repair might be a good option for you. It’s a great way to learn about the mechanics of your door and its parts, and you can save money on labor costs.
Some repairs are pretty easy to do, while others are more complex. Before you start, make sure your tools are the right size and you have enough time to complete the job. You should also have a list of tasks and a timeline for when you need to get them done so you can stay on top of it all.
For example, if your garage door is shaking when you open or close it, that could be a sign that the tracks are misaligned or damaged. You can try straightening them with a soft mallet, or you can call a garage door professional to do it for you.
Another common problem is that your garage door doesn’t seem to move when you press the button. You may need to adjust the limits on your opener to make it move a little more slowly when you open or close it.
This problem could be caused by a broken spring, which will need to be replaced. Replacement springs can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 depending on their size, material and weight.
If the doors of your garage aren’t properly sealed, they can let in drafts and heat that can increase your energy bill. Replacing them with insulated polyurethane panels will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, saving you a lot of money over time.
It’s also easier to replace a door with multiple cracked or rotting panels than it is to repair a single panel. If the damage to your garage is extensive, you’ll want to think about replacing it altogether so that you don’t have to worry about cracks spreading and compromising the structural integrity of your garage door.
Lastly, hiring a professional is always safer than trying to fix your own garage door. You don’t want to end up hurting yourself or your family. You should always follow the proper safety precautions and use the right tools when fixing your own garage door.
If you need garage door repair, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at The Woodlands Garage Door Service! Our technicians have the experience, training and knowledge to handle any type of door repair or replacement. We pride ourselves on quality work and a strong customer satisfaction rating. Contact us today to schedule a free quote!
Garage Door Installation in Santa Ana, California
When it comes to Garage Door Installation, Texas has a wide range of options for homeowners to choose from. Whether you’re looking for something fancy or functional, our team of experts will work with you to find the best solution for your home or business in a timely manner.
Garage Door Installation - Choosing the Right Garage Door for Your Home or Business
Choosing the right garage door for your home can greatly enhance the curb appeal and property value of your location. Moreover, new garage doors can dramatically increase your energy efficiency, improve safety and security, and reduce the likelihood of damage to your home or other important assets from a faulty or malfunctioning unit.
The right garage door is one of the most important investments you can make for your home. Our experts will help you determine the perfect style, material, and function to fit your practical and aesthetic needs while also ensuring a high level of durability and performance.
You can also select from a variety of other features that will make your new garage door stand out from the rest. These include openers, sensors, door locks and more.
Our experts are well versed in all the latest and greatest technology that will ensure your new door is installed correctly, safely, and effectively. Additionally, our experts are highly experienced and trained to handle the most complex and delicate tasks.
We’ll even come directly to your property, outfit you with a brand-new garage door of a make, model, and style that perfectly matches your practical and aesthetic requirements – so that you can enjoy a functional and convenient new addition to your home or business without any hassles.
Top of the line products from leading manufacturers like Lift Master and Genie are sure to be a smart investment. These products are known for their nifty features, such as wireless remote-control capabilities and intelligent sensors that can detect a vehicle’s position and automatically close or open the garage door.
The best part about our top-of-the-line products is that they are all made to last! We’ll give you a manufacturer’s warranty, so you can rest assured that your new garage door will be a durable and reliable addition to your home or business for years to come.
Our company is a family owned and operated business, so you can be sure we will always take pride in delivering the best possible customer service. Our friendly and knowledgeable technicians will work hard to answer all your questions in a timely manner.
Weather for Santa Ana, CA, US
About Santa Ana
Santa Ana (Spanish for ‘Saint Anne’) is the county seat of Orange County, California. Located in the Greater Los Angeles region of Southern California, the city’s population was 310,227 at the 2020 census, making Santa Ana the second most populous city in Orange County (after Anaheim), the 13th-most populous city in California, and the 64th densest large city in the United States. Santa Ana is a major regional economic and cultural hub for the Orange Coast.
In 1810, the Spanish governor of California granted Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana to José Antonio Yorba. Following the Mexican War of Independence, the Yorba family rancho was enlarged, becoming one of the largest and most valuable in the region and home to a diverse Californio community. Following the American Conquest of California, the rancho was sold to the Sepúlveda family, who subsequently lost their land claim. In 1869, William H. Spurgeon then purchased the rancho and formally founded the modern city of Santa Ana.
Approximately four-fifths Latino, Santa Ana has been characterized by The New York Times as the “face of a new California, a state where Latinos have more influence in everyday life—electorally, culturally and demographically—than almost anywhere else in the country.”
Members of the Tongva and Juaneño/Luiseño are indigenous to the area. The Tongva called the Santa Ana area “Hotuuk.” The village of Pajbenga was located at modern day Santa Ana along the Santa Ana River.
After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolá out of Mexico City, then capital of New Spain, Friar Junípero Serra named the area Vallejo de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne, or Santa Ana Valley). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano was established within this valley.
In 1810, the first year of the Mexican War of Independence, Jose Antonio Yorba, a sergeant of the Spanish army, was granted land that he called Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Yorba’s rancho included the lands where the cities of Olive, Orange, Irvine, Yorba Linda, Villa Park, Santa Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and unincorporated El Modena, and Santa Ana Heights, are today. This rancho was the only land grant in Orange County granted under Spanish Rule. Surrounding land grants in Orange County were granted after Mexican Independence by the new government.
After the Mexican-American war ended in 1848, Alta California became part of the United States and American settlers arrived in this area.
Santa Ana was listed as a township of Los Angeles County in the 1860 and 1870 census, with an area encompassing most of what is now northern and central Orange County. It had a population of 756 in 1860 and 880 in 1870. The Anaheim district was enumerated separately from Santa Ana in 1870.
Claimed in 1869 by Kentuckian William H. Spurgeon on land obtained from the descendants of Jose Antonio Yorba, Santa Ana was incorporated as a city in 1886 with a population of 2000 and in 1889 became the seat of the newly formed Orange County.
In 1877, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a branch line from Los Angeles to Santa Ana, which offered free right of way, land for a depot, and $10,000 in cash to the railroad in exchange for terminating the line in Santa Ana and not neighboring Tustin. In 1887, the California Central Railway (which became a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway the following year) broke the Southern Pacific’s local monopoly on rail travel, offering service between Los Angeles and San Diego by way of Santa Ana as a major intermediate station.
In 1890, whites made up 71 percent of the city’s population, most of whom migrated to Santa Ana from confederate states following the American Civil War in search of real estate ventures and other economic opportunities.
By 1905, the Los Angeles Interurban Railway, a predecessor to the Pacific Electric Railway, extended from Los Angeles to Santa Ana, running along Fourth Street downtown. Firestone Boulevard, the first direct automobile route between Los Angeles and Santa Ana, opened in 1935; it was enlarged into the Santa Ana Freeway in 1953. The Pacific Electric Santa Ana Line ran from 1905 to 1958.
Santa Ana was the home of the original Glenn L. Martin aviation company, founded in 1912 before merging with the Wright Company in 1916. Later, Glenn Luther Martin created a second company of the same name in Cleveland, Ohio which eventually merged with the Lockheed Corporation to form the largest defense contractor in the world, Lockheed Martin.
Although there was a significant wave of Mexican migration to the city following the 1910 Mexican Revolution, the city remained majority white in 1939.
During World War II, the Santa Ana Army Air Base was built as a training center for the United States Army Air Forces. The base was responsible for continued population growth in Santa Ana and the rest of Orange County as many veterans moved to the area to raise families after the end of the war.
Santa Ana was at the center of Orange County’s economic boom in the 1950s with its agricultural and defense industries. However, most of this prosperity was only experienced by the city’s white residents, while Latinos did not similarly benefit. Instead, economic inequality between the two groups rapidly increased during this time.
In 1958, the Honer Plaza and Bullock’s Fashion Square malls opened and would supplant Downtown Santa Ana, with its department stores such as Rankin’s, Ward’s, Penney’s and Buffums. Fashion Square was completely renovated and became MainPlace Mall in 1987.
By the 1970s, Santa Ana was becoming an increasingly Latino city, with white flight to surrounding suburbs coinciding with the city’s downtown becoming increasingly frequented by Latinos. This changed perceptions of the city and its economic value, with property values dropping significantly by 1974, while surrounding cities of Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Villa Park increased in value.
Santa Ana entered the 1980s as a city of equal numbers of whites and Latinos. What had been the white commercial center of the city, Fourth Street, was now a street of Latino businesses and character. Latino immigrant and working-class families could now be found in every neighborhood of the city, rather than in just a few ethnic enclaves, as they were previously. Santa Ana became more often referred to as Santana and Fourth Street as La Cuatro.
Having been a charter city since November 11, 1952, the citizens of Santa Ana amended the charter in November 1988 to provide for the direct election of the Mayor who until that point had been appointed from the council membership. Miguel A. Pulido was the first mayor of Latino descent in the city’s history and the first Mayor directly elected by the voters.
Since the 1980s, Santa Ana has been characterized by an effort to revitalize the downtown area which had declined in influence, even as it had become a dynamic commercial and entertainment center for working-class Latinos. The Santa Ana Artist’s Village was created around Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center to attract artists and young professionals to live-work lofts and new businesses. The process continued into 2009 with the reopening of the historic Yost Theater.
In the 2010s, gentrification became a larger concern of Santa Ana residents, with its roots starting in the 1990s. Despite strong Latino political representation, gentrification efforts have increasingly displaced the Mexican immigrant presence in the downtown area of the city in favor of outsiders. Primarily Spanish-speaking businesses that served immigrant populations have been demolished in favor of arts projects to draw in outside investment, which bring clientele who further question why Spanish-speaking businesses are present, leading to a cycle of displacement.
Residents formed a social movement to address lead concentrations in lower-income areas of the city. A 2020 study found that areas of Santa Ana with a median income below $50,000 had five times higher lead concentrations than higher-income areas of the city, which is particularly a concern for children. Residents continue to advocate for environmental justice in the city.
Santa Ana is located at 33°44′27″N 117°52′53″W / 33.74083°N 117.88139°W (33.740717, -117.881408).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.5 square miles (71 km). 27.3 square miles (71 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km) of it (0.90%) is water. With 12,471.5 people per sq. mile, it is the fourth-most densely populated city in the United States with a population of 300,000 or more.
Santa Ana is nested on flat, low-lying plains with little land elevation change. Running through the west end of the city is the mostly channelized Santa Ana River, which is also largely seasonal due to the construction of the Prado Dam and Seven Oaks Dam. The river has caused several severe floods in the 20th century, and is a continued threat despite the existence of the dams.
Now fully developed, Santa Ana has several distinct districts. The core of the city is the downtown area, which contains both retail and housing, as well as the Santa Ana Civic Center, which is a dense campus of administrative buildings for both the city and the county of Orange. The civic center is also home to the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse. Several historic homes dating from the late 1800s can be found as well, and their preservation is a key issue as development of the downtown area continues.
North of downtown is the “Midtown” district along Main St., home to entertainment destinations such as the Bowers Museum, MainPlace Mall, and the Discovery Science Center.
Near the intersection of the Santa Ana Freeway and the Costa Mesa Freeway is the newly designated “Metro East” area, which the city council has envisioned as a secondary mixed-use development district. Currently the area is occupied by several office towers, but little retail or housing. Also on the east side of the city is the Santa Ana Zoo, notable for its collection of monkeys and species from South and Central America.
The southeast end of the city is part of the South Coast Metro area, which is shared with the city of Costa Mesa. South Coast Plaza, a major shopping center, is the primary destination of this area, which also contains several high-rise office and apartment buildings. Yokohama Tire Corporation’s United States headquarters are located at 1 MacArthur Place in the South Coast Metro area of Santa Ana, and Banc of California’s headquarters relocated from the neighboring city of Irvine.
Santa Ana experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with hot, dry summers and mild winters with moderate rainfall. Rainfall averages about 12.54 in (318.5 mm) per year, most of which falls from November through April. There are an average of 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.
The record high temperature for Santa Ana was 112 °F (44 °C) on June 14, 1917. The record low temperature was 16 °F (−9 °C) on January 12, 1989. There are an average of 30.1 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher.
The wettest “rain year” in Santa Ana was from July 1940 to June 1941 with 34.34 inches (872.2 mm), and the driest was from July 2017 to June 2018 with a mere 2.73 inches (69.3 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 13.99 inches (355.3 mm) in February 1998. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 4.69 inches (119.1 mm) on February 16, 1927.
The most common Hispanic ancestries in Santa Ana are Mexican, Salvadorian and Guatemalan. The most common European ancestries are German, Irish, English and Italian. By the late 1970s, African-American families began to move out of Santa Ana.
The 2020 United States Census reported that Santa Ana had a population of 310,227. The racial makeup of Santa Ana was 8.5% Non-Hispanic White, 1.1% African American, 3.7% Native American, 12.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 45.1% Other, 19.1% two or more races, and 76.7% Hispanic or Latino.
The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Ana had a population of 324,528. The population density was 11,793.3 inhabitants per square mile (4,553.4/km2). The racial makeup of Santa Ana was 148,838 (45.9%) White (9.2% Non-Hispanic White), 4,856 (1.5%) African American, 3,260 (1.0%) Native American, 34,138 (10.5%) Asian, 976 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 120,789 (37.2%) from other races, and 11,671 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 253,928 persons (78.2%).
The census reported that 319,870 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 1,415 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 3,243 (1.0%) were institutionalized.
There were 73,174 households, out of which 41,181 (56.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 41,389 (56.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 11,808 (16.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 6,451 (8.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 4,933 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 556 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 9,254 households (12.6%) were made up of individuals, and 3,378 (4.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.37. There were 59,648 families (81.5% of all households); the average family size was 4.54.
The age distribution of the population was as follows: 99,678 people (30.7%) under the age of 18, 39,165 people (12.1%) aged 18 to 24, 102,399 people (31.6%) aged 25 to 44, 61,375 people (18.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 21,911 people (6.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.6 males.
There were 76,896 dwelling units at an average density of 2,794.4 per square mile (1,078.9/km), of which 34,756 (47.5%) were owner-occupied, and 38,418 (52.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 154,045 people (47.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied dwelling units and 165,825 people (51.1%) lived in rental dwelling units.
During 2009–2013, Santa Ana had a median household income of $53,335, with 21.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
As of the census of 2000, there were 337,977 people, 73,002 households, and 59,788 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,808.2/km2 (12,451.9/mi). There were 74,588 housing units at an average density of 1,061.1/km2 (2,748.0/mi). The racial makeup of the city was 42.73% White, 1.70% African American, 1.19% Native American, 8.81% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 40.64% from other races, and 4.58% from two or more races. 76.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 73,002 households, out of which 53.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.55 and the average family size was 4.72.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.2% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.
The median income for a household from 2005 to 2009 was $54,521. The median income for a household in the city was $43,412, and the median income for a family was $41,050. Males had a median income of $23,342 versus $21,637 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,152. 19.8% of the population and 16.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Santa Ana is the corporate headquarters of several companies, including Behr Paint, First American Corporation, Greenwood & Hall, Ingram Micro, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, STEC, TTM Technologies, Kern’s, and Wahoo’s Fish Taco. It also houses major regional headquarters for the Xerox corporation, Ultimate Software, and T-Mobile. Nonprofits based in Santa Ana include Open Doors.
One of Santa Ana’s most notable businesses is the Rickenbacker musical instrument company, whose electric guitars and bass guitars earned fame in the hands of many rock and roll legends.
Then Glenn L. Martin Company, a precursor to Lockheed Martin, was founded in Santa Ana in 1912 before merging with the Wright Company in 1916.
In recent years, the nearby city of Irvine has outpaced Santa Ana in commercial growth, with the Irvine Business District located near John Wayne Airport. To compete with this, Santa Ana has approved commercial projects in the South Coast Metro area, as well as the “Metro East” development, located at the confluence of the Santa Ana Freeway and the Costa Mesa Freeway.
The Historic South Main Business District contains many older retail shops and other small businesses. It extends from downtown Santa Ana southwards on Main Street to the South Coast Metro area.
There was a recession in the 2000s, and the expected year for return to peak employment for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana area was 2015. The pre-recession peak year was 2007. Due to the recession, 519,300 jobs were lost, a 9% decrease. According to the Employment Development Department, the unemployment rate for 2015 was 5 percent.
According to the city’s 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Other large employers include Western Medical Center, TTM Technologies, MSC Software Corp, and Sterns Learning Inc.
The Bowers Museum is art and history museum started in the 1930s with a large collection of fine art and artifacts from around the world and several traveling exhibits each year.
Santa Ana has several wall paintings and murals depicting local history, community events and cultural diversity in Orange County.
The Chiarini Fountain, designed and carved by Chiarini Marble & Stone, was donated by the Chiarini family in honor of George C. Chiarini and to recognize the artists who have helped make Downtown Santa Ana a creative center in Orange County.
Greenville, a former rural part of Santa Ana, has buildings over a century old, but industrial complexes have replaced the agricultural fields once surrounding the town.
Santa Ana has a number of parks. The Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm amusement parks are located northwest of Santa Ana, several kilometers away. Beaches are located around 20 minutes to the south, accessible by the 55 freeway. Huntington Beach and Newport Beach as well as other coastal communities offer shopping, dining, boating, swimming and surfing.
Santa Ana has highly competitive high school and collegiate sports teams playing at Santa Ana Stadium and the Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Complex Stadium.
The Dons of Santa Ana College are one of the most successful soccer teams in the state of California, and is a frequent top finisher, statewide. In 2008, the Dons clinched their fifteenth consecutive Orange Empire Conference title. The college is also known for its historically successful baseball teams, and for producing former Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels pitcher C. J. Wilson.
Mater Dei High School has one of the most successful and reputable football programs in the country.
Santa Ana utilizes a mayor-council form of government. The council consists of six members who are elected by the populace of the city. Each member serves for four years and can serve a total of three terms. A mayor pro tem is elected by the council members from within the council.
In the California State Legislature, Santa Ana is in the 34th Senate District, represented by Democrat Tom Umberg and is split between the 68th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Avelino Valencia, and the 70th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tri Ta.
In the United States House of Representatives, Santa Ana is in California’s 46th congressional district, represented by Democrat Lou Correa.
Like most majority-minority cities in the United States, Santa Ana is a stronghold of the Democratic Party. Despite the city’s high percentage of Democrats, the city tends to vote conservatively on social issues, much like the rest of northern Orange County. It voted in favor of Proposition 8—California’s amendment defining marriage in the state as a legal union between a man and a woman—by 61.9%, above the county’s average of 57.7%. On Proposition 4, which would have amended the California Constitution to require minors to notify their parents before having an abortion, Santa Ana voted in favor of the measure by 62.0%, much higher than the county as a whole, which voted in favor of the measure by only 54.3%.
The Consulate-General of Mexico in Santa Ana is located on 828 North Broadway Street. The Consulate-General of El Salvador in Santa Ana is located in Suite 103 at 840 North Grand Avenue.
Santa Ana Unified School District includes 37 K–5 elementary schools, nine 6–8 intermediate schools, eight 9–12 high schools, five special schools, and one charter school. Some elementary schools are: John Adams Elementary School, Manuel Esqueda Elementary School, Diamond Elementary School.
The school district provides an online accountability report card.
The Garden Grove Unified School District also includes some schools within Santa Ana.
Santa Ana Unified School District’s public high schools include Valley High School (Santa Ana), Middle College High School, Santa Ana High School, Saddleback High School, Century High School, newly opened Segerstrom Fundamental High School and Godinez Fundamental High School, and other public schools in the area, along with the Orange County School of the Arts in the midtown district.
The Roman Catholic Diocese operates Mater Dei High School. The Diocese also operates several K–8 schools in Santa Ana, including School of Our Lady, Saint Anne, Saint Barbara, and Saint Joseph. Immaculate Heart Of Mary And Our Lady Of the Pillar schools were closed in 2005 and merged into the School of Our Lady, which is located at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. (See Roman Catholic Diocesan Schools in Santa Ana, California). In September 2005 the Orange County Campus of International School of Los Angeles (LILA) moved to Santa Ana. In July 2015 it moved back to Orange.
The city is also home to Santa Ana College, a two-year public community college, as well as California Coast University, and the Orange County branch of the Art Institute of California. Taft Law School, a correspondence law school, is also based in Santa Ana. Trinity Law School is a Christian, CBE-accredited law school that is the only California campus of the Trinity International University system of schools. Detective Training Institute is a correspondence/distance learning institution that offers private investigator diplomas and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Career Networks Institute College, a post-secondary occupational learning center for allied health, is also based in the city.
A few freeways run through Santa Ana, connecting it to other areas in Orange County, the Greater Los Angeles Area, and beyond. The Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) heads north to Los Angeles, and south towards Southern Orange County and San Diego. The Garden Grove Freeway (State Route 22) runs along near Santa Ana’s northern border, connecting Long Beach to the west and the City of Orange to the east. The Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55) travels south to Costa Mesa; and then north to the Riverside Freeway (State Route 91), providing connections to Riverside to the east and Beach Cities to the west. The southern terminus of the Orange Freeway (State Route 57) (where the freeway intersects with I-5 and SR 22 at the Orange Crush interchange) is partially within the city limits of Santa Ana and provides a connection to Pomona in Los Angeles County.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Santa Ana several times on weekdays with less frequent service on weekends. It operates its Pacific Surfliner between San Diego to the south and either Los Angeles or San Luis Obispo to the north (see Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center). Greyhound Lines is the largest bus transportation service in Santa Ana, and serves the continental United States and Canada. The bus lines Crucero, Intercalifornias, and others serve all points into Mexico.
The Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center is also served by commuter rail trains of Metrolink: the Orange County Line (Oceanside to Union Station), and Inland Empire–Orange County Line (San Bernardino to Oceanside).
Public transit bus service is available via the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and is mainly focused on busses and freeways. A 4.15-mile OCTA light rail line running between Santa Ana and Garden Grove, the OC Streetcar, is currently under construction and planned to enter service in 2024.
John Wayne Airport is located at 18601 Airport Way Santa Ana, CA 92707. The IATA code for the airport is SNA.
Electricity for the city is provided by Southern California Edison. The Southern California Gas Company provides natural gas service. Phone and cable television service is provided by AT&T.
Law enforcement is provided by the Santa Ana Police Department from three stations throughout the city. The department includes five canine units, an 11-officer equestrian unit and a 37-member SWAT team. The city shares a helicopter with the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach via the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) program.
In March 2012, the city disbanded its municipal fire department, which had provided fire protection for 128 years, and contracted with the Orange County Fire Authority.
- Official website
