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HOUSING NEEDS <br />DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS <br />This section analyzes the primary demographic characteristics of Santa Ana <br />residents, including population growth, race and ethnicity, age characteristics, and <br />household characteristics to identify housing needs in Santa Ana. <br />POPULATION GROWTH <br />Santa Ana is the 2nd largest of 34 cities in Orange County. The county <br />experienced rapid growth in the 1980s and 1990s, with the majority of growth <br />occurring in new communities in southern Orange County and unincorporated <br />areas. From 1980 to 1990, the county's population increased 25 percent, followed <br />by an 18 percent increase between 1990 and 2000, and a 6 percent increase <br />between 2000 and 2010. Santa Ana also experienced a rapid increase of residents <br />between 1980 and 1990 (44 percent), primarily due to in- migration of residents <br />from other countries or areas outside of the City. <br />Unlike surrounding communities and the county as a whole, during this period <br />the City of Santa Ana did not experience a residential construction boom. Rather, <br />the City experienced an increase in household size due in part to immigration <br />from other countries and natural increase. During the 1990s the City experienced <br />significantly slower population growth (15 percent). Slowing population growth is <br />reflective of the built -out nature of the City's residential areas and low vacancy <br />rates. Between 2000 and 2010 the City's population decreased by about 4 percent. <br />Chart A -1: Population 500,000 <br />Growth Trends Santa Ana <br />400,000 -- <br />After a sharp growth in the early 1980s Anaheim <br />and 1990s, Santa Ana is projected to 300,000 Garden Grove - <br />grow more slowly as it approaches <br />buildout Santa Ana is projected to remain 200,000 - Irvine ;mil <br />one of the top two most populous cities in ' <br />Orange County. 100,000 <br />Source: Center for Demographic 0 <br />Research, Cal State Fullerton, Orange 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 <br />County Projections, 2010 <br />In 2010, the City of Santa Ana's estimated population of 324,528 represented <br />approximately 11 percent of the county's total population, ranking Santa Ana as <br />the second most populated city in the county behind Anaheim. According to the <br />Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton, Santa <br />Ana's population is projected to increase, but at a slower rate than in nearby cities <br />(Chart A -1). Santa Ana's population is expected to decrease by 4 percent through <br />the planning period, and is expected to downtrend through 2035. <br />CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT <br />