Ladera Ranch, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ladera Ranch, California
settlement_type = planned community


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Orange
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elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 443
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population_total = 21,250
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latitude = 33°36'46" N
longitude = 117°39'22" W
website = http://www.laderaranch.com
postal_code_type = ZIP Code
postal_code = 92694
area_code = 949
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Ladera Ranch is an unincorporated planned community located in south Orange County, California just outside the city limits of San Juan Capistrano and Mission Viejo. [ [http://www.laderaranch.com/FAQS-Ladera-Ranch/index.php Laderaranch.com - FAQ's] ]

The community has several features that differentiate it from most others. For example, many traffic speed-reducing measures were put into use. Roundabouts, for example, are commonplace on smaller intersections. Narrow street widths are characteristics of Ladera Ranch's small residential streets. Landscaped street medians are common, even on two-lane collector streets like O'Neill and Sienna Parkways.

In Ladera Ranch, there are two different types of areas: villages and neighborhoods. Individual builders produce an area that is called a neighborhood. There are ten or more neighborhoods per village, and there are nine villages. Five of the nine villages have clubhouses themed on a particular architecture style that is emphasized within that village. There are also parks, pools, playgrounds and open areas within each village. Only the Covenant Hills village is a fully guard-gated closed community. The rest are open. Covenant Hills features several neighborhoods developed by high end builders and several streets of purely custom homesties with custom estate homes pricing upwards of $5 million. The residents of Ladera Ranch enjoy the various clubhouses in addition to a water park, a skate park, and miles of manicured hiking trails for runners, walkers and mountain bikers. Ladera Ranch plans to build over the Rancho Mission Viejo area. They will add 5 more villiages over the next few years. The first new village will be south of Covenant Hills right next to Ortega Highway. convert|6000|acre|km2 will be developed, and convert|17000|acre|km2 will be preserved.

Geography

Ladera Ranch is located at 33°34'14.75" North, 117°38'4.68" West (33.570763, -117.634634)GR|1.

History

Ladera Ranch is a 4,000 acre (16 km²) master-planned community adjacent to Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano. [http://www.laderaranch.com/FAQS-Ladera-Ranch/index.php] Located along Antonio Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway, construction of the community began in 1999 on portions of the O'Neill, Avery, & Moiso family's 23,000 acre (93 km²) Rancho Mission Viejo cattle ranch, the largest remaining working ranch in Orange County.An authentic El Camino Real Bell stands in front of Chaparral Elementary School donated by the Kruse family, as a reminder of Ladera Ranch's past history.

Education

The community is served by the Capistrano Unified School District. A branch of the Orange County Public Library is located in Ladera Ranch.

Within the community are the Chaparral and Oso Grande Elementary Schools and the Ladera Ranch School, which consists of both an Elementary and Middle School campus. Chaparral Elementary School received the "California Distinguished School Award" in both 2004 and 2008. Ladera Ranch School in the year 2007, received a "California Distinguished School Award." Also, Stoneybrooke Christian School is a private K-8 school that is also located in Ladera Ranch. High Schoolers are served by San Juan Hills High School in the south part of the development and Tesoro High School in the north. And College students are served by Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California or Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California.

An authentic El Camino Real Bell stands in front of Chaparral Elementary School, donated by the Kruse family, as a reminder of Ladera Ranch's history.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement services in Ladera Ranch are provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol. Ladera Ranch has Street Sweeping in all public streets. "No Parking" signs are enforced during Street Sweeping periods, and violators are subject to a fine. Street Sweeping days are the First/Third Tuesday or Wednesday of the month depending on the neighborhood.

Demographic estimates

The United States does not define a census-designated place called Ladera Ranch, but it does define a Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), 92694. Because Ladera Ranch is contained within this Zip Code Tabulation Area, it is possible to obtain Census data from the United States 2000 Census for the area even though data for "Ladera Ranch" is unavailable. Note however, that the community was significantly less completed in 2000 and that many more people now live in the community. These are the January, 2008 estimates based on the records for the area. The community has not reached buildout yet, however it is expected to within 2013.

References

External links

* [http://www.laderahope.org LaderaHope - Stop The Power Plant from being built in Ladera Ranch]
* [http://www.greenladeraranch.org Think Green Ladera Ranch]
* [http://www.laderalife.com LaderaLife]
* [http://www.laderaportal.com LaderaPortal The official Ladera resident web site]
* [http://www.laderaranch.com Ladera Ranch official web site]
* [http://www.ocregister.com/community/ladera_post/features/ladera/index.shtml The Ladera Post]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/15/AR2006041501087.html "Redefining Property Values," "Washington Post", April 16, 2006] – An article on social engineering as a Ladera marketing practice.