Westminster, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Westminster, California
settlement_type = City
motto = "The City of Progress Built on Pride." [cite web |url=http://www.orangecounty.net/cities/Westminster.html |title=Westminster, California |accessdate=2008-11-03 ]


imagesize =
image_caption =
image_

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Incorporated=1996
mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Westminster within Orange County, California.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Orange
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Margie L. Rice
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 26.2
area_land_km2 = 26.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 10.1
area_land_sq_mi = 10.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 12
elevation_ft = 39
latd = 33 |latm = 45 |lats = 5 |latNS = N
longd = 117 |longm = 59 |longs = 38 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 88207
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 3368.6
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latitude = 33°45'05" N
longitude = 117°59'38" W
website = http://www.ci.westminster.ca.us/
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 92683-92685
area_code = 714
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-84550
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1652811
footnotes =

Westminster is a city in Orange County, California, United States. It was founded in 1870 by Rev. Lemuel Webber as a Presbyterian temperance colony. Its name is taken from the Westminster Assembly of 1643, which laid out the basic tenets of the Presbyterian faith. For several years of its early history, its farmers refused to grow grapes because they associated grapes with alcohol.

Westminster was incorporated in 1957, at which time it had 10,755 residents. Originally, the city was named "Tri-City" because it was the amalgamation of three cities: Westminster, Barber City, and Midway City. Midway City ultimately turned down incorporation, leaving Barber City to be absorbed into the newly incorporated Westminster. The former Barber City was located in the western portion of the current City of Westminster.

Westminster is landlocked and bordered by Seal Beach on the west, by the unincorporated area of Rossmoor, the city of Stanton and the community of West Garden Grove on the north, by Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley on the south, and by Santa Ana on the east.

Westminster surrounds the unincorporated area of Midway City, except for a small portion where Midway City meets Huntington Beach to the south.

A large number of Vietnamese refugees came to the city in the 1970s, settling largely in an area now officially named Little Saigon. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 88,207. Westminster won the All-America City Award in 1996.

Geography

Westminster is located at coor dms|33|45|5|N|117|59|38|W|city (33.751418, -117.993929).GR|1According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.2 km² (10.1 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 88,207 people, 26,406 households, and 20,411 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,368.6/km² (8,724.2/mi²). There were 26,940 housing units at an average density of 1,028.8/km² (2,664.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.79% White, 0.99% African American, 0.61% Native American, 38.13% Asian, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 10.19% from other races, and 3.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.70% of the population.

There were 26,406 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.32 and the average family size was 3.71.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,450, and the median income for a family was $54,399. Males had a median income of $37,157 versus $28,392 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,218. About 10.7% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the state legislature Westminster is located in the 34th, Senate District, represented by Democrat Lou Correa and Republican Tom Harman respectively, and in the 67th and 68th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Jim Silva and Van Tran respectively. Federally, Westminster is located in California's 40th and 46th congressional districts, which have Cook PVIs of R +8 and R +6 respectively [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and are represented by Republicans Ed Royce and Dana Rohrabacher respectively.

Education

Four different school districts have boundaries that overlap parts or more of the City of Westminster:

* Westminster School District
* Garden Grove Unified School District
* Huntington Beach Union High School District
* Ocean View School District

Notable natives and residents

*Frank Joseph Moreno, youngest person to write and receive a federal grant for his school at age 10.
*Harrod Blank, documentary filmmaker
*Thai Ted Nguyen, Song writer, guitarist
*Bud Hare, Engine Tuner, land speed and drag race record holder, inventor.
*Barry Seevers, engineer, tuner, engine builder, record holder, guitar maker and innovator
*Chuck Fraher, Blues Guitar Player,Song Writer and Inventor of the Blues Tube.
*Larry Hanson, Country Western Guitar player for the Band Alabama and The Righteous Brothers
*Bob Deal, Aka Mick Mars guitar player for Rock and Roll band Mötley Crüe
*Edward Bane, Major league Baseball Player, Director of scouting for the Angels ball club.
*Dain Gingerelli, journalist
*Hurley Wilvert, AMA pro rider, Motorcycle record holder, Engineer.
*Carlos Palomino, Boxer Former Welterweight Champion.
*Brett Lawson, NASCAR Legend
*Bobby Porter, stunt man, actor
*John Lassak, AMA Pro Race tuner
*Royce Seevers, engineer, salesman and builder of the first electric golf car and three-wheel electric truck.
*Vang Pao, Hmong Former Major General of the Royal Lao Army
*Mark Eaton, former Utah Jazz player
*Ken Hoang, professional video gamer and contestant on Survivor Gabon

Landmarks

*A memorial and final resting place for the victims of the KLM plane involved in the Tenerife Disaster is located in Westminster.

External links

* [http://www.ci.westminster.ca.us/ City of Westminster official website]