Orange County Cities

Here is a complete list of Orange County cities. There are officially 34 Orange County cities with a population of about 3.1 million spanning 948 square miles. There are many more “vanity” or “prestige” cities such as Anaheim Hills (City of Anaheim), Corona Del Mar (City of Newport Beach), El Toro (City of Lake Forest) and Balboa Island (City of Newport Beach) but these are actually just areas of a city. They do not have any official separate city government and do not count officially as cities even though the USPS will accept the “city” name for delivery.

Cities in Orange County

Download Orange Counties Cities Lists:

Orange County City List pdf file

Orange County City list .txt file

Orange County Cities by Population, Area & Incorporation .csv file

Orange County City Facts

• County Seat: Santa Ana
• Established: 1889
• Number of Cities: 34
• Highest elevation: 5,690 ft (1,730 m)
• Population: 3.1 million
• OC City Mottos
• OC ZIP Codes
• OC Maps

The City of Anaheim has the largest population in Orange County with over 340,000 people.

The City of Villa Park has the smallest population in Orange County with under 6,000 people.

The City of Irvine has the most square miles at 69.92.

The City of La Palma has the least square miles at 1.803.

The three most populous cities in Orange County are Anaheim, Santa Ana and Irvine.

Orange County is the third most populous county in California and the sixth most populous county in the U.S. More populous than 21 U.S. states.

Orange County was formed in 1889 out of the southern portion of Los Angeles County.

Orange County is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Los Angeles County, on the northeast by San Bernardino County, on the east by Riverside County, and on the southeast by San Diego County.

Six cities are on the Pacific coast, including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente.

There are 24 unincorporated areas located in northern and central Orange County that are completely or substantially surrounded by a full-service city.

There are multiple large unincorporated communities located in the areas of North Tustin, the Canyons, and South Orange County.

The county is a tourist center, with attractions like Disneyland, California Adventure, Knott’s Berry Farm, Wild Rivers, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Anaheim Convention Center, South Coast Plaza, Segerstrom Center, Great Park, Balboa Island & Fun Zone, Angel Stadium, Downtown Santa Ana, the Honda Center, and many popular beaches.

Popular events in Orange County include the Orange County Fair, US Open of Surfing, Pacific Air Show, Festival of Whales, Festival of Arts, Sawdust Festival, Orange Street Fair, Newport Beach Boat Parade and much more.

Orange County Vanity Cities & Neighborhoods

Heidi Deal

Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights. When she's not writing you can find her solo hiking and going on new adventures with her kids and pup.