San Juan Capistrano (/sæn ˌwɑːn kæpɨˈstrɑːnoʊ/; Spanish: [saŋ ˈxwaŋ kapisˈtɾano]) is a city in southern Orange County, California, located approximately 23 miles (37 km) southeast of Downtown Santa Ana. The current OMB metropolitan designation for San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” The population was 34,593 at the 2010 census, up from 33,826 at the 2000 census. The city was created around Mission San Juan Capistrano, and many of the homes and strip malls resemble the Spanish architecture that composes the building. It is home to the widest variety of homes in Orange County, including those built prior to 1900 in its central district (some being adobes from the 18th century), a number of 10-million-dollar homes in the gated communities of the hills, and working ranches in its foothills. San Juan Capistrano formerly hosted a population of cliff swallows that reputedly migrate each year from Argentina to the Mission San Juan Capistrano. San Juan Capistrano offers very diverse housing from mobile homes, condos, vintage cottages, tract homes to large custom estates in communities like the Hunt Club and Connemara by the Sea. There are also some ranches with vineyards, orchards and horse property. Golfers can enjoy two golf courses, one public and the other private in the gated community of Marbella. A broad variety of unique shops, restaurants and interesting places to visit are found in this city. Home to Mission San Juan Capistrano, with its rustic charm and famous swallows legacy.
