The City of Costa Mesa is one of Orange County’s leading cultural and business centers. Located 37 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 88 miles north of San Diego, Costa Mesa has a current population of approximately 103,823. It has evolved from a semi-rural farming community to a city with its local economy primarily based upon retail commercial business and light manufacturing. Costa Mesa offers residents a range of communities and neighborhoods, 26 parks, a municipal golf course, 26 public schools, and two libraries. Residents also enjoy prominent centers of cultural and economic activity, an ideally mild Southern California climate, and a location that provides easy access to many of Southern California’s major attractions such as beaches, mountain areas, high and low deserts, and Disneyland. It is home to Orange Coast College and Vanguard University, as well as Whittier Law School and National University, making Costa Mesa a rich base for learning with a family-oriented suburban feel.