Census shows moderate growth in Newport-Mesa

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- The 2000 Census may have sprung several surprises

countywide, but not in Newport-Mesa, officials said Friday.

While Costa Mesa crossed the 100,000 mark by growing 11.3% over the

last 10 years, Newport Beach showed a minor increase, up only 4.8% to

70,032. Newport Coast, an unincorporated area soon to be annexed by

Newport Beach, has a population of 2,671.

Newport Beach’s numbers are a little lower than expected, said City

Manager Homer Bludau.

The city had an estimate of 75,600 at the beginning of this year. That

number is the city and state’s guess based on proposed development and

are released every January, Bludau said.

“That number is not based on any random or statistical survey,” said

Bludau. “If the estimates had an error any one year they could have been

compounded over the years.”

Costa Mesa’s estimates are in line with the 2000 Census that found a

population of 108,724, said City Manager Allan Roeder.

“I believe we crossed 100,000 four years ago,” he said. They city is

almost 96% built out. According to the city’s General Plan, total build

out was estimated at 115,000.

“It looks like we’re getting there,” said Roeder, pointing out that

the census numbers matched the city’s estimate.

The city, however, does not benefit by exceeding 100,000, Roeder said. Federal funds become available to cities directly when they hit

50,000 residents. And the county distributes those funds to cities with

lesser populations.

Costa Mesa also showed a few demographic changes. Significant among

those was the increase of the city’s Latino population by almost 12% over

the last 10 years.

Costa Mesa’s white population, on the other hand, has decreased by

about 16%, but statistics show that whites still constitute about 70% of

the city’s total population.

In Newport Beach, the Latino population went up by less than 1% while

Asian population increased by 2%.

The numbers also showed that 23% of Costa Mesa’s population and 16% of

Newport Beach’s population are below 18 years of age.

The census statistics play an important role in city planning,

especially when it comes to housing and implementation of community

programs, said Roeder.

“For example, if we have a significant youth population, that is an

indicator that we need more youth recreation programs,” he said.

The key word in any census is “growth,” said Paty Madueno, who has

lived in Costa Mesa for 22 years.

“The city looks like a person wearing a blouse too small for its

body,” she said. “For a city our size, we have grown so much.”

The city should work on increasing housing and schools, said Madueno.

Newport Beach residents are fairly happy as things are, said resident

Phil Arst.

“We’re a pretty well filled-out city,” he said. “We’re stable and

there isn’t much vacant land for people to move in. I think we’re just

comfortable preserving ourselves as an environmental community.”

BOX 2000 1990

Costa Mesa

Population 108,724 96,357

Latino 31.75 % 20.06 %

Non-Latino White 56.82 % 72.12 %

Newport Beach

Population 70,032 66,643

Latino 4.71 % 3.97 %

Non-Latino White 89.02% 92.62 %

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