"The name "Laguna Niguel" is derived from the Spanish word "Laguna" which means lagoon and the word "Nigueli" which was the name of a Juaneno Indian village once located on Aliso Creek. The population was 61,891 at the 2000 census. The city was primarily built after 1980 as an unincorporated master planned community located in the San Joaquin Hills near Laguna Beach. It borders Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Aliso Viejo.
History
Laguna Niguel is located on what used to be the Mexican land grant of Juan Avila. When California became a United States territory in 1848, he had to legally battle to retain ownership of the land, which cost him significantly. He retained ownership until 1865, when a severe drought killed off most of his cattle.
Lewis Moulton, owner of the Moulton Company, bought the area of modern-day Laguna Niguel in 1895, along with significant other portions of the surrounding area from farmers that were hard pressed to earn a living due to a local drought in the area.
The Laguna Niguel Corporation, started by Cabot, Cabot, and Forbes from Boston in 1959, made it one of the first master planned communities in California. Victor Gruen, a Vienna architect, and Associates developed a community plan for 7,100 acres. The Avco Community Developer in 1969 continued the plan, which by then held 6,500 residents.
The construction of the San Diego, I-5, Freeway in 1959 allowed more people to arrive. The first communities developed in Laguna Niguel were right along the coast, touching the southern border of Laguna Beach. These communities were called Monarch Bay and the Monarch Bay Terrace built between 1960 and 1962.
In 1973, Laguna Niguel Regional Park opened, and in 1974 a one-million square-foot ziggurat building was given to the United States government. These two projects constituted the largest ever in the city, up to present day.
On December 1, 1989, Laguna Niguel became an incorporated city in Orange County and became its 29th city.
Education
The city is served by the Capistrano Unified School District.
Elementary Schools
- Moulton Elementary School
- Marian Bergeson Elementary School
- Crown Valley Elementary School
- Hidden Hills Elementary School
- Laguna Niguel Elementary School
- Malcolm Elementary School
- George White Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Niguel Hills Middle School
- Aliso Viejo Middle School (in Aliso Viejo)
- Aliso Niguel High School (in Aliso Viejo)
- Dana Hills High School (in Dana Point)
- Saddleback College (in Mission Viejo)
- Chapman University (in Orange)
- Soka University of America (in Aliso Viejo)
- University of California, Irvine (in Irvine)
Points of Interest
Over one-third of Laguna Niguel is designated as open space. Major parks in Laguna Niguel include:
- Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park
- Badlands Park
- Laguna Niguel Regional Park
Neighborhoods
Laguna Niguel is home to many upscale neighborhoods including Bear Brand Ridge, Ocean Ranch, South Peak, Crest de Ville, Palmilla, and Monarch Point, which offer city, canyon, and ocean views with most home values exceeding $1,000,000[citation needed]. Other major neighborhoods include Rancho Niguel, Marina Hills, Niguel West, Beacon Hill, El Niguel Heights, Kite Hill, and San Joaquin Hills."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Niguel
