Aliso Viejo, California

Aliso Viejo is a planned-community city in the San Joaquin Hills of southern Orange County, California, whose Spanish name means old alder tree. It had a population of 52,176 at the 2020 census, up from 47,823 in 2010. The land was part of the Moulton Ranch, descended from the Mexican-era Rancho Niguel, until the Mission Viejo Company bought the remaining 6,600 acres in 1976 to build a master-planned community for about 50,000 people. The first homes were offered for sale in March 1982. On July 1, 2001 Aliso Viejo became Orange County's 34th city, the only one in the county incorporated since 2000. It borders Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods.