Are there a lot of Mormons in Orange County? (Long Beach: for sale, apartment)

[Charles]

I've read a couple posts which casually mentioned Mormon communities in Orange County and I didn't think much about it. This afternoon, we were invited to a Mormon "Pioneer Days" picnic thing in Mission Viejo. It was a picnic, games, BBQ, type thing. Lots of kids. Free food. I couldn't believe how many people I recognized from soccer teams, swim teams, even the lawyer who wrote up our trust was there.

Now I am starting to wonder, were Mormons drawn to Orange County for some reason? According to Sperlings, LDS in OC is about 1.41%, lower than the national of 1.66%. Still it seems higher, a lot higher than 1.41%. Catholic is closer to 30%.

[Fontucky]

Look out! They'll suck you in!

[bhcompy]

There are Mormons around. There are a few LDS churches in southwest OC, all within a few miles of each other. Big presence in some of the local schools. Not overwhelming, mind you, but they make their presence known in the community

[pacific2]

There’s a Mormon church here in AV. A friend who lives in an apartment in Laguna Hills complains about them making rounds at the complex.

[ferretkona]

You know. Mormons are usually the least offensive of the cults.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Charles

Now I am starting to wonder, were Mormons drawn to Orange County for some reason?

They're not persecuted there.

[Charles]

I was just wondering if it was something like how lots of Vietnamese settled in that one area Little Saigon, lots of Cambodians in the Long Beach area, lots of Samoans in the Carson area, lots of Armenians in Glendale, etc. There are reasons for each I suppose but I was wondering if the Mormons clustered (if they actually did...I am just wondering out loud) in parts of OC for a specific reason.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by Charles

... I was wondering if the Mormons clustered (if they actually did...I am just wondering out loud) in parts of OC for a specific reason.

I don’t know the answer, but find it curious that, in addition to a Mormon church, tiny Aliso also has OC’s largest synagogue; Soka, a Buddhist inspired university; and something called “Benny Hinn Ministries World Media Center,” whatever. Still, AV doesn't seem like a hot spot for religious types. Most of the people who frequent these places probably drive-in from elsewhere in OC.

Soka sits in Aliso and Woods Canyon on 103 acres! They opened in 2001, but they must have purchased the land years before that date.

Aliso is definitely not ground zero for the very religious. Most of the people who frequent these places probably drive-in from elsewhere in OC.

My hunch is that they are all clustered here because of the newness of the city, access to freeways and available land. That land may have been, for OC, relatively cheap at the time they established themselves.

That’s probably why the US Postal Service also bought a big 25 acre parcel of land in about 1992, or so. It still sits empty because AV successfully fought efforts for them to build a mail distribution center on the site.

BTW, for anyone with spare change, the land is now up for sale.

[Fontucky]

Mormons founded San Bernardino, so it's only a hop skip and a jump to your area.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Mormons founded San Bernardino, so it's only a hop skip and a jump to your area.

Interesting bit of historical data. I guess they did skip over here; it's so close by.