San Clemente

 

As town founder Ole Hanson said in the late 1920s, "I get credit for building San Clemente. I am doing my best, but San Clemente's development was as natural as a well-watered and fertilized tree to grow. It is on the coast. Its climate is superb. It is far enough from San Diego and Los Angeles to fill a real necessity. Besides, people love the beautiful things."

 

People indeed love beautiful places and the boom in San Clemente's population, this year reaching 67,892 in this 80 year-old community, reflects the popularity of San Clemente and the development that has transformed all of Orange County in the past century.

 

However, San Clemente started and has evolved differently than many of its neighboring communities.

 

San Clemente was among the first master planned communities built from totally open land in the United States. Before erecting a single structure on the rolling coastal hills, Ole Hanson laid out an expansive plan based on the Spanish Colonial architectural style including restaurants, a clubhouse, residences, public parks, a public pool, a fishing pier, and even equestrian trails.

 

Today, San Clemente is a diverse town with new developments like Talega and beach areas like Southwest San Clemente still retains the small town charm!