Orchard Hills
Community of Irvine, California
CityIrvine, California
Area
 • Total21.46 km2 (8.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total990[1]
 • Density829.62/km2 (2,148.7/sq mi)
 • population percent
0.00363044291[2] % of Irvine
Demonym(s)Orchardian, Irvinian, Hawk
GDP
 (PPA; 2021)
 • Per capita$107,000 USD
WebsiteOrchard Hills Irvine Company Page

Orchard Hills is a master-planned community in Irvine, California. It borders Limestone Canyon Regional Park to its east and North Tustin, California to its west. Orchard Hills is located between 261 Highway and 241 Highway. Orchard Hills is home to the Rattlesnake and Syphon Reservoirs.

History

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Orchard Hills was historically inhabited by the Chumash, Alliklik, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Gabrielino Luiseno Cahuilla, and the Kumeyaay tribes[3], predominantly the Gabrieleno Tribes who are thought to have been Uto-Aztecan speakers. Some researchers believe that the Aztecs descended from California. Orchard Hills is near Irvine Ranch, so it is expected that Gabrieleño farmers and Hunter-gatherers likely farmed acorns, mesquite, Prickly-Pear Cactus, chia seeds, wild cherry, white sage, among other fruits [4].

European colonization
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From the 17th Century to the Early 19th Century, Spanish rule in California, otherwise known as Alta California ("Upper California"), was limited to trading outposts, villages, forts, and most notably, the Christian Missions of California, which were erected by Junipero Serra. The Mission closest to Orchard Hills is the San Juan Capistrano Mission which was founded in 1776[5].

Mexican-American war
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When the Mexican–American War broke out, one of its implications was the Bear Flag Revolt, which disrupted native activity in the area near Orchard Hills. [6]

Demographics

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Orchard Hills has a population of 990.[dubiousdiscuss][7] Orchard Hills' majority group are Asian Americans who are 68 percent of the population, 24.1 percent being White, 6.7 percent being Hispanic/Latino. A majority of Orchard Hills Residents are female and Orchard Hills has the highest percent of children population out of the Irvine Neighborhoods.[8]

 
Orchard Hills Race/Ethnicity Chart

Schools

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Residents of Orchard Hills attend the Orchard Hills K-8 school, and the mascot is a hawk. Orchard Hills School offers various programs such as Robotics, AVID 7/8, and various others[9].

Micronationalism in Orchard Hills

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A small group of people in Orchard Hills are micronationalists, who claim to be heads of state of small unrecognized "countries", a notable example would be Setara, a micronation founded in 2022 by student Jean Jeannienne [10] Setara's Government is a Constitutional Monarchy. Another example is Gapla, a micronation that borders Setara, Gapla is run by President Chelsea Chen and Crown Prince Wyatt Baek, Gapla is centered in Woodbridge, but has citizens and claims land in Orchard Hills.

 
Collage of the Flags of Gapla and Setara

See also

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References

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