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Rossmoor, California
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Rossmoor is a planned census-designated place located in Orange County, California. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 10,298. The gated Leisure World retirement community in the city of Seal Beach is to the south of Rossmoor, Los Alamitos is to the east and north, and Long Beach is to the west (on the other side of the San Gabriel River, the 605 freeway and the border with Los Angeles County). The community of Rossmoor has two shopping centers within its boundaries, but only one -- the Rossmoor Village Square -- is now within the political boundaries of the Rossmoor Community Services District.
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Encyclopedia
Rossmoor is a planned census-designated place located in Orange County, California. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 10,298. The gated Leisure World retirement community in the city of Seal Beach is to the south of Rossmoor, Los Alamitos is to the east and north, and Long Beach is to the west (on the other side of the San Gabriel River, the 605 freeway and the border with Los Angeles County). The community of Rossmoor has two shopping centers within its boundaries, but only one -- the Rossmoor Village Square -- is now within the political boundaries of the Rossmoor Community Services District. A larger shopping center, the Rossmoor Business Center, now remodeled and called the Shops at Rossmoor -- was annexed, despite many protests, by the city of Seal Beach in 1962.
Many upper/upper middle class professionals call Rossmoor home. While it is more upscale than surrounding Los Alamitos, Garden Grove, and Cypress, it is one of the more wealthy enclaves of northern Orange County. Average home prices range from $800,000 to $2,000,000.
History
The Rossmoor community was developed from 1955 through 1961 by Ross W. Cortese, who had earlier developed the architecturally-significant Lakewood Rancho Estates in Long Beach (1953) and the Frematic Homes (1954)in Anaheim, just north and west of Disneyland. Cortese's original partners in securing the first large parcels of land that would become Rossmoor included California governor Goodwin Knight and Judge Alfred Gittelson, who had also partnered with him in the Lakewood Rancho Estates and the Frematic homes. (It was Gittelson who later agreed to annex his Rossmoor Shopping Center property to Seal Beach in the 1960s.) After Rossmoor, Cortese would construct the first of his very successful Leisure World gated retirement community in that part of Seal Beach which is immediately south of Rossmoor. The Rossmoor community is easy to recognize because of its red brick "signature wall" that borders the entire unincorporated community. It is a signature of the Rossmoor community that differentiates it from neighboring cities Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.
There are 3,430 single family homes and 1 condominium complex within Rossmoor.
Rossmoor annexation debates
History
According to a June 2006 consultant's report to the Rossmoor Planning Committee, the most cost effective solution for Rossmoor would be to be annexed by the city of Seal Beach.
Although it is not part of the city of Los Alamitos, it is served under the Los Alamitos "sphere of influence" and is expected to be annexed to the city by 2007 after the Local Agency Formation Commission reviews the proposal. However it is 2009 and no decision has been made.
Another proposal would combine Rossmoor with adjacent Seal Beach and Los Alamitos to form one city.
Rossmoor is served by and the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District. The city is also served by the Rossmoor Community Services District, which serves the community as an independent city hall would, and provides services like landscpe upkeep, city and road maintenance, and performing the general day-to-day upkeep of the community. However, the council lacks any central government, authority to the California State Government, and cannot make decisions about the future of the community, which is all delegated to the County of Orange's Unincorporated Islands Program.
Current status
At the May 22 2008 meeting, LAFCO recommended that the Rossmoor Incorporation Plan go to a vote of the community. The County Board of Supervisors is expected to take formal action in June to approve the Rossmoor Incorporation plan for the November 2008 ballot. Other voices have surfaced on whether incorporation of Rossmoor is the only option.
A vote by residents on the issue of incorporation was held on November 4, 2008. The proposition for cityhood was defeated a vote of 72% to 28%.
Geography
Rossmoor is located at 33°47'20" North, 118°4'47" West (33.788917, -118.079721). It borders the cities of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.0 kmē), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.0 kmē) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
One defining landmark of Rossmoor is the red brick wall that surrounds much of area.
Rossmoor has been criticized by The Humane Society of the United States and the Audubon Society for a plan to kill 50 woodpeckers. The groups recommend nonlethal methods for addressing concerns about woodpeckers damaging some homes. -- [NOTE: Whoever submitted this has confused Rossmoor in Alameda County (also developed by Ross Cortese with the original Rossmoor community in Orange County.]
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,298 people, 3,715 households, and 2,975 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 6,583.8 people per square mile (2,548.8/kmē). There were 3,761 housing units at an average density of 2,404.5/sq mi (930.9/kmē). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.88% White, 0.78% African American, 0.34% Native American, 5.72% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,715 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $86,457, and the median income for a family was $93,500. Males had a median income of $71,875 versus $46,913 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $38,642. 2.0% of the population and 1.3% of families were below the poverty line. 2.5% of those under the age of 18 and 1.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Politics
In the state legislature Rossmoor is located in the 35th Senate District, represented by Republican Tom Harman, and in the 67th Assembly District, represented by Republican John Moorlach. Federally, Rossmoor is located in California's 40th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +8 and is represented by Republican Ed Royce.
The Rossmoor "Homeowners" Association is the unelected, self-appointed overseer of all things Rossmoor influencing greatly the decisions of RCSD and is THE impetus for the November 2008 city hood incorporation 'measure U' which failed by a significantly large margin, indicating that Rossmoor residents desire and continue to govern themselves.
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