San Juan Capistrano is the oldest settlement in Orange County midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. It is home of the famous Mission where hundreds of swallows return perennially on their migration along the coast. San Juan Capistrano is a unique community grounded in a history of Native American culture, the Mission established by Franciscan missionaries in 1776, and an agrarian past.

The city has grown from a small community of approximately 10,000 persons in 1974 to a developed city of over 32,000 today, with a variety of land uses providing open space, recreation, housing, jobs, shopping and services. The city prides itself on effectively maintaining its open space character by acquiring land to preserve its defining ridgelines, hillsides, and trails. Nearly 40% of the City is in open space and park land. Only about 10% of land suitable for development still remains vacant.

Today's San Juan Capistrano is a mix of new residents and descendants of early ranchers and Native Americans. Housing projects spread east across the valley and small, modern business developments are only blocks from the mission and other historic buildings.