The city of Santa Clarita has been in existence since December 1987 when the unincorporated communities of Newhall, Saugus, Valencia, and Canyon Country incorporated. Each of these communities still retains its separate identity. Residents typically refer to the specific neighborhoods where they live instead of saying they are from Santa Clarita.
There has been significant housing growth in Santa Clarita in the last decade. K Hovnanian Homes, KB Home, and Lennar are among the companies involved in the city’s expansion. As a result, there are a variety of mature trees throughout the city. They include sweetgum, ash, sycamore, and birch and offer a variety of fall colors. This is relatively rare in Southern California and makes the city a popular spot for fall festivals, and TV and film shoots.
Santa Clarita is home to 41,922 single family homes and 436 multi-family homes. It has an impressive number of condo units – 13,064 – and another 4,393 vacant lots. There are 983 commercial buildings in the city, 788 industrial developments, and nine buildings zoned for mixed use.
Santa Clarita is well positioned for interstate travel: I-5 is on the west side of the city, SR-14 is to the east, and SR-126 is to the south. Public transportation is provided by City of Santa Clarita Transit within city limits as well as beyond, including North Hollywood. Commuter buses are available on weekdays to destinations such as Burbank, Downtown LA, and Van Nuys. Most buses operate every half hour. Metrolink oversees commuter passenger train service on the Antelope Valley Line, which begins at Lancaster and terminates at Union Station in Los Angeles.
There are five school districts that oversee schools throughout Santa Clarita: Castaic Union School District, William S. Hart High School District, Saugus Union School District, Newhall School District, and Sulphur Springs School District. There are also three colleges/universities in the city: California Institute of the Arts, College of the Canyons, and The Master’s College.
There are half a dozen hospitals in or near to Santa Clarita. The largest is Henry May Newhall Memorial Hospital. It has 238 beds, sees about 64,000 emergency room visits per year, and performs around 6,000 yearly surgeries, including inpatient and outpatient procedures.
There is no Santa Clarita police department or fire department. Instead, the LA County Sheriff’s Department operates the police station and the LA County Fire Department offers fire protection. There are eight fire stations in Santa Clarita with more planned. FBI data from 2015 shows that there were 2,925 property crimes in that year and 351 violent crimes.
Since Santa Clarita was first incorporated, city offices have prioritized recreation facilities and programs. As a result, there are many child-friendly pursuits in the area. Canyon Country Recreation Park includes a wading pool, diving pool, skate park, and community swimming pools. Central Park in Saugus is the city’s largest. Altogether there are more than 16 parks throughout the various neighborhoods, many with lighted baseball fields, tennis courts, and soccer fields. Central Park also plays host to the city’s free summer concert series.
In-and-Out Burger, the famous California burger chain, is a popular fast food spot in Santa Clarita, along with Mod Pizza.
OhBella Gelato & Crepe Café offers both savory and sweet crepes, Royal Tandoor is a popular Indian spot, and Ay Caramba is one of many Mexican restaurants in the city.
