Nicknamed the ‘City of the Arts,’ Costa Mesa offers distinct neighborhoods from the Westside’s creative corridors to the South Coast business district. Its central location, freeway access, and culture‑rich venues make it a magnet for design, retail, and culinary talent.

Once the rural community of Fairview and later part of Harborside Costa Mesa, the city incorporated in 1953. Post‑war development and the rise of South Coast Plaza transformed it into a major retail and cultural destination.