The city of Stanton was originally part of the Mexican land grants that included Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Coyotes. The rancho lands were sold to Don Able Stearns in 1842 for $6,000. Stearns was one of the first American immigrants to the area and he became one of the major landowners in Orange County.
The Pacific Electric Railway began operating in the area in 1906 with a main line into Los Angeles. The railway was so successful that within four years, two cars were running both ways.
Originally called Benedict, the city officially known as Stanton incorporated in 1911. At the time of incorporation, Stanton was the largest city in Orange County. The city disincorporated in 1924 to allow the State to construct roads, and did not incorporate again until 1956. Today, Stanton is one of the smallest cities in the county. The city’s initial population boom happened in the post-war 1950s along with other Orange County communities. Since the year 2000 the population has ranged from 37,000 – 39,000 people.
The City of Stanton shall be divided into zones that implement the Stanton General Plan. The zones established by this Zoning Code and their relationship to the General Plan land use designations are identified in Table 2-1 (Zones That Implement General Plan Land Use Designations) and are shown on the Zoning Map. Each lot of land within the City shall be located within a zone identified on the City of Stanton Zoning Map.
Zoning map adopted. The Council hereby adopts the City of Stanton Zoning Map (hereafter referred to as the “Zoning Map”), which is on file with the Department. The Zoning Map is hereby incorporated into this Zoning Code by reference as though it were fully included here. The Zoning Map shall be interpreted in compliance with Chapter 20.105 (Rules of Interpretation) and amended in compliance with Chapter 20.610 (Amendments).
The California JPIA welcomes the City of Stanton, part of the cadre of seven new members that joined the Authority on July 1, 2020. The city has elected to participate in the Authority’s Excess Liability, Excess Workers’ Compensation, and Property Insurance Programs.
“The City of Stanton is honored to have been selected to join the California JPIA,” said City Manager Jarad Hildenbrand. “Following an extensive evaluation of alternative insurance coverage options available to the city, we concluded that the California JPIA best supports our commitment to mitigating risk and liability, and it provides high quality services and programs at an affordable rate. The City of Stanton is excited to begin this valuable partnership, and we look forward to working closely with other members of the Authority to further increase safety, reduce liability, and enhance risk management practices and programs in our city.”
Located in northwestern Orange County, Stanton is surrounded by the cities of Cypress, Westminster, and Anaheim. The city’s 39,000 residents are represented by a city council made up of Stanton’s mayor, who is elected at large, and four city council members, elected by voters in their districts, each of whom serves a four-year term. Police and fire services are provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Fire Authority, respectively.
Stanton is home to parks, a library, and a family resource center, and plays host to special events including a car show, seasonal gatherings and festivals, and movies in the park. The city offers a unique Homeowner Rehabilitation Grant Program that provides financial assistance to help qualified low- to moderate-income homeowners make needed exterior repairs, improve residential aesthetics, and beautify neighborhoods.
Lucy Gonzalez, Senior Risk Manager for many of the Authority’s Orange County members, will be working directly with the city. “I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the City of Stanton. The staff is committed to mitigating risk through the proactive implementation of safety and risk control measures for their residents and employees.”
“The City of Stanton has a motto: Community Pride and Forward Vision. That slogan demonstrates the city’s focus on continued revitalization,” said California JPIA Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull. “The Authority looks forward to supporting Stanton as the city provides its facilities and services for the betterment of its residents.”
Grove City College Professor of Political Science Dr. Samuel S. Stanton has been appointed an associate editor of the journal Global Security Review.
Stanton will serve as an associate editor for the deterrence and foreign policy section of the journal. In addition to selecting and editing submissions about what is shaping American nuclear modernization, nuclear strategy, policy, and operations, Stanton will be writing about the nexus of nuclear modernization and foreign policy.
Professor Stanton is very well suited to this role,” Dr. Michael Coulter, chair of the Political Science Department, said. “He's been an active participant in academic conferences as a presenter and one who comments on research presented by others – and he's extremely well read in the scholarly works related to deterrence and foreign policy. This role will also enhance his teaching as he'll be engaging with new scholarly work and sharing it with students.
Global Security Review was recently acquired by the National Institute for Deterrence Studies – an organization that provides national security analysis, policy solutions, and deterrence education – and relaunched as a venue for publishing articles related to nuclear deterrence. Stanton is a senior fellow with the Institute.
Stanton’s research focuses on international security issues, ethnic conflict, terrorism/counterterrorism, and South China Sea conflict. He teaches International Relations, Great Power Politics, National Security, African Politics, Asian Politics, and Research Methods.
Before any Stanton jokes, understand that its residents have done what few communities could pull off – they voted themselves a sales tax increase.
Yes, this community has so much pride, so much moxie that in November voters chose to have the highest sales tax in the county. And already the desperately needed revenue is changing Orange County’s poorest – and scrappiest – city.
The placard on the visitor’s counter at Stanton City Hall captures this comeback story. It says that by boosting sales tax from 8 percent to 9 percent, the city has restored personnel to handle 911 calls.
David ShawverTo survive, the city cut deep into bone. And to keep the city in the black, the formula is simple: The city has only 28 full-time staff and watches dollars by contracting out as much as possible, including law enforcement, fire and ambulance service.
But even during the city’s worst days, residents rose up to save their city. And not just Boy Scout types.
Without getting anything more than sweat, Barrios rode atop a mower and cut the lawn in Hollenbeck Park, a 10-acre swath of land.
That decision revealed a lot, considering that Stanton has thousands of residents who live in apartments and has one of the densest populations in the county.
How dense? Mission Viejo spreads 96,000 residents over nearly 18 square miles. Stanton packs more than 38,000 people into 3.1 square miles.
In his office off Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue – two of the county’s busiest thoroughfares – City Manager Jim Box admits, “For seven years we were not able to balance the budget.”
Box points to a newly created strategic plan for the city, emphasizing such goals as providing a safe community, a strong local economy, transparent government. As Box talks, he details the focus – and bringing the plans to fruition.
Transparency? On Stanton’s website, you can easily find the curious (the city flower is bird of paradise) and the serious (the city budget, which totals nearly $34 million).
