About Stanton

Stanton is a city located in western Orange County, California. The population was 38,186 at the 2010 census, up from 37,403 at the 2000 census. The City was incorporated in 1956 and operates under the Council-Manager form of government, providing a full range of municipal services. Stanton is bounded by Cypress on the west, Anaheim on the north, and east, and Garden Grove on the east and south.

Stanton is located north of the Garden Grove (22) Freeway, south of the Artesia (91) Freeway, east of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway and west of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.

On November 6, 1905, the Los Angeles Interurban Railway started service on the Santa Ana Line. It ran along an almost perfectly straight line between Watts(Los Angeles) and Santa Ana. Access to transportation allowed the population of the rural area which is now Stanton and West Anaheim to grow. In 1908, the privately owned Pacific Electric Railway leased the Santa Ana Line and took over the service which extended its regional light-rail system. By 1928, the impressive thousand mile system allowed residents convenient travel throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. See 1928 Map. The passenger service to Santa Ana was discontinued in 1950, shortly after the railway was taken over by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. The easement still runs through town and is empty or used for parking. It intersects Beach/Pacific and Cerritos/Western.

The City of Stanton mitigates the high costs of cityhood for a relatively small population by contracting out municipal services. Most of the police services and fire protection are provided by the Orange County’s Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Fire Authority respectively. Ambulance service is provided by a private company, Care Ambulance Service. Stanton had formed its own police department when the city incorporated in 1956, but a union strike citing poor working conditions was originally reported as the major cause of its disbanding (and takeover by the Sheriff's Department) in 1988. The city's crime rate has decreased 40% from 2007 to 2013.

The city hosts three major community events each year: Summerfest, a Halloween Fair, and Christmas in the City. All three events are well attended and cater to families with younger children. Summerfest typically includes carnival type rides, live music, food booths, and informational tables from community groups. The Halloween Fair features free games that children play for candy prizes, costume contests, and a DJ. Christmas in the City, also known in recent years as Snow Day, features several tons of man-made snow and a visit from Santa. Additionally, community service groups such as the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs typically serve alos hold annual events in the city's parks. An Easter program features face painting, an egg scramble, and a pancake breakfast. In addition to the family themed events, the city also hosts an annual Stanton Car Show in Stanton Park featuring as many as 120 custom and classic cars, a DJ, beer sales, and raffels.