| Orchard Hills | |
| Native Name: | Cólinas del Huérto (Spanish) |
| Settlement Type: | Community of Irvine, California |
| Subdivision Type: | City |
| Subdivision Name: | Irvine, CA |
| Area Total Km2: | 21.46 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Population Total: | 990 |
| Population Blank2 Title: | population percent |
| Population Blank2: | 0.00363044291% of Irvine |
| Population Density Km2: | 829.62 |
| Population Demonym: | Orchardian, Irvinian |
| Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2018) |
| Website: | Orchard Hills Irvine Company Page |
| Demographics Type1: | GDP |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | (PPA; 2021) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Per capita |
| Demographics1 Info2: | $107,000 USD |
| Official Name: | Community of Orchard Hills |
Orchard Hills is one of the master-planned communities of Irvine, California. To the east, it borders Limestone Canyon Regional Park, and to the west lies North Tustin, California. Located between 261 Highway and 241 Highway, the community is home to the Rattlesnake and Syphon reservoirs.
Orchard Hills was historically inhabited by the Chumash, Alliklik, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Gabrielino Luiseno Cahuilla, and the Kumeyaay tribes,[1] predominantly the Gabrieleno Tribes who are thought to have been Uto-Aztecan speakers. Some researchers believe that the Aztecs descended from California. Orchard Hills is near Irvine Ranch, so it is expected that Gabrieleño farmers and Hunter-gatherers likely farmed acorns, mesquite, Prickly-Pear Cactus, chia seeds, wild cherry, white sage, among other fruits.[2]
From the 17th century to the early 19th century, California was under Spanish rule as Alta California. During this period, the state was limited to trading outposts, villages, forts, and most notably, the Spanish missions in California, which were erected by Junipero Serra. The mission closest to Orchard Hills is San Juan Capistrano, which was founded in 1776.[3]
One of the implications of the Mexican–American War was the Bear Flag Revolt, which disrupted native activity in the area near Orchard Hills.[4]
Orchard Hills has a population of 990.[5] Orchard Hills' majority group are Asian Americans who are 68 percent of the population, the rest being 24.1 percent White and 6.7 percent Hispanic/Latino. A majority of Orchard Hills residents are female. In addition, Orchard Hills has the highest percent of children out of the neighborhoods of Irvine.[6]
The local public school of Orchard Hills is Orchard Hills School, belonging to the Tustin Unified School District, and the school mascot is a hawk. Orchard Hills School offers various programs such as robotics, AVID 7/8, and various others.[7]
Pavilions is a chain grocery story in the Orchard Hills plaza.[8]
Settlers Park is a stable attraction, being visited by many of the students of Orchard Hills School after school.