10 Cities in California
California is often in the news and the media often portrays it as a violent place. Of course there have been violent attacks and the modern world has more and more dangers but California is one amazing state to visit especially when you go outside of the major tourist spots and hyped-up places the media loves to focus on.
According to the latest statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and are based on cities with at least 10,000 people and the number of violent crimes such as rape, murder, theft, arson etc.
As we’ve seen recently, an incident of violence can occur in very unlikely places and vigilance and caution is always recommended in crowds and in events with closed doors and entertainment happening. California is a large state and has many attractions which usually provide security and safety for tourists and visitors.
Don’t let rumors and media hysteria deter you from enjoying a vacation in California. Most families will be going to the main attractions during regular operating hours and standard safety and vigilance would typically be all that is required. Have fun and stay happy, there is so much to do in California!
The following is a list of 10 of the safest cities in California based on the last available FBI data.
1. Hillsborough
The Town of Hillsborough is a residential community located in San Mateo County, California. It is west of Highway 101 and El Camino Real and east of Highway 280 within a short commute to San Francisco and minutes from San Francisco International Airport.
The Town performs essential services including police protection, building permitting and inspection, land use management, and maintenance of roads, public facilities, water, sewer and storm drainage infrastructures. The Town also funds fire protection services provided by the Central County Fire Department. The Town has an area of 6.23 square miles and a current population of 10,927.
2. Imperial
The town-site of Imperial was plotted in 1902 for home and commercial businesses. A few of the many firsts was a printing press, drug store, grocery store, brick building, and the first church. The City can also boast of having the first school in the valley and the first Chamber of Commerce.
The City of Imperial was incorporated July 12, 1904 thus being the first city in the valley to incorporate. The city was originally thought to become the county seat, but lost out to the City of El Centro in 1907.
Imperial through the years became the location for the home of the Imperial Irrigation District, the California mid-winter fair and the Imperial County airport. Also several businesses were established in the city. Imperial was devastated by earthquakes in 1916 and 1940. An earthquake in 1979 destroyed many of the old buildings in the downtown business area, including City Hall. Re-building of the business district was slow for many years. We are now enjoying a re-birth of the city with many new homes and businesses. With our central location, we are now a place that many are proud to call home.
3. Rancho Santa Margarita
The California community of Rancho Santa Margarita is located in the eastern portion of Orange County, nestled in the shadows of the lovely Santa Ana Mountains. The city lies about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, providing visitors the option to enjoy the major tourist activities within a 100-mile radius. Rancho Santa Margarita also has a number activities close by, including the world-famous Laguna Beach and one of the oldest Spanish missions in the state of California.
4. Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo is an affluent suburban city located in the San Joaquin Hills of southern Orange County, California. It had a population of 47,823 as of the 2010 census, up from 40,166 as of the 2000 census. It became Orange County’s 34th city on July 1, 2001, the only city in Orange County to be incorporated since 2000. It is bordered by the cities of Laguna Beach on the west and southwest, Laguna Hills on the east, Laguna Niguel on the southeast, and Laguna Woods on the north.
5. Saratoga
Tucked away in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, Saratoga is a lovely residential community with a small-town feel. The City is well known for its excellent schools, fine dining, unique shops, and distinctive cultural institutions. Saratoga offers a high quality of life to its residents and a chance to escape the hustle of Silicon Valley.
The valley’s shift towards suburban and urban living in the years after World War II cemented Saratoga’s status as a residential community and its reputation as an excellent place to live. In 1956, wary of potential annexation plans from San Jose, the residents of Saratoga voted to incorporate and establish their own City government.
Saratoga is vastly different from the town that Campbell and McCarty started over 150 years ago, but it remains a thriving community. The industry and most of the orchards may be gone, but the city retains the character of a small town tucked away in the trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
![California boasts several superlatives in its collection of flora: the largest trees, the tallest trees, and the oldest trees. California's native grasses are perennial plants.[32] After European contact, these were generally replaced by invasive species of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, California's hills turn a characteristic golden-brown in summer.[33] Because California has the greatest diversity of climate and terrain, the state has six life zones which are the lower Sonoran (desert); upper Sonoran (foothill regions and some coastal lands), transition (coastal areas and moist northeastern counties); and the Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic Zones, comprising the state's highest elevations.](http://safedestinations.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/california-vacations-family-safe.jpg)
Because California has the greatest diversity of climate and terrain, the state has six life zones which are the lower Sonoran (desert); upper Sonoran (foothill regions and some coastal lands), transition (coastal areas and moist northeastern counties); and the Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic Zones, comprising the state’s highest elevations.
Laguna Woods is both one of California’s newest and oldest cities. Incorporated in 1999 as Orange County’s 32nd city, the average age of Laguna Woods residents is 78. Ninety percent of the City’s 4 square miles is contained within the senior citizen gated community of Leisure World. The balance of the City contains three additional senior residential communities and several thriving commercial centers.
7. Clayton
Nestled at the bucolic base of picturesque Mt. Diablo, Clayton is in close proximity to the greater San Francisco Bay Area with all the amenities, sports and cultural opportunities offered by that choice location.
Clayton is a safe residential community of around 11,288 people. It is a town which values civic partnership with business leaders, community leaders, and our neighbors. Claytonians turn out in high numbers to celebrate the annual family-friendly festivities such as the Art and Wine Festival, our homespun 4th of July Parade, the annual Rib Cook-off, the Oktoberfest celebration, and our ever popular Concerts in The Grove summer series on select Saturdays and Thursdays in the beautiful Downtown Park.
8. Moraga
he Town of Moraga is named for Joaquin Moraga, the grandson of Joseph Joaquin Moraga who was second in command of the Anza expedition of 1776, the founder of San Francisco, Mission Dolores and the founder and first commandant of the Presidio. Joaquin Moraga, who also served in the military with his father Gabriel Moraga at the Presidio of San Francisco, left the Army in 1819. He and his cousin, Juan Bernal, received a 13,316 acre land grant from the Mexican government in 1835. The original land grant, known as Rancho Laguna De Los Palos Colorados (Ranch Of The Lake Of The Redwoods), included parts of Orinda and Lafayette and the communities of Canyon, Redwood, Rheem, and Moraga.
9. Foster City
A planned city is often more aesthetically pleasing as well, following an architectural plan that results in orderly development, neighborhoods that age better over time and property that continues to command high value. The open market is controlled somewhat by the architectural perspective.
Foster City is a man-made island of islands with over 16 miles of navigable canals weaving through it. The crown jewel featuring many water sports is the beautiful lagoon in Leo Ryan Park. A variety of activities are shown on this lagoon map, from paddle boards, to windsurfing, to riding electric boats, to walking and picnicking.
Foster City, like most of the peninsula, has a mild Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers, and cool wet winters. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 80.8 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 38.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation is 20.16 inches. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 4.20 inches.
10. Danville
here are many notable attractions to enjoy in Danville, CA and the region surrounding Danville, California itself. Top spots include the farmer’s market, downtown Danville, Mt. Diablo State Park and the Blackhawk Museum.
This attractive town is nestled in the San Ramon Valley. It features a charming and popular downtown, where there is a regular farmer’s market held each Saturday. The farmer’s market takes place at Railroad and Prospect streets from 9 am to 1 pm. This is an excellent farmer’s market with a nice selection of offerings that rotates with the season. You can get everything here from California-grown nuts and fruits to locally made goat cheese!