Costa Mesa is a city located in Orange County, California, in the United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the area has transitioned from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 residents into a developed urban center. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was recorded at 111,918.
The city is characterized by its role in the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, which serves as one of the largest commercial clusters in the region. Its local economy is primarily based on commerce, retail, and light manufacturing.