Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado in size.

[8] Mission Viejo is suburban in nature and culture, and consists of residential properties, offices and businesses.

The city's name is a reference to Rancho Mission Viejo, a large Spanish land grant from which the community was founded.

[6] Rancho Mission Viejo was purchased by Don Juan Forster, an English-born Mexican ranchero.

[9] During the Mexican–American War, Forster provided fresh horses to United States military forces which were used on the march of San Diego to invade Los Angeles.

Mission Viejo was a hilly region primarily used as cattle and sheep grazing land, since it was of little use to farmers.

[10] Donald Bren, an urban planner who later became the president of the Irvine Company, drafted a master plan which placed roads in the valleys and houses on the hills, and contoured to the geography of the area.

[11] The houses and shopping centers in the city are almost uniformly designed in a Spanish mission style, with "adobe"-like stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs.

The company expanded its operations and went on to build the Lakes project in Tempe, Arizona and Mission Viejo Aurora, and was the initial master planner of Highlands Ranch, both located in the Denver, Colorado Metropolitan area.

Rainfall totals, which average around 14 inches (360 millimetres) annually are focused primarily in the months from November to March.

Like most of Southern California, the city is prone to dry Santa Ana winds, bringing hot air from inland and punctuating the normally mild temperatures with noticeable jumps.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Mission Viejo had a median household income of $96,088, with 5.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

The city holds a variety of annually recurring events to celebrate holidays including a street fair and fireworks for Independence Day and public decorations and interactive activities for children during the winter holiday season featuring representation for multiple popular religions.

Olympians included Shirley Babashoff, Brian Goodell, Larson Jenson, Maryanne Graham, Nicole Kramer, Casy Converse, Marcia Morey, Dara Torres, and Greg Louganis.

Mission Viejo hosted the Road Cycling Events during the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.

Mission Viejo is also the hometown of NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez, Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes, and Chicago White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche, former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Don August, Boston Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig, Top Shot Season 4 Champion Chris Cheng, and PBA Tour Champion Scott Norton.

Mission Viejo has numerous recreational areas, such as the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center.

At the center of the city is a man-made lake, Lake Mission Viejo, accessible to a private association of Mission Viejo residents, with custom waterfront homes, condominiums, boat and paddle board rentals, fishing, and swim beaches.

Lake Mission Viejo also holds events such as music concerts and movie screenings, usually complimentary for members and typically during the summer season.

Geocaching, a popular 21st century treasure hunting game, is prevalent in Mission Viejo and surrounding cities.

[44] The purpose is meant as a tourism draw, with the geotour being SoCal's first, and a potential economic boost for the city.

The Mission Viejo City Council consists of five members elected at-large to staggered four-year terms.

In county government, Mission Viejo is located in the 3rd District, currently represented by Donald P. Wagner.

[57] Federally, Mission Viejo is located in California's 40th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R+2 and is represented by Republican Young Kim.

Students in the Deane Home community surrounding the school will be moved to nearby De Portola Elementary.

Students living in the homes north of the lake will be moved to Melinda Heights Elementary in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) operates the 82, 85, 86, 89, and 91 bus routes in Laguna Niguel.

A very short portion of California State Route 73 travels within Mission Viejo's city limits.

There is a Mission Viejo population and elevation road sign directly beneath the northbound onramp that roughly marks the official city limits which travels down the center of Via Escolar to the rail tracks on either side of the interstate.

The original route for U.S. Highway 101 previously ran through Mission Viejo on what is now El Paseo and Camino Capistrano.