Anaheim: Introduction

Contrary to popular notion, Anaheim is not a suburb of Los Angeles, but rather is the largest and wealthiest (with more than $1 billion in assets) of the 34 cities that comprise Orange County, and one of the fastest growing cities in California. A major entertainment mecca, Anaheim is one of the top convention sites and vacation destinations in the United States, with nearly 20,000 hotel rooms. Major attractions in or near Anaheim range from Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and the Movieland Wax Museum to Medieval Times, San Juan Capistrano Mission, and the Anaheim Convention Center, the centerpiece of the city. In 2001, Anaheim completed a transformation of epic proportions, with a $5 billion renovation of its resort areas. In 2004 Orange County, which has more than 42 miles of coastline and beaches and is comprised of the well-known towns Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach, had 43.6 million visitors.