Irvine is an incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. The 46 square mile (120 km²) city has a population of 199,755 (as of 2006). Irvine is home to the University of California, Irvine (UCI), the Orange County Center of University of Southern California, Irvine Campus of Alliant International University, Concordia University, and Irvine Valley College.

The city has already annexed the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, most of which is to be made into a park called the Orange County Great Park. It currently has plans to annex an undeveloped area to the north.

Los Angeles architect William Pereira and Irvine Company employee Raymond Watson designed the layout of Irvine. The city is nominally divided into townships called villages. The townships are separated by six-lane streets. Each township includes a spectrum of similar types of dwellings, along with shopping, religious institutions and schools. Commercial districts are checker-boarded in a periphery around the central townships.

Irvine's noteworthy, present-day status didn't evolve from happenstance. It's the outcome of mastermind planners, and those engaged to institute the plan. Each day, the Irvine City leaders and staff work diligently to ensure a quality environment for the City's future.For more than 30 years, residents and businesses have been choosing the City of Irvine because of its dedication to maintaining its reputation as one of the safest, master-planned, business-friendly communities in the country.

Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, Irvine had 143,072 people, 51,199 households, and 34,354 families in the city. The population density was 1,196.2/km² (3,098.0/mi²). There are 53,711 housing units at an average density of 449.1/km² (1,163.0/mi²). The people of Irvine are from various races. The racial makeup of the city is 61.06% White, 1.45% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 29.83% Asian American, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.54% from other races, and 4.82% from two or more races. 7.37% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The average household size is 2.66 persons and the average family size is 3.17.

Things to see:
Boomers! Parks:
Boomers! Parks is a chain of family amusement centers. These centers feature both indoor and out activities. The indoor activities include carousels, kiddie swings, restaurants, musical shows and video arcades. Its outdoor activities include miniature golf, kiddie rides, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, kiddie roller coasters, and laser tag.

Islamic Center of Irvine
The local Muslim community in the city of Irvine founded the Islamic Center of Irvine on August 28, 2004. The Islamic Center of Irvine has the honor of being one of the largest Muslim congregations in California with an estimated membership of 3,000 worshippers. It offers a variety of services from youth programs to senior workshops to interfaith sports activities. In the Orange County, It is a widely respected cultural center.

Sheikh Sadullah Khan, chairman of the Muslim American Society and frequent lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles, is the religious director of the center.

University of California, Irvine:
The University of California, Irvine is a public research university primarily situated in suburban Irvine, California. It is one of ten University of California campuses and is commonly known as UCI or UC Irvine.

UC Irvine is named after its donor, Irvine Company. The company donated 1,000 acres (4 km²) (for a single dollar) and sold another 500 acres (2 km²) to the University of California. Together, the University of California and the Irvine Company planned a city around the campus, which was incorporated as the city of Irvine in 1971. UCI also maintains the UC Irvine Health Sciences system, the UCI Arboretum, and a portion of the University of California Natural Reserve System.

UCI is ranked as the 44th best university in the United States, 10th best public university in the U.S., and 4th best of all the UC schools as of 2006 U.S. News. The UC Irvine Anteaters participate in Division I NCAA athletic tournaments and they have fielded numerous successful teams over the course of their history.

Wild Rivers
Wild Rivers is a waterpark in Irvine, California. Its flagship rides include Patriot and Bazooka Bowls. There are over 40 rides and attractions in Wild Rivers. It is open from mid-May to September. Wild Rivers was opened in 1986 with just four rides. The first side by side wave pools in the country were opened in Wild Rivers after a few years.