In the 1980’s, major development began on one of the US’s biggest master planned community: Mission Viejo, CA. While Mission Viejo’s history dates back almost 200 years, the area was considered geographically undesirable for development and was largely used for cattle grazing. In developing Mission Viejo, planners incorporated the land’s hills and valleys into their plan and built the city to accommodate the geography, rather than force the land to conform to the flat streets and lots that mark most of suburbia.

Considered part of south Orange County, Mission Viejo, California has a large man-made lake at its center that is the backdrop for the city’s annual Forth of July fireworks show.