The cemetery closed in 1939 and was subsequently vandalized; however, in the 1960s, the Orange County Board of Supervisors took possession of the property in order to begin to undo the damage, and tours are now available one day per month.

A section of the land was sold in 1907 to the Janss Investment Company, which first called the area Yorba Linda, and proceeded to subdivide the land and sell it for agriculture and manufacturing. In 1910, the agricultural aspect of that endeavor materialized, and the first of many lemon and orange groves were planted: at the time, the population was still less than 50. A year later, The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company began serving Yorba Linda, and the first school was constructed.

In 1912 several things happened in Yorba Linda: it received its first post office; the Yorba Linda Citrus Association was founded; the Southern California Edison Company began providing electricity; and the first church was constructed. The area that would later become downtown was also connected to Los Angeles by the Pacific Electric Railway in 1912, primarily for citrus transport.

In 1913, Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, the chamber of commerce was set up, a library opened as part of the school, and avocado trees were first planted. A year later a separate district was established for the library system.

In 1915, the Susanna Bixby Bryant Ranch house was constructed. It is now a museum and can be toured by the public.

In 1917, the Yorba Linda Star began publication. It has since become an online section of the OC Register. However, a printed version of just the Star still exists and is available at various city buildings free of charge and is delivered to every household in Yorba Linda each Thursday. Moreover, its past articles are available for viewing on microfilm at the Yorba Linda Public Library. In that same year, the first street was paved, Yorba Linda Boulevard.

The population exceeded 300 for the first time prior to 1920. In 1929, the citrus association's packing house burned down, as it was made of wood. It reopened the next year.

The small town had grown significantly by the 1960s, with over 1,000 residents by the 1960 Census, and survived or fought off three annexation considerations or attempts: one by Brea in 1958 and one each by Anaheim and Placentia in 1963. These experiences culminated in incorporation, which occurred in 1967.

The new city drew up and implemented its municipal general plan in 1972. By the 1980 Census, the population was nearing 30,000. Within ten years it exceeded 50,000.

In 1990, the Birthplace of Richard Nixon opened as a public library and museum. It would later become a federal presidential library. In 1994, the community center opened.

In 2007, Yorba Linda High School finally broke ground after many years of planning.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles. 19.5 square miles of it is land and 0.5 square miles of it (2.67%) is water.

It has two ZIP codes, 92886 and 92887, which approximately serve the western and eastern portions of the city, respectively. A third, 92885, also exists, exclusively for PO Boxes. The city is served by area codes 657 and 714 in a geographical overlay situation, in which 714 numbers were running out, so that 657 numbers are now also being issued in the same area. Ten-digit dialing is therefore now required for local calls.

It is bordered by Anaheim on the south, Placentia on the west and southwest, Brea on the northwest, Chino Hills State Park on the north, and Corona in Riverside County on the east.

The two nearest seismic faults are the Whittier Fault and the Chino Fault, both of which are part of the Elsinore Fault Zone.

The city receives 14 to 15 inches of rain per year on average. The average temperatures in January and July are 55 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, with the overall average for the year at 63. Humidity, likewise respectively, is 52%, 60%, and 56% on average.

The two main commercially zoned areas of the city are Savi Ranch, which straddles Weir Canyon Road / Yorba Linda Boulevard and is discussed in more detail below, and a section along the north side of La Palma Avenue, which is primarily an office park.

There are other, smaller shopping centers as well, however, which are primarily retail, including, among others:

Eastlake Village Shopping Center on the northeast corner of Yorba Linda Blvd. and Village Center Dr.

• Mercado del Rio on the south side of La Palma Ave., one block east of Yorba Linda Blvd. / Weir Canyon Rd.
• Packing House Square at the southwest corner of Yorba Linda Blvd. and Imperial Hwy.
• Yorba Linda Station Plaza at the southeast corner of Yorba Linda Blvd. and Imperial Hwy.
• Country Club Village at the northwest corner of Yorba Linda Blvd. and Fairmont Ave.

There are over 1,000 commercial businesses in the city in all, with more than 1,500 additional ones based out of residents' homes. The city also owns Black Gold Golf Club.

Savi Ranch today contains retailers, auto dealers, restaurants, hotels, and office buildings. The major stores are Best Buy, Petsmart, Staples, La-Z-Boy, Denny's Diner, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, and Costco Wholesale. The eastern side of Savi Ranch is the Yorba Linda side and is larger than the western side, which lies within Anaheim.

As a significant source of sales tax revenue to Yorba Linda and as one of the first anchor tenants (along with Best Buy®), The Home Depot® became a political talking point in its own right.

This is due to the fact that Savi Ranch is divided into two sections, East and West. Savi Ranch East is the Yorba Linda side, while Savi Ranch West lies within Anaheim. At the inception of Savi Ranch, The Home Depot was located in Savi Ranch East. In the early 2000s, however, the Super Kmart location in Savi Ranch West went out of business, and The Home Depot moved into that location to build what was at the time the company's largest store and in the process took the sales tax across the city boundary.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Yorba Linda had a population of 64,234. The racial makeup of Yorba Linda was 48,246 White, 835 African American, 230 Native American, 10,030 Asian, 85 Pacific Islander, 2,256 from other races, and 2,552 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,220 persons.

Breaking out the Hispanic and Latino population, the racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 65.7% non-Hispanic White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.7% Chinese, 3.1% Korean, 2.2% Asian Indian, 2.0% Filipino, 2.0% Vietnamese, 2.7% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 4.0% reporting two or more races and 14.4% Hispanic or Latino.

As of the 2000 Census, there were 58,918 people, 19,252 households, and 16,094 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,042.3 inhabitants per square mile. There were 19,567 housing units at an average density of 1,010.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 81.5% White, 1.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 11.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.3% of the population.

There were 19,252 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median household income in the city was $109,681, and the median income for a family was $122,373. Males had a median income of $66,712 versus $41,820 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,173. About 2.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local

The city council consists of five members that are elected by residents to four-year terms, with a three-term limits. A city manager is hired by the council to run day-to-day operations of the city. The council elects its own mayor at the end of every year from within its ranks, whose duty is to "preside over the meetings and represent the city at various functions." The combination of these two things means that the city employs a council-manager form of government.

Yorba Linda has four commissions, which meet monthly or bimonthly, to advise the city council about their respective projects.

The library commission operates the Yorba Linda Public Library, which has existed in some form since 1913, and is composed of five residents whose duties include selecting new materials for the library to acquire and establishing guidelines and regulations, among other things.

The planning commission is in charge of matters pertaining to land use, zoning, annexation, right-of-ways, and construction of new buildings, among other things; however, its five members are appointed by the council.

The traffic commission seeks to address issues of safety, flow, public complaints, parking, and others. Members serve terms of two years.

The parks and recreation commission is composed of council-appointed members as well and is tasked with a variety of responsibilities for all of the city's facilities and trails.

The schedules for all of the commissions' meeting times and places can be viewed here.

Law enforcement is currently contracted out to the Brea Police Department, which has a satellite administrative office in Yorba Linda.

In the past, Yorba Linda has been rated one of the safest cities in the United States.

Fire services are provided by the Orange County Fire Authority.

The Yorba Linda Water District, headquartered in Placentia, serves nearly all residents. Golden State Water, which also has a field office in Placentia, serves the remainder.

The city contracts out waste collection to Yorba Linda Disposal.

Natural gas is provided by Southern California Gas Company, and electricity is provided by Southern California Edison.

Yorba Linda is part of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. This district is home to nearly 28,000 students.

Several schools in the district have received the California Distinguished School award.

The districts schools are categorized below.

Elementary:

• Brookhaven
• Bryant Ranch
• Fairmont
• George Key
• Glenknoll
• Glenview
• Golden
• Lakeview
• Linda Vista
• Mabel Paine
• Melrose
• Morse
• Rio Vista
• Rose Drive
• Ruby Drive
• Sierra Vista
• Topaz
• Travis Ranch
• Tynes
• Van Buren
• Wagner
• Woodsboro

Middle:

• Bernardo Yorba
• Kraemer
• Travis Ranch
• Tuffree
• Valadez
• Yorba Linda

High school:

• El Dorado
• Esperanza
• Valencia
• Yorba Linda
• El Camino Real (continuation)
• Parkview (home school)
• La Entrada

St. Francis of Assisi School serves as the only Catholic school in the city. Many parents seeking a private school education for their children send their PS-8th graders to Heritage Oak Private School and high schoolers to nearby Lutheran High School of Orange County in the city of Orange, Servite High School (boys) or Rosary High School (girls) in Anaheim, or Mater Dei High School (co-ed) in Santa Ana.

The newer Yorba Linda High School, home of the Mustangs, started instruction in Fall 2009, in addition to one private high school also planned for construction in 2009. Historically, many Yorba Linda students also attended Troy High School in nearby Fullerton, Valencia High School in neighboring Placentia, or El Dorado High School, also located in Placentia.

There are two Montessori Preschools in Yorba Linda:

Montessori Academy of Yorba Linda

• Arborland Montessori Children's Academy, 1700 W. Valencia Drive, Fullerton,CA 92833
• IvyCrest Montessori Private School.
• Notable Natives and Residents
• Dan Kennedy, Major League Soccer player (Chivas USA)
• Sabrina Bryan, singer/actress (The Cheetah Girls)
• Steven Lenhart, Major League Soccer player(Columbus Crew)
• Ricky Wells, speedway rider, 2009 US National Champion
• James E. Rogan, Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and lead prosecutor in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, current trial court judge with the Superior Court of California.
• Ashley Edner, actress/dancer, sister of Bobby Edner
• Bobby Edner, singer/actor/dancer (Spy Kids 3D: Game Over), (Varsity Fanclub (Capitol Records))
• Jim Edmonds, Major League Baseball player
• Danielle Fishel, actress (Boy Meets World)
• John Force, professional drag racer, owner of John Force Racing, reality TV star of Driving Force
• Ashley Force Hood, professional drag racer, John Force's daughter
• Eric Friedman, also known as "Erock", touring guitarist for Creed, former guitarist for Submersed, disc golfer
• Bobby Knoop, Major League Baseball player (California Angels)
• Alli Mauzey, Broadway actress, (Wicked, Hairspray, Cry-Baby)
• Bengie Molina, Major League Baseball player
• Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States. Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda in 1913 and lived there until 1922. His reconstructed home is listed as a National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark. Adjacent to this home is the Richard Nixon Library and Museum.
• Audrina Patridge, reality TV actress (The Hills)
• Chris Pontius, Major League Soccer player (DC United)
• Bob "Buck" Rodgers, Major League baseball player (California Angels)
• Jessamyn West, a writer who was a second cousin to Richard Nixon on her mother's side of the family. The Wests moved to California from Indiana in 1909 and young Jessamyn attended schools in Yorba Linda and Fullerton. West later authored a number of books and collections of poems, including the 1945 novel The Friendly Persuasion, which was turned into a film, Friendly Persuasion, in 1956, starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire and Anthony Perkins. A city park named in her honor, Jessamyn West Park on Yorba Linda Boulevard at Club Terrace Drive, is situated on the West family's former farm property.
• Michael D. Duvall, former Yorba Linda mayor and disgraced California State Assemblyman
• Seether, rock band
• Mitzi Kapture, actress