Stretching west from Disneyland, Southwest Anaheim is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Residents move to the area for its affordable housing prices and close proximity to many of Anaheim’s main attractions. Along with being adjacent to Disneyland, residents are also near several major shopping centers and entertainment complexes.
In terms of area, Southwest Anaheim is one of the largest neighborhoods in the city. Its rough boundaries include Beach Boulevard to the west, Interstate 5 to the east, Lincoln Avenue to the north, and Ball Road to the south. A portion of Anaheim extending south to Katella Avenue from Euclid Street to Brookhurst Street is also part of Southwest Anaheim.
Southwest Anaheim has an even mixture of renters and homeowners, with the most renters living in apartment complexes throughout the area. Many houses are two-bedroom and three-bedroom starter homes, although larger, suburban-style homes are available in the eastern part of the neighborhood. The popularity of Southwest Anaheim is reflected in the relative ease with which homes are sold; the average home sells at 99 percent of its list price, one of the highest percentages in Orange County.
There are several outdoor recreation spots in Southwest Anaheim. Twila Reid Park is the largest in the area. This 27.2-acre complex offers unique diversions, including horseshoe pits and a nine-hole disc golf course. Another large park in Southwest Anaheim is Modjeska Park, which is named after famous 19th century Polish-born Shakespearean actress and Anaheim resident Helena Modjeska. Along with ball fields and a children’s play area, Modjeska Park has BBQ pits and a picnic area.
Residents of Southwest Anaheim have access to excellent school districts. Students in the southwest corner of the neighborhood attend schools in the smaller Magnolia School District, while the rest of the neighborhood is part of the much larger Anaheim City and Anaheim High School Districts.