The city is a mix of shopping and residential, and has one of the best school systems known for quality education. Fountain Valley High School is located in the Huntington Beach High School District and is one of the best schools for academics.
Fountain Valley was named for the underground springs that were discovered in the near-coastal region, once a rich area of farmlands. Those springs are remembered today with county services that exist in Fountain Valley-- Orange County Water and Orange County Sanitation Departments both are located in Fountain Valley near the Pacific Ocean.
Located along the Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway), Fountain Valley is home to major car manufacturing offices, has many larger department stores such as Costco, and dozens of popular California chain restaurants such as Mimi's, Stonefire Grill, Applebee's, Islands, and more.
There are only several hotels in Fountain Valley near the freeway, and they are geared toward business and leisure travelers seeking to save money.
Mile Square Park is a city park that literally spans a mile each direction of its square shape. Inside the park is popular Mile Square Golf Course, a public course with a clubhouse and pro shop. The park includes a small recycling pond with a walking bridge that crosses over it. The park is the epi-center of activities for Fountain Valley.
Fountain Valley Events include Classic Car & Truck Show, Summerfest, Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park-- all held at Mile Square Park.
Fountain Valley Bowl is one of the few remaining bowling alleys in coastal Orange County. It features affordable day play, and popular night time rock & bowl games with fluorescent lighting and rock music. Annually one of the nation's top bowling championship events is hosted there.
Boomer's is a family entertainment center with outdoor miniature golf, batting cages, water bumper boats, and a restaurant with pizza and kids games.
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital is the primary hospital serving hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors in north/coastal Orange County. A large complex of surrounding medical doctors specializing in everything from cancer to foot care are located around Fountain Valley Hospital.