text:
Julian, California

Julian is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,768, up from 1,502 at the time of the 2010 census.

Julian is an official California Historical Landmark (No. 412). The Julian townsite and surrounding area is defined by the San Diego County Zoning Ordinance Section 5749 as the Julian Historic District. This designation requires that development adhere to certain guidelines that are administered by the Architectural Review Board of the Julian Historic District, which is appointed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Julian was named an International Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association in May 2021. It was the 30th such designation and the second in California.

The town is known for its apple pie and its annual Julian Apple Days Festival, which began in 1949.

19th century: Initial European settlement and the gold rush
The first European settlers were "Cockney Bill" Williams from England and John Wesley Horrell, who arrived in the area in 1850 or 1851. The town itself was first settled by Drury, Frank, and J.O. Bailey, all brothers; and their cousins, Mike and Webb Julian. They were passing through the region from San Bernardino en route to Arizona in 1869, in the wake of the American Civil War. Taken by the beauty of the Julian area, Drury Bailey interrupted the group’s travel plans and chose instead to settle here; he chose to name the settlement “Julian” after Mike Julian because “Mike was better looking” than any other member of the Bailey family. Julian was also a former Confederate soldier who was later elected San Diego County Assessor. Shortly afterwards gold was discovered in the Julian region. A tent city initially formed in the boomtown, followed by more permanent structures as it became apparent that gold mining in Julian would persist for some time. Victorian-style structures were constructed in the latest stage of Julian’s early settlement, including the Hoskins House.

After the American Civil War, in 1869, A.E. "Fred" Coleman, a former slave, crossed over what is now known as Coleman Creek just west of Julian. Seeing a glint of gold in the stream bed, he climbed down from his horse to investigate. Having had previous experience in the gold fields, he retrieved his frying pan and began panning the sands of the creek. Soon thereafter, Coleman established the Coleman Mining District and was its recorder and also began the mining camp called Emily City, later renamed Coleman City. Learning of the find, others rushed to the district and tried to trace the gold to its source. On February 22, 1870, the first "lode", or hard rock, mining claim was filed in the Julian area. Since February 22 was President George Washington's birthday, the mine was named the Washington mine. Soon hundreds of anxious men and families rushed to Julian to stake their claims. Julian experienced a gold rush and became a tent city overnight. In April 1870, the area's first sawmill was set up and Julian began to take on a more permanent structure. Attempts to build rival mining towns at Coleman City, Branson City and Eastwood were defeated. Owners of the Cuyamaca rancho Land Grant claimed (the Cuyamaca Land Float) Julian, and its mines were within the Rancho boundaries. In 1873, the courts ruled that the Rancho did not include Julian and the mines. While the miners tried to wrestle the gold from deep within the earth, James Madison brought a wagon load of young apple trees into the mountains. The fruit trees flourished in the clear, fresh air. Apples are still a big product in Julian, many of which are used for making the world-famous Julian apple pies. Local historians have variably suggested that the Julian of 1873 rivaled San Diego in population and they unsuccessfully attempted to shift the county seat to the city.

According to a bronze historical plaque appearing in the town, in the early days of Julian, the majority of San Diego County's Black population resided in or near the town, including the founders of the Robinson Hotel and a noted resident, America Newton, a freed slave who laundered miners' clothing. Of the 55 Black people living in San Diego County during the 1880 census, 33 lived in the Julian area.

20th century
In 1976, Julian approved a plan that required the exteriors of any buildings on Main Street be no younger in age than 1913. Many structures bear a Victorian architecture that predates this cutoff. In the 1970s, as many of 25,000 visitors visited the settlement per annum.

Julian had four or five wells in the 1970s. A county planner surveyed the water capacity for Julian and indicated that it was unlikely that Julian would ever have enough inexpensive water to sustain large-scale development. During a period of drought, the community of Julian was compelled by the San Diego County supervisors to obey a moratorium on development until a 30,000 gallon waste treatment plant could reduce the risk that a developing Julian’s sewage output might pollute the San Diego River. Julian’s water supply became largely dependent on a single well owned by a local property owner named Jerry Zweig, as the community’s water board-owned resources were depleted in a drought in the 1990s and were severely limited by contamination as a defunct Chevron station contaminated three of the eight publicly owned water wells into the late 1980s.

On May 29, 1989, Benjamin Haimes of Encino and Gustav Oran Hudson of El Cajon) disputed a claim to land to the Ready Relief and Hubbard Mines in Julian’s Chariot Canyon (historically owned by the Bureau of Land Management) over rights to an area where both had intentions to prospect for gold. Hudson and his family arrived at the property at a time when Haimes’ appointed caretaker (Chris Zerbe) and the caretaker’s friend (Joe Lopes) of Julian. The resulting escalation involved the replacement of a padlock at the Hubbard Mine by the Hudsons, conflicting accounts of alcohol use and escalative behavior by Zerbe, and a shootout in which Zerbe and Lopes (who did not fire) were ultimately killed. No charges were filed. Nicknamed the “Chariot Canyon Massacre,” these killings are understood to be the first gold prospecting-related killing in Julian since the gold rush of the late 1800s.

A controversy erupted in Julian in 1991 as the community lost its bid to resist the construction of fast food restaurants. Dairy Queen and Subway were the first to relocate into the town during this time. Zweig circumvented a community moratorium on new development (induced due to the town’s longstanding drought), agreeing to continue to sell 30,000 gallons of water a day in return for the waiver to build. Zweig, also the owner of the largest well in the community, allegedly threatened to cut off the community’s water supply unless they acquiesced. Neither business was supported by the community and both have since closed.

Railroad
In the 1960s, motion picture animator Ollie Johnston acquired and restored a full-size Porter steam locomotive originally built in 1901, named the Marie E. He then built the Deer Lake Park & Julian Railroad (DLP&J) at his vacation estate in Julian to run the locomotive with a small gondola and caboose pulling behind it, utilizing railroad ties from the defunct Viewliner Train of Tomorrow attraction in Disneyland. The Marie E. first ran in 1968. Johnston sold the vacation estate and the narrow gauge train in 1993, and the engine and its consist were sold, running one last time on the Disneyland Railroad during a private event.

21st century
The region around Julian was hit by a multi-year drought starting in 1999, leading up and into the catastrophic Cedar Fire of 2003 following an extremely wet 1997–1998 El Niño cycle. Residents of Julian reported drilling wells up to 600 - 800 ft to strike water during this period, well over twice as deep as they have had to drill in the town’s history. This has also been controversially attributed to stressors from the development of weekend and holiday housing in the town by outsiders. Drought conditions were noted to have allowed the rise of beetle pests to consume Coulter pines in and around the community, as the pines do not have access to enough water to protect their trunks with sap. The drought-induced devastation of the Coulter pines due to the beetles has allowed some landowners in the Volcan Mountains to the immediate north of Julian to obtain exemptions from filing timber-harvest plans. These plans are normally required under the California Environmental Quality Act and effectively allow the state to regulate the logging practices exercised on a parcel of land, raising fears in Julian that overlogging might be technically permissible in light of the Coulter pine disaster.

In recent decades Julian has become a quaint mountain resort, with most businesses oriented toward tourism and not local services. The main area of town narrowly escaped destruction in the 2003 Cedar Fire that burned much of the surrounding area.

In 2004, an interviewing journalist noted that up to a third of Julian’s population had been affected by property losses associated with fire. The local fire district had recently removed property-tax benefit fees, making reconstruction more difficult for residents devastated by fires. Drought and infestation of the local forests by pine bark beetles was observed to exacerbate the fire season’s stressing effect on the community.

Fire disruptions as of 2004 were observed in Julian to have caused the disappearance of populations of red-winged blackbirds, acorn woodpeckers, white-crowned sparrows, lesser goldfinches, scrub jays, Steller’s jays, nuthatches, or black-headed grosbeaks.

Luxury home developments expanded the community of Julian into the early 2010s. These developments (such as the New England-themed Hoskings Ranch development), which often exceed $1 million in listing prices, are predominantly owned as vacation homes by individuals who principally live in La Jolla, with significant concentrations from Del Mar and Coronado in metropolitan San Diego.

In 2017, the Julian Arts Guild opened an art gallery in downtown Julian, Julian Arts Guild Gallery, where local artists and artisans display their works.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.8 sqmi, all land.

Soils in and around Julian are mostly dark brown, slightly to moderately acidic sandy loams which are well drained and of variable stoniness. Less stony areas, which underlie most of the townsite, are in the Holland series. The hills around town have rocky soils of the Crouch series. Somewhat poorly drained alluvial loam occurs along Coleman Creek.

Climate
Julian experiences more extreme temperatures and greater precipitation than much of southern California. It also receives snow annually, which accumulates the most in February and March. This attracts people from San Diego and other coastal cities, where snow is a once-in-a-lifetime event. As is typical in southern California, the summer has the driest months, but with a number of monsoonal storms from the southeast. Average yearly snowfall from 1991 to 2020 has been 6.4 in.

2020
Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Julian grew from 1,318 to 1,332, a 1.06% increase and its median household income grew from $71,480 to $74,121, a 3.69% increase.

The five largest ethnic groups in Julian, CA are White (Non-Hispanic) (81.6%), Two+ (Hispanic) (12.9%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.15%), White (Hispanic) (2.33%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0%), and 98.9% of the residents in Julian, CA are U.S. citizens.

In 2021, the median property value was $478,300, and the homeownership rate was 92.2%.

2010
According to the 2010 United States Census Julian had a population of 1,502. The population density was 191.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Julian was 1,341 (89.3%) White, 5 (0.3%) African American, 27 (1.8%) Native American, 12 (0.8%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 81 (5.4%) from other races, and 36 (2.4%) from two or more races. There were 195 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (13.0%).

The Census reported that 1,502 people (100% of the population) lived in households, zero (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 670 households, out of which 146 (21.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 329 (49.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 51 (7.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 35 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 41 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 209 households (31.2%) were made up of individuals, and 89 (13.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24. There were 415 families (61.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution included 283 people (18.8%) under the age of 18, 76 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 260 people (17.3%) aged 25 to 44, 585 people (38.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 298 people (19.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.8 years. For every 100 females, 96.1 were males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, 95.4 were males.

There were 917 housing units at an average density of 117.0 /sqmi, of which 489 (73.0%) were owner-occupied, and 181 (27.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%. 1,065 people (70.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 437 people (29.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,621 people, 658 households, and 459 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 204.8 PD/sqmi. There were 902 housing units at an average density of 114.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.05% White, 1.17% Native American, 0.74% African American, 0.49% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 3.95% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.08% of the population.

There were 658 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the CDP, 25.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,681, and the median income for a family was $49,143. Males had a median income of $32,105 versus $26,509 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,132. About 4.3% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Arts and entertainment

 * Galloping On and Satan's Blade were filmed on location in Julian.
 * Principal photography for Phantasm took place at an ice cream parlor on Main Street in Julian.
 * Scenes in Carving a Life accentuated several landmarks in Julian and included residents local to the area.
 * The 2019 film Beneath the Leaves is set in Julian.
 * Several locations in Julian were utilized for the 2020 film Sweet Taste of Souls.
 * Julian Arts Guild Gallery is open weekends for tourists.
 * The Julian Pioneer Museum
 * Julian Theater Company produces several plays each year in the Town Hall theater and at the Julian High School Little Theater.

Notable people

 * L.A. Edwards, folk-rock musical group
 * John Baca, decorated Vietnam War veteran and activist for homeless veterans
 * Eleanor Burns, quilt maker, author, host of public television show
 * A. E. Coleman, former slave who discovered gold in Julian
 * Rick Dyer, video game designer
 * James Hubbell, artist, architect, sculptor, and founder of the Ilan-Lael Foundation
 * Ollie Johnston, American motion picture animator
 * Don Kojis, former record-breaking, All-Star professional basketball player
 * Richard Louv, journalist and author
 * America Newton, former slave who helped launch the mining town
 * Donald Pike, former child farmhand in Julian who became a Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner
 * Claudia Previn, singer, musician, actress, editor and graphic artist
 * Sig Ruman, German-American actor known for playing villains
 * Cathy Scott, Los Angeles Times bestselling true-crime author; journalist
 * Don Weeke, fiber and gourd artist
 * Don Winslow, screenwriter and New York Times bestselling novelist

Economy
The main employment sectors in Julian are tourism and agriculture, with emphasis on apples. Julian is on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Julian is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Julian is in.

Education
The Julian Union School District operates one elementary, one junior high, one high school, and one Julian Charter School.

Transportation
Access to Julian is limited to three major roads. The northern access is via State Route 79, which ultimately links to various other roads and highways serving northern San Diego and southwestern Riverside counties, including Interstate 15. State Route 78 comes to Julian from the west, providing access to Ramona and Escondido. The eastern access is State Route 78, which descends the eastern slope of the mountains to intersect with State Route 86 in Imperial County; this is the least commonly used of the three routes. The southern access is State Route 79 through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which then links to Interstate 8.

Attractions
The California Wolf Center (CWC) lies 4 mi outside of Julian, and is the principal captive breeding facility for the endangered Mexican wolf (which, as of 2012, had fewer than 50 wild members of its species). Alaskan wolves have also been raised and studied at the facility. The California Wolf Center is managed in conjunction with the United States Forest Service but is financed entirely through private donations.

title: Julian, California


text:
La Mesa, California

La Mesa (La Mesa, lit. 'The Table') is a city in San Diego County, located 9 mi east of downtown San Diego in Southern California. The population was 61,121 at the 2020 census, up from 57,065 at the 2010 census. Its civic motto is "the Jewel of the Hills."

History
Before European colonization, the area that is now La Mesa was home to the Kumeyaay. The Kumeyaay were a Yuman-speaking people who practiced horticulture and hunting and gathering. The Kumeyaay organized themselves into a federation of self-governed bands, or clans. Beginning in 1769, the Kumeyaay of La Mesa and the larger San Diego County region were enslaved by Spanish colonists or later forcibly relocated to reservations. La Mesa in Spanish means "the table", or alternately "the plateau", relating to its geography. La Mesa was part of a larger tract, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and was used by Spanish missionaries.

Through the years, the Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers valued La Mesa for its natural springs. In 1868, stockman Robert Allison moved to the area and purchased 4,000 acres of land from the heirs of Santiago Arguello, commandante of the Presidio of San Diego. This land became La Mesa, and the "Allison" natural springs were renamed the "La Mesa Springs." The importance of the springs is still reflected today in the name of the prominent "Spring Street," which passes through downtown La Mesa, and with the preservation of the spring house in Collier Park.

La Mesa was founded in 1869 and The City of La Mesa was incorporated on February 16, 1912.

Its official flower is the bougainvillea.

In 2020, La Mesa was the site of civil unrest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two days after Floyd's murder, an unarmed black man was grabbed and shoved by a white La Mesa Police officer and arrested at the Grossmont Trolley Station. The video of the incident went viral and led to more than 1000 protesters converging on the city. An African-American grandmother was shot in the face with a bean bag round from police. Businesses were looted and several structures were set on fire, including two banks that burned to the ground. The officer in the trolley station incident was charged with falsifying a police report in connection with the reason for the arrest but acquitted in December 2021.

Geography
La Mesa is bordered by the city of San Diego on the west and north, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove on the south, and El Cajon on the east. It includes the neighborhood of Grossmont.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 sqmi. 9.1 sqmi of it is land and 0.04 sqmi of it (0.44%) is water.

Climate
La Mesa is approximately 10 mi east of the Pacific Ocean. Because of this, La Mesa typically experiences more extreme temperatures than San Diego, most of which lies closer to the Pacific Ocean. La Mesa has a Semi-arid Steppe climate. La Mesa typically has hot, dry summers and warm winters with most of the annual precipitation falling between November and March. The city has dry weather with around 13 in of annual precipitation. Summer temperatures are generally hot, with average highs of 78 - 92 F and lows of 56 –. Winter temperatures are warm, with average high temperatures of 66 – and lows of 46 –.

The climate in the San Diego area, like much of California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in micro-climates. In San Diego's case, this is mainly due to the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick "marine layer" cloud cover will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but will yield to bright cloudless sunshine approximately 5 – inland. This happens every year in May and June. Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas tend to experience higher temperatures than areas closer to the coast.

Transportation
The City of La Mesa is served by the San Diego Trolley's Orange Line at its stations in Spring Street, La Mesa Boulevard, Grossmont Transit Center, and Amaya Drive, the last two of which are also served by the Green Line.

By car, the city is served by Interstate 8, California State Route 94, and California State Route 125.

2010
At the 2010 census La Mesa had a population of 57,065. The population density was 6,259.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of La Mesa was 54.1% White, Hispanic or Latino of any race was 21.5%, 8.0% African American, 5.8% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 11.6% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races.

The census reported that 56,408 people (98.8% of the population) lived in households, 124 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 533 (0.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 24,512 households, 6,695 (27.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 9,330 (38.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,102 (12.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,335 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,731 (7.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 243 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 8,004 households (32.7%) were one person and 2,924 (11.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30. There were 13,767 families (56.2% of households); the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 11,164 people (19.6%) under the age of 18, 6,396 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 16,792 people (29.4%) aged 25 to 44, 14,625 people (25.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,088 people (14.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

There were 26,167 housing units at an average density of 2,870.3 per square mile, of the occupied units 11,221 (45.8%) were owner-occupied and 13,291 (54.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 26,713 people (46.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,695 people (52.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 54,749 people in 24,186 households, including 13,374 families, in the city. The population density was 5,909.9 PD/sqmi. There were 24,943 housing units at an average density of 2,692.5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 51.0% White, 6.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 9.5% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.6%.

Of the 24,186 households 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 12.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 19.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median household income was $41,693 and the median family income was $50,398. Males had a median income of $37,215 versus $30,413 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,372. About 5.2% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $45,156.

Silent film history
From 1911 to 1912, film pioneer Allan Dwan kickstarted his career in La Mesa, directing over 150 silent films produced by Flying A Studios. He often used local mentions in the title of his works such as Bonita of El Cajon, Mystical Maid of Jamacha Pass, The Bandit of Point Loma, The Land Baron of San-Tee, and The Winning of La Mesa. After Dwan moved to Los Angeles for the rest of his career, it was reported that La Mesa missed its chance to be "Hollywood before Hollywood."

Farmer's market
There is a farmer's market in La Mesa Village every Friday afternoon.

Flag Day Parade
On June 14, 1997, with the help of Councilmember Ruth Sterling, the City of La Mesa inaugurated its First Annual Flag Day Parade.

La Mesa Walkway of the Stars
The “Walkway of the Stars” is a pedestrian walkway that has been transformed into an urban park in downtown La Mesa. The vision for a place to recognize La Mesa's extraordinary volunteers was provided by Councilmember Ruth Sterling. The park's theme honors the city's outstanding volunteers who have provided 10,000 or more hours of service to the city of La Mesa. “Walkway of the Stars” is located between the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard.

Oktoberfest
At the beginning of each October, La Mesa holds its biggest event of the year, Oktoberfest, attended by approximately 200,000 people over the three nights of the event.

Back to the 50s Car Show
The Back to the '50s Car Show is an annual summer event where classic car enthusiasts come to display their vehicles. The event is held every Thursday evening during the months of June through August in La Mesa Village along La Mesa Boulevard. Admission to the event is free.

Sundays At Six
Sundays At Six is a free concert series that is offered every year in the months of June and July. For six Sundays, free concerts are performed in Harry Griffen Park from 6 pm to 7 pm. The concerts began in 2002 after being conceived by then-city councilman Mark Arapostathis and assistant city manager Yvonne Garrett along with members of the community. They are organized by the La Mesa Arts Alliance and sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County Foundation.

Other events
Other annual events include Christmas in the Village, Trick-or-Treating in La Mesa Village, and the raising of the Pride flag at La Mesa City Hall to mark Pride Month each June.

Grossmont Center
The city's major mall, Grossmont Center, opened by the Cushman Family in 1961. In 2021, Grossmont Center was purchased from the Cushman Family by Federal Realty Trust, which valued the shopping center at $175 Million and plans to redevelop and modernize the 925,000 square-foot property.

Alternative media
The original offices of The San Diego Door, a popular underground newspaper of the 1960s, were located in La Mesa at 7053 University Avenue.

City government
La Mesa is a general law city which uses a council-manager system of government with a directly elected mayor. The city council consists of a mayor and four councilmembers, all of whom are elected from the city at large and serve four-year terms. The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The current mayor is Mark Arapostathis, who was re-elected in 2018.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, La Mesa is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, La Mesa is in.

Education
The schools in La Mesa are operated by two districts. The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District operates most of the elementary and middle schools in the city, while the Grossmont Union High School District operates Helix High School and the Gateway day schools.

Elementary schools

 * Rolando Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * La Mesa Dale Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Maryland Avenue Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * RHR DFAF Private Charter School
 * Murdock Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Murray Manor Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Northmont Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Lemon Avenue Elementary School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Vista La Mesa Academy (Lemon Grove School District)
 * Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School (private, K-8)
 * St. Martin's Academy (private)
 * Liberty Charter School (private)
 * San Diego Jewish Academy (private)
 * Christ Lutheran School (private)
 * Innovation Center La Mesa – Julian Charter School (charter)
 * La Mesa Arts Academy (4th - 8th Grade) - La Mesa-Spring Valley School District

Middle/junior high schools

 * Parkway Middle School (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * La Mesa Arts Academy (4-8 Grade) (LMAAC) (La Mesa-Spring Valley School District)
 * Vista La Mesa Academy (Lemon Grove School District)
 * Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School (private, K-8)

High schools

 * Helix High School (Grossmont Union High School District)
 * Grossmont High School (Grossmont Union High School District) includes some students from La Mesa while having an El Cajon street address

K–12

 * Gateway Community Day (Grossmont Union High School District)
 * Gateway West Community Day (Grossmont Union High School District)
 * Mt. Helix Academy (Private Administration)

Notable people

 * Aaron Boone, retired baseball player and manager
 * Reggie Bush, retired football player
 * Brian Patrick Butler, actor and filmmaker
 * Ammar Campa-Najjar (born 1989), Democratic politician
 * Brooks Conrad, baseball player
 * Ralph Drollinger, basketball player and religious minister
 * Josquin Des Pres, producer and bassist
 * Dennis Hopper, actor/producer/photographer
 * Dave Mustaine, founding guitarist/vocalist of Megadeth
 * Diana Napolis, social worker and celebrity stalker
 * Ellen Ochoa, engineer and astronaut
 * Willie O'Ree, hockey player
 * Jason Phillips (catcher), former baseball catcher for New York Mets
 * Goldie Rapp, third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies
 * Steve Roach, ambient musician
 * Claudia Sandoval, MasterChef winner
 * Cathy Scott, true-crime author
 * Whitney Shay, blues, soul, and rhythm and blues singer and songwriter
 * Alex Smith, retired football player who was raised in La Mesa.
 * Eddie Vedder, vocalist/guitarist of Pearl Jam
 * Bill Walton, basketball player and sportscaster

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: La Mesa, California


text:
La Presa, California

La Presa (Spanish for "The Dam") is a census-designated place (CDP) in the East County region of San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 34,169 at the 2010 census, up from 32,721 at the 2000 census.

La Presa belonged to the neighboring Spring Valley CDP from its inception in 1970 through 1990. It is still considered part of Spring Valley in informal usage and addresses in the CDP continue to use the name Spring Valley. It was named after the Sweetwater Dam.

La Presa is served by a 91977 ZIP code, which is considered Spring Valley according to the USPS.

Geography
La Presa is located at 32.71194°N, -117.00389°W (32.712057, -117.003862). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.0 sqmi. 5.5 sqmi of it is land and 0.5 sqmi of it (8.67%) is water.

2010
At the 2010 census La Presa had a population of 34,169. The population density was 5,678.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of La Presa was 9,045 (24.0%) White, 4,428 (13.0%) African American, 282 (0.8%) Native American, 3,958 (10.5%) Asian, 410 (1.2%) Pacific Islander, 8,238 (24.1%) from other races, and 2,535 (7.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19,279 persons (51.1%).

The census reported that 33,924 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 154 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 91 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 10,178 households, 4,708 (46.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,270 (51.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,885 (18.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 784 (7.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 640 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 85 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,625 households (16.0%) were one person and 705 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.33. There were 7,939 families (78.0% of households); the average family size was 3.69.

The age distribution was 9,584 people (28.0%) under the age of 18, 3,692 people (10.8%) aged 18 to 24, 9,287 people (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 8,015 people (23.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,591 people (10.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 32.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

There were 10,711 housing units at an average density of 1,780.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 6,338 (62.3%) were owner-occupied and 3,840 (37.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 20,565 people (60.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,359 people (39.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 32,721 people, 10,008 households, and 7,986 families in the CDP. The population density was 5,843.6 PD/sqmi. There were 10,236 housing units at an average density of 1,828.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 25.6% White, 14.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 16.4% from other races, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.1%.

Of the 10,008 households 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 14.6% of households were one person and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.55.

The age distribution was 31.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median household income was $45,939 and the median family income was $47,486. Males had a median income of $34,412 versus $26,210 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,998. About 9.4% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, La Presa is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, La Presa is in.

title: La Presa, California


text:
Lake San Marcos, California

Lake San Marcos is a unincorporated community in the North County region of the San Diego metropolitan area. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the community as a census-designated place (CDP). Surrounded by the city of San Marcos, the county-governed area receives certain services from the city.

History
There is considerable evidence of human inhabitation of the area long before the Spanish establishment of the Mission San Diego de Alcala in A.D. 1769. Native American tribes lived and flourished near the San Luis Rey River in the Late Prehistoric period. Much of this area was originally part of Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos. On April 22, 1840, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted the 8,877-acre Rancho Los Vallecitos de San Marcos to Don Jose Maria Alvarado who married Lugarda Osuna, daughter of the owner of San Dieguito Rancho, Don Juan Maria Osuna.

Geography
Lake San Marcos is an unincorporated area of San Diego County, surrounded by the City of San Marcos. It is a resort-based community surrounding the Lake San Marcos reservoir.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.8 sqmi. 1.7 sqmi of it is land and 0.1 sqmi of it (4.76%) is water. The lake after which the area is named is a large artificial body of water originally created for purposes of irrigation and watering cattle; today, however, it is used primarily for recreational and commercial purposes. The lake was created by a concrete dam built between 1946 and 1951.

Demographics
The population was 4,437 at the 2010 census, up from 4,138 at the 2000 census. The community attracts a large number of retired and elderly residents though over time younger families with children are moving in.

2010
At the 2010 census Lake San Marcos had a population of 4,437. The population density was 2,455.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lake San Marcos was 3,978 (89.7%) White, 37 (0.8%) African American, 20 (0.5%) Native American, 133 (3.0%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 186 (4.2%) from other races, and 80 (1.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 464 people (10.5%).

The census reported that 4,435 people (100% of the population) lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 2 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,328 households, 221 (9.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,112 (47.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 131 (5.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 56 (2.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 81 (3.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 877 households (37.7%) were one person and 659 (28.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.91. There were 1,299 families (55.8% of households); the average family size was 2.45.

The age distribution was 366 people (8.2%) under the age of 18, 184 people (4.1%) aged 18 to 24, 597 people (13.5%) aged 25 to 44, 1,212 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,078 people (46.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 63.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.

There were 2,533 housing units at an average density of 1,402.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,835 (78.8%) were owner-occupied and 493 (21.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%. 3,417 people (77.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,018 people (22.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 4,138 people, 2,269 households, and 1,300 families in the CDP. The population density was 2,283.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,455 housing units at an average density of 1,354.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.86% White, 0.27% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.46% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.73%.

Of the 2,269 households 5.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.1% of households were one person and 29.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.29.

The age distribution was 5.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 10.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 60.4% 65 or older. The median age was 71 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.

The median household income was $50,857 and the median family income was $59,496. Males had a median income of $42,250 versus $30,993 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $35,768. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government
While Lake San Marcos is an independent and unincorporated community, it is also greatly dependent upon the city of San Marcos for many public services, including public schools, the fire department, the Vallecitos Water District, and the San Marcos sheriff station. Lake San Marcos is governed by the Lake San Marcos Community Association, a nonprofit organization.

In the California State Legislature, Lake San Marcos is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lake San Marcos is in.

title: Lake San Marcos, California


text:
Lakeside, California

Lakeside is a census-designated place (CDP) in the East County region of San Diego County, California. The population was 21,152 at the 2020 census, up from 20,648 as of the 2010 census.

History

Lakeside was home to the Kumeyaay prior to European contact, who called Lindo Lake "Ha Ptur" or Ha Pchurr (Barona Tribal dictionary), meaning lake or "circular water".

Lakeside was founded in 1886 when 6,600 acres of land surrounding the naturally occurring Lindo Lake were purchased by the El Cajon Valley Land Company, who immediately began to promote the new land as a town and built an 80-room Victorian-style inn, the Lakeside Hotel, at a cost of $50,000 (approximately $1,220,000 today ). Three years later, in 1889, Lakeside became connected to the railroad system, and small businesses began to spring up, firmly establishing Lakeside as a bustling community. In 1904, John H. Gay bought the Lakeside Hotel and fenced off the park surrounding Lindo Lake, claiming both as part of his estate. He then proceeded to construct an automobile and horse racetrack around the lake, which became famous when Barney Oldfield set a new land speed record when visiting for the track's opening in 1907. The inn and racetrack became a popular gathering place for millionaires and celebrities and consistently drew large crowds by train to watch the races held there, but both were demolished per Gay's wishes at his death in 1920.

Lakeside has long held a reputation as a "cowboy town" and "rodeo town," due to the rural setting, the prevalence of ranches and the abundant horse ownership in the area, as well as hosting an 8 acre permanent rodeo facility, the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. The venue is manned and maintained by the El Capitan Stadium Association, an all-volunteer group who aims to assist and support the youth of Lakeside by donating all proceeds from facility rentals to local sports and service, as well as education grants. Notable rodeos include the PRCA-sanctioned Lakeside Rodeo, part of their California circuit and usually occurring on the last weekend in April, regularly drawing over 20,000 observers to the arena, as well as the Lakeside Optimists' Bulls Only Rodeo in July.

During the middle of the 20th century, Lakeside was home to significant Native American, Spanish-speaking and Filipino populations.

Many social and service groups are very active in Lakeside including Youth Venture Teen Centers, VFW, Kiwanis International, Elks, Optimist, Soroptimist, 4-H, FFA, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, youth soccer, baseball and football leagues, and the Cactus Park BMX track. The U.S. Navy maintains two large housing sites for military dependents in the town.

Today, protection of the town's history falls to the Lakeside Historical Society, which works primarily to retain and preserve the buildings in the historic former downtown along Maine Avenue, now removed from the central business hub.

Recreation
While Lakeside was first named for the presence of the small, natural lake it was founded around, it is now home to a trio of large reservoirs: Lake Jennings, El Capitan Reservoir and San Vicente Reservoir. All three are kept stocked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with various types of fish ranging from largemouth bass to catfish and rainbow trout, and are popular fishing destinations for local and county residents. The latter two are also open to recreational water activities such as wakeboarding and jetskiing;.

There are a number of parks with outdoor trails for hiking, biking and equestrian riding, most notably the River Park situated along the bank and riverbed of the San Diego River, the park surrounding Lindo Lake and Stelzer and El Monte County Parks. Also located in Lakeside is the trailhead for the climb to the summit of El Cajon Mountain, nicknamed locally as "El Capitan" for its resemblance to the famous Yosemite cliff, which dominates the view of the mountains northeast of Lakeside.

As well as hosting outdoor recreational opportunities, the town is also in close proximity to a number of Native American casino operations, the most notable of which is Barona Resort and Casino a few miles to the north. A full resort featuring hotel, buffet and golfing facilities, Barona is notable for having a gambling age restriction lower than most California casinos at 18 years old. Other Native American casinos nearby include Viejas Casino, located to the east of Lakeside on Interstate 8, as well as the Golden Acorn casino further out along the interstate.

Geography
Lakeside is in the western foothills of the Cuyamaca Mountains.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lakeside has a total area of 7.3 sqmi. 6.9 sqmi of it is land and 0.4 sqmi of it (5.22%) is water.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lakeside has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,560 people, 6,849 households, and 5,150 families residing in the census-designated place (CDP). The population density was 3,420.7 PD/sqmi. There were 7,047 housing units at an average density of 1,232.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.83% White, 0.75% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 3.28% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.52% of the population.

There were 6,849 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the CDP, the population by age was 29.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,910, and the median income for a family was $55,336. Males had a median income of $41,258 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,100. About 6.9% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Lakeside had a population of 20,648. The population density was 2,836.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lakeside was 17,545 (85.0%) White, 235 (1.1%) African American, 181 (0.9%) Native American, 351 (1.7%) Asian, 53 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,327 (6.4%) from other races, and 956 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,627 persons (17.6%).

The Census reported that 20,465 people (99.1% of the population) lived in households, 81 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 102 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 7,347 households, out of which 2,761 (37.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,878 (52.8%) were married, 1,086 (14.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 457 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 477 (7.3%) unmarried. 1,433 households (19.5%) were made up of individuals, and 660 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79. There were 5,421 families (73.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.16.

The population was spread out, with 5,050 people (24.5%) under the age of 18, 1,996 people (9.7%) aged 18 to 24, 4,914 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 6,030 people (29.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,658 people (12.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

There were 7,776 housing units at an average density of 1,068.0 /sqmi, of which 5,066 (69.0%) were owner-occupied, and 2,281 (31.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%. 13,773 people (66.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,692 people (32.4%) lived in rental housing units.

Economy
David Jeremiah's Turning Point for God is based in Lakeside.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Lakeside is in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lakeside is in.

Education
Private schools include:
 * Foothills Christian Schools, elementary campus

Public schools include:
 * El Capitan High School, established in 1959 and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
 * Tierra Del Sol Middle School
 * Lakeside Middle School
 * Riverview Elementary
 * Lakeview Elementary School
 * Lemon Crest Elementary
 * Eucalyptus Hills Elementary
 * Lakeside Farms Elementary
 * Lindo Park Elementary

Notable people

 * Joan Embery, animal and environmental advocate, and regular guest on The Tonight Show.
 * Doug Ingle, founding member and original vocalist of the band Iron Butterfly.
 * T. J. Leaf, Israeli-American basketball player for UCLA, first-round selection in 2017 NBA draft; grew up in Lakeside.
 * Heather O'Rourke (1975–1988), child actress who was living in Lakeside at the time of her death.
 * Carl C. Rasmussen (1901–52), Los Angeles City Council member, owned a hardware store in Lakeside.
 * Frederick W. Sturckow, U.S. Marine Corps officer and NASA astronaut.
 * Jack Taylor, holder of the NCAA Division III record for most points scored in game (138).
 * Scott Wilson, professional bodybuilder, former Mr. America and Mr. International.
 * Doug Goldstein, Rock Manager, Former Manager of Guns and Roses and Blind Melon.

title: Lakeside, California


text:
Lemon Grove, California

Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 27,627 at the 2020 census, up from 25,320 at the 2010 census.

History
The area that eventually became Lemon Grove was part of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, one of the Spanish missions in California. After Mexico became independent from Spain, the Californios (residents of Alta California) ranched on various land grants. The area that now includes Lemon Grove was granted to Santiago Argüello, who received more than 59,000 acres.

The first proprietor of Lemon Grove, Robert Allison, arrived in the region in 1850, coming from Sacramento. He purchased thousands of acres from Santiago Argüello's heirs; this land eventually became Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Encanto, and part of Spring Valley. Allison became a director and stockholder of the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railroad in 1886 and built the Allison Flume. Allison's son Joseph filed subdivision maps for "Lemon Grove" in 1892. The name is attributed to Joseph's mother, Tempa Waterman Allison. The climate was suitable for the cultivation of subtropical fruits and vegetables, and farmers from the East and Midwest flocked to the region. The Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association was formed in 1893; in 1894, the San Diego Union newspaper referred to Lemon Grove as "a sea of lemon trees."

Joseph and Anton Sonka, immigrants from Bohemia, moved to Lemon Grove after stints in Seguin, Texas, and San Diego. The brothers opened a well-known general store, A. Sonka and Son. In 2023, the historical building that was once Sonka's general store became Lemon Grove Bistro.

Anthony "Tony" F. Sonka, the eldest son of Anton Sonka and his German American wife Anna Klein Sonka, was also a local notable. He was a key supporter of the huge lemon that became the town's symbol and landmark. Sonka and a committee of local ranchers hired local architect Alberto Treganza to build the huge lemon to "make the ultimate statement about the town's purpose, prosperity, and optimism."

In the Lemon Grove Incident in 1931, Mexican American parents in Lemon Grove pursued a successful judicial challenge against the decision of the local school board to build a separate school for Mexican American pupils. The decision of the Superior Court for San Diego County in Alvarez v. Lemon Grove was the first successful lawsuit against school segregation.

By World War II, most of the citrus groves had disappeared and suburbanization had begun. There had been four elections on incorporation from the 1950s to the 1970s; the issue caused heated debate in the town. The city was finally incorporated on July 1, 1977, becoming California's 414th city. Lemon Grove was incorporated as a general-law city; however, it continues to receive law enforcement services, via contract, from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Geography
Lemon Grove is located at 32.73333°N, -117.03361°W (32.733451, −117.033702).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 sqmi, all land.

Transportation
The city is served by California State Routes 94 and 125. It is also served by the San Diego Trolley's Orange Line, at Lemon Grove Depot as well as at Massachusetts Avenue Station.

2010
At the 2010 census Lemon Grove had a population of 25,320. The population density was 6,525.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lemon Grove was 8,545 (33.3%) White, 3,495 (13.8%) African American, 225 (0.9%) Native American, 1,628 (6.3%) Asian, 275 (1.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,828 (19.1%) from other races, and 1,801 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,635 persons (45.2%).

The census reported that 24,974 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 200 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 146 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,434 households, 3,295 (39.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,863 (45.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,419 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 601 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 516 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 94 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,928 households (22.9%) were one person and 734 (8.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 5,883 families (69.8% of households); the average family size was 3.51.

The age distribution was 6,458 people (25.5%) under the age of 18, 2,583 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 6,900 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,550 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,829 people (11.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 2,285.4 per square mile, of the occupied units 4,609 (54.6%) were owner-occupied and 3,825 (45.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 13,984 people (55.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,990 people (43.4%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 24,918 people in 8,488 households, including 5,958 families, in the city. The population density was 6,557.3 PD/sqmi. There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of 2,295.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 33.7% White, 13.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 6.7% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 13.5% from other races, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.3%.

Of the 8,488 households 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 22.4% of households were one person and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.

The age distribution was 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median household income was $39,823 and the median family income was $45,844. Males had a median income of $35,042 versus $28,509 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,002. About 9.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Lemon Grove in 2005 was $55,436 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $45,016.

Government
The City Council includes Mayor Racquel Vasquez, and Council members George Gastil, Alysson Snow, Liana LeBaron and Jennifer Mendoza. The City Manager is Lydia Romero.

In the California State Legislature, Lemon Grove is in, and in the 79th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Akilah Weber.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lemon Grove is in.

Notable people

 * Rob Crow, American musician
 * Rob $tone, Rapper
 * John Forester, cycling activist, author and cycling transportation engineer
 * Actor Dennis Hopper, around age 13.
 * Mary Moore (1922–1962), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, a native of Lemon Grove
 * Bobby Sones, American singer-songwriter and social media personality
 * Abdussattar Shaikh, Cofounder of San Diego's Islamic Center
 * "Shotgun Tom" Kelly, radio personality
 * Lalo Alcaraz, cartoonist
 * Boyd Rice, American musician, artist, photographer and author
 * Mark Williamson, former pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
 * Rodrigo Toscano, poet

"The World's Biggest Lemon"
Weighing some 3000 pounds, and approximately 10 feet long and six feet wide, the lemon sculpture—affectionately known as the World's Biggest Lemon—sits on a concrete base at the corner of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue, adjacent to 3361 Main Street. It lies before a small lemon grove beside the Orange Line Trolley tracks near the local trolley station and downtown bus stop. Written across the base of this monument are the words "Best Climate On Earth". Designed by Lemon Grove architect Alberto O Treganza, the lemon was originally built as a parade float for the 1928 Fourth of July Fiesta de San Diego parade, carrying the town's first Miss Lemon Grove, Amorita Treganza, Alberto's 16-year-old daughter. In 1930, the float was plastered to create a permanent sculpture and displayed near its current location.

Education
Public primary education in the city is provided by the Lemon Grove School District. Grossmont Union High School District provides secondary and adult education.

High schools
Eligible students are sent outside the town for secondary education.

Middle schools

 * Lemon Grove Academy Middle School

K-8 schools

 * Vista La Mesa Academy
 * Mount Vernon School

Elementary schools

 * Lemon Grove Academy Elementary School
 * Monterey Heights Elementary School
 * San Altos Elementary School
 * San Miguel Elementary School

title: Lemon Grove, California


text:
National City, California

National City is a city located in the South Bay region of the San Diego metropolitan area, in southwestern San Diego County, California.

The population was 56,173 at the 2020 United States census, down from 58,582 at the 2010 census. National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, having been incorporated in 1887.

History
Human presence within the modern city limits of National City may have begun as early as 130,000 years ago, as allegedly evidenced at the Cerutti Mastodon site.

Archaic period sites have been found along Sweetwater River which runs through the city limits of modern-day National City. Before the arrival of Spaniards, the area which modern day National City occupies was part of the territory of the Diegueño tribe, also known as Kamia, and later Kumeyaay. Later in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century there was a Kumeyaay village, north of the modern National City boundaries, on Chollas Creek.

The Spanish named the 26,000 acre of land El Rancho del Rey (the Ranch of the King), used by Spanish soldiers to graze horses. After independence from Spain, in 1810, the Mexican government renamed it Rancho de la Nación (Ranch of the Nation). Governor Pío Pico granted Rancho de la Nación to his brother-in-law John (Don Juan) Forster in 1845. President Andrew Johnson, in issuing the land patent, listed the name as simply "The National Ranch", the English translation of the land grant name, "Rancho de la Nación".

In 1868, Frank Kimball and his brothers Warren and Levi, contractors and builders from San Francisco, purchased the entire rancho and thus began the foundation of the city, retaining the National name.

Frank Kimball first brought novelty and change to the area by building his personal residence. His home included a bathtub as well as hot running water, making it the first modern house in the entire county. However, it was more than his personal innovative endeavors that allowed the region to flourish. By constructing the first roads and railroad in what is now National City, Frank and his brothers most notably were responsible for introducing modern transportation to the residents of the community. The brothers also implemented the area's first post office and a wharf for sea-bound imports and exports. These large ventures, coupled with smaller personal missions, both contributed to the overall goal of creating a community unparalleled to the times. A lasting mark of the Kimballs was the trees they imported and planted from Europe and Asia, accomplished via a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These trees can be found dotted throughout the city to this very day. It was the passion and influence of the Kimballs as well as other early pioneers that made way for the city's incorporation on September 17, 1887.

In the mid-20th century, businesses on National Avenue catered to the entertainment of sailors stationed at Naval Base San Diego, and became known as the "Mile of Bars". In the late 20th century, the city, seeking to end the association of the street with drinking culture, urged the growth of automobile dealerships, transforming the area to be known as the "Mile of Cars". Part of the change of business types was the closure of a Pussycat Theater in 1999. The last of the bars that was on the "Mile of Bars" was the Trophy Lounge, which lasted until at least 2004. In the early 21st century, the city began to utilize eminent domain to create new developments; this met some criticism, to include on Reason TV in a video narrated by Drew Carey.

Sanctuary city debate
As of 2017, National City was home to an estimated 25,000 immigrants and refugees, or two out of every five residents.

Former Mayor Nick Inzunza declared National City a sanctuary city, meaning that it limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, in a proclamation which he presented to immigrants' rights activists on September 30, 2006, during dueling rallies that brought about 400 people to City Hall. This was the result of a statement Mayor Inzunza made on National Public Radio on September 8, 2006. This proclamation divided the city between the stance of the ex-mayor and the federal and state regulations regarding this matter.

On November 7, 2006, Ron Morrison was elected mayor of National City. On November 28, 2006, Mayor Morrison appeared on the KPBS program Full Focus with Gloria Penner and was asked if National City will continue to be a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants. Morrison responded "absolutely not."

More recently, on June 19, 2017, the National City Council voted unanimously to adopt a "Compassionate City resolution" in support of immigrants, a partial reversal of former Mayor Morrison's stance.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 sqmi. 7.3 sqmi of it is land and 1.8 sqmi of it (20.17%) is water. National City is bounded by San Diego to the north and northeast, Bonita to the southeast, and Chula Vista to the south across the Sweetwater River. San Diego Bay lies to the immediate west of the city. Also, within the boundaries of National City on the eastern side of town is the unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Lincoln Acres. National City is 15 minutes away from the US–Mexico Border (Tijuana).

National City has road access by the Interstate 5, Interstate 805, and California State Route 54, in addition to surface streets. National City Blvd, which once served as part of the historic U.S. Route 101, still serves as a north–south arterial street parallel to Highland Ave. Plaza Blvd and 30th Street/Sweetwater Road serve as east–west arterial routes. It has rail access through the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line. The nearest commercial airport is San Diego International Airport.

In 2012, National City was honored as the most walkable city in San Diego County. It currently holds a walk score of 71, among the highest scores for cities of similar size. However, its current score also puts National City among bigger cities like Seattle, Washington (74) and Portland, Oregon (66). San Diego's current walk score is 56.

Communities

Although there are no specific communities identified by the city of National City, certain areas have self-identified as communities. The Old Town community is bordered by McKinley Ave. (to the west) and National City Blvd. (to the east), and 24th Street (to the south) and 8th Street (to the north). While Lincoln Acres is an unincorporated area of San Diego County, it is located wholly within the boundaries of the incorporated city of National City and both share the postal code (91950). The South Port Business Center, an industrial park in which many businesses operate, is bordered by I-5 to the west, National City Blvd. to the east Mile of Cars Way (24th St.) to the north, and W. 28th St. to the south. The residents near Las Palmas and El Toyon Parks have neighborhood councils where they can voice their concerns with the city's elected officials.

The Neighborhood Council Program was developed in an effort to improve communication with the community and to bring services directly to National City residents. The program helps to unify neighbors to further enhance the image of the city, instilling civic pride into neighborhoods. Regular monthly meetings are held in each of the three Neighborhood Councils. Agenda topics are driven by resident requests, current events, and a desire by city officials to keep residents abreast of new programs and upcoming developments. Meetings are usually attended by police and fire officials, as well as members of the City Council.

Besides attending regular meetings, Neighborhood Council participants assist the city in improving their neighborhoods by volunteering during clean-up and beautification events and by helping to reduce crime. Residents also participate in family events sponsored by the Neighborhood Council Program such as National Night Out and Movies in the Park, as well as other city-sponsored events.

Climate
National City's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 72 °F and low rainfall (9 – annually). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick "marine layer" of cloud cover will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast.

On average, the warmest month is August. The highest recorded temperature was 108 °F in September 1988. On average, the coolest month is December. The lowest recorded temperature was 15 °F in April 2003. The maximum average precipitation occurs in February.

Ecology
Like most of Southern California and the San Diego County region, the majority of National City's current area was originally occupied by chaparral, a plant community made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs. National City's broad city limits encompass the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and the most northern area of the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The Sweetwater River runs from the Cuyamaca Mountains, through National City and Chula Vista via a flood control channel (natural route as opposed to a canal) and empties into the San Diego Bay. Most of west National City is flat with an average elevation of 72 ft, which made it historically desirable and well suited for the Spanish to graze their horses. The eastern areas of National City tend to have canyons and ridges with an existing wildlife.

2020
Most recent data from the 2020 United States census reported that National City had a population of 56,173, with a population density of 6,200 /mi2. The demographic breakdowns are as follows: 4,470 (8.0%) were non-Hispanic White, 2,239 (4.0%) African American, 957 (1.7%) Native American, 11,094 (19.7%) Asian, 335 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, and 12,337 (22.0%) from two or more races. There were 37,086 residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (66.0%). The median household income was $51,735, and persons living in poverty was estimated at 15.2%

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that National City had a population of 58,582. The population density was 6,426.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of National City was 24,725 (42.2%) White (11.7% non-Hispanic White), 3,054 (5.2%) African American, 618 (1.1%) Native American, 12,402 (20.2%) Asian, 482 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 3,638 (6.2%) from other races, 2,829 (4.8%) from two or more races and 16,175 (27.6%) Other. There were 36,911 residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (63.0%).

The Census reported that 52,830 people (90.2% of the population) lived in households, 5,341 (9.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 411 (0.7%) were institutionalized.

There were 15,502 households, out of which 7,402 (47.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,376 (47.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,437 (22.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,300 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 959 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 83 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,694 households (17.4%) were made up of individuals, and 1,226 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41. There were 12,113 families (78.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.79.

There were 14,939 people (25.5%) under the age of 18, 9,472 people (16.2%) aged 18 to 24, 15,892 people (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 12,076 people (20.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,203 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

There were 16,762 housing units at an average density of 1,838.9 /mi2, of which 5,197 (33.5%) were owner-occupied, and 10,305 (66.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 19,165 people (32.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,665 people (57.5%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 54,260 people, 15,018 households, and 11,804 families residing in the city. As of 2007, 19.5% of National City residents had incomes listed below the poverty level, a figure above the 12.4% California state average. In 2000, the estimated household income was $29,826. , the estimated household income is $39,158, which is below the California state average of $59,958.
 * Mexican – 53%
 * Filipino – 19%
 * Black or African American - 6%
 * Other Hispanic or Latino - 5%
 * German - 3%
 * Irish - 2%
 * English - 2%
 * Italian - 1%
 * American Indian tribes, specified - 1%
 * French (except Basque) - 1%
 * Puerto Rican - 1%
 * Japanese - 1%
 * Scottish-Irish - 1%
 * Subsaharan African - 1%
 * Polish - 1%
 * Russian - 1%
 * Central American: - 1%
 * Greek -1%

Crime
National City had, at some point through the 1980s, one of the highest homicide rates in all of Southern California. In 1993, the city had the second-highest violent crime rate in all of California. Crime was, in large part, one reason the city earned the moniker "Nasty City" and, through the late 1980s and early 1990s, it averaged roughly one homicide per month, which was significant, for a city of barely 50,000.

Although crime has dropped dramatically since the 1980s and 1990s, National City still has significant gang and drug activity, and has led San Diego County in crime through the 2000s. In a recent study among California cities with the highest violent and property crime rates over 2014–2016, National City ranked 9th, with a violent crime rate of 299.0 over that three-year period. More recent data from 2016 to 2020 shows that National City was at or near the top in overall crime, and at the top in violent crime per FBI Index Crime rate data by jurisdiction in San Diego County.

Tourism
With tourism being a major industry in San Diego County, in January 2012, the National City Chamber of Commerce and National City lodging businesses formed the National City Tourism Marketing District as a benefit assessment district to help fund marketing and sales promotion efforts for city lodging businesses. The NCTMD includes all lodging business (hotels, motels and inns), existing and in the future, available for public occupancy located within the city limits boundaries. An annual assessment of 2.5% of gross short-term room rental revenue collected by lodging business goes to fund the NCTMD and its activities of promoting the safety and enhanced image of National City in order to increase tourism as well as to market National City as a tourist, meeting and event destination.

Top employers
According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

Museums and other points of interest

 * The National City Mile of Cars is recognized as one of the first "auto malls" in the world.
 * National City's 3 mile along the San Diego Bay is part of Naval Base San Diego, the largest U.S. Naval base on the west coast.
 * National City Depot - The National City California Southern Railroad Depot, built in 1882, served as the first Pacific Coast terminus station of the Santa Fe Railway system's transcontinental railroad. The station was the West Coast general office and figured prominently in Santa Fe's effort to break the economic and transportation monopoly of California held by the Central/Southern Pacific Railroads. The first transcontinental trains arrived in November 1885, resulting in one of the largest land booms in the history of California. Of the original five transcontinental railroad terminus stations, this unique Italianate designed station is the lone survivor. Location: 900 West 23rd St, National City. Listed as California Historical Landmark no. 1023.
 * Westfield Plaza Bonita is a shopping mall in National City that attracts customers from all around the South Bay region of San Diego County. It is one of the only completely enclosed (all indoor) shopping malls in the county.
 * Paradise Valley Hospital, a 301-bed acute care facility founded by Ellen White, an Adventist, in 1902 as Paradise Valley Sanitarium. The hospital is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services.
 * Cafe La Maze (est. 1941) is recognized as one of National City's most historic restaurants.
 * Highland Avenue - Car cruising route.
 * Olivewood Gardens, the old Victorian style house that John T. Walton lived in.
 * Brick Row on Heritage Square, 909 A Avenue; Designed by San Diego architect R. C. Ball (who designed Folsom Prison), it was constructed by Frank Kimball in 1887 for $30,000. These 10 individual row houses were to be used by the executives of the Santa Fe Railroad. This architectural style is unique to this region and was molded after the row houses of Philadelphia and similar eastern cities. It was hoped that the railroad VIPs would not only feel at home surrounded by familiar architecture, but also be impressed by the cosmopolitan appearance of the young city. All the apartments have a formal dining room with fireplace, a kitchen, a parlor with fireplace, a butler's pantry, and four bedrooms upstairs. Twelve-inch-thick (12 in) interlocking brick walls divide the units. The brickwork on the row houses was laid with an artistic eye to break the severe lines of the long walls. The bricks above the second story are set upright at an angle. A one-story wooden porch runs the length of the building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it now is an integral part of National City's Heritage Square. Each of the 10 units is privately owned and maintained; however, there is a protective covenant on the facade, so the exterior will always be in keeping with the Victorian surroundings.

Government
In the California State Senate, National City is in. In the California State Assembly, it is in.

In the United States House of Representatives, National City is in.

Beginning in 2022, the city council will be elected by a district system rather than at-large, which was favored by Filipino American residents who believed their vote was diluted in the at-large system.

Education
National City's 10 public elementary schools are within the National School District

 * Elementary schools
 * Central
 * El Toyon
 * Ira Harbison — Blue Ribbon School 2006; California Distinguished School 2004
 * John Otis
 * Kimball — California Distinguished School 2004
 * Las Palmas
 * Lincoln Acres
 * Olivewood
 * Palmer Way
 * Rancho de la Nación (formerly New Horizons School)

 * Charter school
 * Integrity Charter School, a K–8 Charter school
 * The Charter School of San Diego (Plaza Bonita Mall)

National City's public middle and high schools are within the Sweetwater Union High School District

 * Middle school
 * National City Middle School

 * Junior High school
 * Granger Junior High School — California's 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020 Schools To Watch

 * High school
 * Sweetwater High School

 * Private schools
 * San Diego Academy — A Seventh-day Adventist K–12 school
 * Faithful Ambassadors Bible Baptist Academy — PreK–12
 * Gospel Light Christian School — PreK–12

Libraries
In August 2005, the National City Public Library opened the doors of its newly built, 49,508 sqft state-of-the art facility. The library offers more than 160,000 books and has one of the largest computer centers in the State of California's public library system with over 60 computer units.

On December 18, 1884, Frank Kimball opened the city's first public library in his own home. In April 1884, the library was moved to the downstairs room of Granger Hall on National Avenue. In 1895, it was moved to the Boyd Block, currently McKinley and visually, 16th Street. From 1911 to 1954, National City operated its Carnegie Public Library in the present site of the National City Civic Center. The library operated in the present-day Art Center since 1954 until the opening of the new location in 2005.

The National City Public Library houses the Kile Morgan Local History Room which houses a significant number of original archives and manuscripts of the National City founding families, as well as maps, artifacts, high school yearbooks and scrapbooks.

Notable people

 * John Baldessari — conceptual artist known for his work featuring found photography and appropriated images; born in National City.
 * Joe Corona — soccer player for Club Tijuana and the United States, Joe attended Sweetwater High School.
 * Andrew Cunanan - born in National City, a serial killer who claimed five people, most notably including Gianni Versace, in 1997.
 * Gail Devers — three-time Olympic gold medalist
 * Donnie Edwards — San Diego Chargers 2002–2006 National Football League player
 * Benji Gil — former Major League Baseball player, first-round pick
 * Rosie Hamlin — singer, 1960s song "Angel Baby"
 * Joe Orrell - former Major League Baseball pitcher, born in National City
 * Anna M. Longshore Potts — established the Paradise Hotel and Sanitarium in National City in 1889
 * Skid Roper — musician
 * Dan Saleaumua — former player in the National Football League; born in National City.
 * Juan Vargas — Representative of California's 51st congressional district, born in National City
 * Tom Waits — singer/songwriter and musician
 * Lukas Walton - billionaire heir, grandson of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart

In popular culture

 * The film Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988) was filmed in National City.
 * Scenes from the film South of 8 (2016) were shot in National City.

Sister cities
National City has two sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International:
 * 🇲🇽 Tecate, Mexico
 * 🇵🇭 Olongapo, Philippines

title: National City, California


text:
Oceanside, California

Oceanside is a city on the South Coast of California, located in San Diego County. The city had a population of 174,068 at the 2020 United States census, up from 167,086 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous city in the North County region of San Diego. The city is a popular tourist destination, owing to its historic landmarks, beaches, and architecture.

Oceanside's origins date to 1798, when the Spanish founded the village of San Luis Rey with the establishment of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia by Fermín de Lasuén. During the Spanish period, Mission San Luis Rey grew to be the largest of all the Californian missions, but following the Mexican secularization act of 1833 the mission and its community declined. Following the U.S. conquest of California, the former mission lands were developed into an oceanfront resort and the community's name gradually changed to Oceanside.

History
Originally inhabited by Native Americans, Oceanside was first settled by the Luiseño peoples, or the Payomkawichum. The city of Oceanside sits on the locality on the San Luis Rey River that the Luiseño called Tacayme, which contained the villages of Qée'ish (Keish) and 'ikáymay (Ikamal), in the San Luis Rey Mission area, Wiyóoya (Wiawio) at the mouth of the river, and Wi'áasamay (Wiasamai) and Waxáwmay (Wahaumai) at Guajome.

Spanish era
The first European explorers arrived in 1769. Spanish missionaries under Father Junípero Serra founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia on a former site of a Luiseño Indian village on the banks of the San Luis Rey River called Keish according to the Portolà expedition who visited in the 1769.

In the early 19th century, the introduction of farming and grazing changed the landscape of what would become Oceanside.

Mexican era
Following the Mexican secularization act of 1833, the Californian missions were nationalized, transferring their ownership from the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Church to the Mexican Government. A mission administrator was appointed to each mission to oversee the process of secularization, the removal of the priests, and the selling or granting of the mission lands to private citizens.

At Mission San Luis Rey, Padre Antonio Peyrí had presided over the mission for 34 years when soldiers forced his removal in late 1833. Captain Pablo de la Portillà was appointed as administrator of San Luis Rey. Following the departure of Padre Peyrí, relations between the Luiseños and the new civilian administration hugely deteriorated, resulting in their famed refusal to work for Captain Portillà in 1835.

American era
In the late 1850s, Andrew Jackson Myers, an emigrant from Illinois, lived in San Joaquin County, but he returned in the late 1880s and lived in San Luis Rey. In 1882 Myers moved on the land that was the original townsite for Oceanside. A patent for the land was issued in 1883 by the federal government. It was incorporated on July 3, 1888. The city hall as of the early 21st century stands on the former Myers homestead.

The town post office contains an oil-on-canvas mural, Air Mail, painted in 1937 by Elsie Seeds. Federally commissioned murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department.

Oceanside continues to be known as a vacation home market.

In the 2010s, several mid-rise and high-rise housing and lodging projects were completed in the downtown area, with more to come. In 2021, two large Hyatt resorts were completed, bringing more tourists to the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.2 sqmi, of which 41.2 sqmi is land and 0.9 sqmi, comprising 2.23%, is water.

Traveling north on Interstate 5, Oceanside is the last city before Orange County. As the crow flies, it is roughly the same distance from Aliso Viejo as it is to downtown San Diego.

Together with Carlsbad and Vista, it forms a tri-city area.

Climate
Oceanside experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh) that is significantly tempered by maritime winds and the cool currents off the shoreline. The average high temperatures range from 64 to 77 F, while the average low temperatures range from 45 to 64 F. In 2023, The New York Times reported that Oceanside's beaches are decreasing is size due to dredging and other man made forces.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Oceanside was 109,020 (65.2%) White, 7,873 (4.7%) African American, 1,385 (0.8%) Native American, 11,081 (6.6%) Asian (3.4% Filipino, 0.7% Japanese, 0.7% Vietnamese, 0.6% Chinese, 0.4% Korean, 0.2% Indian), 2,144 (1.3%) Pacific Islander, 25,886 (15.5%) from other races, and 9,697 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59,947 persons (35.9%).

The Census reported that 166,150 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 802 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 134 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 59,238 households, out of which 20,486 (34.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 30,201 (51.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6,947 (11.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,111 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,504 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 472 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. Of the households 14,117 (23.8%) were made up of individuals, and 6,161 (10.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80. There were 40,259 families (68.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.32.

The population was spread out, with 39,817 people (23.8%) under the age of 18, 19,028 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 45,797 people (27.4%) aged 25 to 44, 40,943 people (24.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 21,501 people (12.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

There were 64,435 housing units at an average density of 1,527.8 /mi2, of which 34,986 (59.1%) were owner-occupied, and 24,252 (40.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%. Of the population 97,645 people (58.4%) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 68,505 people (41.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 161,029 people, 56,488 households, and 39,259 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,967.2 PD/sqmi. There were 59,581 housing units at an average density of 1,467.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 66.4% White, 6.3% African American, 5.5% Asian, 1.2% Pacific Islander, 0.4% Native American or Alaskan Native, 0.1% from another race alone, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 30.2%.

In 2000, there were 56,488 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households 22.7% were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.33.

The age distribution of Oceanside in 2000 was as follows: 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,301, and the median income for a family was $52,232. Males had a median income of $34,772 versus $27,962 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,329. About 8.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

 * The Oceanside Pier, first built in 1888 (and now in its sixth incarnation), is one of the longest wooden piers on the western United States coastline, at 1942 ft.
 * Oceanside Museum of Art is located in the cultural district section of downtown Oceanside.
 * The historic district of Mount Ecclesia, home to the Rosicrucian Fellowship, is noted for its singular architecture and the preservation of nature grounds and gardens, offering a unique meditative walking experience.
 * Oceanside is one of the 14 designated cultural districts in California. This designation by the California Arts Council acknowledges the city's vibrant arts scene and its commitment to cultural enrichment. The Oceanside Cultural District encompasses a walkable area in the downtown center, boasting a concentration of museums and theaters, like the historic Star Theatre.
 * The California Surf Museum is located in downtown Oceanside.
 * Oceanside is home to the World's Largest Women's Surf Competition, the Supergirl Pro Jam event, which has been held yearly since 2007.
 * Each Thursday evening, downtown Oceanside hosts the Sunset Market, a gathering of local vendors, hot food and live entertainment.
 * Founded in 2006, the Frontwave Credit Union O'side Turkey Trot hosts approximately 9,000 runners and walkers from 46 states and 8 countries. The O'Side Turkey Trot has been voted one of the top trots in the country several times.
 * Since 2006, Oceanside has played host to the official start of the annual 3000 mi bicycle race, Race Across America, which is usually held during the second week of June. It is considered the world's toughest sporting event by many experts.
 * Oceanside has hosted the Beach Soccer Championships since 2007. The festival is the largest on the west coast and takes place the third weekend in May. The event has a PRO side to the event called The Beach Soccer USA Cup and it is considered to host the toughest competition of its kind in the United States.
 * The Oceanside International Film Festival was founded in 2009 by the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation.
 * The famous house in the film Top Gun, commonly called the Top Gun House, where Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise shot a romantic scene. In 2019 the house was moved from its original site and extensively restored; it now is a popular tourist attraction
 * Oceanside is home to a harbor which contains a lighthouse, several shops and restaurants, the Oceanside Sign, and hundreds of boats.
 * The TV series Animal Kingdom, based on the 2010 film of the same name, is set and filmed in Oceanside.
 * The 2023 Disney animated TV series Hailey's On It! is set on Oceanside.
 * Frontwave Arena, a 7,500 seat multi-use arena is under construction in Oceanside, and is due to open in fall 2024.

Government
The city operates under the council-manager form of government. The city council consists of four members elected from districts and one mayor elected at large. The current council is composed of: Esther Sanchez (mayor), Ryan Keim (deputy mayor)(District 3), Peter Weiss(District 4), Eric Joyce(District 1), and Rick Robinson(District 2).

The current city treasurer is Victor Roy. The current city clerk is Zeb Navarro.

The City of Oceanside is a full-service city. It provides its own police and fire safety, library, water and sewer services. In addition, the city has a municipal airport, a small craft harbor, one of the longest wooden piers in the west, golf courses, swimming pools, numerous parks, community centers, and extensive palm-lined beaches.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Oceanside is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Oceanside is in.

Education

Residents of Oceanside may attend schools in the Oceanside Unified School District, Vista Unified School District, Bonsall Union School District, Carlsbad Unified School District, Fallbrook Union High School District, or Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, depending on their address. The Oceanside Unified School District provides instrumental music programs in grades 4–12.

The Oceanside Unified School District has two comprehensive high schools, El Camino High School off Rancho Del Oro and Oceanside High School off Mission Avenue. High school students are also served by Ocean Shores Continuation High School and Clair Burgener Academy. OUSD has 24 schools plus three charter schools, including the School of Business and Technology, and two brand new schools, Louise Foussat Elementary School and Cesar Chavez Middle School, that opened in the Fall of 2007. Cesar Chavez Middle School, which is on the corner of Frazee and Oleander, will be built on 14 acre, house 11 buildings totaling 84000 sqft, and will serve 1,000 6th–8th grade students.

The other school, Louise Foussat Elementary School, located on Pala Road, is built on 12.6 acre of land with 35 classrooms totaling 54490 sqft and can accommodate 800 students.

A free, independent public charter school, Scholarship Prep, is a new TK-8th grade school which was authorized to open in August 2017 and is sited at the historic San Luis Rey Mission. It offers a full educational experience for Oceanside students.

Rail and air
The Oceanside Transit Center is a major railway interchange for long distance and commuter rail services. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner provides service to San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles and San Diego. Metrolink's commuter rail service connects Oceanside to many parts of Greater Los Angeles, while Coaster commuter rail serves northern and central San Diego County. The Sprinter hybrid rail service connects Oceanside to Escondido.

Oceanside Municipal Airport (OCN) is mainly used as a general aviation field. The nearest international airport is San Diego International Airport, connected to Oceanside via Amtrak and Coaster rail services.

Interstate and highways
Interstate 5 (I-5) travels through Oceanside, connecting to California State Route 76 (SR 76) and California State Route 78 (SR 78) within the city.

Sister cities

 * 🇲🇽 Ensenada, Mexico
 * 🇯🇵 Kisarazu, Japan
 * 🇯🇵 Fuji, Japan
 * 🇦🇸 Pago Pago, American Samoa

title: Oceanside, California