North County (San Diego area)

North County is a region in the northern part of San Diego County, California. It is the second-most populous area in the county, with an estimated population of 869,322 people. The area is known for its wide-open spaces and wealth, especially in places like Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, and Solana Beach, where homes often cost over $1,000,000.

Cities along the 78 freeway, such as Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido, have a mix of different income levels. The area is also famous for its beaches and lagoons. Many of these natural areas are protected to keep them beautiful and safe, even though some businesses would like to build there.

History

The name "North County" has been used since the 1970s. Back then, many places in the area were not yet official cities, and important decisions were made far away at the county seat. This part of San Diego County has always been one of the most expensive, with wealthy neighborhoods like Aviara, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Costa, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Rancho Santa Fe, and Solana Beach.

Today, North County keeps growing and remains very important to the whole San Diego area. Many of the biggest employers in San Diego County are located closer to the city of Carlsbad than to San Diego itself.

Geography

North County is a part of San Diego County in California. It is split into two main areas: coastal and inland. The coastal area includes cities like Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar, as well as Camp Pendleton South. The inland area has cities such as Escondido, Vista, and San Marcos, along with many smaller communities.

The land in North County has many different shapes and features. Coastal areas are usually flat with sandy beaches, sometimes with rocky areas called tidepools. Some parts have steep cliffs where the land drops right into the ocean. Moving inland, the land becomes hilly and includes mountains like Black Mountain and Palomar Mountain. North San Diego County has many different landscapes, including beaches, valleys, hills, mountains, lakes, and even deserts.

The area has many important coastal areas, such as lagoons and wetlands, which help protect plants and animals. Some of these include Oceanside Harbor, Buena Vista Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Batiquitos Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, and Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. These places give homes to many birds, fish, and plants. The waters near the coast have many different sea creatures, including kelp forests and reefs.

Fish in the area include tidewater goby, topsmelt, and striped mullet. Birds such as the great blue heron and snowy plover also live here. The Torrey Pine tree is one of the most well-known plants in North County.

Culture

North County has many fun places to visit and enjoy. There are forty golf courses, including Torrey Pines, where big golf tournaments have been held. The area is famous for its beautiful beaches, stretching from Del Mar to San Onofre. These beaches are very popular with visitors during the summer months. North County is also known for its surf culture, with interesting statues like the Cardiff Kook in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Horseback riding is another popular activity, with many equestrian centers located throughout the region.

The area is home to some of Southern California's finest restaurants, such as Addison at The Grand Del Mar and El Bizcocho at Rancho Bernardo Inn. The Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts an famous race track and the annual San Diego County Fair. Shopping spots include Mershops North County in Escondido and The Shoppes at Carlsbad in Carlsbad. The Cedros Design District in Solana Beach has many shops and galleries.

North County has been featured in many TV shows and movies. Camp Pendleton often appears in military-themed shows like NCIS: Los Angeles. The Del Mar Fair is shown in shows such as Entourage. The fictional town in Veronica Mars is based on places in Oceanside. Other shows like Animal Kingdom and American Vandal are also filmed in Oceanside. The comedy show Weeds is set in a made-up town in North County. Even The Big Bang Theory had an episode where characters visited Carlsbad.

Demographics

North County has often been wealthier and more conservative than the city of San Diego, traditionally supporting the Republican Party. However, in recent years, the area has been moving toward the Democratic Party, similar to other educated areas in the United States. This change is strongest along the coast, while some inland areas still lean toward the Republican Party.

The area has more jobs in offices and professional services than in factories or manual labor. Many people have Bachelor of Arts degrees, and most people are married. Coastal North County is mostly white, with many Hispanic and Asian residents, and only a few black or other race residents. Inland North County has a similar mix but with more Asian residents. Many people in coastal North County earn over $100,000 each year, while many earn less than $45,000, with others in the middle range. Inland North County has similar income levels.

Communities

The populations listed are from the 2020 census.

Cities

• Oceanside - 174,068
• Escondido - 151,038
• Carlsbad - 114,746
• Vista - 98,381
• San Marcos - 94,833
• Encinitas - 62,007
• Poway - 48,841
• Solana Beach - 12,941
• Del Mar - 3,954

Census-designated places (CDPs)

• Fallbrook - 32,267
• Camp Pendleton South - 12,468
• San Diego Country Estates - 10,395
• Valley Center - 10,087
• Camp Pendleton Mainside - 9,683
• Lake San Marcos - 5,328
• Bonsall - 4,546
• Hidden Meadows - 4,484
• Rancho Santa Fe - 3,156
• Fairbanks Ranch - 3,002
• Harmony Grove - 2,079
• Rainbow - 1,884
• Pala - 1,490
• Elfin Forest - 600
• Del Dios - 396

Other unincorporated communities

• 4S Ranch
• De Luz
• De Luz Heights
• Jesmond Dene
• Pala Mesa
• Pauma Valley
• Rincon

Education

Primary and secondary

North County has many school districts that cover different areas. Some of these include the Cardiff School District, Carlsbad Unified School District, Escondido Union School District, Escondido Union High School District, Oceanside Unified School District, Poway Unified School District, San Dieguito Union High School District, San Marcos Unified School District, and Vista Unified School District. These districts may serve parts of different cities.

Colleges and universities

North County has several colleges, including California State University, San Marcos, which offers many different programs. There is also Palomar College, a community college in San Marcos, and MiraCosta College in Oceanside, with another campus in Cardiff and Encinitas.

Media

Newspaper

Main articles: North County Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune

In 1995, several local newspapers joined together to create the North County Times. This newspaper helped share news for the area until 2012. Then, it was bought and became part of the San Diego Union-Tribune. By March 7, 2013, the name U-T North County Times was no longer used, and instead, a U-T North County edition was made, mixing San Diego news with special pages just for North County.

Radio

Besides radio stations from San Diego and Tijuana, North County also gets FM stations like KSSX, KSON, KMYI, KLQV, KARJ, KSSD, KKLJ, and KSDW, and AM stations such as KFSD, KPRZ, and KKSM. You can also catch some stations from Los Angeles, like KYSR, KIIS-FM, KBIG, KLYY, and KDLD.

Television

North County watches TV from San Diego stations, including ABC’s KGTV, CBS and CW’s KFMB, NBC’s KNSD, and FOX’s KSWB. Another local station is KUSI in San Diego.

Landmarks

Important landmarks in North County include Del Mar Racetrack, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, Lake San Marcos, Oceanside Pier, Twin Peaks, and Palomar Mountain, home of the Palomar Observatory.

[Del Mar Racetrack](/wiki/Del_Mar_Racetrack)

[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia](/wiki/Mission_San_Luis_Rey_de_Francia)

[Lake San Marcos](/wiki/Lake_San_Marcos,_California)

[Oceanside Pier](/wiki/Oceanside_Pier)

Twin Peaks, [Poway](/wiki/Poway,_California)

[Palomar Observatory](/wiki/Palomar_Observatory)

Politics

North County has leaders in the government. In the federal government, it is represented by three people: Darrell Issa, Mike Levin, and Scott Peters.

In the state government, North County is represented by three state senators: Brian Jones, Patricia Bates, and Toni Atkins. Most of North County is part of a group called County Supervisorial District 5, and it is led by Jim Desmond. Some parts of North County are in Districts 2 and 3, led by Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer.