North County refers to the northern region of San Diego County which is the most affluent area of the county. Cities in North County include Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Poway, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Some of the census-designated areas include Fallbrook, San Diego County Estates, Valley Center, Lake San Marcos, Bonsall, Hidden Meadows, Rancho Santa Fe, and Fairbanks Ranch. Other unincorporated areas include Pala Mesa, Pauma Valley, and Rincon. Camp Pendleton South and Pendleton Mainside are also located in North County. The city of San Diego is not located within North County.

Major lagoons and inlets along the North County coastline from north to south include Oceanside Harbor, Buena Vista Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Batiquitos Lagoon, and San Elijo Lagoon.

North County is home to California State University, San Marcos, a four-year university; MiraCosta College, a community college in Oceanside; and Palomar College, a community college in San Marcos.

The famous Paloma Observatory and Hale Telescope are located on Palomar Mountain in Palomar State Park which is in North County San Diego.

North County is famous for its numerous high quality golf courses. A partial list includes Torrey Pines South, Torrey Pines North, Aviara, La Costa, Maderas, Rancho Bernardo, The Crossings, Encinitas Ranch, The Vineyard, and Twin Oaks.

Other regions of San Diego County include South Bay, East County, and Central San Diego.

 

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, commonly referred to as Camp Pendleton, established in 1942, is a 125,000-acre Marine Corps base in San Diego County. The base, which is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States, is bordered by Oceanside to the south, San Clemente and Orange County to the north, Fallbrook to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Marine Corps Air Station is part of Camp Pendleton.

 

McClellan - Palomar Airport

McClellan-Palomar Airport is a 466 acre, public, general and commercial aviation airport located in North County-San Diego that serves Carlsbad, Encinitas, and the surrounding area. The modern airport, constructed in 2009, has one paved runway and averages 155,000 aircraft operations each year. McClellan-Palomar Airport is the fourth busiest single runway airport in the United States. It is located about three miles southeast of Carlsbad near the City of Encinitas.

 

Fallbrook Community Airpark

Fallbrook Community Airpark, also known as Fallbrook Airpark and Fallbrook Airport is a 290 acre county owned, public use airport located about two miles south of the central business district of Fallbrook, in North County - San Diego. The airport was established in 1930 and has one runway. It serves all of northern San Diego County. Aircraft based at the airport average more than one-hundred and operations average more than 37,000 per year.

 

Mira Costa College

Mira Costa College, established in 1934, is a 121-acre, two-year, public community college, serving North County - San Diego with two campuses, one in eastern Oceanside and the other in Cardiff-by-the Sea. It also has several satellite learning centers in Oceanside. More than 18,000 students are enrolled. Earned credits can be transferred to any of the California state colleges or universities. Mira Costa College offers associate degrees and several different certificate programs.

 

Palomar College

Palomar College, founded in 1946, is a public two-year, accredited college. The main campus is in San Marcos in North San Diego County. In addition to the main campus, Palomar College has five learning centers in Escondido, Fallbrook, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, and Camp Pendleton. More than 20,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled. Palomar College offers the Associate of Arts degree, the Associate of Science degree and nearly 200 Certificates of Achievement. Earned college credits are transferable to the University of California and all California State University schools.

 

Franciscan School of Theology

The Franciscan School of Theology (FST), established in 1854, is a small Roman Catholic graduate theological school at the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, which is in North County, San Diego. FST is affiliated with the University of San Diego. The school offers a two-year Master of Theological Studies degree and a three-year Master of Divinity degree which is required for ordination to the priesthood.

 

Westminster Seminary California

Westminster Seminary California, established in 1979, is a Presbyterian Christian Seminary located in Escondido within northern San Diego County. The Seminary has an average enrollment exceeding 160 full-time students.

 

Tri-City Medical Center

Tri-City Medical Center (TCMC), also known as Tri-City, is a full service acute-care public hospital founded in 1961 in Oceanside, California. The 388-bed hospital, which owns and operates several nearby outpatient facilities , serves Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista and most of North County-San Diego. Medical specialties include cancer care, heart care, maternity care, robotic surgery, orthopedics, and 24hour emergency care, which includes a neonatal intensive care unit. The medical center has more than 1500 employees and is a major employer in both Oceanside and North County-San Diego.

 

Palomar Medical Center Escondido

Palomar Medical Center Escondido, established in 2012, is a 332-bed hospital with 44 emergency and trauma rooms, and 288 private single patient rooms. The hospital is operated by Palomar Health which also operates Palomar Medical Center Poway. The hospital serves Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, and the surrounding areas.

 

 

San Diego Botanic Garden

The San Diego Botanic Garden, formerly known as the Quail Botanic Gardens, is a 37 acre botanical garden in Encinitas which is in North County San Diego. San Diego Botanic Garden is a major tourist attraction featuring numerous exhibits including a tropical rainforest, rare bamboo groves, a subtropical fruit garden, succulent gardens, an herb garden, and much more. Visitors come from all over the country and beyond.

 

Lake Calavera Nature Preserve

Lake Calavera Nature Preserve is a 260-acre natural open space and preserve in Carlsbad which is available to hikers and mountain bikers. Picnic areas and a play area are also available.

 

San Dieguito Heritage Museum

San Dieguito Heritage Museum, founded in 1988, is a history museum in Encinitas, California which is located in North County-San Diego. The museum displays artifacts and historical photos from Encinitas and the entire San Dieguito area which includes Del Mar, Cardiff-by-the Sea, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain, and Solana Beach.

 

 

Valley Center History Museum

The Valley Center History Museum in Valley Center, San Diego - North County, is a non-profit, educational organization that collects, preserves, exhibits, and promotes the history and culture of Valley Center, Pauma Valley, Palomar Mountain, as well as the Native American communities in the area. Meetings of the board are open to the public. Donations and memberships are welcome and appreciated.

 

 

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park

San Pasqual Battlefield State Park honors the many soldiers who fought in the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual which was the bloodiest battle during the Mexican American War. The 50 acre California Historical Landmark is open to the public most weekends and is located next to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, just south of Escondido in North County-San Diego.

 

 

Leucadia - Leucadia State Beach

Leucadia is an affluent beach community in the city of Encinitas located with in North County-San Diego. The community is located on a series of bluffs facing the Pacific Ocean. The Leucadia beaches are located below the bluffs. Leucadia State Beach, also known as Beacon's Beach, is a public beach established in 1948 as a state park and beach. All of the beaches are popular locations for swimming, surfing, fishing, and other recreational activities.

 

San Elijo State Beach

San Elijo State Beach is a California State Beach in San Diego County adjacent to Cardiff State Beach, near the city of San Diego. The state beach offers swimming, surfing, camping, and picnicking, and is near the San Elijo Lagoon and tide pool.

 

San Onofre State Beach

San Onofre State Beach is a 3000-acre state park and beach located in North County San Diego approximately three miles south of San Clemente in southern Orange County. More than 2.5 million people visit the beautiful beach and park each year, making it one of the five most visited state parks in California. The beach is popular with swimmers, kayakers, fishermen, surfers, bicyclists, and campers.

 

 

Batiquitos Lagoon

Batiquitos Lagoon is a 610 acre coastal lagoon and wetland which is part of the Batiquitos Lagoon State Conservation Area which is a state nature reserve located between Carlsbad and Encinitas in North County-San Diego. Its two freshwater tributaries are San Marcos Creek and Encinitas Creek.

 

 

Rancho EI Cajon

Rancho EI Cajon was a 48,000-acre Mexican Land Grant given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico. The land included present day EI Cajon, Bostonia, Santee, Lakeside, Flinn Springs, and the eastern part of La Mesa. The grant included the 28-acre Rancho Canada de los Coches grant.

 

Rancho Las Encinitas

Rancho Las Encinitas was a 4,434 acre Mexican Land Grant in present day San Diego County made in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado. The grant extended along the Pacific coast north from San Elijo Lagoon to Batiquitos Lagoon and included present day Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the Sea, and Olivenhaim. The correct, original name was Los Encinitas, not Las Encinitas. The error was carried forward.

 

Rancho Paguai

Rancho Paguai was a Mexican land grant made in 1839 and confirmed in 1840 by then Mexican Governor Juan Alvarado. The land was located in what is today Poway Valley and Poway Creek.

 

San Luis Rey River

The San Luis Rey River is a 69-mile-long river in North County - San Diego. Its headwaters are in the Paloma Mountains and Cleveland National Forest and its mouth is just north of Oceanside at the Pacific Ocean. Tributaries include Buena Vista Creek and West Fork San Luis Rey River.

 

Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir

The Olivenhain Dam is a dam constructed near Escondido in North County-San Diego between 1998 and 2003. The dam is not on a river or stream. The reservoir is filled with water by a system of pumps and pipes and is connected to the Second San Diego Aqueduct and Lake Hodges. The surface of the reservoir averages 200 acres and the maximum depth is 300 feet. Its purpose is to provide an emergency source of municipal water.

 

Historical Societies Directory - San Diego County