San Marcos, CA

San Marcos, California

Introduction to San Marcos, California

Located in the northern portion of California's San Diego County is the city of San Marcos. Situated 35 miles north of San Diego and about 95 miles south of Los Angeles, San Marcos is bisected by California State Highway 78. Adjacent to Interstate I-15, the city is also easily accessible to I-5, I-805, and State Highway 76. Nearby towns include Vista (to the northwest), Escondido (to the east), and Rancho Bernardo (to the south). The city is home to the local campus of California State University (Cal State) and also to Palomar College.

San Marcos derived its name from the name given to the surrounding valley by Spaniards in the late 18th century ("Los Vallecitos de San Marcos", which translates to "Little Valleys of St. Mark"). Settlement began nearly a century later when the San Marcos Land Company bought the former Los Vallecitos de San Marcos land grant and divided the land into tracts and sold them. Arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad nearby spurred the area's development, and by the early part of the 20th century farming, dairy and poultry production became prominent elements of the San Marcos economy. Incorporated in 1963, the city began to grow rapidly and by the 1980s became one of the fastest growing cities in California. Cal State's decision to build its new campus in San Marcos in 1989 was a turning point in ushering in the city's current state of fast-forward development.

San Marcos Attractions

Music and fine arts are active in San Marcos and North San Diego County. Theatre West is the city's youth drama program, offering five elaborate shows per year at the Hearth Theater. The Performing Arts Center at Palomar College showcases student and professional dramatic works. For outdoor recreation enthusiasts, San Marcos boasts 22 golf courses within a 30-minute drive of the city, including the course at Lake San Marcos and the Aviara and La Costa resort golf courses. Hiking, camping and biking are available nearby; and skiing and snowboarding can be found only two hours to the north in the San Bernardino Mountains. Events in San Marcos include the Grand Summer Festival, an August celebration featuring specialty foods and micro-brews, live blues & jazz performances, and one of the largest classic car shows in San Diego County. In March, the city celebrates its Carnival of Cultures, an international carnival where representatives from different ethnic groups host booths featuring international cuisine, traditional arts & crafts, and children’s activities. Performances by multi-cultural dancers, singers, and musicians take place throughout the event.

Comparative Profile of San Marcos, CA

Comparing San Marcos to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Well-Paid Single Men
Age of the Population
Female Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Median Family Income
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Housing Recently Built
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents
People Living Alone

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

San Marcos Almanac

San Marcos Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

San Marcos Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Nearby Cities and Towns

Starbucks in San Marcos

San Marcos High Schools (2004)

SAN MARCOS HIGH
1615 SAN MARCOS BLVD.
760-290-2200
Serves 3,123 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 25.3

TWIN OAKS HIGH (CONT.)
158 CASSOU ROAD
760-290-2555
A Non-traditional School
Serves 198 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 15.5

FOOTHILLS HIGH (ALT)
158 CASSOU ROAD
760-290-2555
A Non-traditional School
Serves 126 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 50.4

DISCOVERY VALLEY SCHOOL
1645 CAPALINA ROAD NUMBER 100
760-591-9475
A Special Education School
Serves 19 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 19

NORTH COUNTY COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOLS
125 VALLECITOS DE ORO
760-471-6187
A Non-traditional School
Serves 19 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 17.3

San Marcos Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

California State University-San Marcos

Coleman College

Palomar College

Palomar Institute of Cosmetology

(List of All California Colleges)

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