Overview

Introduction to Encinitas, California

The California coastal city of Encinitas is located in northern San Diego County, about 26 miles north of San Diego and about 95 miles south of Los Angeles. Interstate I-5 services the city and connects it to all points north and south. Coastal Highway 101, which goes through the city, is an older and more interesting north-south route. Encinitas is situated along six miles of Pacific coastline characterized by cliffs, coastal beaches, flat-topped coastal areas, rolling hills and steep mesa bluffs. It is embraced by two lagoons: the Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and the San Elijo Lagoon to the south.

Founded over 100 years ago, Encinitas originally consisted of five separate communities which were joined together at the time of the city's incorporation in 1986. Although now one city, Encinitas retains the personalities of these communities, which are now five distinct city districts: "Historic Encinitas" is a small beach side area with a variety of businesses and housing styles; "New Encinitas" is a more recently developed district which features upscale homes, a golf course and a shopping center; "Cardiff-by-the-Sea" is an oceanfront community made up of quaint single-family homes dotting the hillsides; "Leucadia" has an older downtown area and is famous for its giant eucalyptus trees; and "Olivenhain" (translated as "olive grove" in German) is a semi-rural region in eastern Encinitas with acres of open horse country and pastures. The largest single industry in Encinitas today is the growing of ornamental flowers, in particular poinsettias.

Encinitas Points of Interest

Home to a significant flower-growing industry, Encinitas boasts attractions which highlight its main industry. San Diego Botanical Gardens (formerly known as Quail Botanical Gardens), is the only one of its kind in the county and features over 35 acres of exhibits, including rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, a subtropical fruit garden and the West Coast's first interactive children's garden, the Seeds of Wonder. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County, is a haven for more than 300 species of plants and over 295 species of birds. The reserve also offers over 5 miles of hiking trails open to the public. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, a championship 18-hole par-72 course with panoramic ocean views. Lovers of the performing arts will appreciate La Paloma Theatre. Built in 1928, the theatre was one of the first to show "talkies" (talking pictures) and has become a big part of Encinitas, hosting many community and city functions as well as music concerts, theatrical performances and movies. Those who wish to experience the beach environment in quiet, peaceful way may want to spend time at the beautiful and peaceful Self-Realization Fellowship Mediation Gardens.

Demographics

People

Total Population62,713
Male Share of the Population49.2%
Female Share of the Population50.8%
Senior Citizens17.7%
Employed Population 16+31,120
Age of the Population43

Families

% of people married54.5%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher56.3%
Median Earnings25+$61,323
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$22,344
Median Earnings With High School Degree$41,978

Wealth

Median Family Income$140,764
% Above Poverty Level93.1%
% Below Poverty Level6.9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time25 minutes
% Working from Home16%
% Walking and Biking to Work2.8%
% Using Public Transportation1.8%

Housing

People Living Alone25.3%
Median Gross Rent$1,886
Median House Value$913,700

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)25.4%
German16.1%
Irish13.2%
English12.6%
Italian6.9%
Scottish3.4%
Polish2.8%
Swedish2.8%
French Except Basque2.7%
Norwegian2.3%
Russian1.9%
Dutch1.2%
Arab1.1%
Danishn1.1%
Welsh0.8%
Portuguese0.7%
Ukrainian0.5%
Hungarian0.5%
Greek0.5%
Czech0.5%
Canadian0.5%
Finnish0.4%
African0.4%
South African0.4%
Lithuanian0.4%
Slovak0.3%
Swiss0.3%
Australian0.3%
Croatian0.3%
Brazilian0.3%
Iranian0.3%
Latvian0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Belgian0.2%
Serbian0.2%
US/American0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
Haitian0.1%
Albanian0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
Israeli0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Iraqi0.1%
Basque0.1%
Bulgarian0.1%
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Encinitas Almanac

CategoryValue
CountySan Diego County
Standard Zip Codes92024
P.O. Box Zip Codes92023
Phone Area Codes760
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude33.05
Approximate Longitude-117.25

Encinitas Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

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

StationESCONDIDO NO 2
Distance12.4 miles
Jan Temp43 to 69 F
Apr Temp50 to 75 F
Jul Temp62 to 89 F
Oct Temp55 to 81 F
Annual Precip15.1 inches
StationOCEANSIDE MARINA
Distance13.9 miles
Jan Temp45 to 64 F
Apr Temp51 to 65 F
Jul Temp63 to 72 F
Oct Temp56 to 71 F
Annual Precip11.1 inches
StationSAN DIEGO MIRAMAR NAS
Distance14.9 miles
Jan Temp44 to 67 F
Apr Temp49 to 70 F
Jul Temp61 to 81 F
Oct Temp55 to 77 F
Annual Precip11.9 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Carlsbad113,670$127,463
Del Mar4,340$160,912
Oceanside175,389$78,896
San Marcos94,709$89,165
Solana Beach13,370$123,488
Vista100,108$70,558

Encinitas Hospitals

Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
(Non-profit)
354 Santa Fe Drive

Encinitas Public Schools

La Costa Canyon High
1 Maverick Way
ZIP: 92009
High
Total Enrollment 2013
Capri Elementary
941 Capri Rd.
ZIP: 92024
Primary
Total Enrollment 705
Diegueno Middle
2150 Village Park Way
ZIP: 92024
Middle
Total Enrollment 952
Flora Vista Elementary
1690 Wandering Rd.
ZIP: 92024
Primary
Total Enrollment 428
North Coast Alternative High
684 Requeza
ZIP: 92024
High
Total Enrollment 13
Oak Crest Middle
675 Balour Dr.
ZIP: 92024
Middle
Total Enrollment 852
Ocean Knoll Elementary
910 Melba Rd.
ZIP: 92024
Primary
Total Enrollment 590
Park Dale Lane Elementary
2050 Park Dale Ln.
ZIP: 92024
Primary
Total Enrollment 536
Paul Ecke-central Elementary
185 Union St.
ZIP: 92024
Primary
Total Enrollment 569
San Dieguito High Academy
800 Santa Fe Dr.
ZIP: 92024
High
Total Enrollment 1640
Sunset High (continuation)
684 Requeza St.
ZIP: 92024
High
Total Enrollment 126

Encinitas Private Schools

Central Montessori Schools
286 N El Camino Real
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 10
Edison Academy
910 Encinitas Blvd
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 23
Encinitas Country Day School
3616 Manchester Ave
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 274
Montessori Childrens House
220 Calle De Madera
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 1
Montessori School Of Encinitas
141 S El Camino Real Ste E
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 2
Pacific Academy
679 Encinitas Blvd Ste 205
ZIP: 92024
Secondary
Total Enrollment 16
Rancho Encinitas Academy
910 Encinitas Blvd
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 45
Sanderling Waldorf School
1578 S El Camino Real
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 130
St John Catholic School
1003 Encinitas Blvd
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 474
The Grauer School
1500 S El Camino Real
ZIP: 92024
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 152
Village Gate Children's Academy
1613 Lake Dr
ZIP: 92024
Elementary
Total Enrollment 36
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