Oceanside, California

Oceanside, California
City
City of Oceanside
Clockwise: Mission San Luis Rey de Francia; Crown Heights Center; Mission San Luis Rey de Francia; Oceanside Beach; Oceanside City Hall; Mount Ecclesia
Flag Seal
Location of Oceanside within San Diego County, California
Oceanside, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°12′42″N 117°19′33″W / 33.21167°N 117.32583°W / 33.21167; -117.32583Coordinates: 33°12′42″N 117°19′33″W / 33.21167°N 117.32583°W / 33.21167; -117.32583
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	San Diego
Incorporated	July 3, 1888[1]
Government
• Type	Council–manager[2]
• City council[5]	Mayor Esther Sanchez Deputy Mayor Ryan Keim Peter Weiss Kori Jensen Christopher Rodriguez
• City treasurer	Victor Roy[3]
• City clerk	Zeb Navarro[4]
Area [6]
• Total	42.16 sq mi (109.19 km2)
• Land	41.26 sq mi (106.85 km2)
• Water	0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2)  2.23%
Elevation [7]	66 ft (20 m)
Population  (2010)[8]
• Total	167,086
• Estimate  (2019)[9]	175,742
• Rank	3rd in San Diego County 28th in California 148th in the United States
• Density	4,259.79/sq mi (1,644.73/km2)
Demonym(s)	Oceansider O'sider
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	92049, 92051, 92052, 92054, 92056–92058
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-53322
GNIS feature IDs	1652761, 2411301
City flower	Crimson Lake Bougainvillea
Website	www.ci.oceanside.ca.us

Oceanside is a coastal city on California's South Coast. It is the third-largest city in San Diego County, California. The city had a population of 167,086 at the 2010 census. Together with Carlsbad and Vista, it forms a tri-city area. Oceanside is just south of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.^[10]

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 Luiseno 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.^[11]

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. The area—like all of California—was under Spanish rule, then in 1821 under Mexican rule, and then the U.S. in 1848.

In the late 1850s, Andrew Jackson Myers 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 town site for Oceanside. A patent for the land was issued in 1883 by the federal government.^[12] It was incorporated on July 3, 1888. The city hall as of the early 21st century stands on the former Myers homestead.^[12] The town post office contains an oil-on-canvas mural, Air Mail, painted in 1937 by . 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.^[13]

In the 20th century, Oceanside was a beach town devoted to activities on a 6-mile (10 km) stretch of beaches. Residential areas like downtown (built in the 1890s), South Oceanside (built in the 1920s and 1930s), and developments east of Interstate 5 (built after World War II) are preserved and remodeled when these houses are considered to have historical value.^{[citation needed]} Since the establishment of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in 1942, Oceanside has been home to U.S. armed forces personnel, and the wartime industry of WWII and the 1950s had an ammunition manufacturing facility in the city.^{[citation needed]}

In 1970, the Census Bureau reported the city's population as 91.0% white, 5.1% black and 1.7% Asian.^[14] After 1970, the main focus^{[citation needed]} of Oceanside was suburban development and a choice for newcomers to move into then relatively affordable housing. Oceanside continues to be known for the value and appreciation as a vacation home market.^[15]

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 are scheduled to be completed, bringing more tourists to the city.^[16]

Geography[]

Oceanside is at

33°12′42″N 117°19′33″W / 33.21167°N 117.32583°W / 33.21167; -117.32583 (33.211566, -117.325701).^[17]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.2 square miles (109 km²), of which 41.2 square miles (107 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (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.

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 (18 to 25 °C), while the average low temperatures range from 45 to 64 °F (7 to 18 °C).

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	330		—
1910	673		103.9%
1920	1,161		72.5%
1930	3,508		202.2%
1940	4,651		32.6%
1950	12,881		177.0%
1960	24,971		93.9%
1970	40,494		62.2%
1980	76,698		89.4%
1990	128,398		67.4%
2000	161,029		25.4%
2010	167,086		3.8%
2019 (est.)	175,742	[9]	5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]

2010[]

The 2010 United States Census^[20] reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile (1,529.7/km²). 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 per square mile (589.9/km²), 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^[21] 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 inhabitants per square mile (1,531.7/km²). There were 59,581 housing units at an average density of 1,467.9 per square mile (566.7/km²). 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,^[22] the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Oceanside Unified School District	2,957
2	Tri-City Hospital District	2,423
3	Mira Costa College	1,605
4	City of Oceanside	1,029
5	West Coast Tomato Growers	751
6	North County Transit District	737
7	Genentech, Inc.	462
8	TE Connectivity	426
9	Hydranautics	358
10	Oceans Eleven Casino	344

Oceanside is home to the World's Largest Women's Surf Competition, the Supergirl Pro Jam event, which has been held yearly since 2007.^[23] Each Thursday evening, downtown Oceanside hosts the Sunset Market, a gathering of local vendors, hot food and live entertainment.^[24]

Attractions[]

• 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 1,942 feet (592 m).^[25]
• 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.
• The California Surf Museum is located in downtown Oceanside.
• The Oceanside Transit Center provides train services on Amtrak, Metrolink, Coaster, and Sprinter.
• 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 3 times in the past 5 years.
• Since 2006, Oceanside has played host to the official start of the annual 3000 mile 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 famous house in the film Top Gun, where Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise shot a romantic scene. In 2019 the house was moved from its original site and extensively restored; it will become a free-standing attraction as part of a $180 million beachfront hotel project scheduled to open in Spring 2021.^[26]
• Oceanside is home to a harbor which contains a lighthouse, several shops and restaurants, the Oceanside Sign, and hundreds of boats.

• 

  Oceanside Pier

• 

  Oceanside Harbor

• 

  Oceanside Harbor Village

• 

  Oceanside Sign

• 

  Harbor sunset with Jolly Roger Restaurant

• 

  Downtown, Mission Ave.

• 

  Downtown, Sunset Market

Government[]

Municipal government[]

The city operates under the council-manager form of government. The city council consists of four members elected from districts and one mayor^[27] elected at large. 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 the 36th Senate District, represented by Republican Patricia Bates, and in the 76th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Tasha Boerner Horvath.^[28]

In the United States House of Representatives, Oceanside is in California's 49th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Levin.^[29]

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 and . OUSD has 24 schools plus three charter schools, including the , 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 acres (5.7 ha), house 11 buildings totaling 84,000 square feet (7,800 m²), 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 acres (5.1 ha) of land with 35 classrooms totaling 54,490 square feet (5,062 m²) 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.

Sister cities[]

• Ensenada, Mexico
• Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan
• Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
• Pago Pago, American Samoa

Notable people[]

• Joshua Bassett, actor and singer
• Joey Beltran (born 1981), bare-knuckle boxer and mixed martial artist
• Bobbi DePorter, founder of the SuperCamp program, and President of the Quantum Learning Network^[30]
• Mark Dice, author, media analyst
• Phil Edwards, surfer^[31]
• Mickey Finn, inventor of weapons systems
• Francis French, author
• Bill Goldberg, retired professional wrestler, football player, and actor^[32]
• Michael C. Gross, retired magazine director, National Lampoon, Heavy Metal, and film producer, Ghostbusters, Beethoven
• Anissa Jones, child actress in the 1960s TV sitcom Family Affair died in Oceanside in 1976
• Thomas Keller, restaurateur
• Brian Kibler, Magic: The Gathering Hall of Famer and game designer
• Ákos Kónya, Ultramarathon runner. Three-time Badwater medalist^[33]
• David B. Kurtz, second mayor of San Diego (1851–52), lived in Oceanside
• Frank Lasee, Wisconsin politician
• Christopher Lloyd, actor, Taxi, Back to the Future
• Rear Admiral Dick Lyon, one of the first 10 Navy Seals (formerly called "Scouts and Raiders"), and the first Special Warfare Officer to attain that rank. He served as mayor of the city in the 1990s^[34]
• Barbara Mandrell, country singer, former Miss Oceanside^[35]
• Elana Meyers, 2014 Olympic medalist (bobsleigh)^[36]
• Jordan Pundik, of pop band New Found Glory
• Denise Richards, actress who starred in Starship Troopers, Wild Things and the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough Graduated from El Camino High School in 1989^[37]
• Garth Smith, pianist/musician/composer
• Evan Tanner, former UFC middleweight champion
• Chris Thile, mandolinist of Nickel Creek; born in Oceanside^[38]
• Brandon Vera, UFC mixed martial artist
• Victor Villaseñor, acclaimed Mexican-American writer
• Jack Roland Murphy, Jewel thief, surfing champ, musician, author and artist. Known as "Murf the Surf".

Major League Baseball players[]

• Heath Bell, retired pitcher for the San Diego Padres.
• Thad Bosley, outfielder for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and the Texas Rangers.
• Trevor Cahill, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
• Chris Chambliss, first baseman who played from 1971 to 1988 for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, graduated from Oceanside High School in 1966.
• Gary Thomasson, outfielder and first baseman who played from 1972 to 1980 for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, graduated from Oceanside High School in 1969, part of the Yankees' 1978 World Series-winning team.

National Football League players[]

• Justin Blackmon, went to Oklahoma State University and was drafted 5th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Sam Brenner, plays for the Denver Broncos. Graduated from Oceanside High School in 2008.
• Michael Booker, graduated from El Camino High School in 1993, went to the University of Nebraska and was drafted 11th overall by the Atlanta Falcons.
• Willie James Buchanon, played for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. Graduated from Oceanside High School in 1968.
• J.C. Pearson, played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.
• Joe Salave'a, played for the Washington Redskins.^[39]
• Junior Seau, played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots, and made 12 Pro Bowls^[40]
• Ken Stills, played for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.^[41]
• Toussaint Tyler, played running back for the New Orleans Saints for two seasons.^[42]
• Bryant Westbrook, played for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Graduated from El Camino High School in 1993.
• Dokie Williams, played for the Los Angeles Raiders for five seasons.

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Oceanside.

• Official website
• Oceanside Historical Society