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About Escondido
Escondido is a city located in northern San Diego County, California just
north of San Diego, California, USA. The name means "hidden" in Spanish-- it
occupies a shallow valley ringed by hills. Founded in 1888, it is one of the
oldest cities in San Diego County. The city has a mild climate, a growing
population, and a diverse economy.
Points of interest
Downtown Escondido (centered on Grand Ave.) has experienced a renaissance.
Numerous fine restaurants, cafes, and galleries having opened over the past few
years. Every Friday night from April through September, the Downtown Business
Association hosts the popular "Cruisin' Grand," where the public can show and
view hot rods and historic cars. A different car club and/or featured attraction
(i.e. antique fire trucks, nitro night, midget and sprint cars) is highlighted
each week. Cruisin' Grand also features a DJ, hula hoop contests for the kids,
and 7 trophies each night.
In addition to the many galleries on Grand, a branch of the Mingei museum has
recently opened there. This museum displays handcrafts from around the world,
and is a treat to visit. Just one block off Grand Ave. is Grape Day Park with
the civic center and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido that features
two theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference
center. The Escondido Children's Museum is located in Studio One at the Center
for the Arts, and the Escondid History Center is located right in Grape Day
Park. The History Center features the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first
library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop.
Many tourists come to Escondido to visit the San Diego Wild Animal Park, which
shares some of the world renown with its sister park, the San Diego Zoo. The
Wild Animal Park shows world animals in open habitat, where they can roam,
graze, and even fly.
With a history in agriculture, there are many farms and wineries around
Escondido. Many of the wineries offer tours. Just to the north of Escondido in
the community of Valley Center there is a lavender farm offering seasonal tours.
Also in Valley Center is the burgeoning Native American casino industry. What
once was a small collection of small casinos is now a rapidly maturing business.
Even big time Vegas acts are coming to the new large hotel-casinos, and many
offer golf and spa services.
Escondido is also known for having three large lakes. Dixon Lake is the located
in the north and is well known for fishing and has a number of boating
opportunities. Lake Wohlford is southeast of Dixon and also has boating and
fishing. Lake Hodges is south of town. A part of Lake Hodges is crossed by
Interstate 15, Escondido's main freeway, via the Lake Hodges Bridge.
In 2006, Stone Brewing Company moved its headquarters and brewery from San
Marcos, California to a new, much larger facility in the Quail Hills area of
Escondido.
In Kit Carson park is found Queen Califia's Magic Castle, the last major
international work by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, colleague of Salvador
Dali and Jasper Johns. De Saint Phalle is best known for her Stravinsky
Fountain, located in Paris, France.
History
Escondido was originally settled by Native American tribes. Spain controlled
the land from the late 1700's to the early 1800's, and established many missions
in California to convert the indigenous people. When Mexico gained its
independence from Spain, the local land was divided into large "ranchos". The
land that would become Escondido was Rancho Rincon del Diablo, a land grant that
was given to Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1843 by the Mexican governor.
In 1846 war broke out between the United States and Mexico, and a key battle was
fought in the area just south of Escondido. Known as the Battle of San Pasqual,
it pitted Mexican Andrés Pico (the brother of then California governor Pío Pico)
against Americans Kearny, Gillespie, and Kit Carson. A large park in Escondido
is named for Carson.
The Americans won the war, and began settling in Southern California in
increasing numbers. The decade of the 1880s is known as the Southern California
Land Boom because so many people were moving to the state. In 1886 a group of
investors called the Escondido Land & Town Company purchased the 12,814 acre
area. Two years later in 1888 Escondido was incorporated as a city - the vote
was 64 in favor of cityhood with 12 votes against. It was primarily an
agricultural community, growing muscat grapes initially, then after a dam was
built in 1894-5 to form what is known today as Lake Wohlford, oranges and lemons
were planted in large quanitity, and then by the 1960s avocados became the
largest local crop.
Through the 20th century the community grew and the economy diversified. Today
the community has approximately 140,000 residents, and an economy comprised of
agriculture, tourism, retail, services, light industry, and high tech.
Geography
Escondido is located at 33°7'29" North, 117°4'51" West (33.124794,
-117.080850)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city
has a total area of 94.5 km² (36.5 mi²). 94.0 km² (36.3 mi²) of it is land and
0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.52% water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 133,559, which was
much larger than its 1990 population. Recently, Escondido has had much new
housing built on formerly undeveloped land.
As of 2000 there are 43,817 households, and 31,153 families residing in the
city. The population density is 1,421.4/km² (3,680.9/mi²). There are 45,050
housing units at an average density of 479.4/km² (1,241.6/mi²). The racial
makeup of the city is 67.82% White, 2.25% African American, 1.23% Native
American, 4.46% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 19.19% from other races, and
4.81% from two or more races. 38.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of
any race.
There are 43,817 households out of which 39.1% have children under the age of 18
living with them, 53.9% are married couples living together, 11.7% have a female
householder with no husband present, and 28.9% are non-families. 22.4% of all
households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is
65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.01 and the average
family size is 3.50.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.4%
from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65
years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there
are 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,567, and the median income
for a family is $48,456. Males have a median income of $32,627 versus $27,526
for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,241. 13.4% of the
population and 9.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total
population, 17.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older
are living below the poverty line.
Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the
median household income of Escondido in 2005 was $58,217 (not adjusted for
inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data
above), the median household income was $47,274.