About Tierrasanta
Tierrasanta, Spanish for "sainted land," is an inner
suburb within the city of San Diego, California.
Known as the "Island in the Hills" because of its
clear boundaries surrounded by open public land, it
was founded in 1971 and grew in stages to a year
2000 population of 30,187 (Zip code 92124). It was
the first master planned community in San Diego. The
community lies on canyons and foothills that were
once part of Camp Elliott, a WWII-era training
facility. Numerous green belts with walking paths
run through the canyons. The popular community has
been fully built out since the early 1990's as a
thriving area of upperscale single family homes,
condominiums, apartments, three shopping centers, a
San Diego branch library, and a research park. Also
located in the community are several excellent
elementary and junior high schools, as well as
Junipero Serra High School, which was named #118 of
the top high schools in America by Newsweek Magazine
in May 2006. Tierrasanta is situated like an island,
not directly bordered by any community. It is
bounded on the north by freeway 52 and the sprawling
southern fields of MCAS Miramar, on the east by 5800
acre Mission Trails Regional Park, which has many
hiking and mountain biking trails, on the west by
Interstate 15, and on the south by steep canyons
overlooking the San Diego River and Mission Valley.
Community activities focus on the Tierrasanta
Recreation Center, which includes lighted ball
fields, a large swimming pool, tennis courts, a
gymnasium, and meeting rooms. The elected
Tierrasanta Community Council has responsibility for
community planning and for advising the City of San
Diego and other State and Federal government
agencies.
Tierrasanta is locally called the "Island in the
Hills".