Encinitas, California
Encinitas is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California, United States. Located in Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego, between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 62,007, up from 59,518 at the 2010 census.
History
The first people to settle in Encinitas were the Kumeyaay. Gaspar de Portolá, governor of Baja California, visited the area in 1769 during the Portolá expedition and met residents from the nearby Kumeyaay village of Jeyal, near the San Elijo Lagoon. Portolá named the valley Los Encinos for the oak forest along El Camino Real, where there was also a village that was likely known as Hakutl in New Encinitas.After Mexican Independence, land was granted to Andrés Ybarra in 1842 to build Rancho Las Encinitas in what is now Olivenhain and New Encinitas, from which Encinitas got its namesake. Encinitas is a Spanish name meaning "little oaks".
The town of Old Encinitas was formed in 1881 by Jabez Pitcher.
The city was incorporated by 69.3% of the voters in 1986 from the communities of historic Encinitas, New Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain.
Geography
Encinitas lies on a rugged coastal terrace. The city is bisected by a low-lying coastal ridge that separates New and Old Encinitas. In the north of the city, the coast rises in elevation and the land is raised up in the form of many coastal bluffs, which are subject to collapsing on the narrow beach. The city is bounded by Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and San Elijo Lagoon to the south.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and of which is water. The city's elevation ranges between sea level and above sea level.
Communities
Encinitas can be divided into various neighborhoods. Old Encinitas is a small beachside area featuring a mix of businesses and housing styles. Sitting along Coast Highway 101, the Encinitas welcome arch, the famous surf break Swamis, and the early 20th-century La Paloma Theatre are located here. Old Encinitas is divided from New Encinitas by a low coastal ridge.Olivenhain is a semi-rural region in eastern Encinitas, composed of mostly single-family homes, a 4-H Club, and several private equestrian facilities. German immigrants established the Olivenhain Colony in the late 19th century under the Homestead Act of 1862. Olivenhain connects to Rancho Santa Fe via Encinitas Boulevard.
Leucadia is a coastal community of the city, featuring tree-lined streets and boulevards, art galleries, unusual stores, and restaurants, along with single-family homes and beaches such as Beacons and Grandview.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the southernmost oceanfront community, which features streets named after British cities and classical composers, the Lux Art Institute, and the San Elijo Campus of Mira Costa College.
Climate
Encinitas has a very mild, Mediterranean climate. Average daily high temperature is. Temperatures below and above are rare. Average rainfall is about per year. The wet season lasts during the winter and spring, when temperatures are usually cool. Average daytime temperatures hit 65 °F in winter and spring, when rain and marine layer are common. Nighttime lows range from 45 to 55 °F. The dry season lasts from summer through fall, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 °F, and nighttime lows being from the upper 50s–60s°F. Ocean water temperatures average 60 °F in winter, 64 °F in spring, 70 °F in summer, and 66 °F in fall. In winter, strong Pacific storms can bring heavy rain. During the winter of 2015–2016, the area saw rounds of severe thunderstorms.Demographics
2020
The 2020 United States census reported that Encinitas had a population of 62,007. The population density was. The racial makeup of Encinitas was 77.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 4.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races, and 11.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.1% of the population.The census reported that 98.4% of the population lived in households, 0.5% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.1% were institutionalized.
There were 24,390 households, out of which 29.0% included children under the age of 18, 52.2% were married-couple households, 6.5% were cohabiting couple households, 24.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 24.8% of households were one person, and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.5. There were 16,011 families.
The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% aged 18 to 24, 25.4% aged 25 to 44, 28.1% aged 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 43.8years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males.
There were 26,408 housing units at an average density of, of which 24,390 were occupied. Of these, 65.0% were owner-occupied, and 35.0% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $150,471, and the per capita income was $82,289. About 4.9% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010
At the 2010 census, Encinitas had a population of 59,518, with a population density of. The racial makeup of Encinitas was 51,067 White, 361 African American, 301 Native American, 2,323 Asian, 91 Pacific Islander, 3,339 from other races, and 2,036 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8,138 persons.The census reported that 58,990 people lived in households, 123 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 405 were institutionalized.
Of the 24,082 households, 6,997 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,113 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,950 had a female householder with no husband present, 981 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,359 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 169 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,303 households were one person and 2,118 had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45. There were 15,044 families ; the average family size was 2.98.
The age distribution was 12,285 people under the age of 18, 3,767 people aged 18 to 24, 16,584 people aged 25 to 44, 19,239 people aged 45 to 64, and 7,643 people who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males. Females comprise the majority of Encinitas' population at 50.5% as of April 2010.
There were 25,740 housing units at an average density of 1,287.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,187 were owner-occupied and 8,895 were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%. 39,101 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,889 people lived in rental housing units.
Arts and culture
Encinitas Ballet. Encinitas Ballet is a classical ballet studio in Encinitas. It was established in 2008 by Sayat Asatryan, former principal dancer of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre, and Olga Tchekachova, former soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet II.Regular events
- April Street Fair: annual two-day street fair, held every April in downtown Encinitas
- Encinitas Bazaar Marketplace: a colorful, outdoor shopping experience
- Deep Pit BBQ: held the end of May at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum
- Encinitas Environment Day: held on the 2nd Sunday of June, with environmentally themed games and entertainment for families.
- Lima Bean Faire and Battle of the Beans Cook-off: held each September at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive
- Fall Festival: annual one-day street fair, held each November in downtown Encinitas
- OktoberFest: held on the last Sunday in September to coincide with the Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany.
- Classic Car Cruise Nights: classic cars line Coast Highway 101 in downtown Encinitas on the third Thursday of each month, May–September
- The Wavecrest Woodie Meet: takes place once a year on the third Saturday of September at Moonlight State Beach. It is the largest rally of wooden-bodied vehicles in the world and it is free to the public and to participants.
- Wellness Week: annual week-long program of events and special offers designed to help people learn about and experience ways to improve their well-being
- Salute to Education: Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Salute to Education event that is held each year in June, honoring local teachers and students for their outstanding efforts during the current school year. This event is hosted each year by Rancho Santa Fe Security Systems.
- Switchfoot Bro-Am: annual free surf competition and outdoor music festival usually held in early July at Moonlight State Beach, home of the world's only surf jousting competition, along with several other competitive surfing events. All proceeds from the event go to local charities.
Surfing Madonna