If you like a not-so-crowded modern suburban environment in a place with lovely year-round weather, San Marcos is such a community in North San Diego County. With a growing population of over 80,000, the city known as "Valley of Discovery" provides a mix of urban and rural qualities. Here are important facts that make San Marcos a desired place for families.
Reasons to Live in San Marcos
Families in San Marcos have 16 major community parks and 18 mini-parks to enjoy, giving the city the nickname "San Parkos." Within the city is over 60 miles of trail for biking, hiking, and jogging. Connors Park, off of W. San Marcos Boulevard, provides a full basketball court, adapted play equipment, a skate plaza, and picnic tables. It also has lighted tennis courts and a lighted turf for a multi-purpose field.
Several other parks provide sports facilities such as lighted soccer fields and volleyball courts. From April through December the San Marcos Community Center features "Fun Friday Nites" for family activities. These events include family games, crafts, pizza, and movies.
Double Peak Park is a site for breathtaking views from a hilltop with a telescope overlooking the valley. The park includes an amphitheater and picnic tables. Hollandia Park is dog-friendly and is also a haven for family picnics and BBQ parties. Jack's Pond Park houses a Nature Center built like a big barn. This facility is used for teaching children about science and nature, emphasizing outdoor education. This 23-acre park is ideal for hiking.
Interesting San Marcos History
San Marcos has roots in the late eighteenth century when the Spaniards discovered the valley they named Los Vallecitos de San Marcos (named after Saint Mark). A Mexican Governor awarded a land grant for the area to his relative whose widow inherited the land then sold it to developers. Lorenzo Soto spun some of this land off to Cave Couts in the 1850s. The first permanent settlement was established in the North Twin Oaks Valley by Major Gustavus French Merriam, who turned 160 acres into a center for wine and honey production.
European immigrants began arriving in the 1880s to start more settlements. By 1883 John H. Barham had founded a town near what is now the intersection of Rancho Santa Fe Road and San Marcos Boulevard. Within a year the town had set up a post office, a weekly newspaper, store, and blacksmith shop. A year later the town had its first school. Then in 1887, the Couts family sold most of their property to the San Marcos Land Company. The new developer quickly divided the land into tracts, as the town of San Marcos began to grow near what is now Grand Avenue and Santa Fe Road.
San Marcos evolved into a small farming community by the turn of the century and by 1905 had telephone service. As the twentieth century unfolded, dairies and poultry production became part of the local economy. Since the 1950s with the arrival of the first water from the Colorado River, the city has been experiencing steady growth. It was incorporated as a city in 1963. Throughout the seventies, San Marcos stood out as one of the fastest growing cities in California.
College Campuses in San Marcos
Three colleges in San Marcos include Palomar College, Cal State San Marcos and the University of St. Augustine. Two-year Community college Palomar covers 200 acres on the north side of town and has an enrollment of about 30,000 students. The campus features a local landmark with the large letter "P" on a hill overlooking the campus.
Cal State San Marcos, which was founded in 1989 on over 300 acres, is part of the California State University system. This campus enrolls about 14,000 students and is located on the southeastern side of town. The college is known for its nursing school and a Doctorate in Education program.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is noted for its Physical and Occupational Therapy programs. The campus emphasizes training for the healthcare profession with hands-on experience.
One of the most striking characteristics of San Marcos is its quality educational institutions, particularly for health care. It's a growing city that maintains local culture and provides a stable environment for raising a family. Homeowners can contribute to the city's appreciation for green scenery by learning from Lawn Love about gardening. Curb appeal is a common theme in San Marcos, an area with many eye-catching homes. Contact Lawn Love today for premium, affordable lawn care services in the San Marcos area.
