Mira Mesa is a large suburb that is part of the city of San Diego, California.
Mira Mesa is bordered by Interstate 15 to the east, Interstate 805 to the west, the Los Peñasquitos Canyon to the north and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, to the south. At the west end, the Sorrento Valley business and technology park is a major employer.
History
Around the time of World War II the area now called Mira Mesa was used by the United States Army as a test area. Just west of U.S. Route 395 (now Interstate 15) was a Navy auxiliary landing field that was known locally as Hourglass Field because the layout of the runways was a single piece of asphalt in the shape of an hourglass. The Navy also used the surrounding area as a bombing range.
Starting in 1969 there was a housing boom in the area that now extends from the I-15 freeway in the East to I-805 in the West and is approximately 10,500 acres (42 km²). It was one of the earliest areas of urban sprawl along the I-15 Corridor. Hourglass field became the site of San Diego Miramar College and Hourglass Field Community Park. The area was built so quickly that it was lacking schools, shopping centers, or other services for its thousands of residents. In 1971 Pete Wilson started his political career running for mayor with the slogan "No more Mira Mesas!" as a promise to stop quick, unplanned growth in San Diego.
Since its inception, Mira Mesa was largely influenced by the military located at adjacent NAS Miramar. Mira Mesa was the northernmost "real community" of San Diego, and was separated from the rest of the city by NAS Miramar for many years. For nearly 30 years the Navy's Top Gun School was located here and most of the pilots made their homes in Mira Mesa.
As of the late 1990s, the Mira Mesa area has undergone extensive expansion to accommodate the thousands of new residents attracted by its ideal location (between two major freeways) and its close proximity to Downtown San Diego. Several commercial and industrial centers have been built within the Mira Mesa area.
The area has a large Filipino and Vietnamese population. Filipino and Vietnamese grocery stores (as well as other ethnic markets, including Indian and Chinese) have been opened in Mira Mesa.
Economy
Established in the 1950s as a residential area to support Naval Air Station, Miramar, Mira Mesa has grown into the largest community in San Diego.
The community has business and residential zoned areas, providing shopping and recreational opportunities as well as business buildings with technology facilities and office space. There are a variety of ethnic cuisines and restaurants, as well as more traditional dining. There are eight community parks, teen and senior centers, ice arena, aquatic complex, shopping centers, and state-of-the-art movie theater.
Personal income
The community has a median income of approximately $63,000/year.
Geography
The area is situated on the southern edge of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and the northern boundary of MCAS Miramar.
Demographics
The community has approximately 80,000 residents, including students, hi-tech employees, families, and single people alike. There are over 23,000 homes in the community, averaging 3.09 people per household. The median age is 32.4 years old.
The 2000 census counted: Asian/Pacific Islander 41.2%, White 33.4%, African American/Black 16.9%, Native American 0.35. 23.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Transportation
Public transportation is provided by the San Diego Transit and the Metropolitan Transit System, through buses and DART (Direct Access to Regional Transit) shuttles.
A train station serves Mira Mesa in Sorrento Valley and is served by the Coaster commuter train, of the North County transit district. The Coaster links Mira Mesa to Downtown San Diego, and north to coastal communities like Solana Beach and Oceanside.
Main highways include: Interstates 805 and 15.
Main thoroughfares
- Mira Mesa Boulevard runs east to west, and is the main road in Mira Mesa, and is an important link between Interstates 15 and 805. In the year 2000 this main artery was estimated by the city government to carry over 80,000 vehicles/day. During the normal work week it has arguably the worst traffic in the county due to the excessive amount of commuters traveling in and out of the high density employment area of Sorrento Valley, and from cut-through traffic between Interstates 15 and 805/5 corridors. There has been such a high traffic volume, that the majority of residential roads running in all directions from Mira Mesa Boulevard became backed up. By 1997, in an effort to control the problem, the city had installed additional traffic controls, such as turn prohibitions at various intersections, and speed humps on certain streets, to reduce the cut-through traffic from other neighborhoods, such as Scripps Ranch and Rancho Peñasquitos.
According to the City of San Diego Council Minutes - Sept. 9, 1997, faith in alleviating the Mira Mesa Blvd. traffic problem was put in the completion of east-west running State Route 56 to the north of Mira Mesa Blvd. The minutes state, "(SR 56) is expected to substantially reduce the non-neighborhood cut-through traffic demand on (Mira Mesa residential streets)." SR 56 construction started in 1999 and was scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2004. This was delayed, and with the opening of SR 56 north of Mira Mesa complete in early 2006, there has been a noticeable drop in residential traffic, especially on Calle Cristobal.
- Camino Ruiz is a north-south four lane thoroughfare that runs the whole length of the Mira Mesa area, and links Miramar Road to Mira Mesa Boulevard, to Calle Cristobal. It is a main thoroughfare for military personnel traveling to and from MCAS Miramar and the surrounding area.
- Black Mountain Road is a north-south thoroughfare that connects San Diego to Mira Mesa, and continues to Rancho Peñasquitos, and Del Mar.
- Calle Cristobal runs east to west, along the northern perimeter of Mira Mesa, through the Los Peñasquitos Canyon. It is mainly used by residents to get to the subdivisions of Sorrento Valley, and by commuter cut-through traffic via Interstates 805 or 5.
- Sorrento Valley Boulevard becomes Calle Cristobal between Sorrento Valley and Mira Mesa.
Sports
Mira Mesa West girls softball, 12 and under, won the state championship 1991 and 2004.
Community events
- The Mira Mesa Street Fair is held the last Saturday in September on Camino Ruiz just west of Mira Mesa Community Park. The fair is sponsored by the Mira Mesa Town Council.
- On the Fourth of July, a parade runs through town on Mira Mesa Boulevard, then turns on Camino Ruiz. In the evening a fireworks display is accompanied by music from the the radio station KyXy 96.5.
- Halloween is celebrated at Mira Mesa Recreation Center.
- There is a Monster Manor, a "haunted house" located in the Target parking lot.
- This event celebrates the anniversary of Philippine Independence from Spain. The festivities include a day of music, cultural shows, dance performances, talent competition, exhibits, food, guest speakers and rides for kids. It takes place every summer at the Mira Mesa Community Park and is hosted by the Emilio Aguinaldo Foundation.
- Every Friday afternoon the Evening Bike Society gathers to bike to and around Miramar Lake.
- Every Thursday night, groups of motorcycle riders gather just off of Mira Mesa Blvd (Albertson's/Home Depot shopping center). This is known as "Mira Mesa Bike Night" (MMBN) and is typically a fairly large gathering, attracting over 100 bikers during the warm-weather months.
- Each Friday, the Mira Mesa Scripps Ranch Sentinel is published with community news and events.
- The Epicentre teen center is a music venue by night. There are often concerts each week.
Schools in Mira Mesa
Junior Colleges
Senior High Schools
- Mira Mesa High School
- Scripps Ranch High School
- Mark Twain High School
Middle Schools
- Wangenheim Middle School
- Challenger Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Ericson Elementary School
- Hage Elementary School
- Hickman Elementary School
- Mason Elementary School
- Sandburg Elementary School
- Walker Elementary School
Private Schools
- Good Shepherd Catholic School
- Christ the Cornerstone Academy
- Rainbow Kids Integral Preschool
- Mira Mesa Christian School
Public safety
Mira Mesa in the last five years has had an increase of crime and gang activity.
According to the city of San Diego Mira Mesa had one of the highest numbers for Rapes, Burglary Thefts, as well as Automotive Theft Risk rate for San Diego neighborhoods in 2008.
Notable people from Mira Mesa
- Adam Brody (The OC) went to Wangenheim Middle School in Mira Mesa then to Scripps Ranch high school.
- Chris Chelios (former NHL player and Alternate captain of USA Hockey team) attended Mira Mesa High School, and Mt. Carmel High School.
- Teyo Johnson (played in the NFL) went to Mira Mesa High School.
- Michael Pittman (current NFL player) went to Mira Mesa High School.
- Ray Rowe (former NFL player and current tightends coach) went to Mira Mesa High School.
- Willy Santos (Pro skater) went to Mira Mesa High School.
- J. R. Tolver (played in the NFL) went to Mira Mesa High School.
- Kellen Winslow II (NFL Cleveland Browns TE) attended Scripps Ranch HS
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