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About Oceanside, San Diego County, CA

Oceanside is the third-largest city in San Diego County, California, United States. The city has a population of about 179,681. Together with Vista and Carlsbad, it forms a tri-city area. The city is located just south of Camp Pendleton, the busiest military base in the United States. Oceanside has experienced dramatic growth since 1970, when its population was 45,000. Much of the city's area was developed into single-family home tracts during the 1970s and 1980s. Since the 1990s, increased commercial and industrial development have diversified Oceanside's economic base.

Andrew Jackson Myers, Oceanside's founder

The area was first visited by European explorers in 1769. The Spanish missionaries under Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia on a former site of a Luiseño Indian village on the banks of the San Luis Rey River. In the early 1800s, introduced farming and grazing changed the landscape of what would become Oceanside. The area like all of California was under Spanish, in 1821 Mexican rule and conquered by the U.S. in 1848.

In the late 1850s, Andrew Jackson Myers lived in San Joaquin County. A native of LaSalle County, Illinois, he returned in the late 1880s and lived in San Luis Rey. In 1882 Myers moved on the land that was the original town site for Oceanside. A patent for the land was issued in 1883 by the federal government. It was incorporated on July 3, 1888. The current city hall now stands on the former homestead of Myers.

In the 20th century, Oceanside was a beach town devoted to activities on a 6-mile (9.7 km) stretch of beaches. Residential areas like Downtown (built in the 1890s), South Oceanside (built in the 1920s and 1930s), and developments east of Interstate 5 (built after World War II) now are preserved and remodeled when these houses are considered to have historical value. Since the establishment of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in 1942, Oceanside was proud to have U.S. armed forces personnel, and the wartime industry of WWII and the 1950s had an ammunition manufacturing facility in the city. After 1970, the main focus of Oceanside was suburban development and a choice for newcomers to move in then relatively affordable housing. Today, Oceanside is a top real estate choice with home values over the $500,000 mark for its location by San Diego and the Pacific coast.

Oceanside is at 33°12′42″N 117°19′33″W? / ?33.21167°N 117.32583°W? / 33.21167; -117.32583 (33.211566, -117.325701).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 107.7 km² (41.6 mi²). 105.1 km² (40.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it (2.36%) is water.

Oceanside City Hall complex

As of the census of 2000, there were 161,029 people, 56,488 households, and 39,259 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,531.7/km² (3,967.2/mi²). There were 59,581 housing units at an average density of 566.7/km² (1,467.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.6% White, 30.2% Hispanic, 6.3% African American, 5.5% Asian, 1.2% Pacific Islander, 0.4% Native American or Alaskan Native, 0.1% from another race alone, and 3.2% from two or more races. (These figures have been adjusted to classify Hispanics as a separate group from whites, blacks, Asians, and other races; U.S. census data do not separate out Latinos in this manner.)

The area around Oceanside High School was, along with the neighborhood around San Diego High School, the site of the first Samoan communities on the U.S. mainland.

In 2000, there were 56,488 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.33.

The age distribution of Oceanside in 2000 was as follows: 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,301, and the median income for a family was $52,232. Males had a median income of $34,772 versus $27,962 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,329. About 8.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Oceanside in 2005 was $61,792 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation, the median household income was $50,177. On June 13, 2005, the Wall Street Journal rated Oceanside as the top vacation home market in the country.

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $295.2 million in Revenues, $252.8 million in expenditures, $962.8 million in total assets, $195.3 million in total liabilities, and $223.7 million in cash and investments.

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:

In the state legislature Oceanside is located in the 38th Senate District, represented by Republican Mark Wyland, and in the 73rd and 74th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Diane Harkey and Martin Garrick respectively. Federally, Oceanside is located in California's 49th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +10 and is represented by Republican Darrell Issa.

Residents of Oceanside may attend schools in the Oceanside Unified School District, Vista Unified School District, Bonsall Union School District, or Carlsbad Unified School District, depending on their actual address. The Oceanside Unified School District provides instrumental music programs in grades 4-12 as well as free transportation for students in grades K-5, with the exception for those who reside on Camp Pendleton and the special needs students.

The Oceanside Unified School District has two comprehensive high schools, El Camino High School off Rancho Del Oro and Oceanside High School off Mission Avenue. High school students are also served by Ocean Shores Continuation High School and Clair Burgener Academy. OUSD has 24 schools plus three charter schools, including the School of Business and Technology, and two brand new schools, Louise Foussat Elementary School and Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, that opened in the Fall of 2007. Cesar Chavez Middle School, which is on the corner of Frazee and Oleander, will be built on a 14 acres, house 11 building totaling 84,000 square feet and will serve 1,000 6th - 8th grade students.

The other school, Louise Foussat Elementary School, located on Pala Road, is built on 12.6 acres of land with 35 classrooms totaling 54, 490 square feet and can accommodate 800 students.

The headquarters for Genica Corporation (Geeks.com), Bergensons Property Services, Learning Forum International and International Stem Cell Corporation are among some of the companies located in Oceanside. According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

The city of Oceanside is uniquely located in the center of three religious philosophies. The spiritual triangle of Oceanside features the Prince of Peace Benedictine Abbey to the north, the Rosicrucian Fellowship to the west, and the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, a Franciscan Mission to the east.

Looking south from the Oceanside Pier

• The Oceanside Pier, first built in 1888 (and now in its sixth incarnation), is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline at 1,954 feet (596m).
• Oceanside is home to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, one of the Alta California missions.
• Oceanside is also known for the nature grounds of Mount Ecclesia, launched in 1911. This place is the location of the international headquarters of a fraternal and service organization called The Rosicrucian Fellowship. It is also the location of its spiritual healing temple, called "The Ecclesia", situated upon the promontory of a high mesa.
• The bungalow house featured in Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, is located on South Pacific Street, which is one street up from the Oceanside Strand, a section of residential houses along the coastline. This will become a coffee house once the Malkin resort is built.
• In June 1997, a record 221,000 fans watched X Games III, held in San Diego and Oceanside. The surfing competition took place at the Oceanside Harbor Beach.
• The California Surf Museum is located in downtown Oceanside.
• Oceanside has a large Day of the Dead celebration held every year on or about the weekend nearest November 1 with Carnival rides, street vendors, and musicians
• Usually held the second weekend in September, Oceanside also holds an annual Harbor Days festival with street vendors, food, and local artists displaying their wares.
• Oceanside is host to the world's 2nd largest Beach Soccer festival, The Southern California Beach Soccer Championships has become an international event and it is usually held in the middle of May at the Oceanside Harbor Beach.
• The final competition scene from the film Bring It On was not shot in Daytona, Florida, but at the beach shell in front of the pier.
• In the late 1990s, Oceanside had a minor league baseball franchise of the Western Baseball League, in the Miracosta College Ballpark but folded operations and lacked a standard ball park, now the site of the North County Waves semi-pro collegiate team.
• The hills of Oceanside are said to form a lying down person in the shape of the "Sleeping Indian" near Papagallo Rd. in Oceanside

• Bobbi DePorter - Founder of the internationally-acclaimed SuperCamp program, and President of the Quantum Learning Network.
• Goldberg (wrestler) - Bill Goldberg, retired professional wrestler, football player, and actor
• Rear Admiral (Ret.) Dick Lyon - One of the first 10 Navy Seals (formerly called "Scouts and Raiders"), and the first Special Warfare Officer to attain that rank. He served as mayor of the city in the 1990s.
• Barbara Mandrell - Country singer. Former Miss Oceanside. Graduated from Oceanside High School in 1967.
• Denise Richards - Actress who starred in Starship Troopers, Wild Things and the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. Graduated from El Camino High School in 1989.
• Chris Thile - Virtuoso mandolinist of Nickel Creek; born in Oceanside.
• Heath Bell, pitcher for the San Diego Padres
• Francis French, author and noted space historian
• Thad Bosley, MLB player for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and the Texas Rangers
• Thomas Keller, chef, restauranteur and Michelin Star recipient.

• Willie James Buchanon, played for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers.
• William "Willie" Buchanon, selected by the Oakland Raiders.
• Joe Salave'a, plays for the Washington Redskins.
• Junior Seau - linebacker who played for the San Diego Chargers for 13 years, before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2003 and most recently the New England Patriots. Graduated from Oceanside High School with letters in football, basketball, and track.
• Antwain Spann, selected by the New England Patriots. Attended El Camino High School.
• Ken Stills, played for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.

• Bring It On
• Top Gun
• The Whole Ten Yards
• Veronica Mars
• Heartbreak Ridge
• Diamonds Are Forever
• Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
• The Mentalist