Oceanside,
California
During most of its history, the operations of Palomar Software were located in Oceanside, a coastal city
at the northwestern corner of San Diego County. Information
on the city provided here includes:
General Information
Oceanside is one of the two anchor cities of the suburban
region known locally as North
County. It is surrounded by Carlsbad to the south,
Vista to the east, Camp Pendleton to the north and the
Pacific Ocean to the west. Other cities such as Encinitas,
Cardiff and San Clemente are less than 20 minutes away by
car.
The largest city in North County, Oceanside has a
population of 161,000 (in 2000) and an area of 44 square
miles.
The best source for community information is the
Oceanside Chamber
of Commerce, which includes visitor
information, community history and copious
demographics.
The city also has compiled a
history of Oceanside since
its discovery by Spanish missionaries in 1769.
Climate
Blessed with one of the mildest climates in the United
States, Oceanside was once dubbed by USA
Today as having the second best climate in
the country. The reasons include:
- A mean high of 75° in July and 64° in
January
- Less than 11 inches of rain every year
- Among the fewest heating and cooling degree days in
the U.S.
The main gripes about our climate (like San Diegos)
concern the June gloom, a period of night &
morning low clouds along the coastal strip.
A summary of 30 years of reports from the Oceanside
Marina can be found at the Western
Regional Climate Center.
Current Oceanside weather is reported by
Housing
Oceanside has among the most affordable coastal housing
in all of Southern California.
It has the least expensive housing in coastal North
County because it is the furthest city from downtown San
Diego, and thus a longer commute downtown. This has been
somewhat mitigated recently with commuter
rail service to San Diego, Orange County and Los
Angeles.
Housing costs are the main reason that the cost of living
in Oceanside is less than other cities. As of the late 1990s,
housing costs were less than San Diego (by 11%), Los Angeles
(19%), Irvine (20%) and San Jose (27%), according to
formulas available at Money
magazine.
For information on Oceanside housing and prices, see sale listings at
Transportation
Oceanside is a major transportation crossroads, linking
San Diego County to the Los Angeles basin. Most of Southern
California is within a two hour drive, and San Diego, Orange
County and Los Angeles are available via train service.
For those in less of a hurry, Oceanside is also a major
stepping off point for weekend bicylists riding south to Del
Mar, north to Orange County, or east to Escondido.
Transportation-related web sites include:
- Oceanside
Transit Center provides access to:
- Coaster
commuter trains to San Diego
- Metrolink
commuter trains to Los Angeles
- Amtrak
trains throughout California
- Airports serving North County
include:
Other Resources
See also our North County
regional economic and tourist information.
Recreation
Located on the Pacific Ocean, Oceanside city is known for
beaches, its pier,
harbor and other water
sports. Other recreational activities available in the
region include biking,
hiking, golf and skiing.
Surfing
With 3.5 miles of sandy beaches, Oceanside is
particularly known for its surfing. For current surf
conditions and a live video feed, see Surf Lines
Oceanside
Pier surf cam.
Oceanside is a stop for many surfing events, including
those of
See also these Oceanside-related surfing organizations:
Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor is the only small craft harbor between
San Diego and Dana Point. For 30 years (until 1999), it was
home port to the U.S.
Coast Guard cutter Point Hobart.
The harbor includes boat launching ramps, slip rentals,
numerous restaurants and a hotel. For more information on
the harbor see:
Oceanside Pier
The first pier in Oceanside was begun in 1888 at
Wisconsin Street, and destroyed by storms in the winter of
1890-1891. The subsequent fishing piers were built (and
destroyed) at Third
Street. The current pier, at 1,954' one of the largest
wooden piers in the U.S., was dedicated in 1987.
The pier has its own web page.
Water Sports
Other watersports-related Oceanside sites include:
History
Chronology
A few key dates mark the communitys growth:
- 1769: After founding the San Diego mission, the
expedition of Captain
Gaspar de Portolá passes through Oceanside in
July.
- 1798: Franciscan friars establish the first permanent
settlement of Spanish settlers with the Mission
San Luis Rey.
- 1834: Governor Pio Pico seizes the mission lands, which are sold off.
- 1883: with the construction of Southern Pacific from
Los Angeles to San Diego, Andrew Jackson Myers isgranted
a homestead in what is now downtown Oceanside.
- 1888: Myers leads the successful election to
incorporate the city
of Oceanside.
- ca. 1920: the coast highway is paved between Los
Angeles and San Diego.
- 1929: exclusive St.
Malo beachfront subdivision is begun.
- 1942: the Federal government purchases Santa
Margarita y Los Flores for use as a military base, which
becomes Camp Joseph H.
Pendleton.
- ca. 1957: Interstate 5 links Oceanside to Los
Angeles.
- 1958: Oceanside-Carlsbad High School split into Oceanside High and the newly-built Carlsbad High.
- ca. 1964: Fire Mountain annexed into Oceanside.
- 1983: the Oceanside Pier is damaged by heavy winter rains and declared unsafe.
- 1987: Palomar Software, Inc. moves its headquarters
to an Oceanside
garage.
More detailed information is available from the Oceanside
Historical Society [currently without a website].
Historical Sites
A number of sites from the citys early history
remain attractions for visitors to Oceanside.
The citys oldest and most
important historical site is Mission
San Luis Rey. Established in 1798, it was the second
stop in the chain of 21
missions extending from San Diego to Sonoma County. The
King of the Missions was once the largest
building in all of California.
Located near the mission is Heritage
Park, a collection of the citys historic original
buildings which were relocated to the site. Between the
mission and the park is All
Saints Church and Cemetery, the communitys
first Protestant church.
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