4S Ranch, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
4S Ranch
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Community
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4S Ranch from the top of Black Mountain
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 4S Ranch
Location in California
4S Ranch
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  San Diego |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
92127
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| Area code(s) | 858 |
4S Ranch is a community located in San Diego County, California. It is about 25 miles north of downtown San Diego. The Pacific Ocean is 13 miles to its west.
4S Ranch is part of the North County Inland area of San Diego. To its east is Rancho Bernardo. To the west is the Santa Fe Valley. This valley includes Rancho Santa Fe. Lake Hodges forms the northern edge of 4S Ranch. To the south are Black Mountain Ranch and Rancho Peñasquitos. The ZIP Code for 4S Ranch is 92127. The area code is 858.
Contents
History of 4S Ranch
The land where 4S Ranch now stands was once part of a large area called Rancho San Bernardo. An English sea captain, Joseph Snook, first owned this land. He became a Mexican citizen and got land grants in 1842 and 1845. After he passed away, his family sold the land.
From 1847 until the early 1900s, the area was used for grazing animals. Sheep and longhorn cattle grazed there. By 1915, the San Dieguito Mutual Water Company owned 4S Ranch. This company was part of the Santa Fe Railroad. They thought eucalyptus trees would be good for railroad ties. They planted thousands of them, but it did not work out.
In 1918, W. J. Stowe bought 3,000 acres of the ranch. He registered his "4S" brand with San Diego County. This brand stood for the four Stowe family members living on the ranch. This is how "4S Ranch" got its name.
Changes in Ownership
4S Ranch was sold many times over the years. Albert E. Smith bought it in 1928. He built a Spanish-style house overlooking Lake Hodges. This house is still there today. Later, William A. Clark, who started the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, bought the property.
After Clark died, his wife sold 4S Ranch to Albert G. Ralphs. The Ralphs family owned a well-known grocery store chain. They used 4S Ranch for fun and farming. But the crops did not grow well. Large fires in 1944 and 1981 burned many of the eucalyptus and citrus trees.
Developing the Community
In the early 1980s, the Ralphs family decided to develop the southern part of their land. This became the 4S Ranch community. They kept the northern 1,200 acres for their family. This part had been a working ranch for 50 years.
In the 1980s, Albert's grandchildren, Bob and Linda Ralphs, led the development plans. In 1984, they got permission to develop 634 acres. The first phase of development began in 1987. It was mostly a business park. Homes started to be built in the early 2000s. The housing development finished in 2014. Today, 4S Ranch has about 4,700 homes across 2,900 acres. Most of the remaining land owned by the Ralphs family is open natural space.
Geography of 4S Ranch
4S Ranch has different types of land. There are flat areas, gently rolling hills, and steep hillsides. The land rises from about 300 feet to 1,150 feet above sea level. About 1,600 acres of the area are open space. This is much more than required to protect the environment.
Retail and Shopping
The main shopping areas in 4S Ranch are around the intersection of Dove Canyon and Camino del Norte. These areas include the 4S Ranch Village Center, 4S Commons Town Center, and the 4S Health Center.
- The 4S Ranch Village Center has the community's only gas station. It also has places for pet care, restaurants, hair salons, and a Starbucks.
- The 4S Commons Town Center has two grocery stores. You can also find more restaurants, shops, and services like dry cleaning here.
- The 4S Health Center has many doctors' offices. These include family doctors, cancer care, children's dentists, and women's health services.
Transportation in 4S Ranch
Public bus service used to connect 4S Ranch to other areas. Route 880, called the 4S Ranch Express, started in 2009. It provided service to Sorrento Valley and University Town Center. This was a special bus service with limited stops.
However, in 2014, all bus service to 4S Ranch was stopped. Now, to get to Sorrento Valley, people use Route 270. This bus leaves from the Rancho Bernardo transit center. The station is about a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute bike ride away.
The main roads for getting around 4S Ranch are Camino del Norte and Rancho Bernardo Road. These roads lead east to Interstate 15. Other important roads are Camino del Sur and Carmel Valley Road. These roads go south and west. They connect to California State Route 56 and Interstate 5.
Community Events
4S Ranch hosts many fun events throughout the year:
- Fall Festival: Features food, rides, and games.
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt: A popular event for kids.
- Thank You Run/Walk: A 5K/10K race on Thanksgiving Day.
- Summer Movie Nights: Movies shown outdoors for families.
- 4S Ranch Fourth of July Carnival and Street Faire: Fun activities for everyone.
- 4S Ranch Fourth of July Fireworks: Fireworks display at Del Norte High School.
- 4S Ranch Pumpkin Festival: A fall celebration.
- Concerts in the Park: Live music performances.
Parks and Recreation
4S Ranch has several county parks for outdoor activities:
- 4S Ranch Sports Park
- Heritage Park
- 4S Ranch Community Park
- Patriot Park
- Pioneer Park
- Liberty Park
- Homestead Park
Schools in 4S Ranch
The Poway Unified School District serves 4S Ranch. New schools opened starting in 2004. Stone Ranch Elementary was the first. Design 39 Campus opened in August 2014.
High Schools
- Del Norte High School
Middle Schools
- Oak Valley Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Stone Ranch Elementary School
- Monterey Ridge Elementary School
- Del Sur Elementary School
K-8 Schools
- Design 39 Campus
Private Schools
- Maranatha Christian Schools
Safety and Services
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for 4S Ranch. They have a local office on Rancho Bernardo Road. The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department provides fire services. Their station is on Four Gee Road.
Community Groups
Many organizations help make 4S Ranch a great place to live.
Youth Sports
- 4S Ranch Youth Football & Cheer
- 4S Ranch Little League Baseball
- Boys & Girls Club 4S Ranch Basketball, Volleyball, Community Pool, Camps
- 4S Ranch Soccer
- Arsenal FC San Diego
- 4S Ranch Girls Softball
Religious Services
- GC2 Church
- Maranatha Chapel
- The City Church
- Restoration Church
Charitable Organizations
- 4S Ranch~Del Sur Community Foundation
4S Ranch Library
The 4S Ranch branch of the San Diego County Library opened on April 26, 2007. It is located in the 4S Commons Center. The library is a community hub, especially for children and teens. It is 7,214 square feet and has about 28,000 items.
See also
In Spanish: 4S Ranch para niños
