Bonsall, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonsall, California
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Location in San Diego County and the state of California
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 Bonsall, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | San Diego |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.80 sq mi (35.74 km2) |
| • Land | 13.62 sq mi (35.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) 1.28% |
| Elevation | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,546 |
| • Density | 333.68/sq mi (128.83/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
92003
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-07498 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1660358, 2407884 |
Bonsall is a special kind of community in San Diego County, California. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the government counts as a community for statistics, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.
In 2020, about 4,546 people lived in Bonsall. This number has grown over the years. In 2010, there were 3,982 people, and in 2000, there were 3,401.
Bonsall was greatly affected by the Lilac Fire in December 2017. This large wildfire burned about 4,100 acres of land in the area.
Contents
What's in a Name? The History of Bonsall
The area we now call Bonsall has had a few different names over time.
From Mount Fairview to Osgood
Originally, this place was known as Mount Fairview. It even had a post office with that name from 1871 to 1880. Later, in 1881, the post office changed its name to Osgood. This new name honored Joseph O. Osgood, who was the chief engineer for the California Southern Railroad. People hoped that naming the town after him would convince him to build the railroad through the San Luis Rey River Valley. However, the railroad ended up following the Santa Margarita River instead.
How Bonsall Got Its Name
After the railroad plans changed, the town needed a new name. In 1890, a contest was held to choose a new name. The winning name was Bonsall, chosen to honor a local minister named James A. Bonsall. That's how the community got the name it still uses today!
Where is Bonsall? Geography and Location
Bonsall is located in San Diego County, California. It's situated in a convenient spot near several other communities.
Neighboring Communities
If you look on a map, Bonsall is just east of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton. It's also north of Vista and northwest of Hidden Meadows.
Size of the Area
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bonsall covers a total area of about 13.6 square miles (35.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.45 square kilometers), being water.
Who Lives in Bonsall? Population Facts
Bonsall has seen its population grow steadily over the past few decades.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 3,401 | — | |
| 2010 | 3,982 | 17.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,546 | 14.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Bonsall's Population in 2010
In 2010, Bonsall had a population of 3,982 people. The population density was about 293.5 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Bonsall at that time were White (80.2%). There were also people of African American (1.7%), Native American (0.7%), and Asian (3.5%) backgrounds. About 22.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Most people (99.6%) lived in regular homes. There were 1,542 households in total. About 29.2% of these households had children under 18 living there. Many households (56.6%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.57 people.
The ages of people in Bonsall varied. About 21.2% were under 18 years old, and 17.2% were 65 years or older. The average age was around 44.1 years old.
Bonsall's Population in 2000
In 2000, Bonsall had 3,401 people living there. The population density was about 252.4 people per square mile. The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with 84.00% White and 21.43% Hispanic or Latino.
There were 1,285 households. About 28.3% of these households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.65 people. The average age in 2000 was 41 years old.
The median household income in 2000 was $60,625. This means that half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 6.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Learning in Bonsall: Education
Bonsall has its own school system, which helps students from elementary school all the way through high school.
Bonsall Unified School District
The community of Bonsall is served by the Bonsall Unified School District. This district includes three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. This means students can attend schools within their own community as they grow up. The superintendent, who is like the head of all the schools in the district, has been Joseph Clevenger since July 1, 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Bonsall (California) para niños
