De Luz, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
De Luz, California
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 De Luz, California
Location in California
De Luz, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  Riverside San Diego |
| Elevation | 111 m (364 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area codes | 442/760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1656476 |
De Luz is a small, quiet community in San Diego County, California. It's an area that doesn't have its own city government. The name "De Luz" comes from Spanish and means "Of Light."
This community is about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Fallbrook. It is also west of Temecula. De Luz is located about 12 miles (19 km) from the Pacific Ocean. It sits at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains.
Contents
History of De Luz
Early Days and Name Origin
De Luz started to form in the 1870s. This is when people called homesteaders moved to the area. They came to set up cattle farms. The exact meaning of the name "De Luz" is a bit of a mystery. Some people think it's a Spanish translation of an English rancher's name, Luce. Others believe it came from a person named Jose de Luz, who was a Californio (a person of Spanish descent born in California).
Trains and Floods
For a short time in the late 1800s, you could reach De Luz by train. The California Southern Railroad passed through the town. This train route connected San Diego to San Bernardino. However, the tracks often got washed out by floods in Temecula Canyon. This made repairs very expensive for the railroad.
Train service to De Luz became less frequent after 1888. This was when a new coastal train line, the Surf Line, was finished. Eventually, all train service to De Luz stopped in 1916.
Flooding Challenges
Because of its location, De Luz has often experienced floods. In 1916, a big flood destroyed the town's post office. This was the same flood that ruined the train tracks. A much smaller post office was then built on higher ground. It was only about 10 square feet (0.93 square meters) in size! This tiny post office closed down in 1955.
Connecting Roads
DeLuz Road is a small, two-lane road. It goes north from De Luz through the Santa Ana Mountains. This road was built in 1898. Local residents had asked for a road to connect De Luz with the town of Murrieta.
See also
- In Spanish: De Luz (California) para niños
