Encinitas, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Encinitas, California
City
Aerial view of part of old town Encinitas showing Moonlight Beach on the left. Parallel with the shore is Historic Coast Highway 101; also parallel and further inland is Interstate 5.
Flag Seal
Location of Encinitas in San Diego County, California
Encinitas, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Diego
Incorporated	October 1, 1986
Area
• Total	20.16 sq mi (52.21 km2)
• Land	19.06 sq mi (49.35 km2)
• Water	1.10 sq mi (2.85 km2)  5.89%
Elevation	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	62,007
• Density	3,075.7/sq mi (1,187.65/km2)
Demonym(s)	Encinitan
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	92007, 92023, 92024
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-22678
GNIS feature IDs	1652705, 2410440

Encinitas is a beautiful beach city in San Diego County, California. Its name comes from a Spanish word meaning "Small Oaks." It's located in Southern California, about 25 miles (40 km) north of San Diego. The city is nestled between Solana Beach and Carlsbad. In 2020, Encinitas had a population of 62,007 people.

History of Encinitas

The first people to live in the Encinitas area were the Kumeyaay tribe. In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá, a Spanish governor, explored the area. He named the valley "Los Encinos" because of the many oak trees.

After Mexico became independent, land was given to Andrés Ybarra in 1842. This land became Rancho Las Encinitas, which is where the city gets its name. The town of Old Encinitas was officially started in 1881 by Jabez Pitcher.

In 1986, the communities of Encinitas, New Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain joined together. They voted to become one city, which is the Encinitas we know today.

Exploring Encinitas

Aerial view of San Elijo Lagoon

Encinitas is built on a rugged coastal terrace, which is like a raised flat area near the ocean. A low ridge divides the city into Old and New Encinitas. Along the coast, there are many tall bluffs that overlook the narrow beaches. The city is bordered by two lagoons: Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and San Elijo Lagoon to the south.

The city covers about 20 square miles (52 square kilometers). Its elevation ranges from sea level up to 402 feet (123 meters) above sea level.

Neighborhoods of Encinitas

Encinitas has several unique neighborhoods:

• Old Encinitas is a small beachside area. It has a mix of shops and homes. Here you'll find Coast Highway 101, the famous surf spot Swamis, and the old La Paloma Theatre.
• Olivenhain is a more rural area in eastern Encinitas. It has mostly single-family homes and places for horses. German immigrants settled this area in the late 1800s.
• Leucadia is a coastal community known for its tree-lined streets. It has art galleries, unique shops, restaurants, and beaches like Beacons.
• Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the southernmost oceanfront community. Its streets are named after British cities and famous composers. It's home to the Lux Art Institute and a campus of Mira Costa College.

Encinitas Weather

Encinitas has a very mild, Mediterranean climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average daily high temperature is about 72°F (22°C). It rarely gets colder than 40°F (4°C) or hotter than 85°F (29°C).

The city gets about 10 inches (254 mm) of rain each year, mostly in winter and spring. During these seasons, it can be cool, and fog (called May Gray/June Gloom) is common. Summers and fall are dry and warm. Ocean water temperatures are usually around 60°F (16°C) in winter and can reach 70°F (21°C) in summer.

People of Encinitas

In 2020, Encinitas had a population of 62,007 people. Most residents are White (85.8%). About 13.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. The median age in Encinitas is about 41.5 years old. This means half the people are younger than 41.5, and half are older.

Arts and Culture

Downtown Encinitas

Encinitas has a lively arts and culture scene. The Encinitas Ballet is a classical ballet studio started in 2008.

Fun Events in Encinitas

The city hosts many regular events throughout the year:

• April Street Fair: A two-day fair held every April in downtown Encinitas.
• Encinitas Environment Day: Held in June, with games and entertainment focused on the environment.
• Lima Bean Faire and Battle of the Beans Cook-off: A unique event held each September at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum.
• Fall Festival: Another annual street fair held in November in downtown Encinitas.
• OktoberFest: Celebrated in late September, just like the famous German festival.
• Classic Car Cruise Nights: Classic cars line Coast Highway 101 on the third Thursday of each month from May to September.
• The Wavecrest Woodie Meet: The world's largest gathering of wooden-bodied cars, held every September at Moonlight State Beach. It's free to visit!
• Switchfoot Bro-Am: A free surf competition and music festival held in July at Moonlight State Beach. All money raised goes to local charities.

The Surfing Madonna

In 2011, a large, 10-foot (3-meter) mosaic of a surfing Virgin Mary was secretly put up on a train bridge wall. It became known as "the Surfing Madonna" and is a famous local landmark.

Places to Visit

Built in the late 1920s, the boathouses are historic landmarks in Encinitas.

Encinitas has several interesting places to visit:

• The Lux Art Institute
• The San Diego Botanic Garden
• The historic La Paloma Theatre
• Moonlight Beach
• The Self-Realization Fellowship temple and Hermitage
• The San Dieguito Heritage Museum
• The Encinitas Historical Society

Surfing is very popular here, especially at Swami's, which is considered one of the top surf spots in the world. It's even mentioned in The Beach Boys' song "Surfin' U.S.A."

The Cardiff Kook

Magic Carpet Ride, also known as the Cardiff Kook, is a 16-foot (5-meter) bronze statue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The statue shows a surfer, but many local surfers thought its pose wasn't quite right. So, they nicknamed it the "Cardiff Kook," which is a playful term for a "wannabe" surfer.

Even though it got a funny nickname, the Kook has become a beloved local symbol. People often "dress up" the statue for different holidays or events. You might see it wearing a lucha libre mask, being "eaten" by a papier-mâché shark, or dressed as Uncle Sam for Independence Day. High school students even use it to ask each other to school dances! This tradition brings lots of fun and visitors to the statue.

Economy

The Encinitas 101 Main Street Association works to keep downtown Encinitas lively and historic. The downtown area is full of local salons, restaurants, shops, bars, and art galleries.

Getting Around Encinitas

You can travel by train in Encinitas! Coaster trains stop at Encinitas station every day, connecting Encinitas to Oceanside and San Diego.

Schools in Encinitas

Encinitas has several school districts and colleges:

School Districts

• Cardiff School District
• Encinitas Union School District
• San Dieguito Union High School District

Colleges

• California Institute for Human Science
• Mira Costa College, San Elijo Campus
• St. Katherine College

High Schools

• Grauer School (private)
• San Dieguito Academy
• Pacific Academy
• Sunset Continuation High School

Middle Schools

• Diegueño Middle School
• Encinitas Country Day School (private)
• Grauer School (private)
• Oak Crest Middle School
• The Rhoades School (private)

Elementary Schools

• Ada Harris Elementary School
• Cardiff Elementary School
• Capri Elementary School
• Encinitas Country Day School (private)
• Flora Vista Elementary School
• Ocean Knoll Elementary School
• Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School
• Park Dale Lane Elementary School
• Paul Ecke Central Elementary School
• Rancho Encinitas Academy (private)
• The Rhoades School (private)
• Saint John The Evangelist School (private)
• Sanderling Waldorf School (private)

Famous People from Encinitas

Many notable people have lived in Encinitas, including:

• Guy Beahm, a famous video game streamer
• Michael Chang, a professional tennis player
• Richard Dreyfuss, an American actor
• Tony Hawk, a professional skateboarder
• Cloris Leachman, an American actress
• Jerry Mathers, an American actor
• Mike McGill, a professional skateboarder who invented the McTwist
• Jeremy McGrath, a Supercross racer
• Mark McMorris, a Canadian snowboarder and Olympic medalist
• Emily Ratajkowski, a model and actress
• Ravi Shankar, a world-famous sitarist
• Staciana Stitts, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming
• Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam
• Joe Walsh, a rock guitarist and singer
• Bryce Wettstein, a professional skateboarder

Sister City

Encinitas has one sister city:

• Amakusa City, Japan

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view of part of old town Encinitas showing Moonlight Beach.

• 

  Flag of Encinitas.

• 

  Seal of Encinitas, California.

• 

  Location of Encinitas in San Diego County, California.

See also

In Spanish: Encinitas para niños