Oceanside, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oceanside, California
City
Clockwise: Mission San Luis Rey de Francia; Oceanside City Hall; Oceanside Strand; Mount Ecclesia; Roberts Cottages
Flag Seal
Location of Oceanside within San Diego County, California
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Diego
Incorporated	July 3, 1888
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	42.16 sq mi (109.19 km2)
• Land	41.26 sq mi (106.85 km2)
• Water	0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2)  2.23%
Elevation	0–66 ft (0–20 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	174,068
• Estimate  (2024)	171,483
• Rank	3rd in San Diego County 29th in California 156th in the United States
• Density	4,259.79/sq mi (1,644.73/km2)
Demonym(s)	Oceansider O'sider
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	92049, 92051–92052, 92054, 92056–92058
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-53322
GNIS feature IDs	1652761, 2411301
City flower	Crimson Lake Bougainvillea

Oceanside is a sunny beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California. It's known for its beautiful beaches and interesting history. In 2020, about 174,068 people lived here, making it the biggest city in the North County part of San Diego. Oceanside is a popular place for tourists to visit. They come for its famous landmarks, beaches, and cool buildings.

The story of Oceanside began in 1798. That's when the Spanish started a village called San Luis Rey. They built Mission San Luis Rey de Francia there. This mission grew to be the largest of all the California missions. But later, the mission and its community faced challenges. After the U.S. took over California, the land around the mission became a beach resort. Slowly, the community's name changed to Oceanside.

History of Oceanside

Oceanside's story began in 1798 with Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.

The village of San Luis Rey and its mission in 1827.

Long ago, Native American groups lived in the area that is now Oceanside. The Luiseño people, also called the Payomkawichum, were among the first inhabitants. Oceanside is located where the San Luis Rey River flows. The Luiseño people had villages there, including Tacayme, Qée'ish (Keish), and 'ikáymay (Ikamal).

Spanish Exploration and Missions

The first European explorers arrived in 1769. Spanish missionaries, led by Father Junípero Serra, built Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. It was built on the site of a former Luiseño village called Keish. This happened on the banks of the San Luis Rey River.

In the early 1800s, farming and raising animals started in the area. This changed the landscape of what would become Oceanside.

Mexican Rule and Changes

Luiseño people refusing to work for Captain Pablo de la Portillà in 1835.

After 1833, the California missions became part of the Mexican government. This meant the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Church no longer owned them. Instead, the Mexican government took over. An administrator was put in charge of each mission. Their job was to manage the change, remove the priests, and sell or give away the mission lands.

At Mission San Luis Rey, Padre Antonio Peyrí had been in charge for 34 years. Soldiers forced him to leave in late 1833. Captain Pablo de la Portillà then became the mission's administrator. After Padre Peyrí left, the relationship between the Luiseño people and the new government became difficult. This led to the Luiseño people famously refusing to work for Captain Portillà in 1835.

Oceanside in the American Era

Oceanside around the year 1900.

The Americanization School was built in 1931.

In the late 1800s, Andrew Jackson Myers moved to the land where Oceanside is today. The U.S. government officially recognized the land in 1883. Oceanside became an official city on July 3, 1888. The city hall building today stands on what used to be Myers' home.

The city's post office has a large painting called Air Mail. Elsie Seeds painted it in 1937. This painting was part of a government project to create art across the United States.

Oceanside has always been a popular place for vacation homes. In recent years, new hotels and apartment buildings have been built downtown. In 2021, two large Hyatt resorts opened. These resorts bring even more tourists to the city.

Geography and Climate

Aerial view of Oceanside and the Oceanside Pier.

Oceanside covers about 42.2 square miles (109.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

If you travel north on Interstate 5, Oceanside is the last city you'll see before reaching Orange County. It's about the same distance from Aliso Viejo as it is from downtown San Diego.

Oceanside is part of a "tri-city" area with Carlsbad and Vista.

Oceanside's Weather

Oceanside has a mild, dry climate. Ocean winds and cool currents keep the weather pleasant. Average high temperatures are usually between 64 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 25 degrees Celsius). Average low temperatures range from 45 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 18 degrees Celsius).

People of Oceanside

Oceanside has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, the city had a population of 174,068 people. This was an increase from 167,086 people in 2010.

Who Lives in Oceanside?

The church at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.

The people of Oceanside come from many different backgrounds. In 2020, about 39% of the population was of European background. About 30% were of Mexican background.

The U.S. Census keeps track of different groups. In 2020, about 45% of people were non-Hispanic White. About 7% were Asian, and about 3.7% were Black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 36% of the population.

In 2010, there were 59,238 households in Oceanside. About 34.6% of these households had children under 18 living in them. The average household had 2.80 people. The average family had 3.32 people.

The population is spread out by age. In 2010, about 23.8% of people were under 18. About 12.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Oceanside was 35.2 years.

Economy and Jobs

Oceanside Harbor Village.

Tri-City Medical Center.

Oceanside has many different types of jobs. Here are some of the largest employers in the city, based on a 2017 report:

Arts, Culture, and Fun Things to Do

Sunshine Brooks Theatre.

Oceanside is a lively city with lots of art, culture, and exciting events.

• The Oceanside Pier was first built in 1888. Today, it's one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast of the United States, stretching 1942 feet (592 meters).
• The Oceanside Museum of Art is located in the downtown area.
• Mount Ecclesia is a historic area known for its unique buildings and beautiful gardens. It's a peaceful place for walks.
• Oceanside is one of 14 special cultural districts in California. This means the city has a strong arts scene. The Oceanside Cultural District downtown has many museums and theaters, like the historic Star Theatre.
• The California Surf Museum is also in downtown Oceanside.
• Oceanside hosts the World's Largest Women's Surf Competition, the Supergirl Pro Jam. This event has been held every year since 2007.
• Every Thursday evening, downtown Oceanside has the Sunset Market. It's a fun gathering with local sellers, food, and live music.
• The Frontwave Credit Union O'side Turkey Trot is a popular running and walking event. It started in 2006 and attracts thousands of participants.
• Since 2006, Oceanside has been the starting point for the Race Across America. This is a bicycle race that covers 3000 miles (4828 kilometers). Many experts call it the world's toughest sporting event.
• Oceanside has hosted the Beach Soccer Championships since 2007. This festival is the biggest on the West Coast.
• The Oceanside International Film Festival began in 2009.
• The famous "Top Gun" house from the movie Top Gun is in Oceanside. It was moved and restored and is now a popular spot for tourists.
• Oceanside has a harbor with a lighthouse, shops, restaurants, and many boats.
• The TV show Animal Kingdom is set and filmed in Oceanside.
• The 2023 Disney animated TV series Hailey's On It! takes place in Oceanside.
• Frontwave Arena, a large venue for events, opened in 2024.

Education in Oceanside

Oceanside High School.

Most of Oceanside is part of the Oceanside Unified School District. Some parts of the city are in other school districts, like Carlsbad, Bonsall, and Vista.

The Oceanside Unified School District offers music programs for students in grades 4 through 12.

The district has two main high schools: El Camino High School and Oceanside High School. There are also other high schools like Ocean Shores Continuation High School and Clair Burgener Academy. The district has 24 schools, plus three charter schools. Two new schools, Louise Foussat Elementary School and Cesar Chavez Middle School, opened in 2007.

Scholarship Prep is a free public charter school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It opened in 2017 at the historic San Luis Rey Mission.

Transportation Options

Sprinter train at Oceanside Transportation Center.

Getting around Oceanside and to other cities is easy with its transportation options.

Trains and Air Travel

The Oceanside Transit Center is a major hub for trains.

• Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train connects Oceanside to places like San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
• Metrolink trains connect Oceanside to many parts of Greater Los Angeles.
• The Coaster train serves northern and central San Diego County.
• The Sprinter train connects Oceanside to Escondido.

Oceanside Municipal Airport (OCN) is mainly used for smaller planes. For international flights, the nearest airport is San Diego International Airport. You can reach it from Oceanside using Amtrak or Coaster trains.

Major Roads

Interstate 5 (I-5) runs through Oceanside. It connects to California State Route 76 (SR 76) and California State Route 78 (SR 78) within the city.

Sister Cities

Oceanside has special connections with cities in other countries:

• Ensenada, Mexico
• Kisarazu, Japan
• Fuji, Japan
• Pago Pago, American Samoa

Images for kids

• 

  Mount Ecclesia is the headquarters of the Rosicrucian Fellowship.

• 

  California Surf Museum.

See also

In Spanish: Oceanside (California) para niños