Escondido, California
Encyclopedia
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California
. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating budget limit of $426,289,048 for the fiscal year 2010-2011. The city is known as Eskondiid in Diegueño. A 2005 nationwide study of the most conservative cities in America ranked Escondido #11 out of 25.
migrated from areas near the Colorado River
, settling both in the San Pasqual Valley and near the San Dieguito River
in the southwestern and western portions of what is now Escondido. Most of the villages and campsites today have been destroyed by development and agriculture.
Spain
controlled the land from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, and established many missions in California
to convert the indigenous people. When Mexico
gained its independence from Spain, the local land was divided into large ranchos. Most of what is now Escondido occupies the former Rancho Rincon del Diablo
("Devil's Corner"), a Mexican land grant
given to Juan Bautista Alvarado (not the governor
of the same name)in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
. Alvarado was a Regidor
of Los Angeles
at the time, and the first Regidor of the pueblo
of San Diego. The southern part of Escondido occupies the former Rancho San Bernardo
, granted in 1842 and 1845.
In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, the Battle of San Pasqual
was fought southeast of Escondido. This battle pitted Mexican forces under Andrés Pico
(brother of then-California-governor Pío Pico
) against Americans under Stephen W. Kearny
, Archibald Gillespie, and Kit Carson
. A park in Escondido is named for Carson.
In 1853, pro-Southern Copperheads
proposed dividing the state of California to create a new Territory of Colorado (at this time the territory that would become the state of Colorado
was named "Jefferson
"). San Diego Judge Oliver S. Witherby suggested placing the capitol of the new territory in Rancho Rincon del Diablo. He envisioned a railroad connecting San Diego to Fort Yuma
through an area about two miles (3 km) south of the current Escondido site, heading east through San Pasqual. He planned to profit from the town that he believed would be established from the dividing point on the railroad below the eastern hills.
With a series of deeds in 1855 and 1856, the rancho was transferred from the heirs of Juan Bautista Alvarado to Witherby.
The proposal for splitting the state and creating the new territory passed in the California legislature, but died in Congress in the run-up to the Civil War
. It was effectively killed in 1861 when Congress organized the Territory of Colorado in the area previously occupied by the Jefferson Territory
. With Witherby's vision of owning a bustling state capitol unrealized, he set up a mining operation on the rancho instead.
In 1868, Witherby sold the rancho for $8000 to Edward McGeary and John, Josiah, and Matthew Wolfskill. McGeary owned half the rancho, while the three Wolfskill brothers each owned an equal share of the other half. John Wolfskill farmed sheep, horses, and cattle on the rancho for a number of years. Wolfskill had frequent conflicts with the Couts family, owners of the neighboring Guajome
, Buena Vista
, and San Marcos
ranchos, over grazing lands and watering holes.
In October 1883, a group of Los Angeles investors purchased Rancho Rincon del Diablo. This group sold the land to the newly formed Escondido Company in 1884. On December 18, 1885, investors incorporated the Escondido Land and Town Company, and in 1886 this company purchased the 12814 acres (52 km²) area for approximately $100,000. Two years later, in 1888, Escondido was incorporated as a city; the vote was 64 in favor of cityhood with 12 votes against. Railroads such as the Santa Fe
and Southern Pacific
were laid in the 1880s. The opening of U.S. Route 395 in 1930 boosted economic growth in Escondido.
Escondido was primarily an agricultural community, growing muscat grapes initially. After a dam was built in 1894-5 to form what is known today as Lake Wohlford, orange
and lemon trees were planted in large numbers, as were olive and walnut trees. By the 1960s avocado
s became the largest local crop. Since the 1970s, Escondido has lost most of its agricultural land to housing developments.
Betno Flores Lives in Escondido
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 37 square miles (95.8 km²). 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.48% water.
The city is growing at a rapid rate with new communities like Hidden Trails appearing at the east end of East Valley Parkway. The city proper is surrounded by several sparsely populated unincorporated communities. These include Jesmond Dene
and Hidden Meadows
to the north; Felicita Park to the southwest; and Rincon Del Diablo to the southeast. Residents of these communities have Escondido mailing addresses and zip codes, and their children are sometimes assigned to Escondido schools, but residents of these communities cannot participate in city elections.
The city contains several neighborhoods including:
The community of Valley Center
is located just north of Escondido. Valley View Casino, owned by the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
, is located in Valley Center.
s and orange
s. Escondido is located in a plant hardiness zone
9.
was 3,890.7 people per square mile (1,502.2/km²). The racial makeup of Escondido was 60.4% White (40.4% non-Hispanic white), 2.5% African American (2.1% non-Hispanic black), 1.0% Native American, 6.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 25.4% from other races
, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.9% of the population.
The Census reported that 141,792 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 1,333 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 786 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 45,484 households, out of which 18,989 (41.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23,535 (51.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 6,082 (13.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,115 (6.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,121 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 343 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 9,528 households (20.9%) were made up of individuals and 4,235 (9.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12. There were 32,732 families
(72.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.57.
The population was spread out with 39,778 people (27.6%) under the age of 18, 15,455 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 41,043 people (28.5%) aged 25 to 44, 32,551 people (22.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 15,084 people (10.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
There were 48,044 housing units at an average density of 1,298.9 per square mile (501.5/km²), of which 23,759 (52.2%) were owner-occupied, and 21,725 (47.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 70,936 people (49.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 70,856 people (49.2%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there are 133,559 people, 43,817 households, and 31,153 families residing in the city. The population density
is 1,421.4/km² (3,680.9/mi²). There are 45,050 housing units at an average density of 479.4/km² (1,241.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 67.82% White, 2.25% African American, 1.23% Native American, 4.46% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 19.19% from other races, and 4.81% from two or more races. 38.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 43,817 households out of which 39.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% are married couples
living together, 11.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% are non-families. 22.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.01 and the average family size is 3.50.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,567, and the median income for a family is $48,456. Males have a median income of $32,627 versus $27,526 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $18,241. 13.4% of the population and 9.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The city can be divided into two demographically distinct areas. Peripheral hilly areas to the north, southeast, and southwest are relatively wealthy and populated by non-Hispanic whites, and flat areas adjacent to the downtown are predominantly Hispanic. As of 2006-07 school year, non-Hispanic white children comprised 71.7% of all students in Bernardo Elementary School (southwest), 60.8% of all students in L.R. Green Elementary School (southeast), and 54.7% of all students in Reidy Creek Elementary School (north); on the other hand, Farr Avenue, Pioneer and Lincoln Elementary schools (three large schools just north of the downtown) all have more than 85% of Hispanic and less than 6% non-Hispanic white students.
In 2009, 629 violent crimes and 3,880 property crimes were reported in Escondido. There were four murders and non-negligent manslaughters, 42 rapes, 249 robberies, 334 aggravated assaults, 779 burglaries, 2,402 larceny thefts, 699 vehicle thefts, and 23 arsons.
In 2010, Escondido saw a 5 percent drop in violent crime, with only 597 reported violent crimes according to the Escondido Police Officer's Association. However, there was a 3.9 percent increase in the number of property crimes, including residential and commercial burglaries, from 3,880 in 2009 to 4,033 in 2010, according to FBI statistics.
Realty Income
is among the companies based in Escondido.
In addition to the many art galleries on Grand, a branch of the Mingei International Museum
recently opened there.(now recently closed) This museum displays handcrafts from around the world. One block off Grand Ave. is Grape Day Park with the civic center and the California Center for the Arts, which features two theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference center. The Escondido Children's Museum and the Escondido History Center, two independent non-profit museums, are located in Grape Day Park. The Children's Museum features hands-on exhibits and programs for children up to 10 years of age, with an authentically regional perspective on natural and social science. The History Center features the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop. The Pioneer Room of Escondido Public Library
(located in the Mathes Center building next to the Main Library) offers photographs, maps, oral histories, genealogical collections, directories and yearbooks documenting Escondido's history.
held training camp in Escondido.
In 1981, Escondido National Little League became the 19th team to make it to the Little League World Series
from the state of California. The team was first District 31 champions, then District 8 champions. They then won the Southern California
Divisional Tournament at Youth Athletic Park by beating San Bernardino
Civitan 3-2 in the quarterfinals, then beating Granada Hills American 5-1 in the semifinals and then beating Ladera National 7-5 in the finals to earn a trip to the Western Regional. At the Western Regional in San Bernardino, the Escondido team won four straight games to earn the trip to Williamsport.
In October 2010, Merritt Paulson
, owner of the AAA Portland Beavers
franchise, announced that the team was being sold to the North County Baseball ownership group, led by Jeff Moorad
, part-owner and CEO of the Beavers parent team, the San Diego Padres
. The ownership group is in discussions to build a stadium in Escondido to become operational for the 2012 baseball season at the earliest. In December 2010, the Escondido city council voted to go ahead with the ballpark. The stadium is slated to open in April 2013.
The San Diego Sockers announced that the team may build an indoor soccer-specific stadium with a target date of fall, 2013.
. The Safari Park shows animals in open habitats.
moved its headquarters and brewery from San Marcos, California
to a new, much larger facility in the Quail Hills area of Escondido.
is a Buddhist sanctuary that occupies 400 acres (1.6 km²) in the hills north of Escondido and west of Daley Ranch. It is one of two monasteries in the United States under the direction of a well-known Zen
teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Deer Park Monastery is home to 27 Buddhist monks and nuns; it frequently hosts events and retreats that bring people from all over the western United States and from abroad.
, Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo, and Michael Morasco. The current City Manager is Clay Phillips. The current City Treasurer is Kenneth Hugins. The most recent election was held on November 2, 2010.
Due to the public outcry and legal challenges to the aforementioned housing ordinance, and the election of Olga Diaz to the City Council, it has since ceased any overt attempts to lower the illegal immigrant population in the city (which, council member Sam Abed's estimates is as much as 35,000, or 25% of the city population in 2006), and focused on "quality of life" issues instead. Periodic police checkpoints are instituted to catch unlicensed drivers. An active area of debate is an overnight parking ordinance that would limit the number of cars each household can legally park on city streets. The city is estimated to have lost as much as a quarter of its non-citizen population between 2006 and 2007. Latino activists attribute this to a perception of the city as hostile to immigrants.
The City of Escondido is a member of the San Diego Association of Governments
(SANDAG).
Escondido is located in the 38th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Mark Wyland
, and in the 74th and 75th Assembly
District, represented by Republicans Martin Garrick
and Nathan Fletcher
respectively. Federally, Escondido is located in California's 50th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +5 and is represented by Republican Brian Bilbray
.
In the United States presidential election of 2008
, 53.3% of voters residing in incorporated Escondido voted for John McCain
, 44.9% voted for Barack Obama
, and 1.8% voted for one of the third-party candidates. Unincorporated areas were considerably more conservative: among voters in neighborhoods of Rincon Del Diablo, Hidden Meadows, and Valley Center, 62.3%, 65.5%, 66.9% of voters respectively cast their votes for John McCain.
, the Escondido Union High School District, and the San Pasqual Union School District. The city has 19 elementary, five middle, and seven high schools.
Public high schools:
Middle schools:
Elementary Schools
There is a wide range of API scores
for Escondido schools, reflecting the demographic diversity of the city. As of 2009, two elementary schools in the district scored above the 80th percentile of all schools in the state, and nine elementary schools scored below the 20th percentile.
The Escondido Public Library
system consists of the Main Branch, the East Valley Branch, Pioneer Room, Computer Center, and a bookmobile
.
and Interstate 15. Route 78 enters from the west as a freeway which ends at Broadway. The highway follows surface streets and leaves the city heading east into the San Pasqual Valley.
The North County Transit District
(NCTD) operates local bus service, with the Escondido Transit Center
serving as a hub. The transit center has connections to both the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
and the Riverside Transit Agency
.
The Sprinter light rail line, operated by NCTD, links the transit center to Oceanside
using the existing 22 miles (35 km)-long Escondido Branch trackage of the San Diego Northern Railroad. The rail line opened in 2008, making Escondido one of the first cities in the United States to operate Desiro
-class diesel multiple unit
s manufactured by Siemens
in Germany. At the Oceanside Transit Center, the Sprinter connects to three commuter rail lines (the Coaster, the Metrolink Orange County Line
, and the Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line
) and Amtrak's
Pacific Surfliner
regional rail line.
The California High Speed Rail Authority listed Escondido as a stop along the proposed high-speed rail system running from Southern to Northern California. A section of the line between San Francisco and Los Angeles
was approved by voters in the November 2008 elections.
is the electric utility for the city. The City of Escondido Water Utilities serves most customers within the City while Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District serves potable and recycled water to the greater Escondido valley and some portions of the incorporated city.
is a hospital located east of downtown. It is the only designated trauma center
in northern San Diego County. A second hospital, Palomar West, is under construction southwest of the interchange between Interstate 15 and State Route 78. It is scheduled to open in 2012.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating budget limit of $426,289,048 for the fiscal year 2010-2011. The city is known as Eskondiid in Diegueño. A 2005 nationwide study of the most conservative cities in America ranked Escondido #11 out of 25.
History
The Escondido area was first settled by the Luiseño, who established campsites and villages along the creek running through the area. They named the place "Mehel-om-pom-pavo." The KumeyaayKumeyaay
The Kumeyaay, also known as Tipai-Ipai, Kamia, or formerly Diegueño, are Native American people of the extreme southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. They live in the states of California in the US and Baja California in Mexico. In Spanish, the name is commonly spelled...
migrated from areas near the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, settling both in the San Pasqual Valley and near the San Dieguito River
San Dieguito River
The San Dieguito River is a major river in Southern California, USA. Its headwaters rise on the southern slope of the Volcan Mountains in San Diego County and the river flows generally southwest for , draining before emptying into the Pacific Ocean north of San Diego.-Course:The river officially...
in the southwestern and western portions of what is now Escondido. Most of the villages and campsites today have been destroyed by development and agriculture.
Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
controlled the land from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, and established many missions in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to convert the indigenous people. When Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
gained its independence from Spain, the local land was divided into large ranchos. Most of what is now Escondido occupies the former Rancho Rincon del Diablo
Rancho Rincon del Diablo
Rancho Rincon del Diablo was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1843 to Juan Bautista Alvarado. The name means "the devil's corner" or "the devil's lurking place"...
("Devil's Corner"), a Mexican land grant
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
given to Juan Bautista Alvarado (not the governor
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
of the same name)in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
. Alvarado was a Regidor
Regidor
A Regidor is a member of a council of municipalities in Spain and Latin America. Portugal also used to have the same office of Regedor.-Mexico:...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at the time, and the first Regidor of the pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
of San Diego. The southern part of Escondido occupies the former Rancho San Bernardo
Rancho San Bernardo (Snook)
Rancho San Bernardo was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California with two square leagues given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado and an additional two square leagues given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to José Francisco Snook...
, granted in 1842 and 1845.
In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, the Battle of San Pasqual
Battle of San Pasqual
The Battle of San Pasqual, also spelled San Pascual, was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican-American War in what is now the San Pasqual Valley community of the city of San Diego, California. On December 6 and December 7, 1846, General Stephen W...
was fought southeast of Escondido. This battle pitted Mexican forces under Andrés Pico
Andrés Pico
Andrés Pico was a Californio who became a successful rancher, served as a military commander during the Mexican-American War; and was elected to the state assembly and senate after California became a state, when he was also commissioned as a brigadier general in the state militia.-Early...
(brother of then-California-governor Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
) against Americans under Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen Watts Kearny surname also appears as Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers of the United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest...
, Archibald Gillespie, and Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
. A park in Escondido is named for Carson.
In 1853, pro-Southern Copperheads
Copperheads (politics)
The Copperheads were a vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the American Civil War, wanting an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates. Republicans started calling anti-war Democrats "Copperheads," likening them to the venomous snake...
proposed dividing the state of California to create a new Territory of Colorado (at this time the territory that would become the state of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
was named "Jefferson
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...
"). San Diego Judge Oliver S. Witherby suggested placing the capitol of the new territory in Rancho Rincon del Diablo. He envisioned a railroad connecting San Diego to Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
through an area about two miles (3 km) south of the current Escondido site, heading east through San Pasqual. He planned to profit from the town that he believed would be established from the dividing point on the railroad below the eastern hills.
With a series of deeds in 1855 and 1856, the rancho was transferred from the heirs of Juan Bautista Alvarado to Witherby.
The proposal for splitting the state and creating the new territory passed in the California legislature, but died in Congress in the run-up to the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was effectively killed in 1861 when Congress organized the Territory of Colorado in the area previously occupied by the Jefferson Territory
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...
. With Witherby's vision of owning a bustling state capitol unrealized, he set up a mining operation on the rancho instead.
In 1868, Witherby sold the rancho for $8000 to Edward McGeary and John, Josiah, and Matthew Wolfskill. McGeary owned half the rancho, while the three Wolfskill brothers each owned an equal share of the other half. John Wolfskill farmed sheep, horses, and cattle on the rancho for a number of years. Wolfskill had frequent conflicts with the Couts family, owners of the neighboring Guajome
Rancho Guajome
Rancho Guajome was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Andrés and José Manuel, Indians. The name comes from the Luiseño Indian word meaning "frog pond"...
, Buena Vista
Rancho Buena Vista (Felipe)
Rancho Buena Vista was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Felipe, an Indian. The name means "good view" in Spanish...
, and San Marcos
Rancho San Marcos
Rancho San Marcos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to Nicolas A. Den and Richard S. Den. The grant in the Santa Ynez Valley extended between the San Rafael Mountains and the Santa Ynez River.-History:The former Santa...
ranchos, over grazing lands and watering holes.
Incorporation and growth
The city was home to a large Spanish-speaking population in the first census, in 1850, but after the U.S. won the war, non-Hispanic settlers came to Southern California in increasing numbers. The decade of the 1880s is known as the "Southern California Land Boom" because so many people moved to the state.In October 1883, a group of Los Angeles investors purchased Rancho Rincon del Diablo. This group sold the land to the newly formed Escondido Company in 1884. On December 18, 1885, investors incorporated the Escondido Land and Town Company, and in 1886 this company purchased the 12814 acres (52 km²) area for approximately $100,000. Two years later, in 1888, Escondido was incorporated as a city; the vote was 64 in favor of cityhood with 12 votes against. Railroads such as the Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
and Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
were laid in the 1880s. The opening of U.S. Route 395 in 1930 boosted economic growth in Escondido.
Escondido was primarily an agricultural community, growing muscat grapes initially. After a dam was built in 1894-5 to form what is known today as Lake Wohlford, orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
and lemon trees were planted in large numbers, as were olive and walnut trees. By the 1960s avocado
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
s became the largest local crop. Since the 1970s, Escondido has lost most of its agricultural land to housing developments.
Betno Flores Lives in Escondido
Geography
Escondido is located at 33°7'29" North, 117°4'51" West (33.124794, -117.080850).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 37 square miles (95.8 km²). 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.48% water.
The city is growing at a rapid rate with new communities like Hidden Trails appearing at the east end of East Valley Parkway. The city proper is surrounded by several sparsely populated unincorporated communities. These include Jesmond Dene
Jesmond Dene, California
Jesmond Dene is an unincorporated community of Escondido in San Diego County, California. It is located just east of Interstate 15 north of Escondido, and has a zip code of 92026 , and the community is inside area code 760....
and Hidden Meadows
Hidden Meadows, California
Hidden Meadows is a census-designated place near Escondido in San Diego County, California. The population was 3,485 at the 2010 census, up from 3,463 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hidden Meadows is located at ....
to the north; Felicita Park to the southwest; and Rincon Del Diablo to the southeast. Residents of these communities have Escondido mailing addresses and zip codes, and their children are sometimes assigned to Escondido schools, but residents of these communities cannot participate in city elections.
The city contains several neighborhoods including:
- Downtown Escondido centers around Grand Avenue between Centre City Parkway and Palomar Hospital. The city's general planGeneral planA general plan is the policy of acceptable land uses in each jurisdiction. Each city and county adopts and updates their General Plan to guide the growth and land development of their community, for both the current period and the long term...
defines the Downtown Specific Plan Area as approximately 460 acres (1.9 km²) bounded by Centre City Parkway on the west, Hickory and Ivy Streets on the east, Washington Avenue on the north, and Fifth Avenue on the south, with an additional narrow section extending west along Valley Parkway to Interstate 15. - Old Escondido is bounded by Escondido Boulevard on the west, Chestnut Street on the east, Fifth Avenue on the north, and Thirteenth Avenue on the south. This area is made up of mostly single-family residential housing.
The community of Valley Center
Valley Center, California
Valley Center is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 9,277 at the 2010 census, up from 7,323 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Valley Center is located at ....
is located just north of Escondido. Valley View Casino, owned by the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
The San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California is a federally recognized tribe of Kumeyaay Indians, who are sometimes known as Mission Indians.-Reservation:...
, is located in Valley Center.
Climate
Escondido tends to have warmer summers and wetter winters than its neighbor San Diego. Yearly precipitation averages around 15 inches (381 mm) and varies from year to year. More than 80% of all precipitation takes place from November through March. Snow is very uncommon. Climate is mild enough to allow widespread cultivation of avocadoAvocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
s and orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
s. Escondido is located in a plant hardiness zone
Hardiness zone
A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, as defined by climatic conditions, including its ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone...
9.
Lakes
Three lakes are located in or near Escondido, all of which allow boating and fishing:- Dixon Lake is located in the north.
- Lake Wohlford is located on the north eastern fringe of the city limits.
- Lake HodgesLake HodgesLake Hodges is a lake and reservoir located in Southern California, about north of San Diego and just south of Escondido, California. When full, the reservoir has , a maximum water depth of , and of shoreline. Interstate 15 crosses Lake Hodges via the Lake Hodges Bridge...
is located just south of the city. A part of Lake Hodges is crossed by Interstate 15 via the Lake Hodges BridgeLake Hodges BridgeThe Lake Hodges Bridge is a component of Interstate 15 that spans Lake Hodges, just south of Escondido, California. Lake Hodges Bridge is an important part of San Diego's North-South transportation axis....
. Often this part of the lake is dry.
Demographics
2010 census
In the 2010 United States Census, Escondido had a population of 143,911. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,890.7 people per square mile (1,502.2/km²). The racial makeup of Escondido was 60.4% White (40.4% non-Hispanic white), 2.5% African American (2.1% non-Hispanic black), 1.0% Native American, 6.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 25.4% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.9% of the population.
The Census reported that 141,792 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 1,333 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 786 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 45,484 households, out of which 18,989 (41.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23,535 (51.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6,082 (13.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,115 (6.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,121 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 343 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 9,528 households (20.9%) were made up of individuals and 4,235 (9.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12. There were 32,732 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(72.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.57.
The population was spread out with 39,778 people (27.6%) under the age of 18, 15,455 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 41,043 people (28.5%) aged 25 to 44, 32,551 people (22.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 15,084 people (10.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
There were 48,044 housing units at an average density of 1,298.9 per square mile (501.5/km²), of which 23,759 (52.2%) were owner-occupied, and 21,725 (47.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 70,936 people (49.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 70,856 people (49.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000 census
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there are 133,559 people, 43,817 households, and 31,153 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 1,421.4/km² (3,680.9/mi²). There are 45,050 housing units at an average density of 479.4/km² (1,241.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 67.82% White, 2.25% African American, 1.23% Native American, 4.46% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 19.19% from other races, and 4.81% from two or more races. 38.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 43,817 households out of which 39.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% are non-families. 22.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.01 and the average family size is 3.50.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,567, and the median income for a family is $48,456. Males have a median income of $32,627 versus $27,526 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $18,241. 13.4% of the population and 9.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The city can be divided into two demographically distinct areas. Peripheral hilly areas to the north, southeast, and southwest are relatively wealthy and populated by non-Hispanic whites, and flat areas adjacent to the downtown are predominantly Hispanic. As of 2006-07 school year, non-Hispanic white children comprised 71.7% of all students in Bernardo Elementary School (southwest), 60.8% of all students in L.R. Green Elementary School (southeast), and 54.7% of all students in Reidy Creek Elementary School (north); on the other hand, Farr Avenue, Pioneer and Lincoln Elementary schools (three large schools just north of the downtown) all have more than 85% of Hispanic and less than 6% non-Hispanic white students.
Crime
In 2007, the city ranked #65 by violent crimes per capita and #58 by property crimes per capita among 165 cities in California with populations greater than 50,000. Compared with the 12 largest cities in San Diego County, it ranked 6th in both categories. Its crime rate was lower in both categories than San Diego, El Cajon, and National City; higher in both categories than San Marcos, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Santee. Escondido had a higher violent crime rate but lower property crime rate than La Mesa and Chula Vista; it had a lower violent crime rate but higher property crime rate than Vista and Oceanside.In 2009, 629 violent crimes and 3,880 property crimes were reported in Escondido. There were four murders and non-negligent manslaughters, 42 rapes, 249 robberies, 334 aggravated assaults, 779 burglaries, 2,402 larceny thefts, 699 vehicle thefts, and 23 arsons.
In 2010, Escondido saw a 5 percent drop in violent crime, with only 597 reported violent crimes according to the Escondido Police Officer's Association. However, there was a 3.9 percent increase in the number of property crimes, including residential and commercial burglaries, from 3,880 in 2009 to 4,033 in 2010, according to FBI statistics.
Economy
Residents work in a range of industries. Out of the approximately 64,000 employed civilian residents over the age of 16, 15% work in educational, health care and social services; 13% in retail trade; 13% in construction; 12% in professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services; 11% in arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services; 11% in manufacturing; and 11% in other services.Realty Income
Realty Income Corporation
Realty Income Corporation is a real estate investment trust known as “The Monthly Dividend Company®” for its practice of paying investor dividends on a monthly rather than quarterly basis. It is chartered in the state of Maryland and has its headquarters in Escondido, California...
is among the companies based in Escondido.
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palomar Medical Center Palomar Medical Center Palomar Medical Center is a hospital located in Escondido, California. PMC is operated by the Palomar Pomerado Health District, which also operates Pomerado Hospital in nearby Poway. The hospital is the only designated trauma center in northern San Diego County.PMC opened in 1950 as Palomar... |
2,664 |
| 2 | Escondido Union School District Escondido Union School District The Escondido Union School District is a school district that serves the city of Escondido, California. The district serves almost 20,000 students within the elementary and middle schools with a student to teacher ratio of 19.6 to 1... |
1,795 |
| 3 | City of Escondido | 1,075 |
| 4 | Escondido Union High School District | 715 |
| 5 | North County Transit District North County Transit District The North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States... |
484 |
| 6 | ARS National Services | 439 |
| 7 | Nordstrom Nordstrom Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings... |
418 |
| 8 | Ne-Mo's Bakery | 352 |
| 9 | Palomar College Palomar College Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in... |
340 |
| 10 | The Home Depot The Home Depot The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain... |
333 |
Downtown
Downtown has become more active in the past few years with the opening of restaurants, cafes, and galleries. Every Friday night from April through September, Steve Waldron and a handful of friends host the popular "Cruisin' Grand", where the public can show and view hot rods and historic cars. A different car club and/or featured attraction (for example, antique fire trucks, nitro night, midget and sprint cars) is highlighted each week. Cruisin' Grand also features a DJ, hula hoop contests for children, and the awarding of trophies.In addition to the many art galleries on Grand, a branch of the Mingei International Museum
Mingei International Museum
The Mingei International Museum is a non-profit public institution that collects, conserves and exhibits folk art, craft and design. The museum was first founded in 1974 and its building opened in 1978. The word mingei, meaning 'art of the people,' was coined by the Japanese scholar Dr...
recently opened there.(now recently closed) This museum displays handcrafts from around the world. One block off Grand Ave. is Grape Day Park with the civic center and the California Center for the Arts, which features two theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference center. The Escondido Children's Museum and the Escondido History Center, two independent non-profit museums, are located in Grape Day Park. The Children's Museum features hands-on exhibits and programs for children up to 10 years of age, with an authentically regional perspective on natural and social science. The History Center features the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop. The Pioneer Room of Escondido Public Library
Escondido Public Library
The Escondido Public Library is a public library system serving the city of Escondido, which is situated in San Diego County, California.The collection of the library contains 275,000 volumes, circulates 750,000 items per year and serves a...
(located in the Mathes Center building next to the Main Library) offers photographs, maps, oral histories, genealogical collections, directories and yearbooks documenting Escondido's history.
Sports
From 1964–1968, the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
held training camp in Escondido.
In 1981, Escondido National Little League became the 19th team to make it to the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
from the state of California. The team was first District 31 champions, then District 8 champions. They then won the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
Divisional Tournament at Youth Athletic Park by beating San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
Civitan 3-2 in the quarterfinals, then beating Granada Hills American 5-1 in the semifinals and then beating Ladera National 7-5 in the finals to earn a trip to the Western Regional. At the Western Regional in San Bernardino, the Escondido team won four straight games to earn the trip to Williamsport.
In October 2010, Merritt Paulson
Merritt Paulson
Henry Merritt Paulson III is the majority owner of Peregrine Sports, LLC which owns the Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer team based in Portland, Oregon.-Personal:...
, owner of the AAA Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
franchise, announced that the team was being sold to the North County Baseball ownership group, led by Jeff Moorad
Jeff Moorad
Jeff Moorad is a former sports agent and is currently lead owner of the San Diego Padres and part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team.He is an Assyrian American...
, part-owner and CEO of the Beavers parent team, the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. The ownership group is in discussions to build a stadium in Escondido to become operational for the 2012 baseball season at the earliest. In December 2010, the Escondido city council voted to go ahead with the ballpark. The stadium is slated to open in April 2013.
The San Diego Sockers announced that the team may build an indoor soccer-specific stadium with a target date of fall, 2013.
Parks
Escondido has fifteen parks.- Daley Ranch is a 3058 acres (12.4 km²) conservation area acquired in 1996 by the City of Escondido and is managed in perpetuity for the preservation of a biologically unique and diverse habitat area of regional importance. Daley Ranch has over 20 miles (32.2 km) of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. Six distinct trails cover most of the property. Most popular are the Boulder Loop Trail (2.4 miles) which affords views of Escondido, and the Ranch House Loop (2.5 miles), which passes two small ponds and the site of Daley's original log cabin.
- El Norte Park is a small "green lung" park, off El Norte Parkway in northern Escondido. It features mature trees and a kids playground.
- Grape Day Park is located behind the Escondido City Hall and the performing arts complex. This park was named after the annual grape day harvest, an event held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. Dogs are not allowed in Grape Day Park.
- Jesmond Dene
- Kit Carson: Queen Califia's Magical Circle, the last major international work by French artist Niki de Saint PhalleNiki de Saint PhalleNiki de Saint Phalle, born Catherine-Marie-Agnès-Brandon Fal de Saint Phalle was a French sculptor, painter, and film maker.-The early years:...
, is located in Kit Carson Park. De Saint Phalle, a colleague of Salvador DalíSalvador DalíSalvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and Jasper JohnsJasper JohnsJasper Johns, Jr. is an American contemporary artist who works primarily in painting and printmaking.-Life:Born in Augusta, Georgia, Jasper Johns spent his early life in Allendale, South Carolina with his paternal grandparents after his parents' marriage failed...
, is best known for her Stravinsky FountainStravinsky FountainThe Stravinsky Fountain is a whimsical public fountain ornamented with sixteen works of sculpture, moving and spraying water, representing the works of composer Igor Stravinsky...
, located in Paris, France. The artist chose Escondido as the site for her final work because it reminded her of Italy.
- Dixon Lake supplies Escondido with fresh water. Swimming is not allowed, but fishing is, and boats are available for hire. Dixon Lake has about 34 camp sites which look out over the lake, or over Escondido. While entrance to the park is free, the city charges $5.00 (in 2010) for taking a car into the park. However, ample free parking is available outside the gate.
- Lake Wohlford is in the north east corner of Escondido. The lake has some walking trails around the perimeter, and allows fishing.
- Mountain View
- Rod McLeod
- Washington Park is an urban park located on the eastern side of central Escondido. It features lighted facilities for baseball, softball, tennis and basketball, a 25-yard swimming pool and water slide, and a smaller children's pool. The park's numerous mature trees create plenty of shady areas and tables are provided for picnics.
- Westside
- Frances Ryan Park is a 67 acres (271,139.6 m²) complex of soccer fields, supported by a concession stand and public restrooms. The park is adjacent to Valley High School in eastern Escondido at the corner of Valley Parkway and El Norte Parkway. As of October 2010, the park features 7 soccer fields, 5 of which have lights for night time practice and play. The park is named for a former teacher at Escondido High School. Dogs are not allowed in Ryan Park.
- Grove Park was so named to recognize the city's agricultural history. It was built about 2008 (approximate date). It is about 4.5 acres (18,210.9 m²) in size and is located in the Mission Park neighborhood.
- Felicita County Park
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (also called by its former name, "Wild Animal Park") is located near Escondido. It is the sister park to the San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
. The Safari Park shows animals in open habitats.
Stone Brewing Company
In 2006, Stone Brewing CompanyStone Brewing Company
Stone Brewing Co. is a craft brewery headquartered in Escondido, California. Founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, it is the largest brewery in Southern California...
moved its headquarters and brewery from San Marcos, California
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
to a new, much larger facility in the Quail Hills area of Escondido.
Deer Park Buddhist Monastery
Deer Park MonasteryDeer Park Monastery
Deer Park Monastery is a Buddhist sanctuary in Escondido, California. It was founded in July 2000 by monastic and lay practitioners from Plum Village in France....
is a Buddhist sanctuary that occupies 400 acres (1.6 km²) in the hills north of Escondido and west of Daley Ranch. It is one of two monasteries in the United States under the direction of a well-known Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Deer Park Monastery is home to 27 Buddhist monks and nuns; it frequently hosts events and retreats that bring people from all over the western United States and from abroad.
Government
Local
Escondido is governed by a mayor-council system. The city council consists of a mayor and four City Council members. Along with the City Treasurer, they are elected at large to four-year terms. The current mayor is Sam Abed. Current City Council members are Olga DiazOlga Diaz
Olga Diaz is a U.S. politician. , Diaz is a member of the city council of Escondido, California. She is notable as the first Latina and a liberal Democrat elected to the generally conservative council.Diaz graduated from Santa Clara University...
, Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo, and Michael Morasco. The current City Manager is Clay Phillips. The current City Treasurer is Kenneth Hugins. The most recent election was held on November 2, 2010.
Due to the public outcry and legal challenges to the aforementioned housing ordinance, and the election of Olga Diaz to the City Council, it has since ceased any overt attempts to lower the illegal immigrant population in the city (which, council member Sam Abed's estimates is as much as 35,000, or 25% of the city population in 2006), and focused on "quality of life" issues instead. Periodic police checkpoints are instituted to catch unlicensed drivers. An active area of debate is an overnight parking ordinance that would limit the number of cars each household can legally park on city streets. The city is estimated to have lost as much as a quarter of its non-citizen population between 2006 and 2007. Latino activists attribute this to a perception of the city as hostile to immigrants.
The City of Escondido is a member of the San Diego Association of Governments
San Diego Association of Governments
The San Diego Association of Governments is an association of local San Diego County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the County, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and a County Supervisors, and also has capital planning and fare setting powers...
(SANDAG).
State and federal
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Escondido is located in the 38th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Mark Wyland
Mark Wyland
Mark Bryan Wyland is a U.S. Republican politician from the state of California, who represents the 38th District in the California State Senate.-Biography:...
, and in the 74th and 75th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republicans Martin Garrick
Martin Garrick
Martin W. Garrick represents the 74th district in the California State Assembly. He was elected to the Assembly in November 2006. Garrick served in the Reagan Administration and is a small business owner.-Background:...
and Nathan Fletcher
Nathan Fletcher
Nathan Fletcher is a Republican member of the California State Assembly in the 75th Assembly District which includes the City of Poway, portions of Escondido, La Jolla, University City, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Carmel Valley, and the communities of...
respectively. Federally, Escondido is located in California's 50th congressional district
California's 50th congressional district
California's 50th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Diego County. The district consists of the northern coastal region of San Diego County and includes the suburbs of San Marcos, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Escondido.The...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +5 and is represented by Republican Brian Bilbray
Brian Bilbray
Brian Phillip Bilbray is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2006, and previously for the 49th district from 1995 to 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. Bilbray is Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus and a member of the influential...
.
In the United States presidential election of 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, 53.3% of voters residing in incorporated Escondido voted for John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, 44.9% voted for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, and 1.8% voted for one of the third-party candidates. Unincorporated areas were considerably more conservative: among voters in neighborhoods of Rincon Del Diablo, Hidden Meadows, and Valley Center, 62.3%, 65.5%, 66.9% of voters respectively cast their votes for John McCain.
Education
Escondido is served by the Escondido Union School DistrictEscondido Union School District
The Escondido Union School District is a school district that serves the city of Escondido, California. The district serves almost 20,000 students within the elementary and middle schools with a student to teacher ratio of 19.6 to 1...
, the Escondido Union High School District, and the San Pasqual Union School District. The city has 19 elementary, five middle, and seven high schools.
Public high schools:
- Escondido High SchoolEscondido High SchoolEscondido High School is one of three high schools in the Escondido Union High School District located in Escondido, California. Escondido High received a California Distinguished School award in 2007.-History:...
- Orange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High School is one of the five public high schools in the Escondido Union School District in Escondido, California. It was established in 1962. The school earned the prestigious California Distinguished School Award in 2007...
- San Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High School is a public high school in Escondido, California. It is named after the nearby San Pasqual Valley. It is within the Escondido Union School District.-Teams:...
- Classical Academy High SchoolThe Classical Academy High School (California)Classical Academy High School is a public charter school located in Escondido, California. First enrollment began in 2006, offering grades 9 and 10. In 2007, 11th grades positions were open. Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, CAHS offered grades 9-12. The Principal for CAHS is Mr. Dana...
- Escondido Charter High SchoolEscondido Charter High SchoolEscondido Charter High School is an independent co-educational university preparatory school for day students in grades 9–12 located in Escondido, California. ECHS has two educational programs: a Traditional Classroom Program akin to traditional high school and an Independent Learning Program ...
- Center City High SchoolCenter City High SchoolCenter City High School was an accredited alternative high school located in Escondido, California, part of the Escondido Union High School District. Center City's mode of instruction was independent study, which is an instructional strategy that responds to students' needs and styles of learning...
- Valley High SchoolValley High School (Escondido, California)Valley High School is an alternative, continuation high school, part of the Escondido Union High School District in Escondido, California. VHS has nearly thirty to fifty new students every month.-RTP:...
Middle schools:
- Bear Valley Middle School
- Del Dios Middle School
- Hidden Valley Middle School
- Mission Middle School
- Rincon Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Bernardo Elementary
- Central Elementary
- Classical Academy
- Coastal Academy
- Conway Elementary
- Farr Avenue Elementary
- Felicita Elementary
- Glen View Elementary
- Heritage K-8 Charter
- Juniper Elementary
- L. R. Green Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Miller Elementary
- Nicolaysen Community Day
- North Broadway Elementary
- Oak Hill Elementary
- Orange Glen Elementary
- Pioneer Elementary
- Reidy Creek Elementary
- Rock Springs Elementary
- Rose Elementary
There is a wide range of API scores
Academic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California, United States. It is one of the main components of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999...
for Escondido schools, reflecting the demographic diversity of the city. As of 2009, two elementary schools in the district scored above the 80th percentile of all schools in the state, and nine elementary schools scored below the 20th percentile.
The Escondido Public Library
Escondido Public Library
The Escondido Public Library is a public library system serving the city of Escondido, which is situated in San Diego County, California.The collection of the library contains 275,000 volumes, circulates 750,000 items per year and serves a...
system consists of the Main Branch, the East Valley Branch, Pioneer Room, Computer Center, and a bookmobile
Bookmobile
A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
.
Transportation
Two highways serve Escondido: Route 78California State Route 78
State Route 78 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in the United States that runs from Oceanside east to Blythe, traversing nearly the entire width of the state. Its western terminus is at Interstate 5 in San Diego County and its eastern terminus is at I-10 in Riverside County...
and Interstate 15. Route 78 enters from the west as a freeway which ends at Broadway. The highway follows surface streets and leaves the city heading east into the San Pasqual Valley.
The North County Transit District
North County Transit District
The North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States...
(NCTD) operates local bus service, with the Escondido Transit Center
Escondido Transit Center
Escondido Transit Center is a bus and train station located in Downtown Escondido, California. It serves as the current eastern terminus of the North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line and the northern terminus of the Breeze Rapid bus rapid transit line...
serving as a hub. The transit center has connections to both the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States. MTS operating subsidiaries include the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated , and San Diego Transit Corporation...
and the Riverside Transit Agency
Riverside Transit Agency
Riverside Transit Agency is a joint powers agency that provides public transportation in western Riverside County, California, United States. It operates more than 300 vehicles on 36 local fixed routes, eight long-distance "CommuterLink" express bus routes, and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA was...
.
The Sprinter light rail line, operated by NCTD, links the transit center to Oceanside
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
using the existing 22 miles (35 km)-long Escondido Branch trackage of the San Diego Northern Railroad. The rail line opened in 2008, making Escondido one of the first cities in the United States to operate Desiro
Desiro
The Siemens Desiro is a family of diesel or electric multiple unit passenger trains. The main variants are the Desiro Classic, Desiro ML, Desiro UK and the future Desiro City and Desiro RUS. The trains are mostly used for commuter and regional services, and their rapid acceleration makes them...
-class diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s manufactured by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
in Germany. At the Oceanside Transit Center, the Sprinter connects to three commuter rail lines (the Coaster, the Metrolink Orange County Line
Metrolink Orange County Line
The Orange County Line is a commuter rail line run by Metrolink from Los Angeles through Orange County to Oceanside in San Diego County, connecting with the Coaster commuter rail service to San Diego...
, and the Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line
Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line
The Inland Empire–Orange County Line is a commuter rail line run by Metrolink in Southern California. It runs from San Bernardino through Orange County to Oceanside in northern San Diego County....
) and Amtrak's
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Pacific Surfliner
Pacific Surfliner
The Pacific Surfliner is a Amtrak regional passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo....
regional rail line.
The California High Speed Rail Authority listed Escondido as a stop along the proposed high-speed rail system running from Southern to Northern California. A section of the line between San Francisco and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
was approved by voters in the November 2008 elections.
Utilities
San Diego Gas & ElectricSan Diego Gas & Electric
San Diego Gas & Electric is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to San Diego County and southern Orange County in southwestern California, United States...
is the electric utility for the city. The City of Escondido Water Utilities serves most customers within the City while Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District serves potable and recycled water to the greater Escondido valley and some portions of the incorporated city.
Health care
Palomar Medical CenterPalomar Medical Center
Palomar Medical Center is a hospital located in Escondido, California. PMC is operated by the Palomar Pomerado Health District, which also operates Pomerado Hospital in nearby Poway. The hospital is the only designated trauma center in northern San Diego County.PMC opened in 1950 as Palomar...
is a hospital located east of downtown. It is the only designated trauma center
Trauma center
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
in northern San Diego County. A second hospital, Palomar West, is under construction southwest of the interchange between Interstate 15 and State Route 78. It is scheduled to open in 2012.
Notable natives and residents
- AnacaniAnacaniAnacani Maria Consuelo y Castillo Lopez Cantor Montoya is a Mexican-born American singer best known as a featured performer on The Lawrence Welk Show television program....
: featured singer with Lawrence WelkLawrence WelkLawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra - Tom AndersonTom Anderson (MySpace)-External links:* on * * on...
: co-founder of MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors.... - Lester BangsLester BangsLeslie Conway "Lester" Bangs was an American music journalist, author and musician. He wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock 'n' roll criticism....
: rock music critic - Ken BlockKen BlockKen Block is a songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the rock band Sister Hazel. Ken plays acoustic guitar. He also helped produce the band's first CD in 1994. His debut solo effort Drift was released on December 9, 2008....
: rally car driver, and founder of DC ShoesDC ShoesDC Shoes is an American company that specializes in footwear for extreme sports, skateboarding, snowboarding as well as snowboards, shirts, jeans, hats, and jackets.The company was founded in 1993 by Ken Block and Damon Way, and is based in Vista, California...
. - Benjamin BrittenBenjamin BrittenEdward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
: English composer, famous for his opera "Peter GrimesPeter GrimesPeter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto adapted by Montagu Slater from the Peter Grimes section of George Crabbe's poem The Borough...
" - E. H. BronnerE. H. BronnerEmanuel H. Bronner was the maker of Dr. Bronner's castile soap, a concentrated liquid notable for the vast amount of lather produced from a few drops and the vast amount of tiny text on its packaging...
: soapmaker - Ray ConniffRay ConniffJoseph Raymond Conniff was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s.-Biography:...
: bandleaderBandleaderA bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
and arrangerArrangerIn investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the... - Pete CoscarartPete CoscarartPeter Joseph Coscarart was a second baseman/shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates . Coscarart batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Escondido, California...
: former Brooklyn DodgerLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... - Gavvy CravathGavvy CravathClifford Carlton "Gavvy" Cravath , also nicknamed "Cactus", was an American right fielder and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies...
: right fielder for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... - Richard DenningRichard DenningRichard Denning , was an American actor who starred in such movies as Creature from the Black Lagoon and An Affair to Remember , and on radio with Lucille Ball as her husband George Cooper in My Favorite Husband , the forerunner of television's I Love Lucy, for which Denning was replaced by Ball's...
: actor - Robert Klark GrahamRobert Klark GrahamRobert Klark Graham was born in Harbor Springs, Michigan, USA. He was a eugenicist and businessman who made millions by developing shatter-proof plastic eyeglass lenses, and who later founded the Repository for Germinal Choice, a sperm bank for geniuses in the hope of implementing a eugenics...
: eugenicist and inventor, founder of the Repository for Germinal ChoiceRepository for Germinal ChoiceThe Repository for Germinal Choice was a sperm bank that existed in Escondido, California from 1980 to 1999. The repository is commonly believed to have accepted only donations from Nobel Prize laureates, although in fact it accepted donations from non-Nobelists, also...
("Nobel Prize Sperm Bank") - Brittany HoganBrittany HoganBrittany Elizabeth Hogan Mayer is a beauty queen from Escondido, California who was Miss Escondido 2005, Miss San Diego 2005, Miss California USA 2005 and Second Place in the Miss USA 2005 pageant.-Miss California USA 2005:...
: former Miss California - Randy JohnsonRandy Johnson (third baseman)Randall Glenn Johnson is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Atlanta Braves. He also played two seasons in Japan, and , for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp...
: former Major League player with Atlanta Braves, current Special Asst to Oakland A's GM Billey Beane, Graduate of Escondido High SchoolEscondido High SchoolEscondido High School is one of three high schools in the Escondido Union High School District located in Escondido, California. Escondido High received a California Distinguished School award in 2007.-History:... - Jacque JonesJacque JonesJacque Dewayne Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who currently is a free agent-Early life:...
: former baseball player for the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the... - Jovan KirovskiJovan KirovskiJovan Kirovski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
: forward for the L.A. Galaxy MLS team - Elisabeth Kübler-RossElisabeth Kübler-RossElisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D. was a Swiss American psychiatrist, a pioneer in Near-death studies and the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying , where she first discussed what is now known as the Kübler-Ross model.She is a 2007 inductee into the American National Women's Hall of Fame...
: founder and resident of the "Shanti Nilaya" (Home of Peace), retreat in Escondido in the late 1970s and early 1980s - Shannon MacMillanShannon MacMillan-References:...
: professional soccer player and graduate of San Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High School is a public high school in Escondido, California. It is named after the nearby San Pasqual Valley. It is within the Escondido Union School District.-Teams:... - Deborah Jeane PalfreyDeborah Jeane PalfreyDeborah Jeane Palfrey operated Pamela Martin and Associates, an escort agency in Washington, D.C. Although she argued that the company's services were legal, she was convicted on April 15, 2008 of racketeering, using the mail for illegal purposes, and money laundering...
: the so-called D.C. Madam - Mark RedmanMark RedmanMark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...
: professional baseball player and graduate of Escondido High SchoolEscondido High SchoolEscondido High School is one of three high schools in the Escondido Union High School District located in Escondido, California. Escondido High received a California Distinguished School award in 2007.-History:... - Steve ReevesSteve ReevesStephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
: bodybuilder - Travis Ryan: lead vocalist of Cattle DecapitationCattle DecapitationCattle Decapitation is an American deathgrind band from San Diego, California, formed in 1996.-History:Originally founded in 1996, Cattle Decapitation's songs protest the mistreatment and consumption of animals as well as the abuse of the environment. Lyrics may also focus on subjects such as...
- Brett SalisburyBrett SalisburyBrett Jon Salisbury is a former college football quarterback at University of Oregon, BYU, and Wayne State College.-Early life:...
: college football quarterback, author of The Transform Diet, and member of Escondido's 1981 Little League World Series1981 Little League World SeriesThe 1981 Little League World Series took place between August 25 and August 29 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Taiping Little League of Taichung, Taiwan defeated the Belmont Heights Little League of Tampa, Florida in the championship game of the 35th Little League World Series.This was the fifth...
team. - Sean SalisburySean SalisburyRichard Sean Salisbury is an American football analyst, former NFL and CFL quarterback, and actor.-Early life:Salisbury attended Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California...
: former ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
anchorman and former NFL quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
; graduate of Orange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High School is one of the five public high schools in the Escondido Union School District in Escondido, California. It was established in 1962. The school earned the prestigious California Distinguished School Award in 2007... - Randy VasquezRandy VasquezRandy Vasquez is an American actor.Vasquez has made several appearances in TV series, most notably Marcos in Acapulco H.E.A.T. and as Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez in JAG. In 2005 he directed a comedic drama titled Perceptions.-Partial filmography:*Level Seven .... Warden Vasquez*Perceptions ...
: actor - Eric WeddleEric WeddleEric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:...
: #32 of San Diego Chargers resides in Escondido - Harold Bell WrightHarold Bell WrightHarold Bell Wright was a best-selling American writer of fiction, essays, and non-fiction during the first half of the 20th century. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the 20th century, he is said to have been the first American writer to sell a million copies of a novel and...
: author in 1920s and 1930s - Andrea ZittelAndrea ZittelAndrea Zittel is an American practicing sculptor, installation artist, and Relational artist.-Early Life:Born in Escondido, California in 1965, Zittel graduated from San Pasqual High School in 1983...
: contemporary artist, graduate of San Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High SchoolSan Pasqual High School is a public high school in Escondido, California. It is named after the nearby San Pasqual Valley. It is within the Escondido Union School District.-Teams:...
See also
- North County TimesNorth County TimesThe North County Times is a local newspaper in north San Diego County, California owned by Lee Enterprises. It is headquartered in Escondido. The current publisher is Peter York....
- The Road to EscondidoThe Road to EscondidoThe Road to Escondido is an album by J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton. It was released on November 7, 2006. Contained on this album are the final recordings of Billy Preston, to whom the album is dedicated....
, an album by J.J. Cale, Colin Tappe and Eric Clapton