Normal Heights, San Diego, California
Encyclopedia
Normal Heights is a neighborhood of the mid-city region of San Diego, California
. It is known for its affordable pubs, restaurants, coffee houses, antique shops, book shops, and burgeoning arts community.
, which is the predecessor to San Diego State University
(formerly located in nearby University Heights
). The State Normal School building now serves as the Eugene Brucker Education Center, the central office for the San Diego Unified School District
.
, Normal Heights has a high rate of pedestrian activity and a unique mix of nationalities relative to the rest of San Diego. Three important neighborhood events take place in Normal Heights: The Adams Avenue Roots Festival, The Adams Avenue Street Fair, and Art Around Adams. The Adams Avenue Roots Festival is typically held the last weekend in April, featuring American, Latin, British, and various other European folk styles played live for free. The Adams Avenue Street Fair, Southern California
's largest free music festival, is typically held the last weekend in September. Art Around Adams is a local community art event where unique and talented artists showcase their work inside and outside interesting little businesses and spaces along Adams Avenue. The stretch of Adams Avenue between Texas Street on the west and Ohio Street on the east is sometimes referred to as Antique Row, due to the large quantity of antique stores along that stretch (some area residents consider Antique Row to be part of the "Between Heights" neighborhood; see the "Geography" section for clarification).
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...
. It is known for its affordable pubs, restaurants, coffee houses, antique shops, book shops, and burgeoning arts community.
History
The "Normal" part of "Normal Heights" refers to the State Normal SchoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
, which is the predecessor to San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
(formerly located in nearby University Heights
University Heights, San Diego, California
University Heights is a neighborhood in Central San Diego, California centered around Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. The area is filled with a number of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and artist's studios primarily on Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. Live entertainment can be found most...
). The State Normal School building now serves as the Eugene Brucker Education Center, the central office for the San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
.
Geography
Normal Heights is centrally located in San Diego's hills above Mission Valley. Its borders are defined by Interstate 805 to the West, Interstate 8 to the North, Interstate 15 to the East, and El Cajon Boulevard to the South. The majority of "typical" neighborhood businesses are located along Adams Avenue. Some residents define the western border as the bridge where Adams Avenue crosses over Texas Street nine blocks west of Interstate 805; those who accept I-805 as the western border refer to the area between the bridge and the interstate as "Between Heights" because it is east of University Heights, whose eastern border is marked by the bridge, and west of Normal Heights (as defined by the western border being I-805). According to the City of San Diego this area is officially part of North Park.Culture
Like other urban mesa neighborhoods north of Balboa ParkBalboa Park
Balboa Park is the name of several municipal parks or neighborhoods, including the following:* Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States* Balboa Park, San Francisco, California, United States...
, Normal Heights has a high rate of pedestrian activity and a unique mix of nationalities relative to the rest of San Diego. Three important neighborhood events take place in Normal Heights: The Adams Avenue Roots Festival, The Adams Avenue Street Fair, and Art Around Adams. The Adams Avenue Roots Festival is typically held the last weekend in April, featuring American, Latin, British, and various other European folk styles played live for free. The Adams Avenue Street Fair, 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...
's largest free music festival, is typically held the last weekend in September. Art Around Adams is a local community art event where unique and talented artists showcase their work inside and outside interesting little businesses and spaces along Adams Avenue. The stretch of Adams Avenue between Texas Street on the west and Ohio Street on the east is sometimes referred to as Antique Row, due to the large quantity of antique stores along that stretch (some area residents consider Antique Row to be part of the "Between Heights" neighborhood; see the "Geography" section for clarification).
Education
- Adams Elementary School (San Diego Unified School DistrictSan Diego City SchoolsSan Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
) - Normal Heights Elementary (San Diego Unified School DistrictSan Diego City SchoolsSan Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
)