Solana Beach, California
Encyclopedia
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County
, California
. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²). 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.
Over 12,000 residents call this small beach community their home. The Pacific Ocean is to the west; the City of Encinitas to the north, and the City of Del Mar to the south. The unincorporated village of Rancho Santa Fe is located on the east side.
The community grew slowly, but steadily throughout the rest of the century, with particular booms occurring in the decade after World War II
and a real estate boom in the last quarter of the 20th century. In 1986 the community officially incorporated as the city of Solana Beach.
While still a relatively tranquil coastal town, the city received national news in 2003 upon becoming the first city in the Continental United States to enact a smoking ban
on its public beaches, a trend which has continued as many other coastal California
n towns have followed suit in banning smoking on their beaches. Solana Beach was the last coastal community in North San Diego County to ban alcohol on the beach, doing so for at least a year in an action unanimously approved by the City Council.
Solana Beach returned to the national spotlight on April 25, 2008 when retired veterinarian and 38-year resident Dr. David Martin, 66 years old, suffered a fatal injury from an extremely rare great white shark
bite while swimming with a group approximately 150 yards (137.2 m) off shore near Solana Beach's Fletcher Cove. The group of swimmers reportedly began their swim at Tide Beach Park to the north. Surfers in the area of Fletcher Cover noted harbor seals in the water and a wounded seal on the beach at Fletcher Cove just before the attack, the latter being a typical sign of sharks feeding in the area. Recent increases in the seal population along the Southern California coast - and the seals' tendency to swim in close proximity to human swimmers - is suspected to be contributing factors in the attack.
and comedian Rene Sandoval who were born and raised in the community.
was 3,550.7 people per square mile (1,370.9/km²). The racial makeup of Solana Beach was 11,039 (85.8%) White, 60 (0.5%) African American, 62 (0.5%) Native American, 513 (4.0%) Asian, 19 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 738 (5.7%) from other races
, and 436 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,048 persons (15.9%).
The Census reported that 12,867 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 5,650 households, out of which 1,323 (23.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,730 (48.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 360 (6.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 193 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 325 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 42 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,745 households (30.9%) were made up of individuals and 647 (11.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28. There were 3,283 families
(58.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.85.
The population was spread out with 2,378 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 738 people (5.7%) aged 18 to 24, 3,518 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 3,829 people (29.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,404 people (18.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
There were 6,540 housing units at an average density of 1,804.7 per square mile (696.8/km²), of which 3,401 (60.2%) were owner-occupied, and 2,249 (39.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. 7,919 people (61.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,948 people (38.5%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 12,979 people, 5,754 households, and 3,279 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,678.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,419.6/km²). There were 6,456 housing units at an average density of 1,829.9 per square mile (706.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.01% White, 0.50% African American, 0.42% Native American, 3.46% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 5.59% from other races
, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.81% of the population.
There were 5,754 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female head of household, and 43.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,774, and the median income for a family was $96,652. Males had a median income of $72,028 versus $41,186 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $48,547. About 3.4% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
, the median household income
of Solana Beach in 2005 was $101,122 (not adjusted for inflation
). When adjusted for inflation
(1999 dollars; comparable to Census
data above), the median household income was $82,114.
, Solana Beach is located in the 38th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Mark Wyland
, and in the 74th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Martin Garrick
. Federally, Solana Beach is located in California's 50th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +5 and is represented by Republican Brian Bilbray
.
Solana Beach is a General Law City operated by a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council serves as a legislative body and consists of five Council members, one of whom is chosen to act as Mayor for a one-year term on a rotating basis. Council members are leaders and policy makers elected as representatives to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to the needs of the citizens.
.
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, 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...
. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Solana Beach is located at 32°59′43"N 117°15′37"W (32.992937,-117.271135).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 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²). 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.
Over 12,000 residents call this small beach community their home. The Pacific Ocean is to the west; the City of Encinitas to the north, and the City of Del Mar to the south. The unincorporated village of Rancho Santa Fe is located on the east side.
History
Until 1923, the main area known as Solana Beach was originally called Lockwood Mesa. The area first settled by the George H. Jones family in 1886. When Lake Hodges Dam was built in 1917-18, the area encompassing Solana Beach began to develop rapidly. The creation of the 12000 acres (48.6 km²) Santa Fe Irrigation District in 1918 ensured that the area from Rancho Santa Fe through Solana Beach would prosper and expand. The coastline from Solana Beach to Oceanside began to boom in the early 1920s. In 1922 Colonel Ed Fletcher, an early community leader and developer, purchased 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) at $20 per acre from farmer George H. Jones to develop the town of Solana Beach, with the help of his brother-in-law Eugene Batchelder. To provide access to the beach for the development, hydraulic water pressure was used to erode away tons of earth and create the Fletcher Cove entry and beach. This took one man three months with a fire hose, using water that was coming over the spillway at Lake Hodges Dam. The beach was opened with great fanfare including horse races on the beach on July 4, 1925.The community grew slowly, but steadily throughout the rest of the century, with particular booms occurring in the decade after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and a real estate boom in the last quarter of the 20th century. In 1986 the community officially incorporated as the city of Solana Beach.
While still a relatively tranquil coastal town, the city received national news in 2003 upon becoming the first city in the Continental United States to enact a smoking ban
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
on its public beaches, a trend which has continued as many other coastal 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...
n towns have followed suit in banning smoking on their beaches. Solana Beach was the last coastal community in North San Diego County to ban alcohol on the beach, doing so for at least a year in an action unanimously approved by the City Council.
Solana Beach returned to the national spotlight on April 25, 2008 when retired veterinarian and 38-year resident Dr. David Martin, 66 years old, suffered a fatal injury from an extremely rare great white shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
bite while swimming with a group approximately 150 yards (137.2 m) off shore near Solana Beach's Fletcher Cove. The group of swimmers reportedly began their swim at Tide Beach Park to the north. Surfers in the area of Fletcher Cover noted harbor seals in the water and a wounded seal on the beach at Fletcher Cove just before the attack, the latter being a typical sign of sharks feeding in the area. Recent increases in the seal population along the Southern California coast - and the seals' tendency to swim in close proximity to human swimmers - is suspected to be contributing factors in the attack.
Eden Gardens
The neighborhood of Eden Gardens (also known as La Colonia), one of the oldest residential areas of Solana Beach, was a community formed in the 1920s by Mexican farmers who were hired by the owners of large ranches in Rancho Santa Fe. These farmers wanted their families nearby, hence the formation of La Colonia (the colony). The name Eden Gardens came later from a land developer who thought it would be a good marketing tool. Many residents still refer to the area as La Colonia. Famous residents include Chicano rapper Lil RobLil Rob
Roberto Flores , best known by his stage name Lil Rob, is a Mexican American rapper, producer, and actor-Biography:...
and comedian Rene Sandoval who were born and raised in the community.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Solana Beach had a population of 12,867. 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 3,550.7 people per square mile (1,370.9/km²). The racial makeup of Solana Beach was 11,039 (85.8%) White, 60 (0.5%) African American, 62 (0.5%) Native American, 513 (4.0%) Asian, 19 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 738 (5.7%) 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 436 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,048 persons (15.9%).
The Census reported that 12,867 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 5,650 households, out of which 1,323 (23.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,730 (48.3%) 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, 360 (6.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 193 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 325 (5.8%) 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 42 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,745 households (30.9%) were made up of individuals and 647 (11.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28. There were 3,283 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...
(58.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.85.
The population was spread out with 2,378 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 738 people (5.7%) aged 18 to 24, 3,518 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 3,829 people (29.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,404 people (18.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
There were 6,540 housing units at an average density of 1,804.7 per square mile (696.8/km²), of which 3,401 (60.2%) were owner-occupied, and 2,249 (39.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. 7,919 people (61.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,948 people (38.5%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
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 were 12,979 people, 5,754 households, and 3,279 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...
was 3,678.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,419.6/km²). There were 6,456 housing units at an average density of 1,829.9 per square mile (706.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.01% White, 0.50% African American, 0.42% Native American, 3.46% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 5.59% 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 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.81% of the population.
There were 5,754 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were 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, 6.8% had a female head of household, and 43.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,774, and the median income for a family was $96,652. Males had a median income of $72,028 versus $41,186 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 was $48,547. About 3.4% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of GovernmentsSan 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...
, the median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
of Solana Beach in 2005 was $101,122 (not adjusted for inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
). When adjusted for inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
(1999 dollars; comparable to Census
Census
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...
data above), the median household income was $82,114.
Politics
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...
, Solana Beach 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 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 Republican 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:...
. Federally, Solana Beach 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...
.
Solana Beach is a General Law City operated by a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council serves as a legislative body and consists of five Council members, one of whom is chosen to act as Mayor for a one-year term on a rotating basis. Council members are leaders and policy makers elected as representatives to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to the needs of the citizens.
Education
Solana Beach is served by the Solana Beach School District and the San Dieguito Union High School DistrictSan Dieguito Union High School District
San Dieguito Union High School District is a school district headquartered in Encinitas, California. The district serves students in the cities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar and surrounding areas.-High schools:*La Costa Canyon High School...
.