Encinitas is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California, United States. Located in Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego, between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 62,007, up from 59,518 at the 2010 census.
History Gaspar de Portolá, governor of Baja California, met the indigenous Kumeyaay people when he visited the area in 1769 on the Portolá expedition and he met residents from the nearby Kumeyaay village of Jeyal (or Heyal), near the San Elijo Lagoon. Portolá named the valley Los Encinos for the oak forest along El Camino Real, where there was also a village that was likely known as Hakutl in New Encinitas.
After Mexican Independence, land was granted to Andrés Ybarra in 1842 to build Rancho Las Encinitas in what is now Olivenhain and New Encinitas, from which Encinitas got its namesake. Encinitas is a Spanish name meaning "little oaks".
The town of Old Encinitas was formed in 1881 by Jabez Pitcher.
The city was incorporated by 69.3% of the voters in 1986 from the communities of historic Encinitas, New Encinitas (Village Park, etc.), Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain.
Geography
Encinitas lies on a rugged coastal terrace. The city is bisected by a low-lying coastal ridge that separates New and Old Encinitas. In the north of the city, the coast rises in elevation and the land is raised up in the form of many coastal bluffs, which are subject to collapsing on the narrow beach. The city is bounded by Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and San Elijo Lagoon to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and of which (5.47%) is water. The city's elevation ranges between sea level and above sea level.
Communities Encinitas can be divided into various neighborhoods. Old Encinitas is a small beachside area featuring a mix of businesses and housing styles. Sitting along Coast Highway 101 (Historic US 101), the Encinitas welcome arch, the famous surf break Swamis, and the early 20th-century La Paloma Theatre are located here. Old Encinitas is divided from New Encinitas by a low coastal ridge.
Olivenhain is a semi-rural region in eastern Encinitas, composed of mostly single-family homes, a 4-H Club, and several private equestrian facilities. German immigrants established the Olivenhain Colony in the late 19th century under the Homestead Act of 1862. Olivenhain connects to Rancho Santa Fe via Encinitas Boulevard.
Leucadia is a coastal community of the city, featuring tree-lined streets and boulevards, art galleries, unusual stores, and restaurants, along with single-family homes and beaches such as Beacons and Grandview.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the southernmost oceanfront community, which features streets named after British cities and classical composers, the Lux Art Institute, and the San Elijo Campus of Mira Costa College.
Climate Encinitas has a very mild, Mediterranean climate. Average daily high temperature is . Temperatures below and above are rare. Average rainfall is about per year. The wet season lasts during the winter and spring, when temperatures are usually cool. Average daytime temperatures hit 65 °F in winter and spring, when rain and marine layer (fog, known locally as May Gray/June Gloom) are common. Nighttime lows range from 45 to 55 °F. The dry season lasts from summer through fall, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 °F, and nighttime lows being from the upper 50s–60s°F. Ocean water temperatures average 60 °F in winter, 64 °F in spring, 70 °F in summer, and 66 °F in fall. In winter, strong Pacific storms can bring heavy rain. During the winter of 2015–2016, the area saw rounds of severe thunderstorms.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Encinitas city, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)45,85246,88145,64279.04%78.77%73.61%Black or African American alone (NH)3023162810.52%0.53%0.45%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1591591150.27%0.27%0.19%Asian alone (NH)1,7752,2912,6343.06%3.85%4.25%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)6681640.11%0.14%0.10%Other race alone (NH)1081843910.19%0.31%0.63%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1,1681,4683,5232.01%2.47%5.68%Hispanic or Latino (any race)8,5848,1389,35714.80%13.67%15.09%Total58,01459,51862,007 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Encinitas had a population of 62,007 and a population density of .
The census reported that 98.4% of the population lived in households, 0.5% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.1% were institutionalized. According to 2020 demographic and housing characteristics data, 99.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 0.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 24,390 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 6.5% were cohabiting couple households, 16.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5, and there were 16,011 families (65.6% of all households).
The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% aged 18 to 24, 25.4% aged 25 to 44, 28.1% aged 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.4 males.
There were 26,408 housing units at an average density of , of which 24,390 (92.4%) were occupied. Of occupied units, 65.0% were owner-occupied and 35.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%, and the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%.
Income and poverty In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $150,471, and the per capita income was $82,289. About 4.9% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census At the 2010 census, Encinitas had a population of 59,518, with a population density of . The racial makeup of Encinitas was 51,067 (85.8%) White, 361 (0.6%) African American, 301 (0.5%) Native American, 2,323 (3.9%) Asian, 91 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 3,339 (5.6%) from other races, and 2,036 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8,138 persons (13.7%).
The census reported that 58,990 people (99.1% of the population) lived in households, 123 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 405 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
Of the 24,082 households, 6,997 (29.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,113 (50.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,950 (8.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 981 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,359 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 169 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,303 households (26.2%) were one person and 2,118 (8.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45. There were 15,044 families (62.5% of households); the average family size was 2.98.
The age distribution was 12,285 people (20.6%) under the age of 18, 3,767 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 16,584 people (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 19,239 people (32.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 7,643 people (12.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males. Females comprise the majority of Encinitas' population at 50.5% as of April 2010.
There were 25,740 housing units at an average density of 1,287.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,187 (63.1%) were owner-occupied and 8,895 (36.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%. 39,101 people (65.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,889 people (33.4%) lived in rental housing units.
Arts and culture
Encinitas Ballet. Encinitas Ballet is a classical ballet studio in Encinitas. It was established in 2008 by Sayat Asatryan, former principal dancer of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre, and Olga Tchekachova, former soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet II.
Regular events April Street Fair: annual two-day street fair, held every April in downtown Encinitas Encinitas Bazaar Marketplace: a colorful, outdoor shopping experience Deep Pit BBQ: held the end of May at the San Dieguito Heritage MuseumSan Dieguito Heritage Museum Encinitas Environment Day: held on the 2nd Sunday of June, with environmentally themed games and entertainment for families. Lima Bean Faire and Battle of the Beans Cook-off: held each September at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive Fall Festival: annual one-day street fair, held each November in downtown Encinitas OktoberFest: held on the last Sunday in September to coincide with the Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany. Classic Car Cruise Nights: classic cars line Coast Highway 101 in downtown Encinitas on the third Thursday of each month, May–September The Wavecrest Woodie Meet: takes place once a year on the third Saturday of September at Moonlight State Beach. It is the largest rally of wooden-bodied vehicles in the world and it is free to the public and to participants. Wellness Week: annual week-long program of events and special offers designed to help people learn about and experience ways to improve their well-being Salute to Education: Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Salute to Education event that is held each year in June, honoring local teachers and students for their outstanding efforts during the current school year. This event is hosted each year by Rancho Santa Fe Security Systems. Switchfoot Bro-Am: annual free surf competition and outdoor music festival usually held in early July at Moonlight State Beach, home of the world's only surf jousting competition, along with several other competitive surfing events. All proceeds from the event go to local charities.
Surfing Madonna
In 2011, Mark Patterson and Robert Nichols illegally installed a mosaic of a surfing Virgin de Guadalupe on the north concrete support wall of the train bridge on Encinitas Boulevard, leading to a battle over whether it should be removed or preserved. It was named "the Surfing Madonna" by the media and public.Surfing Madonna mosaic draws mass following . Associated Press. BakersfieldNow.com. June 7, 2011.Surfing Madonna mosaic in Southern California draws mass following. Julie Watson. Associated Press. Oakland Tribune. June 7, 2011. The Surfing Madonna – more correctly known as the "Save the Ocean Mosaic" is now re-installed on the wall of Cafe Ipe at the corner of Jasper Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Leucadia, CA 92024
Museums and other points of interest
Self-Realization Fellowship temple and Hermitage is a landmark of Encinitas since the 1930s. The Lux Art Institute, San Dieguito Heritage Museum, and Encinitas Historical Society are located in Encinitas. Other points of interest include San Diego Botanic Garden, the historic La Paloma Theatre, Moonlight Beach, and one of California's classic downtown areas along historic Coast Highway 101. Surfing is a popular activity in Encinitas, particularly at Swami's, named after Paramahansa Yogananda, founder of Self-Realization Fellowship, which is rated in the top five surf locations in the world and is mentioned in a verse of The Beach Boys' song "Surfin' U.S.A." The bronze statue Humanity by Maidy Morhous was installed at J Street Overview in 2018 as a donation from Sue and Jay Vicory. Manchester Reserve is great for nature walk and light hiking.
Cardiff Kook - Magic Carpet Ride