Oceanside

City, San Diego County

© McCormack's Guides

 

Zip Codes: 92054, 92056, 92057

Coastal-inland city, famous for its connection to the Marine Corps but also known as a bedroom community. Most of the new housing has gone in and up — striking views — well in from the Pacific. Oceanside also attracts tourists. Population 183,095. www.mccormacks.com

Located just south of Camp Pendleton, the large Marine base, Oceanside for most of its history was a Marine whoop-de-rah.

Much different town now. Suburban. Third-most populous city in the county. About 25 percent of the city's homes and apartments built in 1970s, and about one half between 1980 and 2000. Thus, about 75 percent of all housing is less than 35 years old. A lot of the new and still building.

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Some retirement housing south of Highway 78.

School rankings low, middle and high. Most children attend schools in the Oceanside District, which in 2000 passed a $125 million bond. The money was used to upgrade 24 schools and build schools. Some kids attend school in Carlsbad and Vista school districts, which have also passed bonds. About a dozen private schools, most of them small. See Schools.

Mira Costa Community College runs two campuses, the main one and an adult school that offers English classes and basic skills. The college and UC San Diego run a learning center. Oceanside High recently opened a science-technology building. www.mccormacks.com

Three homicides in 2007, eight in 2006, seven in 2005, nine in 2004, eight in 2003, five in 2002, four in 2001, three in 2000. For previous years 7, 8, 9, 10, 23, 15, 18, 16, 13, 11. In 2003 traffic stop, police officer slain; in 2006 killer sentenced to death. See Crime.

Many parts of the city are suburban safe and compared to what it was 20 or 30 years ago, Oceanside is greatly improved. Among tactics adopted by the police: legal restrictions on people thought to be affiliated with gangs.

Oceanside, residentially, can be divided roughly into three zones.

First, the beach and old downtown. Apartments, condos, homes, mobile homes. A few new, many old, almost all well-kept. Marina on north end. Hotels and motels. Shops. Train station. Coffee shops. Restaurants. A resort neighborhood but many live here as well.

Many homes have been remodeled or fixed up. Beach homes and condos command higher prices. With an eye to presenting a better image and making more money, many businesses have spruced up their appearances. www.mccormacks.com

But the Pacific Coast Highway, the main north-south road, retains much of its 1950s strip look. Movie houses have been closed or made into stores. One used for plays and musicals. More parking and upscale shopping and hotels on way. Recent addition: a Whole Foods Market.

Moving east, the next zone, some homes get older, some streets a little worn but a mix. Many nice sections, especially in neighborhoods above Pacific Coast Plaza (shopping) and near Buddy Todd Park.

Going a little further east and to the last zone — modern suburbia in large tracts extending about nine miles inland.

The terrain divides between flat lands and hills and mesas often divided by steep ravines, a setting that creates many vistas, some of the ocean, many of countryside. Shopping plazas, some large, have followed the homes.

Many of the tract homes are spacious and well-appointed: walk-in closets, two-story, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three-car garages. Some subdivisions are gated. www.mccormacks.com

All or almost all of the tracts are coming as master planned with special attention paid to moving traffic quickly to Interstate 5.

To this end, Oceanside is crossed by several east-west arterials, Highway 76 and Highway 78 (a freeway) the most important. Master planned means homeowner associations, which in a quiet way keep up the appearances of the tracts.

Big city, about size of San Francisco. Variety of housing choices. State in 2010 counted 65,310 housing units — 34,049 single-family detached, 8,368 single attached, 19,287 multiples, 3,606 mobile homes. Owner-occupied units outnumber rentals 62 percent to 38.

Many families; those under 18 years make up 29 percent of town. Median age of residents (2006) was put at 33 — fairly young.

Morning fogs along the ocean, dissipating somewhat in land. Neighborhoods miles from the ocean still get the cooling breezes. www.mccormacks.com

About 35 miles from downtown San Diego, a long commute. Oceanside is so far north that many residents commute to Orange and Riverside counties. Metrolink runs commuter trains to Orange and Los Angeles counties and downtown San Diego, with stops along the way. Under construction: passenger rail to Escondido. Called the Sprinter, the service is scheduled to start in late 2007 or early 2008.

Short hop on Highway 78 to Escondido and Interstate 15. Camp Pendleton is home to 33,000 Marines and 3,000 Navy personnel and employs about 4,000 civilians. It pumps over $2 billion annually into local economy. Children attend schools in their communities or at the four schools on base.

Oceanside flies the flag on many a lawn and is especially sensitive to the needs of the Marines and the war in Iraq.

About 2,000 acres of Oceanside have been zoned for light industry, about 1,000 for commercial. Biogen Idec in 2005 opened a manufacturing complex; 800 jobs.

Oceanside draws many tourists but city hall would like to attract even more and is promoting the construction of hotels. Many disagreements over developing waterfront. Shore promenade to be built, piece by piece. Among local ornaments: San Luis Rey, a restored mission. www.mccormacks.com

Near the mission is an “old town,” a small park with buildings and farm implements from pioneer days.

Small airport in city; operations cut back but still complaints about noise.

About 20 parks, most of them placed next to schools. Two swim centers, miles of beaches. Surfing, fishing, two golf courses, seniors’ center, several community-recreation centers. Museum of Art, which in 2006 was being expanded. Surfing museum. Dog runs. Annual triathlon. Volleyball. Bowling. Movies. Usual kiddie activities: baseball, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, kid and adult dance classes. Fitness classes. On Saturdays, kids and parents jam soccer fields.

Whale Fest. Migrating whales can be seen from shore. Summer concerts. Surfing museum. Art museum. Mission Christmas Fair. Christmas Parade of Lights. Harbor Days Fair.

Wal-Marts. Trader Joe's. Mix of restaurants, delis, coffee shops, supermarkets. www.mccormacks.com

Chamber of commerce (760) 722-1534.

• Trail being built along the railroad tracks, near the ocean.

• Skateboard park in downtown closed to make way for development. City is looking at parks inland for skate park.

• In 2006, voters rejected a funding measure to overhaul the Tri City Medical Center. The facility serves Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista. Almost 65 pecent of voters approved the funding but two-thirds (66.6 percent) was required. Hospital board is reviewing building plans.

• Downtown rising. One hotel opening under construction in 2006 will top out at seven stories. City council is reviewing other projects with seven and eight stories. www.mccormacks.com

• Middle school and elementary school opening in 2007; will relieve crowding at other schools.

• In 2006, school district raised the price of lunches. Elementary kids will now pay $1.75, high schoolers, $2.

• When the school district ran short of money, it raised kindergarten classes to 30 students. It 2006, with more state money, kindergarten was lowered to no more than 20.

City web site: www.ci.oceanside.ca.us