The City of Encinitas is a city made up of the five communities of Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Leucadia . It has a population of 64,057. Each of its communities is unique and distinctive --- Cardiff-by-the-Sea, with its quaint homes dotting the hillsides, Leucadia with its giant eucalyptus trees, prestigious, rural Olivenhain with its horse country and pastures, and Historic Encinitas with historic architecture and quaint shops. A delightful mix of old and new, this garden and beach paradise offers the best of both worlds.
Location
Encinitas is a city in the north coastal area of San Diego County. Situated on the Pacific Coast, Encinitas stretches along the coastline for 6 miles. It is bordered by the Pacific to the west, the city of Carlsbad to the north, the city of Solana Beach to the south, and the hills of Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos to the east.
Encinitas is located just 21 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles south of Los Angeles. It is 393 miles from San Jose. Situated just minutes east of I-5, Encinitas is a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego and San Diego International Airport, and 15 minutes away from Palomar Airport.
Geography
Encinitas is situated along six miles of rugged coastline, and is characterized by coastal beaches, cliffs, steep mesa bluffs, flat-topped coastal areas, and rolling hills.
The city covers a total area of 20.1 square miles, with 19.1 square miles of that being land and 1.0 square miles of it being water. Its elevation ranges between sea level and 590 feet above sea level.
Jobs
New Encinitas is the fastest growing of the five Encinitas communities. Also known as the "El Camino Real Corridor," it has a variety of commercial and service businesses, new homes and large shopping centers, and is in the process of executing a $5,200,000 Downtown Revitalization project.
Historic Downtown Encinitas has experienced tremendous economic growth in the last ten years, gaining 67 businesses, creating 355 new jobs, and investing $23 million in improvements.
The flower growing industry is strong, and Encinitas is often referred to as the Flower Growing Capital. Greenhouses supporting a year-round agricultural industry are everywhere in the area.
Other industries providing employment in Encinitas are: educational, health and social services (18.6%), professional, scientific, management, administrative (18.2%), and retail trade (10.4%).
The average income in Encinitas is $79,710 and the average time to travel to work is 27 minutes.
Housing
Encinitas has a variety of housing styles and a wide range of prices. There are single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums available. Large executive homes are in high demand.
Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia and Olivenhain have single family homes starting from the mid $600,000's and condos starting in the mid $300,000's. Homes here range in price from $610,000 to $9,000,000.
Olivenhain has a beautiful rural character, which is highly cherished and protected. It is rare to find sidewalks or street lights here! Real estate in Olivenhain is valuable and highly sought after, with its spacious single dwellings, often with horse facilities on large lots, and small ranches. It is close enough to Encinitas and Carlsbad, that residents can easily meet all their needs while maintaining their rural setting.
Wildflower Estates is an exclusive gated community referred to as the jewel of Olivenhain. Wildflower home prices are as high as $2.4 million. The average price for a single-family home in Olivenhain is $1,134,402.
Leucadia is quaint beach town located along the Pacific Coast Highway in the northwestern section of Encinitas with delightful beach cottages and rebuilt homes.
Cardiff by the Sea has condos as well as quaint homes on the hillside, with spectacular ocean views. The average price of a home here is $1,126,338.
Encinitas Ranch is located on a bluff and has stunning ocean views. It is one of the area’s newest public golf courses, and its varying terrain provides plenty of challenge. Several newer home communities edge the course, with homes priced from $400,000 to over $1,000,000.
Brief History
The original inhabitants of the Encinitas area were various Indian groups. When the Spaniards arrived they named them the San Dieguitos, the la Jollans and the Dieguenos. The Dieguenos later converted to Christianity and helped build Spanish Missions in the region.
In 1669, Gaspar de Portola, the Governor of Baja, California traveled to the area and named it “Ëncina Canada” meaning Hill of Live Oaks, because of all the live oaks that dotted the hills.
In 1842 the Mexican rancher Andreas Antonio Ybarra was issued a land grant for the area, and named it “Los Encinitos”, but on his claim the name was misspelled as “Las Encinitas”.
Encinitas was officially founded in 1881 when Jabez Pitcher filed a claim along the railroad tracks where the Civic Center stands today.
Leucadia began in 1870 when a group of English spiritualists settled a few miles north of the railroad.
Cardiff began in 1875 when the McKinnon family homesteaded on the North shore of the San Elijo Lagoon. In 1914 a large tract of this land was purchased by J. Frank Cullen, who developed it and gave it its name.
Olivenhain was settled by German immigrants in 1884, who farmed the fertile land. The name Olivenhain means “olive grove." With the decline of farming and the importation of water in the 1950's, Olivenhain was transformed into a residential community. The open fields and hillsides were subdivided into spacious residential lots.
The Encinitas area became a popular holiday destination in the mid 1960’s, and in 1986 the communities of Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff and Leucadia voted to unite as a city. Each retains its unique quality.
Recreation
Encinitas offers an outstanding and varied range of recreational opportunities.
The city has over thirty miles of recreational trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians, many located in the back country area, allowing exploration of remote areas.
Cardiff-by- the-Sea has trails along the San Elijo Lagoon for bird watching and hiking, and it has running and biking along the beachside highway. The Olivenhain estates are linked by miles of walking and riding trails.
Stonesteps Beach has stairs leading down from the bluffs that are sure to provide a challenge for any fitness buffs.
The Encinitas Ranch Golf Course attracts golfers nationwide. It is a public, championship 18-hole par 72 course with splendid ocean views. Its courses and its breathtaking beauty are enjoyed by golfers at all levels of ability.
Olivenhain is horse friendly community and many homes have horse facilities. It has horse trails winding throughout and equestrian facilities and horse arenas attracting hundreds of visitors every year. Its many stables include Dove Hollow, German Dressage at Rancho Los Amigos Equestrian Center and Wildflower Ranch. Elfin Forest is the center of horse country, with several miles of some of the best trails in the county. All disciplines of riding are represented here and it is home to several world-class dressage trainers. Helen Woodward Equine Hospital and feed and tack shops are close by.
Encinitas’ beaches are outstanding. There are 11 beaches, stretching from Leucadia in the north to Cardiff-by-the-Sea in the south, each having its own unique appeal. There are both city beaches and state beaches where camping is allowed and tide pools are found. With its reputation of being the top surf town in the nation, Encinitas brings surf-lovers from throughout the nation and many surf contests are held throughout the year.
Fantastic scuba diving is just offshore from Swami’s Beach at the Encinitas Marine Life Refuge, North County's only underwater park.
Two lagoons border Encinitas. Batiquitos Lagoon forms the northern boundary and San Elijo marks the southern edge. The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve is the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County, home to nearly 300 different bird species throughout the year.
Many of the fields in Encinitas are still used for agriculture. The area is known for growing multitudes of flowers for area nurseries. Much of the residential land in Olivenhain has fruit orchards filled with a variety of citrus and avocado trees.
Special Attractions/Events
The Encinitas Christmas Parade travels down historic South Coast Highway 101 on the first Saturday in December. This year there were an estimated 25,000 spectators and 4,000 participants who helped create the more than 85 entries. High-school marching bands march alongside squads of antique cars that rumble by filled with beauty queens.
Encinitas residents are close enough to San Diego to enjoy all its special attractions such as the world famous San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Padres Baseball, Chargers Football, Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing, ballooning, and regional wineries.
The Encinitas Boat Houses are not to be missed! The SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight sit perched on land just a few blocks from the beach. They were built in1929 by Miles Kellogg, without plans or models, with timbers he salvaged from the old Moonlight Beach Dance Hall and Bathhouse. These boat houses have been home to thousands of renters ever since and are considered cultural icons to the local residents.
The West Village Shopping Center in Olivenhain provides high-style shopping in a relaxing, low-key atmosphere. Downtown 101 is a coastal shopping district that is over 100 years old, with interesting historic architecture and quaint shops.
Encinitas is well known for its exceptional dining. Downtown Coast Highway 101 has many sidewalk cafes, restaurants, and trattorias, and further down the coast is Cardiff-by-the-Sea's restaurant row. These fine restaurants provide ocean front dining with great views and a wide range of cuisine. There are also many fine restaurants in New Encinitas, along the El Camino corridor. Leucadia also has shops, restaurants and surf shops strung along the Coast Highway in its town center.
Regarded as the "Flower Capital of the World," Encinitas attractions include the internationally renowned Paul Ecke poinsettias ranch and the Quail Botanical Gardens. Quail Gardens is home to an Amazon rain forest, the largest display of bamboo in the world, and scarce and endangered plants from around the world. The gardens of the Self Realization Center are beautiful, situated overlooking the ocean in a tranquil, garden-like setting.
In September every year, Cardiff's Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church hosts an elaborate Greek Festival.
Interesting Facts
Encinitas is known as the "Flower Capital of the World” as well as the “Surf Capital of the World".
Encinitas is the birthplace of Corey Cameron, college football player for the Columbia Lions.
Cardiff was named after Cardiff, Wales, and many of the community's street names still reflect the British influence.
Swami's Beach was forever immortalized in the Beach Boys song “Surfing USA”.
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
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