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{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = North County
|settlement_type = [[Region of the San Diego metropolitan area|Region of the San Diego Metro Area]]
|image_skyline = Oceansidepier.jpg
|image_map= North County San Diego.png
|image_map1=
|image_caption= [[Oceanside Pier]] in North County
| map_caption= North County cities (blue and yellow) and census-designated places (pale blue and cream). Certain neighborhoods in northern San Diego may also be considered part of North County.
| map_caption1= 
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States|size=23px}}}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California|size=23px}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of San Diego County, California.png|size=23px}} [[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]
|population             = 869322
}}

'''North County''' is a region in the northern area of [[San Diego County, California]]. It is the second-most populous region in the county (after [[San Diego]]), with an estimated population of 869,322. North County is well known for its [[Urban sprawl|sprawl]] and its [[affluence]], especially in [[Encinitas, California|Encinitas]], [[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad]], [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]], [[Rancho Santa Fe, California|Rancho Santa Fe]], [[Poway, California|Poway]] and [[Solana Beach, California|Solana Beach]], where house prices range, on average, above $1,000,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Diego Real Estate Market Reports |publisher=Highland Realty |url=http://www.sandiegorealestatehq.com/north-county-real-estate-report.php |access-date=March 10, 2011 }}</ref> Cities along the [[California State Route 78|78 freeway]] ([[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]], [[Vista, California|Vista]], [[San Marcos, California|San Marcos]] and [[Escondido, California|Escondido]]) have more mixed incomes.

Beach culture is prominent in the area, and many of the region's beaches and lagoons are protected areas to help ensure the environment remains pristine, though there has been pressure from commercial entities to develop some of these areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensfornorthcounty.org/ |title=Home |website=citizensfornorthcounty.org}}</ref><ref>https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sdut-vote-yes-measure-a-carlsbad-2016feb19-story.html. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829190526/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sdut-vote-yes-measure-a-carlsbad-2016feb19-story.html |date=2019-08-29 }}</ref>

==History==
The name dates to at least the 1970s, when many of the communities in the area were yet to become [[incorporated cities]] and local community decisions were made {{Convert|40|mi|km|abbr=}} away at the county seat. The North County section of San Diego County has historically been the most expensive region of San Diego, with such affluent neighborhoods as [[Aviara, Carlsbad, California|Aviara]], [[Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California|Cardiff-by-the-Sea]], Carlsbad, [[Carmel Valley, San Diego, California|Carmel Valley]], Del Mar, Encinitas, La Costa, Leucadia, [[Olivenhain, Encinitas, California|Olivenhain]], Rancho Santa Fe, and Solana Beach.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5031130|title=San Diego Reacts to Cunningham's Guilty Plea|website=NPR.org}}</ref>

In modern times, North County continues to grow as a highly influential region of Greater San Diego. The top 25 employers in San Diego County are closer to the North County city of Carlsbad than San Diego proper.<ref name="CPA">{{cite web | last=California Pacific Airlines | title=San Diego North Means Business | url=http://www.flycpair.com/landingpage/business.htm | access-date = 2011-03-03}}</ref>

==Geography==
North County is commonly divided into coastal and inland regions. The coastal region is almost entirely incorporated, consisting of the cities of [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]], [[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad]], [[Encinitas]], [[Solana Beach]] and [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]], along with [[Camp Pendleton South]]. The inland region includes the cities of [[Escondido, California|Escondido]], [[Vista, California|Vista]], [[San Marcos, California|San Marcos]], as well as numerous unincorporated areas. Semi-rural inland communities such as [[Valley Center, California|Valley Center]] and [[Ramona, California|Ramona]], which have traditionally been primarily agricultural but now function increasingly as bedroom communities for the more populous areas to their south and west, are generally included within inland North County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county|title=North County|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref> More remote inland communities like [[Julian, California|Julian]] and [[Borrego Springs, California|Borrego Springs]] are generally not included. Some consider communities in the northern parts of the city of San Diego like [[Rancho Bernardo]], [[Rancho Peñasquitos]], and [[Carmel Valley, San Diego|Carmel Valley]] to be part of North County as well.

Both coastal and inland North County contain two types of topography. In coastal areas of North County, the land is generally flat with low rolling hills. The beaches are sandy with occasional [[tidepool]]s and rocky reefs. In some cases, the coast is dominated by [[wikt:bluff#Etymology 2|bluff]] type geography, where the land meeting the ocean sharply drops into the sea with a short beach. In some cases, such as in Encinitas, a whole city is bisected by a coastal foothill ridge. The foothills of mountains soon become visible as one travels further east and encounters the rocky peaks of inland North County. Such peaks include [[Black Mountain Open Space Park|Black Mountain]], San Marcos Mountain, [[Palomar Mountain]]. The coastal area also becomes more rugged to the north, where the [[Santa Margarita Mountains]] dominate the area within the [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]].

North San Diego County is known as one of the most geographically diverse places on earth{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}, with bluffs, sandy beaches, canyons and rolling hills on the coast, humid inland valleys, rocky foothills, temperate mountains, rolling grassland and large lakes and rivers in the interior, and arid deserts, lush oases and sand dunes in the far east region.

Rivers and creeks that flow west from the mountains farther inland mostly end up draining into the region's four main lagoons. Throughout their course, these rivers are interrupted by many lakes and reservoirs which support an array of native species.

Spanning {{Convert|125000|acre|km2|abbr=}} in the northwestern corner of the county, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton forms a large buffer separating the coastal populated areas of North County from neighboring [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], preventing the creation of a complete coastal megalopolis stretching from [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] to [[Imperial Beach]].

===Ecology===
[[File:Banded juvenile California Least Tern.jpg|thumb|200px|[[California least tern]]]]
The region has strong ties to its coastline and has made notable efforts to preserve many marine environments, including [[lagoon]]s and [[wetlands|tidal wetlands]], many of those being the final few on the [[South Coast (California)|South Coast]].<ref name="Lagoon Foundation">{{cite web |title=Batiquitos Lagoon |publisher=Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation |url=http://www.batiquitosfoundation.org/newsite/index.php |access-date=2011-03-03 |archive-date=2011-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311193952/http://www.batiquitosfoundation.org/newsite/index.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Unlike developments in many Orange County coastal cities, the lagoons and large areas of coast have not yet been so heavily developed. Major lagoons and inlets lining the coast from north to south include: Oceanside Harbor, [[Buena Vista Lagoon]], [[Agua Hedionda Lagoon]], [[Batiquitos Lagoon]], [[San Elijo Lagoon]], and [[Los Peñasquitos Lagoon]].

===Flora and fauna===
The lagoons provide valuable wetland habitat for many birds, reptiles, fish, and plant species. The waters off the coast are also very rich in species diversity, supporting large [[kelp forest]]s and rocky [[reef]]s.

Fish species included the [[tidewater goby]], [[topsmelt]], [[striped mullet]], [[surfperch]] and [[Pacific staghorn sculpin]]. [[Leopard shark]]s forage near the lagoons, and their pups frequent the shallow rocky reefs off the coast.

Bird species included the [[great blue heron]], [[snowy plover]], [[Ridgway's rail]] and [[least tern]]. The lagoons support various species of [[shorebirds]], [[wading birds]], [[waterfowl]], [[Bird of prey|raptors]] and [[diving birds]].<ref name="Lagoon Foundation"/> The number of bird species in the [[San Dieguito River|San Dieguito]] wetlands have tripled due to restoration projects by Del Mar.<ref>{{cite news |title=DEL MAR:Restoring the wetlands |newspaper=North County Times |url=http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/del-mar/article_64da19e1-65cc-5a4f-90ad-dd85422905e2.html |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref>

The Torrey Pine is also one of the most famous trees in the region.

==Culture==
[[File:Del-Mar-Race-Track.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]], located on the coast immediately north of San Diego]]

===Recreation===
North County contains forty golf courses, including [[Torrey Pines Golf Course|Torrey Pines]], which hosted the 2008 and 2021 [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]].<ref name="San Diego's North County">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/119|title=San Diego's North County|access-date=2011-02-20|archive-date=2011-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418062204/http://www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/119|url-status=dead}}</ref> North County is also known for its beaches, which stretch about thirty miles from Del Mar to [[San Onofre State Beach|San Onofre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=North County Beaches |url=http://tourguidetim.com/north-county-san-diego-beaches/ |publisher=Schneck Enterprises |access-date=June 3, 2012}}</ref> These beaches experience a large tourist influx from June to November. Symbolic of North County's [[surf culture]] are the various statues proliferating the region including the [[Cardiff Kook]] in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. As surf culture is an integral part of North County, so is [[equestrianism|equestrian]] culture. Numerous equestrian centers, including the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Rancho Camino Equestrian Center, and San Diego Country Estates International Equestrian Center, are found in the region from Del Mar to [[San Diego Country Estates]].

North County is home to Southern California's only [[Star (classification)|five-star]], five-diamond and Michelin starred restaurants: Addison at The Grand Del Mar (three Michelin stars), and El Bizcocho at Rancho Bernardo Inn.<ref name="San Diego's North County"/>

===Fairs and shopping===
The [[Del Mar Fairgrounds]] is home to [[Del Mar Racetrack|one of the most famous racetracks]] in the world and is the site of the annual [[San Diego County Fair]]. Shopping malls include the [[North County Mall]] in Escondido and [[the Shoppes at Carlsbad]] in Carlsbad. The Cedros Design District in [[Solana Beach, California|Solana Beach]] offers more than 85 shops, boutiques and galleries that specialize in antiques, handmade jewelry, unique artifacts, fine art, and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.cedrosavenue.com/|title = Cedros Avenue}}</ref> Famous beaches include [[Moonlight Beach]] in Encinitas and the [[Oceanside Pier]].

===In the media===
Locations in North County appear in popular television and films. [[Camp Pendleton]] is often featured in military-themed shows such as ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'', and is the setting of the first season of ''[[Major Dad]]''. The Del Mar Fair is also portrayed in shows such as ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]''. ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' is set in a fictional city north of San Diego; much of the show was filmed in Oceanside. Other crime-related shows, such as [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]]'s ''[[Animal Kingdom (TV series)|Animal Kingdom]]'' and [[Netflix]]'s ''[[American Vandal]]'', are filmed and set in Oceanside. For two seasons the Showtime comedy ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]'' was set in the fictional San Diego suburb of Ren Mar, which is implied to be in North County. ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', which is set in [[Pasadena]], features an episode ("[[The Big Bang Theory (season 4)#Episodes|The Zarnecki Incursion]]") where the main characters make a three-hour drive to Carlsbad to confront a [[World of Warcraft]] hacker.

A notable fictional character from North County is [[shock jock]] Dave Rickards' "Aunt Edna", frequently featured on the popular ''[[Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw]]'' radio program, which airs in the San Diego area.

==Demographics==
North County is wealthier and more conservative than the city of San Diego and has traditionally leaned toward the [[United States Republican Party|Republican Party]]. In recent decades, however, like many highly-educated metropolitan regions throughout the United States, the region has shifted toward the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] and political liberalism more generally. This shift has been most pronounced along the coast, while some inland communities continue to lean Republican, particularly more rural ones.

In North County, <!--49.1% of the populace is male and 51.9% of the populace is female.--> white-collar jobs outnumber blue-collar jobs at a ratio of 3:1. More people have [[Bachelor of Arts]] degrees than [[associate's degrees]] at a ratio of 2:1. More people are married than single by 2:1.<ref>{{cite web |title=North County Demographics |url=http://homes.point2.com/Neighborhood/US/California/San-Diego-County/San-Diego/North-San-Diego-County-Demographics.aspx |publisher=Point2}}</ref> Statistics compiled by the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reveal that coastal North County is 59% white, 18% Hispanic and 6% Asian, with blacks and people of other races less than 5%.<ref name="HHSA">[http://sandiegohealth.org/hhsa/profiles2011/CHS-DemographicProfile_2011.pdf San Diego County Demographics Profile 2011]. Health and HUman Services Agency, San Diego County. Retrieved 2016-02-18.</ref> Inland North County has roughly the same racial makeup, except that 9% are Asian.<ref name="HHSA" /> 19% of coastal North County residents make more than $100,000 per year, and 44% make less than $45,000, with the rest in the medium income range. Inland North County income stats are largely the same, except that only 42% make less than $45,000.<ref name="HHSA" />

==Communities==
[[File:Oceanside Beach Panorama.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] is the most populous city in North County.]]
[[File:Grand01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Escondido, California|Escondido]] is the most populous inland city in North County.]]
The populations listed are from the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] - 174,068
* [[Escondido, California|Escondido]] - 151,038
* [[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad]] - 114,746
* [[Vista, California|Vista]] - 98,381
* [[San Marcos, California|San Marcos]] - 94,833
* [[Encinitas, California|Encinitas]] - 62,007
* [[Poway, California|Poway]] - 48,841
* [[Solana Beach, California|Solana Beach]] - 12,941
* [[Del Mar, California|Del Mar]] - 3,954

===Census-designated places (CDPs)===
* [[Fallbrook, California|Fallbrook]] - 32,267
* [[Camp Pendleton South, California|Camp Pendleton South]] - 12,468
* [[San Diego Country Estates, California|San Diego Country Estates]] - 10,395
* [[Valley Center, California|Valley Center]] - 10,087
* [[Camp Pendleton North, California|Camp Pendleton Mainside]] - 9,683
* [[Lake San Marcos, California|Lake San Marcos]] - 5,328
* [[Bonsall, California|Bonsall]] - 4,546
* [[Hidden Meadows, California|Hidden Meadows]] - 4,484
* [[Rancho Santa Fe, California|Rancho Santa Fe]] - 3,156
* [[Fairbanks Ranch, California|Fairbanks Ranch]] - 3,002
* [[Harmony Grove, California|Harmony Grove]] - 2,079
* [[Rainbow, California|Rainbow]] - 1,884
* [[Pala, California|Pala]] - 1,490
* [[Elfin Forest, California|Elfin Forest]] - 600
* [[Del Dios, California|Del Dios]] - 396

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[4S Ranch]]
* [[De Luz, California|De Luz]]
* [[De Luz Heights, California|De Luz Heights]]
* [[Jesmond Dene, California|Jesmond Dene]]
* [[Pala Mesa, California|Pala Mesa]]
* [[Pauma Valley, California|Pauma Valley]]
* [[Rincon, California|Rincon]]

==Education==

===Primary and secondary===

School districts in the region include the:

* Bonsall Unified School District
* [[Cardiff School District]]
* [[Carlsbad Unified School District]]
* Encinitas Union School District
* [[Escondido Union School District]]
* [[Escondido Union High School District]]
* Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
* Fallbrook Union High School District
* Oceanside Unified School District
* [[Poway Unified School District]]
* Ramona Unified School District
* [[San Dieguito Union High School District]]
* San Pasqual Union School District
* [http://smusd.org San Marcos Unified School District]
* Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
* [[Vista Unified School District]]

School districts often overlap city boundaries. Depending on the ZIP Codes of the cities and their proximity to respective schools and school districts, school districts will serve parts of different cities.

===Colleges and universities===
North County is home to several colleges:
* [[California State University, San Marcos]] (CSUSM), four-year university in San Marcos, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs<ref>{{cite web |title=CSUSM: CSU San Marcos Academics |url=http://www.csusm.edu/academics/ |publisher=California State University San Marcos |access-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Palomar College]], a [[community college]] based in San Marcos, with six other education sites in North San Diego County
* [[MiraCosta College]], a community college based in Oceanside.
* [[MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus]], an extension of MiraCosta College in Cardiff, Encinitas.

==Media==

===Newspaper===
{{main|North County Times|The San Diego Union-Tribune}}

In 1995, several local newspapers merged to form the ''[[North County Times]]''. This newspaper served the region until 2012, when it was purchased by [[Doug Manchester]] and became an edition of the ''[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]''.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/u-t-san-diego-owner-agrees-to-buy-north-county-times-from-lee-enterprises-for-12-million/2012/09/11/a43a1284-fc3c-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html U-T San Diego owner agrees to buy North County Times for $12 million] {{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. ''The Washington Post''.</ref> On March 7, 2013, the separate ''U-T North County Times'' name was dropped and a ''U-T North County edition'' produced which further integrates U-T with North County-specific pages, while eliminating differences between the two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/07/tp-changes-have-arrived-for-u-ts-north-county/|title=CHANGES HAVE ARRIVED FOR U-T'S NORTH COUNTY READERS|work=U-T San Diego|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

===Radio===
In addition to being served by radio stations from San Diego and [[Tijuana]], North County is served by FM stations[[KSSX]], [[KMYI]], [[KLQV]], [[KARJ (FM)|KARJ]], [[KSSD]], [[KKLJ]], and [[KSDW]] and AM stations [[KFSD]], [[KPRZ]], and [[KKSM]]. Several Los Angeles stations can also be picked up, including [[KYSR]], [[KIIS-FM]], [[KBIG]] [[KLYY]], and [[KDLD]]

===Television===
North County is served by the ABC affiliate [[KGTV]], CBS and CW affiliate [[KFMB-TV|KFMB]], NBC affiliate [[KNSD]], and FOX affiliate [[KSWB-TV|KSWB]]—all San Diego stations. Other local stations include [[KUSI]] in San Diego

==Landmarks==
Important landmarks in North County include [[Del Mar Racetrack]], [[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia]], [[Lake San Marcos, California|Lake San Marcos]], [[Oceanside Pier]], Twin Peaks, and [[Palomar Mountain]], home of the [[Palomar Observatory]].

<gallery class="center">
Image:Del Mar Racetrack, July 2008.jpg|[[Del Mar Racetrack]]
Image:Mission_San_Luis_Rey_de_Francia_current.jpg|[[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia]]
Image:Lakesanmarcos.jpg|[[Lake San Marcos, California|Lake San Marcos]]
Image:Oceanside Pier.jpg|[[Oceanside Pier]]
Image:TwinPeaksPoway1.jpg|Twin Peaks, [[Poway, California|Poway]]
Image:Palomar_Observatory_2.jpg|[[Palomar Observatory]]
</gallery>

==Politics==
North County is represented at the federal level by Representatives [[Darrell Issa]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[California's 48th congressional district|48th district]]), [[Mike Levin]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[California's 49th congressional district|49th district]]), and [[Scott Peters (politician)|Scott Peters]] (D–[[California's 50th congressional district|50th district]]).

At the state level, North County is represented by State Senators [[Brian Jones (politician)|Brian Jones]] (R–38th district), [[Patricia Bates]] (R–36th district), and [[Toni Atkins]] (D–39th district).

Most of North County is located within County Supervisorial District 5 and is represented on the county's Board of Supervisors by [[Jim Desmond]], formerly the mayor of San Marcos. The remainder of North County is in Districts 2 and 3, represented by Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer, respectively.

==See also==
* [[East County, San Diego|East County]]
* [[South Bay, San Diego|South Bay]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Colbegin}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|North County (San Diego County)}}
* [http://www.sandiegonorth.com/ San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/ City of Oceanside]
* [http://www.escondido.org/ City of Escondido]
* [http://www.carlsbadca.gov/Pages/default.aspx City of Carlsbad]
* [http://www.cityofvista.com/ City of Vista]
* [http://www.ci.san-marcos.ca.us/ City of San Marcos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203232327/http://www.ci.san-marcos.ca.us/ |date=2012-12-03 }}
* [http://www.cityofencinitas.org/ City of Encinitas]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071013112454/http://poway.org/Index.aspx?page=1 City of Poway]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110503201815/http://www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us/csite/cms/home.htm City of Solana Beach]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204042056/http://www.delmar.ca.us/default.aspx City of Del Mar]
{{Colend}}

{{San Diego Metropolitan Area}}
{{San Diego-Tijuana}}
{{South Coast (California)}}
{{California}}
{{coord|33|2|48|N|117|17|9|W|type:adm3rd_region:US-CA_dim:28km|display=title}}

[[Category:North County (San Diego County)| ]]
[[Category:Geography of San Diego County, California|*]]
[[Category:San Diego metropolitan area|.]]
[[Category:Regions of California]]