Special offer

Escondido, The "Hidden" Valley

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Broadpoint Properties Cal BRE #01324959

Queen Califia's Magical Circle, Escondido, CAQueen Califia's Magical Circle, Kit Carson Park, Escondido, CA

It's about time that I share a little bit of information about the diverse community in which we live and work. If you are every looking for a hidden gem, you may find it in Escondido--with its rich history, and interesting attractions.

Escondido is a city located in north of the city of San Diego. The name means "hidden" in Spanish-it occupies a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County.

Escondido was originally settled by Native American tribes. Spain controlled the land from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, and established many missions in California to convert the indigenous people. When Mexico gained its independence from Spain, the local land was divided into large "ranchos". The land that would become Escondido was Rancho Rincon del Diablo, a land grant that was given to Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1843 by the Mexican governor.

The city was home to a large Spanish-speaking population in the first census back in 1850, but after the US won the war, non-Hispanic settlers came to Southern California in increasing numbers. The decade of the 1880s is known as the "Southern California Land Boom" because so many people were moving to the state. In 1886 a group of investors called the Escondido Land & Town Company purchased the 12,814-acre area. Two years later, in 1888, Escondido was incorporated as a city. Railroads like the were laid in the 1880s, and the opening of  US Route 395 in 1930 boosted economic growth in Escondido.

Through the 20th century the community grew and the economy diversified. Today the community has approximately 140,000 residents, and an economy based on agriculture, tourism, retail, services, and light industry

Downtown Escondido (centered on Grand Avenue) has experienced a renaissance. Numerous restaurants, cafes, and galleries have opened over the past few years. Every Friday night from April through September, the Downtown Business Association hosts the popular "Cruisin' Grand," where the public can show and view hot rods and historic cars.

Queen Califia's Magical Circle, the last major international work by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, is located in Kit Carson Park. De Saint Phalle, a colleague of Salvador Dalí and Jasper Johns, also has other famous works displayed throughout San Diego County.

 

Comments (0)