Valley Center, California

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Valley Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 10,087 at the 2020 census, up from 9,277 at the 2010 census.

History

In the late 1860s, the area now known as Valley Center was referred to as Bear Valley, and was the habitat of the now-extinct California grizzly bear, pictured on the flag of California. In 1866, the largest grizzly ever recorded in California was shot and killed in Valley Center.<ref>Valley Center: A piece of Bear Valley history is no more</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Valley Center has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps. On March 30, 2023, a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service which is extremely rare for this part of the US.<ref>Climate Summary for Valley Center, California</ref>

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Valley Center had a population of 10,087. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Valley Center was 59.6% White, 1.1% African American, 3.0% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 16.7% from other races, and 15.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.2% of the population.<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>

The census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.0% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 3,152 households, out of which 31.8% included children under the age of 18, 65.4% were married-couple households, 4.7% were cohabiting couple households, 15.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.1% had a male householder with no partner present. 14.8% of households were one person, and 8.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.19.<ref name=DP1/> There were 2,525 families (80.1% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The age distribution was 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% aged 18 to 24, 21.6% aged 25 to 44, 28.3% aged 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 43.6Template:Nbspyears. For every 100 females, there were 104.2 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 3,327 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 3,152 (94.7%) were occupied. Of these, 82.6% were owner-occupied, and 17.4% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

2023 estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 19.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 71.0% spoke only English at home, 26.7% spoke Spanish, 0.4% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 1.9% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 86.4% were high school graduates and 35.6% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The median household income was $116,620, and the per capita income was $46,664. About 9.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Arts and culture

Museums

Valley Center History Museum was founded in 2003. Exhibits include a stagecoach which served as a Civil War ambulance, provided local transportation, and was featured in a number of Western motion pictures; a preserved California Grizzly Bear; and memorabilia.<ref name="sandiegouniontribune.com">Jones, Harry J. (30 July 2015). "Valley Center history museum closes". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 7 June 2016.</ref><ref name="Jones, Harry J. 2015">Jones, Harry J. (2 December 2015). "Valley Center history museum to reopen". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 7 June 2016.</ref>

Events

On Memorial Day weekend, the town remembers fallen veterans at the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Festival.<ref name="sandiego.org">VC’s Annual Western Heritage Celebration Unifies as “Valley Center Stampede”</ref>

Every year, the town celebrates their western heritage with the Valley Center Western Days Parade and Country Fair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

In the California State Legislature, Valley Center is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the United States House of Representatives, Valley Center is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

Valley Center also serves as the seat of the tribal governments of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians reservations, east of the CDP area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Almost all of it is in the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District. A small section of the CDP extends into the Escondido Union School District and the Escondido Union High School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Notable people

• June Allyson, actress<ref name="UTSD" />
• Fred Astaire, actor/dancer<ref name="UTSD" />
• Glen Bell, founded Taco Bell chain
• Fred Biletnikoff, former Oakland Raiders wide receiver
• Louis Bromfield, Author
• Daniel Brunskill, NFL offensive tackle
• J.J. Cale, musician<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite interview</ref>
• Gary Cooper, actor<ref name="UTSD">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Kevin Craft, former UCLA quarterback
• Billy Cundiff, NFL kicker
• John DeLorean, auto tycoon
• Gary Garrison, former San Diego Chargers football player
• Kirby Grant, actor and rancher<ref name="UTSD" />
• Jack Haley, actor, the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz<ref name="UTSD" />
• Charles Hatfield, rainmaker
• Mike Leake, MLB pitcher
• Katie Leclerc, actress<ref name="UTSD" />
• Denise Mueller-Korenek, cyclist, world speed record holder
• Merle Oberon, actress<ref name="UTSD" />
• Dick Powell, actor<ref name="UTSD" />
• Steve Reeves, Hercules actor
• Trevor Reilly, former NFL linebacker, defensive lineman
• Irene Ryan, actress, Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies
• Sean Salisbury, former NFL quarterback, television sports analyst
• Randolph Scott, actor<ref name="UTSD" />
• John Wayne, actor<ref name="UTSD" />
• Lawrence Welk, American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario
• Mae West, actress
• Carol Williams, international concert organist and San Diego civic organist since 2001
• Sam Zimbalist, movie producer

External links

• Valley Center Chamber of Commerce