What should you know about San Marcos, California

1.Geography

San Marcos is located in the foothills of northern San Diego County. From the city it takes a 35 minute drive south to get to downtown San Diego, and a short ride west to get to the sparkling Pacific Ocean.
Other popular southern California towns border San Marcos: Carlsbad to the west, Escondido to the east, Encinitas to the southwest and Vista to the northwest.
The city has a total area of 24.4 square miles; 24.4 square miles of it is land and 0.02 square miles of it is water.

1.a Climate

Residents of San Marcos enjoy a mild, year-round climate due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean.
The city gets between nine to 11 inches of rain per year, with an annual average of 20 inches of rain in the hills.
The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 44.
On average, there are 265 sunny days (per year) to enjoy in San Marcos.
The July high is around 88 degrees and the January low is 38. During the months of May and June, cool overcast conditions are common.

2. Economy

San Marcos is one the fastest growing cities in San Diego County. The area has become a magnet for entrepreneurs, building, high-tech, medical and recreation-oriented companies; thanks mostly, to a variety of conveniences and amenities found in the city such as: housing stock, an extensive network of parks and trails, easy access to outdoor and entertainment opportunities.

Among the top employers in the city we find: Walt-Mart, 24 Hour Fitness, United Parcel Service, Costco Wholesale, So CA Permanent Med Group, Lusardi Construction Co, Fluid Components Intl. LLC, and University Aux & Research Services.

3. Education

The San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) manages 20 schools with diverse educational programs from Kindergarten through adult education.
The school District serves more than 20,000 students in San Marcos and other sections of cities including Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido, and some unincorporated areas of the County.
This award wining school district operates 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 K-8 school, 2 comprehensive high schools, 1 charter high school, 1 independent study high school and 1 continuation school.
An academic partnership between San Marcos Unified School District and California State University San Marcos was created in order to provide higher education to students regardless of background and financial means. The institution offers 44 undergraduate programs, 10 graduate programs and 1 Doctorate in Education in three colleges and one nursing school.
Palomar Community College offers more than 250 associate degrees and certificate programs; and the good news for the students, is that the institution charges less than $50 per unit if the student is a California resident.
Multiple private schools are also available within the city. Among them, there are great options like Saint Joseph Academy (KG-12), Valley Christian School (K-9), Discovery Isle Child Development Center (K), The Country School (Special Education School, grades 4-12), and the Delphi Academy of San Marcos (K-6).
For higher education opportunities, the Cal State San Marcos is a smaller campus in the California State University system. It is situated on a 304-acre hillside in southeastern San Marcos, and it enrolls approximately 9,000 students and offers 44 undergraduate programs, 10 graduate programs and 1 Doctorate in Education in three colleges and one nursing school.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences offers Doctoral Degrees in both Physical Therapy (DPT) and Occupational Therapy (OTD).

3.a Library

The County of San Diego operates the San Marcos Library, which is located at 2 Civic Center Drive. In the library, visitors are able to access the Internet using a wireless-enabled laptop computer or other devices. The community rooms serve as a center and a gathering place for community organizations and individuals for a variety of activities such as meetings, workshops, and events. The San Marcos Library is completely accessible to visitors with physical impairments.

4. Government

The City Council functions as the legislative body that represents the citizens of San Marcos, and it consists of the Major and four members, who are elected at large to alternating four-year terms.
According to the City of San Marcos website, the mission of the local government is to continue building the finest city in the region: a city with a vibrant economy; a city that is environmentally sensitive, and also aesthetically and architecturally pleasing. A city that offers diverse employment, cultural, recreational, educational and housing opportunities.
In the United States House of Representatives, San Marcos is in California’s 50th congressional district, represented by Republican Duncan D. Hunter.

5. Infrastructure

5.a Transportation

San Marcos is located along Highway 78 which has six interchanges with easy access to Interstates 5 and 15.
Several airports are also close by, including Carlsbad/Palomar Airport (6 miles), San Diego Airport (35 miles) and Orange County Airport (60 miles).
The BREEZE is North San Diego County’s bus system and it is a great way to commute to and from San Marcos, along with other options provided by The North County Transit District (NCTD), which offers numerous routes to and from neighborhoods and destinations all around San Diego County.
The east-west SPRINTER light rail was inaugurated in 2008 and it is a 22-mile rail system that connects Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido; serving 15 stations along the Highway 78 corridor.
The SPRINTER operates every 30 minutes in each direction from Monday through Friday, from 4 am to 9 pm.
On Fridays and Saturdays the trains run later; and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the trains operate every 30 minutes between 10 am and 6 pm, and hourly before 10 am and after 6 pm.

5.b Utilities

San Diego Gas and Electricity (SDG& E) provides these two services to the community, while Vallecitos Water District supplies water, waste water and reclamation services.
Trash, recyclables and yard waste collection is offered by EDCO, which also participates in numerous worthwhile efforts to enhance the quality of life in the region.

6. Point of Interest

The City features an extensive 63 mile trail network that is great for hiking, biking, running, and equestrian use.
There are in total 16 community parks and 18 mini parks that are great for picnics, outdoor sports, community gatherings and other recreational activities.
Some of the parks in the area are: Cerro de las Posas, Bradley, Buelow, Civic Center, Connors, Discovery/Lakeview, Double Peak, Helen Bougher, Hollandia, Jack’s Pond, Knob Hill, Montiel, Mulberry, Richmar, San Elijo, San Marcos Heritage, Simmons, Sunset, Walnut Grove and Woodland Park.
The City of San Marcos also offers a variety of recreational and cultural programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, including preschoolers programs and youth day camps, sports, senior services, enrichment classes, special events, cultural and performing arts programming, aquatics, hikes and nature center activities.
San Marcos Community Services Department hires independent contractors to provide recreational classes for all ages including fitness, sports, dance, music, art, specialty classes and parent/child activities year round.
Children enjoy half-day specialty camps during the summer season.
Organizations such as the Community theatre, music and fine arts are very active in the city and for that reason, residents and visitors frequently enjoy outstanding theatre productions performed by the City’s own “Theatre West” group.
The California Center for the Arts in Escondido and the Performing Arts Center at Palomar College, bring high quality entertainment to the local area.
Each year, thousands of residents enjoy arts & crafts, live performances, hands-on art projects, fine art shows and much more during the “Celebration of the Arts” event.
During the summer season, the City partners with other cities in the county to bring free family movies to the local parks. A Juried Art & Photography show takes place each year at the Community Center from March 1 through April 30.
Very quickly, San Marcos has become a regional shopping, dining and entertainment destination due to existing centers such as the Creekside Marketplace, Nordahl Center, Grand Plaza, and the Old California Restaurant Row (that features a large concentration of restaurants offering international and local cuisine, an Edwards Stadium 18 Cinema Complex and attractive village boutiques.).
Future developments like the San Marcos Downtown Creek District, Palomar Station and the University Village are designed to bring even more shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities for locals and visitors.

Conclusion

You are probably convinced by now, that San Marcos has all the ingredients that make living enjoyable. Fortunately, our efficient San Marcos moving company is ready to help you pack your belongings and transport your home with ease to this awesome destination. Please contact our San Marcos movers or CLICK HERE for a Free Moving Estimate.

6 Reasons to Move to San Marcos, CA