Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego


Rancho Peñasquitos is a suburban community in the northeastern part of the city of San Diego, California. It is named after the first Mexican land grant in the county, Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos. Peñasquitos means "little cliffs" in Spanish. It abuts Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, an open space preserve that offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. The community is commonly abbreviated "PQ."
The population of Rancho Peñasquitos is approximately 60,000. it is located in ZIP code 92129. The telephone area code is 858 or 619.

Geography

Rancho Peñasquitos is roughly bounded:
The highest point in the community is Black Mountain, which rises to an elevation of.

History

Native American Kumeyaay history within the area dates back as far as 7,000 years ago. The area was home to a Kumeyaay settlement which was known to them as 'Awil Nyawa'. Remains of the prehistoric culture can still be found. Rancho de los Peñasquitos was present-day San Diego County's first rancho, the Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos. In 1823, one league was awarded to Captain Francisco María Ruiz, a Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego. This one league was at the eastern part of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon and extended into Sabre Springs and up to Rancho Bernardo.
It was a way station on the Wagon road to Warner's Ranch from San Diego. From 1857 to 1860 it was a station on that road for the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line between San Diego and Vallecito via San Pasqual, Santa Ysabel Asistencia, Warner's, and Rancho Valle de San Felipe. It operated as a ranch until 1962, when real estate developer Irvin Kahn acquired the 14,000 acre parcel with the intent of building a 150,000 resident planned community.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 51,536 people, 17,009 households, and 14,093 families residing in the community. The racial makeup of the town was 58.2% White, 2.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 30.0% Asian, 2.7.% from other races, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.8% of the population.
There were 17,009 households of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17.1% were non-families. Of all households 2.4% were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.30.
The median age in the town was 38 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 65.3% were between the ages of 18 and 64; and 7.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 50.5% female and 49.5% male.

Transportation

Rancho Peñasquitos is a car-dependent area according to WalkScore.com. Black Mountain Road is the main north-south artery, and Carmel Mountain Road/Rancho Peñasquitos Boulevard is the main east-west artery. State Route 56 traverses east–west through the central portion of the community. Interstate 15 forms an eastern boundary of Rancho Peñasquitos, with Carmel Mountain Ranch lying on the far side.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System operates a bus through the area, #20, with a stop on Carmel Mountain Road. The MTS Rapid #235 bus operates from the Sabre Springs/Peñasquitos Transit Station, arriving in downtown San Diego in only 5 stops.

Community events

  • Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands is an annual high school marching band parade and field show competition, fully volunteer-run by the Mt Carmel Music Foundation. It has been held in late October every year since 1976, and is the most widely attended parade and field competition in San Diego with over 30 bands from San Diego county and the Los Angeles metropolitan area in attendance.
  • The Fiesta de Los Penasquitos and Parade is on the first weekend in May when PQ Residents and community organizations partner to celebrate everything PQ with a 5K Fun Run, Street Fair, and Parade The annual PQ5K Fun Run The annual Fiesta de los Peñasquitos began in May 1995 as a local community street fair. It is typically held on the first Sunday in May. In 2015, the Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council held its Inaugural Parade which starts from Mt. Carmel High School and ends at Sundance Elementary School. The event is managed by Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council but is possible in large part because of the City of San Diego Arts & Culture Grant. http://www.rpcouncil.com/ The http://www.92129magazine.com/ is one of the many local sponsors and covers the Fiesta de los Peñasquitos each year.
  • In Honor of the Fourth of July, the Rancho Peñasquitos Recreation Council sponsors a fireworks show at Westview High School, and is usually held on July 3. Funding was not available in 2019 for a fireworks show.
  • Christmas Card Lane.
  • BLAST Annual Rummage Sale is held in February each year at New Hope Church 10330 Carmel Mountain Road in Rancho Peñasquitos.
  • BLAST Annual Golf Tournament benefits the BLAST extended day program at Los Peñasquitos Elementary and is held in May each year at various Rancho Peñasquitos area golf courses.

    Emergency services

Fire service

and emergency medical services are provided by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department fire station #40 at 13393 Salmon River Road in the area of Rancho Peñasquitos. This station is in the 7th Battalion.

Police service

The San Diego Police Department operates from a station on 13396 Salmon River Road, serving the neighborhood.

Parks

  • PQ Skate Park
  • Canyonside Recreation Center
  • Hilltop Recreation Center
  • Peñasquitos Creek Park
  • Rolling Hills Park
  • Black Mountain Open Space Park
  • Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
  • Twin Trails Neighborhood Park

    Schools

Rancho Peñasquitos is in the Poway Unified School District.

High schools

  • Mt. Carmel High School
  • Westview High School

    Middle schools

  • Black Mountain Middle School
  • Mesa Verde Middle School

    Elementary schools

  • Adobe Bluffs Elementary School
  • Canyon View Elementary School
  • Deer Canyon Elementary School
  • Los Peñasquitos Elementary School
  • Park Village Elementary School
  • Rolling Hills Elementary School
  • Sundance Elementary School
  • Sunset Hills Elementary School

    Churches

  • St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • The New Hope Church of Penasquitos
  • Penasquitos Lutheran Church

    Notable people

  • Liza del Mundo, voice actress.
  • James Holmes, perpetrator of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting.
  • John T. Earnest, perpetrator of the Poway synagogue shooting.
  • Adam Lambert, singer and actor.
  • Kelly Marie Tran, Actress
  • Arianna Afsar, Actress
  • Eric Munson, Major League Baseball star.
  • Eric Chavez, Major League Baseball star.
  • Billy Beane, Major League Baseball player