Valley Center is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) in
San Diego County, California
San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county (United States), county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, north to its Mexico-United States border, border with Mexico. As of the 2020 United States Cen ...
, 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
The California grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos californicus''), also known as the California brown bear, California golden bear, or chaparral bear, is an extinct population of the brown bear, generally known (together with other North American brow ...
, pictured on the
flag of California
The Bear Flag is the US state flags, official flag of the U.S. state of California. The precursor of the flag was first flown during the 1846 California Republic#Bear Flag Revolt, Bear Flag Revolt and was also known as the Bear Flag. A predec ...
. In 1866, the largest grizzly ever recorded in California was shot and killed in Valley Center.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the CDP has a total area of , all land.
Climate
According to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Valley Center has a
warm-summer Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
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.
Demographics
2020
The
2020 United States census reported that Valley Center had a population of 10,087. The population density was . The racial makeup of Valley Center was 59.6%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 1.1%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 3.0%
Native American, 3.7%
Asian, 0.2%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 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.
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.
[
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.][ There were 2,525 ]families
Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
(80.1% of all households).
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 65years of age or older. The median age was 43.6years. For every 100 females, there were 104.2 males.[
There were 3,327 housing units at an average density of , of which 3,152 (94.7%) were occupied. Of these, 82.6% were owner-occupied, and 17.4% were occupied by renters.][
]
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
The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...
, 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.
The median household income was $116,620, and the per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
was $46,664. About 9.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line.
Arts and culture
Museums
Valley Center History Museum was founded in 2003. Exhibits include a stagecoach which served as a Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
ambulance, provided local transportation, and was featured in a number of Western motion pictures; a preserved California Grizzly Bear; and memorabilia.[Jones, Harry J. (30 July 2015)]
"Valley Center history museum closes"
''San Diego Union-Tribune
''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, that has run since 1868. Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time, ''The San Diego Union'' and ...
''. Retrieved 7 June 2016.[Jones, Harry J. (2 December 2015)]
"Valley Center history museum to reopen"
''San Diego Union-Tribune
''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, that has run since 1868. Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time, ''The San Diego Union'' and ...
''. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
Events
On Memorial Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May.
It i ...
weekend, the town remembers fallen veterans at the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Festival.[VC’s Annual Western Heritage Celebration Unifies as “Valley Center Stampede”](_blank)
/ref>
Every year, the town celebrates their western heritage with the Valley Center Western Days Parade and Country Fair.
Government
In the California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of California, consisting of the California State Assembly (lower house with 80 members) and the California State Senate (upper house with 40 members). ...
, Valley Center is in , and in .
In the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, Valley Center is in .
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.
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
Escondido Union School District (EUSD) is a school district based in Escondido, California. The district serves over 17,000 elementary and middle school students with a student to teacher ratio of 19.6 to 1. The district contains 5 middle school ...
and the Escondido Union High School District.
Notable people
* June Allyson, actressFred Astaire
Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...
, actor/dancerGary Cooper
Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...
, actorBilly Cundiff
William Ambrose Cundiff (born March 30, 1980) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Drake University, and was signed by ...
, NFL kicker
*John DeLorean
John Zachary DeLorean ( ; January 6, 1925 – March 19, 2005) was an American engineer, inventor, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry. He is widely known as founder of the DeLorean Motor Company, as well as for his work at General Motor ...
, auto tycoon
* Gary Garrison, former San Diego Chargers football player
* Kirby Grant, actor and rancherThe Beverly Hillbillies
''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor backwoods family ...
''
* Sean Salisbury, former NFL quarterback, television sports analyst
*Randolph Scott
George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor, whose Hollywood career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in dramas, come ...
, actorJohn Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...
, actorLawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992) was an American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' from 1951 to 1982. The program was known for its light and family-friendly style, and the ...
, American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario
*Mae West
Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned more than seven decades. Recognized as a prominent sex symbol of her time, she was known ...
, actress
* Carol Williams, international concert organist and San Diego civic organist since 2001
* Sam Zimbalist, movie producer
References
External links
Valley Center Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Census-designated places in San Diego County, California
North County (San Diego County)
San Diego metropolitan area
Census-designated places in California