Formerly a beachside neighborhood in San Diego, the City of Del Mar occupies two square miles of what is widely regarded as one of the more beautiful places in Southern California, if not the world.
With a population of 4,500, Del Mar is the smallest municipality in San Diego County. However, its proximity to the metro area – it is a mere 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego – as well as to the nearby University of San Diego gives residents the best of all worlds with small-town living and accessible city convenience.
Salt water lagoons bracket each end of the city, which is known for its calm, warm weather, beautiful beaches and unique shopping and dining opportunities.
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History
The city’s origins can be traced to the late 1800s when Theodore M. Loop, an engineer who helped extend the California Southern Railroad tracks from San Diego to San Bernardino, purchased property and built a home just north of San Diego. He described his new land as “the most attractive on the entire coast.” His wife, Ella christened it “Del Mar” after the poem “The Fight on Paseo Del Mar,” a popular poem at the time.
In the summer of 1885, Loop convinced Jacob Taylor to help him build a proper town in the area. Taylor saw the potential and purchased roughly 338 acres nearby. The two joined efforts to officially found Del Mar shortly thereafter.
Fairgrounds, Parks
Today, all of San Diego County focuses on Del Mar each year during the San Diego County Fair, which is held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The 370-acre fairgrounds are also home to the Del Mar Racetrack, home to world-class thoroughbred racing.
Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien were among the Thoroughbred Club members who founded the track in the 1930s.
Del Mar residents enjoy Seagrove Park and Powerhouse Park, both of which offer idyllic grounds and ocean views.
Del Mar Today
In the 1970s, Del Mar’s local government began emphasizing the importance of slow growth and preservation, meaning you will never see billboards or high-rise apartment buildings in the city limits.
You will, however, see many Mediterranean-style villas and homes built in the Spanish tradition, as well as more contemporary mansions and townhouses. Many Del Mar homes are constructed to take advantage of ocean views.
The majority of those living in Del Mar are highly educated professionals who commute to nearby San Diego to work at jobs in finance, high-tech and the medical field, where they earn six-figure incomes.
The Del Mar Union School District serves 4,000 students and is lauded for its consistently high standardized test scores.
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