Rancho Peñasquitos is a suburban community in northeastern San Diego, California. It is named after the first Mexican land grant in San Diego County, Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos. (Peñasquitos is Spanish for "little cliffs".) The community 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 1500 ft.

History

Native American Kumeyaay history within the area has been documented to 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. Gradually ethnic Spanish colonists moved into the area, following the establishment of missions and other settlements along the coast. Rancho de los Peñasquitos was the first rancho, the Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos, within the boundaries of present-day San Diego County. In 1823, one league (4,243 acres; 17 km2) 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 from San Diego to Warner's Ranch. 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. The ranch operated 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. In 1964, San Diego annexed most of the area, building out from Irvin Kahn's community.

Demographics

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 (MTS) 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 after only 5 stops.

Community events

Emergency services

Fire service

Fire protection 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

Schools

Rancho Peñasquitos is in the Poway Unified School District.

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Churches

Notable people