Carlsbad
Carlsbad's Quality of Life is Unmatched.
Where else would you find a seaside community that is small enough to have
village charm yet large enough to be a world-class business environment?
Carlsbad is a community with near-perfect weather and two world-class resorts.
It supports economic development yet sets aside 40 percent of its land for open
space. It has attracted an international theme park and has become the golf
capital of the world. Carlsbad has a commuter train, great bus service and the
busiest single-runway airport in the nation. A great place to live, with miles
of beaches, a wide variety of housing options, terrific shopping, a world-class
public library and excellent schools.
Where else but Carlsbad, California? Fortune Magazine rated Carlsbad as one of
the nation’s five best places to retire. "An affordable Southern California
dream lifestyle is still available in about one place: Carlsbad," the magazine
boasted in August, 1997. Fortune pointed out that our community has ample open
space, a low crime rate, a near-perfect climate, smog-free ocean breezes, and is
not in an earthquake fault zone. In 1999, Where to Retire Magazine rated
Carlsbad among the best retirement towns in Southern California.
Carlsbad’s population has grown considerably as more and more people become
acquainted with the area. In fact, the population has increased five-fold since
1960, but the city’s award-winning Growth Management Plan ensures that the city
retains its small-town charm. Despite Fortune calling us a retirement haven,
Carlsbad has a relatively young population, with a median age of 32, and 78
percent of residents under age 55.
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Founded during the land boom of 1880s, Carlsbad was named for a Bohemian spa whose waters were found to be identical to those in a local mineral well. Later known as the Avocado Capital of the World, the area was for years an agricultural community of "gracious houses and small farms." Carlsbad incorporated as a city in 1952 and has in the decades since then benefited from a far-sighted city government that always planned for a grand future. For more on local history and an online database of historical pictures, check the Carlsbad City Library Website.
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Known as the "Village by the Sea," the city is located on the Pacific coast,
31 miles north of San Diego and 86 miles south of Los Angeles – far enough away
to be peaceful, but close enough to provide access to urban amenities when you
want them. Carlsbad boasts one of the most attractive climates in Southern
California and the nation. Temperatures range from an average of 58 degrees in
January to 73 degrees in July. Annual rainfall averages about 10 inches, most of
it falling between December and March.
The city’s famed Flower Fields draw 200,000 visitors from Southern California
and beyond each March and April when more than 50 acres of brightly colored
ranunculus burst into bloom.
Biotechnology and other technology-related companies already have a firm
foothold in North County. Invitrogen (Nasdaq: IVGN), Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:
ISIS) and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) are among the region's top employers. Some
of the other large companies in North County are Anacomp Inc. and Cardiff
Software Inc.
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Long enjoyed by visitors from the Southwest, Carlsbad is becoming a world-class
tourism destination. The internationally renowned La Costa Resort & Spa in
Carlsbad features two 18-hole professional golf courses, several restaurants,
tennis courts and a spa that attract visitors year-round. In 1997, another
world-class resort, the Four Seasons Resort Aviara, opened to critical raves on
the shores of Batiquitos Lagoon. Aviara’s beautiful golf course was designed by
golf pro Arnold Palmer. Carlsbad has four championship golf courses including
one, owned by the city, that is scheduled to open within this year. Carlsbad is
host to major sporting events such as the Carlsbad 5000 and the Carlsbad
Triathlon for runners, plus the PGA and Andersen Consulting Golf Championships
and Acura Tennis Classic at La Costa
Resort & Spa.
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