Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego

Coordinates: 32°57′33.84″N 117°06′56.07″W / 32.9594000°N 117.1155750°W / 32.9594000; -117.1155750

Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego
Community of San Diego
Rancho Peñasquitos
Rancho Peñasquitos and neighborhood boundaries
Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego Location within Northeastern San Diego
Coordinates: 32°57′34″N 117°06′56″W / 32.9594°N 117.115575°W / 32.9594; -117.115575
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	San Diego
City	San Diego
Website	Official website

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 PQ is approximately 60,000.^[1] it is located in ZIP code 92129. The telephone area code is 858.

Geography

Rancho Peñasquitos is roughly bounded:

• On the north by Black Mountain Ranch and Rancho Bernardo
• On the south by Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Mira Mesa
• On the east by Carmel Mountain Ranch, Poway, and Sabre Springs
• On the west by Torrey Highlands and Del Mar Mesa.

The highest point in the community is Black Mountain, which rises to an elevation of 1,500 feet (460 m).^[2]

History

Native American Kumeyaay history within the area dates back as far as 7,000 years ago. 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 (4,243 acres; 17 km²) was awarded to Captain Francisco María Ruiz, a Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Demographics

According to the 2010 Census, 51,536 people resided in ZIP code 92129, a majority of whom were between 18 and 65 years old.^[6]

Transportation

Rancho Peñasquitos is a car-dependent^[7] 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 one bus through the area, #20, with a stop on Carmel Mountain Road.

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.^[8]
• The first weekend in May is when PQ Residents and community organizations partner to celebrate everything PQ with a 5K Fun Run, Street Fair, and Parade (as of 2015). a) The annual PQ5K Fun Run (since 2007) is a free event sponsored by the Peñasquitos Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in partnership with the Peñasquitos Town Council for PQ residents and neighbors. The event begins the Saturday before the Fiesta de los Peñasquitos at the LDS Stake Center on Black Mountain Rd and ends at the Del Sur Meetinghouse with free breakfast for the participants. b) 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 it 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 is held on July 3rd.^[9]
• Christmas Card Lane.^[10]
• 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

SDFD Fire Station 40

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

A bicyclist enjoys Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve near the waterfall.

Waterfall in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.

• PQ Skate Park^[11]
• 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^[12]

Schools

Rancho Peñasquitos is in the Poway Unified School District.

High schools

• Mt. Carmel High School^[13]
• Westview High School^[14]

Middle schools

• Black Mountain Middle School^[15]
• Mesa Verde Middle School^[16]

Elementary schools

• Adobe Bluffs Elementary School^[17]
• Canyon View Elementary School^[18]
• Deer Canyon Elementary School^[19]
• Los Peñasquitos Elementary School^[20]
• Park Village Elementary School^[21]
• Rolling Hills Elementary School^[22]
• Sundance Elementary School^[23]
• Sunset Hills Elementary School^[24]

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 shooting.
• Adam Lambert, singer and actor.
• Eric Munson, Major League baseball star.
• Eric Chavez, Major League baseball star.

External links

• Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council
• Boy Scout Troop 667

References