Oceanside, California

Oceanside contains a relaxed diverse community. Young couples on a budget will find beautiful affordable starter homes. While families looking for more space, will find large single family residences at half the price of communities to the south. Located thirty eight miles north of San Diego, Oceanside sits next to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. The town ranks as the third largest city in San Diego County.

As of January 2010 the population of Oceanside totaled 183,095; a small increase from the year 2000 tally of 161,029 residents. The area was settled by Native Americans. During 1769 Spanish missionaries under Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The mission prospered over the years and established the title "King of the Missions". A small town formed around the mission and within a hundred years Oceanside grew into a tiny city.

"In the 1890's Oceanside had three hotels; the South Pacific, the St. Cloud and the Tremont, two drug stores, two livery stables, two blacksmiths, a hardware store, a bakery, a harness shop, a lumber yard, a barber shop, a newspaper, a school and the Oceanside Bank along with many other businesses. There were six churches: Christian, Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal, Holiness and Methodist." Oceanside Historical Society

World War II propelled Oceanside into a modern city. With the construction of Camp Pendleton the demand for housing and municipal services exceeded supply. The population of Oceanside jumped from the 1940 figure of 4,652 to 12,888 in 1950. The railroad helped to further develop Oceanside as the years went on; bringing thousands of travelers through the town.

Enjoy lunch on Oceanside's sixth constructed pier and the longest pier on the West Coast. Ruby's Diner provides an excellent selection of milk shakes to enjoy while looking at the ocean. Filming of many movies occurred over the years in Oceanside such as; Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Captain America, Diamonds are Forever and Top Gun. The bungalow house featured in Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, sets on South Pacific Street.

For more Oceanside history head over to the Oceanside Historical Society web page. To locate more attractions in Oceanside head over to the attractions tab.