VISTA, CALIFORNIA

'Vista' is a city in San Diego County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,857. It was incorporated January 28, 1963.
Kathleen Shaputis' book 50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family, 3rd Ed. 2006 lists Vista as the seventh best place in the United States for family life, based on factors such as jobs and business opportunities, education, climate, and cost-of-living.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Current estimates

Education

Recreation

Notable residents

External links

References

Geography

Vista is located at (33.193549, -117.241140).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.4 km² (18.7 mi²), all land.
Vista houses both the courthouse and the jail for northern San Diego County.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,857 people, 28,877 households, and 20,791 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,857.3/km² (4,810.0/mi²). There were 29,814 housing units at an average density of 616.2/km² (1,595.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.27% White, 4.24% African American, 1.00% Native American, 3.70% Asian, 0.68% Pacific Islander, 21.33% from other races, and 4.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 38.94% of the population.
Vista and nearby San Marcos had a large Japanese American community since the late 1800s. Older sections of Vista are predominantly Latino (Mexican Americans in particular). And there are several thousand American Jews now living in Vista, a small part of the community's multiplicity of religions and cultures. Demographers stated Vista has a "minority-majority" population as Non-Hispanic whites are under half the city's population.
There were 28,877 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% 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 3.48. The FBI crime index for 2005 was 32.9 for every 1000 residents.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,594, and the median income for a family was $45,649. Males had a median income of $32,936 versus $25,812 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,027. About 10.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Current estimates

According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Vista in 2005 was $60,531 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $49,153.

Education

Vista has eighteen elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools, the largest being Rancho Buena Vista High School followed closely in size by Vista High School. Note that Guajome Park Academy, which is a charter school but still funded in part by the Vista Unified School District, is a joint middle school and high school.
Vista also has a branch of Biola University.
Alta Vista Continuation High School is another option for teens who cannot partake in the average school-going.

Recreation

Vista is home to two city-supported theaters: the Moonlight Amphitheatre and the Avo Playhouse. The Moonlight Amphitheatre is an open-air theater that specializes in musical productions, performing several during the course of the summer, including one youth production per season. The Moonlight has a winter season at the Avo Playhouse, which, when not holding the Moonlight Winter Season, produces many different plays which are not run by a central Avo-based production crew.
Vista houses one movie theater, a Krikorian Cinema which opened in fall 2003.
There is a lot of open land in Vista, especially in the north, and much of it is dedicated city parks. The two most well-known within the city are Brengle Terrace Park and Guajome County Park. Brengle Terrace Park houses the Moonlight Amphitheatre, a baseball field, a senior center, a playground, and the city community center, where the main offices of the city's day camps are held. Guajome County Park has 557 acres (2.3 km²) of land; part of this is in Vista and part is in nearby Oceanside. It features campsites, horse trails, and the Rancho Guajome Adobe, a National Historic Landmark.
Rancho Guajome Adobe and Rancho Buena Vista are two ranchos in and near Vista, built in the mid-nineteenth century. Both serve tours to schoolchildren and to ordinary patrons, detailing the history of the ranchos and talking about life during the time they were built. Both landmarks are also available for special occasions.
The city's Parks and Recreation Department also runs the Wave Waterpark, a small but well-equipped waterpark near the downtown area open from mid-spring to early fall. Vista also features the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, an open-air museum featuring various pieces and demonstrations of agricultural equipment from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Vista is also home of a Japanese-American Cultural Center and Buddhist Temple, one of only two in California, and over 75 other churches and temples of various denominations.

Notable residents

★ Tony Hawk, One of the oldest, and longest lived pioneers in Professional skateboarding.

★ Bob Burnquist, first skateboarder to land "The Loop" switch, with a gap on top.

★ Ryan Gura, Rancho Buena Vista Little League World Series, had home run and game winning hit to beat Japan in the LLWS consolation game 2005

★ Cove Reber, lead vocalist for the band Saosin.

★ Patrick Jason, writer, grew up in Vista.

★ Chiyo Samashima, children's book author, "Fluffy" series.

★ Vanessa Anne Hudgens, went to middle school in Vista, singer/actress

★ Masters of Funky Fresh, Hip Hop Artists, single "Playin' the Role"

★ Gavin Brooks, University of California-Los Angeles pitcher, graduated from Rancho Buena Vista High School 2006

★ Dennis Chism, AKA Spyda, former And1 streetball player

★ Pisa Tinoisamoa, St. Louis Rams linebacker, graduated from Vista High School 1999

★ Leon Hall, University of Michigan Football CB 2006, graduated from Vista High School 2003

★ Alex Anthony, University of San Diego, Poker Super Star and Padres General Manager

★ Michael Austinmoore, bassist for the band VAST, grew up in Vista, and attended RBVHS.

★ Dave Roberts, major league outfielder, attended Rancho Buena Vista High School.

★ Bertha Alvarez, UCSD graduate, mathematical Pioneer, and Oscar-winning actress.

External links

★ Official homepage of Vista

References