Get to know San Marcos, CA

The city of San Marcos is located in the North County region of San Diego County.  It is believed that the area was discovered by Spaniards pursuing fleeing Native Americans.  In 1797 the Spanish found the fertile valley which they called Los Vallecitos de San Marcos.  Translated as Little Valleys of Saint Mark, the Spanish named the area because it was discovered on St. Mark’s Day.  In 1840 Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos was given to Jose Maria Alvarado his relative, Governor Juan B. Alvarado.  Jose Alvarado was killed in the Pauma Massacre in 1846 and his wife sold the land to Lorenzo Soto.  Soto sold part of the land to Cave Couts in the 1850’s, who began raising livestock.  The first permanent settlement was made by major Gustavus French Merriam from Topeka, Kansa.  He began producing wine and honey in the Twin Oaks Valley.  German and Dutch immigrants arrived in the 1880’s.  In 1883 John Barham founded the first town.  The land formerly owned by the Couts family was purchased by the San Marcos Land Company in 1887a and land tracts began attracting home buyers.  Throughout the 19th century, San Marcos was a farming town, but by the mid 20th century, dairy and poultry had become important to the economy.  The town experienced a post-war boom and was incorporated as a city in 1963.  The major employers included Hunter Industries and the United Parcel Service.

Quick Facts

Population: 89,578

Median Household Income: $57,822

Median Property Value: $393,500