San Marcos

San Marcos, CA: Where a College Town Meets North County Living

San Marcos sits in the hills of North San Diego County. The city incorporated in 1963 and has grown fast since. Today it is home to roughly 95,000 residents. Families come for its schools, parks, and hillside views.

California State University San Marcos anchors the community. The campus opened in 1989 on a 304-acre hillside. Around 14,000 students study there each year. A hillside letter P, for nearby Palomar College, is visible for miles.

Local life blends dining and recreation. Old California Restaurant Row on San Marcos Boulevard draws diners from across the region. Lake San Marcos offers a resort-style community with golf and waterfront homes. San Elijo Hills adds a walkable town center in the hills.

History has a home here too. Williams’ Barn, a red barn built in 1952, stands in Walnut Grove Park. The San Marcos Historical Society preserves the area’s early homes at Heritage Park. Community events fill the calendar all year.

The spring Street Festival and the fall Harvest Festival draw thousands of neighbors together. You can find local programs and events on the City of San Marcos website. We are proud to care for the families who call this growing city home.