1. Geography
    Climate 

2. Demographics
    2010  2000 

3. Government

4. Community character and culture

5. Agriculture

6. History

7. History Museum

8. Memorial Weekend Events

9. Notable people

10. References

11. External links

Valley Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in North San Diego County, California. The population was 9,277 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Valley Center is located at {{coord|33.240485|-117.014262|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|98.7|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Valley Center is home to the Hellhole Canyon Preserve, a 1,907 acre nature reserve that offers 13.5 miles of moderate to advanced trail opportunities.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Valley Center has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.^[4]

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census^[5] reported that Valley Center had a population of 9,277. The population density was 178.3 people per square mile (130.6/km²). The racial makeup of Valley Center was 2,285 (73.1%) White with 64.0% of the population non-Hispanic whites, 58 (0.9%) African American, 188 (2.0%) Native American, 295 (3.2%) Asian, 16 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 584 (16.0%) from other races, and 425 (4.6%) from two or more races. 27.8% of the population was Hispanic.^[6]

The Census reported that 9,243 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 27 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,000 households, out of which 1,120 (37.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,035 (67.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 43 (7.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 142 (4.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 127 (4.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 21 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 239 households (15.4%) were made up of individuals and 193 (6.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08. There were 2,389 families (79.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.38.

The population was spread out with 1,250 people (24.3%) under the age of 18, 414 people (8.9%) aged 18 to 24, 694 people (20.9%) aged 25 to 44, 1,003 people (33.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 539 people (12.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

There were 2,228 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile (45.4/km²), of which 1,739 (80.6%) were owner-occupied, and 581 (19.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%. 2,364 people (79.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,879 people (20.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 1,323 people, 415 households, and 719 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 59.1 inhabitants per square mile (96.6/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 66.0 per square mile (33.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.69% White, 0.52% African American, 2.84% Native American, 1.35% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 6.45% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races.

There were 415 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $64,649, and the median income for a family was $68,388. Males had a median income of $50,440 versus $35,199 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,071. About 5.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Valley Center is in {{Representative|casd|38|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|75|fmt=adistrict}}.^[8]

In the United States House of Representatives, Valley Center is in {{Representative|cacd|50|fmt=district}}.^[9]

Community character and culture

Valley Center is a community in a small rural town. The community is largely based on agriculture and farming with a few gated communities. Historically, the growth of Valley Center has been slowed by lower densities including a minimum of {{convert|2|acre|m2}} being required for most parcels.

Some changes in the community can be attributed to the expansion of Indian casinos in the area. There are currently two major casinos in the vicinity of Valley Center - Harrah's Rincon and Valley View; both were opened in 2001-02, bringing traffic and jobs to what used to be an out-of-the-way agricultural town. High traffic necessitated highway improvements, partially paid by casino contributions.

Despite these changes, there are still no chain department stores in the community; residents do their shopping in smaller "mom and pop" stores, and drive either to Escondido or to Temecula.

The town has a museum that was founded in 2003 that includes a stagecoach built in 1848, a stuffed California Grizzly Bear, and memorabilia and photographs from famous people who have lived or spent time in the area such as John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Steve Reeves, Randolph Scott, June Allyson and Dick Powell; around 30,000 people visit the museum each year.^[10][11]

Agriculture

Traditionally, the town and the surrounding areas have largely been dedicated to agricultural uses. Various commercial crops include oranges, lemons, and avocados. More recently farmers have taken up other crops, including ornamental floral products such as lavender. Additionally, there is a thriving animal farming industry including egg-producing hens and llamas.

History

Valley Center was the site of the capture of the largest California Grizzly Bear in history. In 1866, a grizzly weighing 2,200 pounds was killed at the Lovette house, which has now been demolished.^[12] Although the town had been settled in 1845 and homesteaded in 1862 after President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, it had no formal name until the famous 1866 bear incident. The notoriety surrounding the event gave Valley Center its original name of Bear Valley. The name was subsequently changed to Valley in 1874, to Valley Centre in 1878 and, finally, to Valley Center in 1887. An exhibit of a smaller California Grizzly bear is on display at the Valley Center History Museum.

History Museum

The Valley Center History Museum is located in Valley Center, California on Cole Grade Road in the Valley Center Library complex. The museum displays historical photographs and artifacts from Valley Center and the surrounding area. It is a registered charity and staffed entirely by volunteers

The museum was founded in 2003 by the Valley Center Historical Society. In 2015, it expanded by 50 percent, adding an extra wing to accommodate a historic stagecoach which was built in 1848 and served as a Civil war ambulance, provided local transportation, and was featured in a number of Western motion pictures. Its other centerpiece exhibit is a taxidermy mount of a now-extinct California Grizzly Bear. Other exhibits include memorabilia and photographs from famous people who have lived or spent time in the area such as John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Steve Reeves, Randolph Scott, June Allyson and Dick Powell.^[10][11]

Memorial Weekend Events

On Memorial Day weekend, the town celebrates their western heritage and fallen veterans with the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Festival ^[13] and an annual parade.

Though the Stampede Rodeo began as a separate event from the parade and festival, in 2015, it combined with the then-called Western Days Festival, becoming the Stampede Rodeo and Festival. The Stampede Rodeo has no affiliation with the parade, though they occur over the same weekend. The Stampede Rodeo and Festival was coordinated by the Valley Center Optimist Club,^[14] but recently became sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys association, and all proceeds go back to the youth of the Valley Center community through club donations and scholarships.^[15] Valley Center Western Days Parade is coordinated by Western Days, Inc. as of 2017.^[16]

The festival began as the Valley Center County Fair (1950), then became Western Week (1963), Western Days Country Festival (1966), Country Fair (1967), Western Days (1968), and Valley Center Western Days (1980). The Western Days Parade was added in 1970.^[13] In 2002, the rodeo began as bulls and barrels, but added more events and became the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo the next year.^[17] Since then, the Stampede Rodeo has been a separate entity from the parade and festival, until the festival became part of the Stampede in 2015.

The parade began in 1970 as the Western Days Parade, but in 2016, it was rebranded "Valley Center Days"^[18] to be more inclusive because the word "Western" had negative connotations for some local Native American tribes,^[19][20] however the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Festival continued separately, as usual.^[21] In 2017, Valley Center Western Days, Inc. produced the parade,^[22] and the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo celebrated its 16th year.^[23][24] In 2018, the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo became sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, becoming the first professional, non-profit rodeo in Valley Center.^[25] The Valley Center Stampede Rodeo supports several youth associations within the community, including the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Queens.^[26] In 2018, Miss Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Madison Wagner represented Valley Center at the state-level pageant for the first time, winning the crown on her first attempt and becoming the first Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Queen to be crowned Miss Rodeo California.^[27][28]

Notable people

• Billy Cundiff, NFL kicker
• J.J. Cale, Musician^[29][30]
• Gary Cooper, Actor^[31]
• Kirby Grant, Actor and rancher^[31]
• Irene Ryan, Granny on Beverly Hillbillies
• Steve Reeves, Hercules Actor
• June Allyson, Actress^[31]
• Dick Powell, Actor^[31]
• Fred Astaire, Actor/Dancer^[31]
• Jack Haley, Actor/Tin Man in Wizard of Oz^[31]
• Katie Leclerc, Actress^[31]
• Denise Mueller-Korenek, cyclist, world speed record holder
• Sean Salisbury, Former NFL Quarterback, Television sports analyst
• Mike Leake, MLB Pitcher
• Glen Bell, Founded Taco Bell chain
• John Wayne, Actor^[31]
• Kevin Craft, Former UCLA Quarterback
• Merle Oberon, Actress^[31]
• Randolph Scott, Actor^[31]
• Carol Williams, International Concert Organist & San Diego Civic Organist 2001-
• Fred Biletnikoff, Former Oakland Raiders Wide Receiver
• Gary Garrison, Former San Diego Chargers football player
• John DeLorean, Auto Tycoon
• Charles Hatfield, Rainmaker
• Mae West, Actress
• Sam Zimbalist, Movie Producer
• Louis Bromfield, Actor
• Bill Murray, Actor, Comedian

References

External links

• Valley Center Chamber of Commerce

• William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan
• William Drummond, 7th Viscount Strathallan
• William Drummond (colonial governor)
• William Drummond (MP)
• William Drummond of Logiealmond
• William Drummond of Logie Almond
• William Drury
• William D. Russell (director)
• William D. Schaefer
• William D. Schuette
• William D. Simpson
• William D. Staples
• William D. Strong
• William D. Thomas
• William Duane Benton
• William Dubay
• William DuBay
• William Duckett Bowie
• William Duckworth (Canadian politician)
• William Duddell
• William Dudingston
• William Dudley (bishop)
• William Dudley Foulke
• William Dudley Haywood
• William Dudley Ward