Del Mar, "where the surf meets the turf", is a chic beach town and home to the Del Mar Racetrack and San Diego County Fair. The upscale community of Del Mar is located just a half-hour drive up Interstate 5 from San Diego. This location allows Del Mar's residents to enjoy a cozy small-town atmosphere while not forfeiting any of the amenities of living in the big city. The economy is strong, fueled by local shops, resorts, restaurants and also by the nearby bio tech and wireless communication industries of San Diego. Award-winning schools are administered by Del Mar Union and San Dieguito school districts. Great recreational opportunities also abound, including many golf courses, beaches, festivals, and the cultural offerings of the city of San Diego. The real estate market includes a few condos and townhouses, but mostly single-family detached homes.

Breathtaking canyons interspersed with hillsides of homes, Del Mar is two square miles of coastal land best known for its fairgrounds and race track "where the surf meets the turf." Two beautiful beaches, the famous Torrey Pines State Reserve, sunny weather, an annual fair and the famous Del Mar Racetrack attract visitors who come to enjoy sports and recreation near the ocean. Located in San Diego County 20 miles north of the City of San Diego, Del Mar is bordered on the south by Torrey Pines State Reserve, on the north by the San Dieguito River, Del Mar Racetrack and San Diego County Fairgrounds, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.  For fans of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the central California coast, this is the warmer, southern version. Art galleries, fantastic ocean views and winding streets supply a feel of an upscale community with character and charm. Seagrove Park, James Scripps Bluffs Preserve,Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach and nearby Torrey Pines Public Golf Course provide some fantastic outdoor activities and opportunities to enjoy Pacific Ocean views Del Mar is known for. 
                                                                                                           
Del Mar was named in the late 1800's by Ella Loop. She and husband, Theodore, owned a tent city by the beach which was also called Del Mar, Spanish for "by the sea". Theodore, worked as a contractor and engineer for the California Southern Railroad which arrived in Del Mar in 1882. Theodore Loop next formed a partnership with Jacob Taylor to sell 50 x 140 foot lots. Their marketing created some traffic and interest which helped launch South Coast Land Company's resort with the centerpiece Stratford Inn. Receiving electricity from San Diego Gas and Electric in the late 1920s, residential areas began taking shape and the area experienced its boom. In 1959 Del Mar residents decided to incorporate as a city with a five-member City Council rather than become part of the City of San Diego.

Courtesy of San Diego Daily Transcript.
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