San Diego county real estate
City: Rancho Bernardo


Rancho Bernardo has set the standard for master planned communities. It is made up of nearly 7,000 acres, 17,000 homes, and 45,000 residents. Rancho Bernardo is not a city, but a neighborhood within the City of San Diego, just south of Escondido.

There are many small service and retail businesses, mainly within the town center. The service business tenant mix includes financial services, insurance, attorneys, computer services, real estate, mortgage and escrow companies, high tech and entrepreneurial type businesses, and there are a growing number of home-based businesses.

Part of the master plan includes a 685-acre industrial park that is one of the largest in the San Diego County. The Rancho Bernardo Industrial Park is situated on the southwest side of the I-15 freeway, while most of the residences remain on the east and northwest sides. The industrial park is mainly light industry, research and development, and high tech firms. It employs 35,000+ workers, and still has room for growth. The park is home to many corporate giants, such as Hewlett-Packard Company, NCR Corporation, BAE Systems, Cymer Inc., Northrop Grumman, Time Warner Cable, FMC Extracorporeal Alliance, and Sony Electronics.

The History of Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo is a unique and proud community. While it is part of the City of San Diego, it is a community within itself, governed by a Community Council, a Planning Board, and a Recreation Council that represent the community at City functions. It also is unique in that it has, and lives by, its own strict set of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions.

Rancho Bernardo is located on nearly 7,000 acres, 25 miles north of downtown San Diego. The area is inhabited by people from all over the United States, and numerous foreign countries.

Early residents, as well as newcomers, are still in awe as they drive down Interstate 15 and come upon this lush valley nestled between rock-studded hills. The natural and man-made beauty is overwhelming. The people are close-knit and supportive of each other and their peaceful and beautiful surroundings. They are proud of their homes, recreation centers, industrial parks, local businesses, schools, churches, Chamber of Commerce, clubs, volunteer organizations, and all other things that have made Rancho Bernardo a world-renowned, model community.

The chain of official title to the land around Rancho Bernardo dates back to 1769, when the king of Spain became the owner of California by conquest. In 1822, the land of California became a territory of Mexico following the Mexican revolt against Spain. The first recorded individual owner of the Rancho Bernardo area was a former sea captain named Joseph Sevenoaks. He became a Mexican citizen and received grants of land in 1842 and 1845 to establish a cattle ranch.

In 1848, California became a state. In 1867, the widow of Joseph Sevenoaks sold the land to Thomas Fox. Fox retained title for only a year. In 1868, James McCoy became the owner. McCoy, a retired military man, raised sheep on the land. McCoy was also a county sheriff, a banker, and a member of the state legislature.

Between 1863 and 1913 the property was divided, and many persons owned portions Rancho Bernardo during this period.

Nearly 20 years later, John and Laurence Daley purchased the land for cattle grazing. In 1961, the Daleys joined W.R. Hawn and Harry L. Summers to form a corporation known as Rancho Bernardo, Inc. Several years later, the corporation was obtained by AVCO Community Developers. This was the beginning of Rancho Bernardo as we know it today. The original concept was, and remains, one of a planned community, with residential, light industry, and shopping areas, parks, clubs, and golf courses - a 52-week vacationland. The community has grown to become one of the most envied in the country.

Type of Housing
Rancho Bernardo is a master planned community that first began in1962, and now, for all practical purposes, is residentially built out. And occasional plot of land available within the community may be built on, but the Rancho Bernardo housing boom of the 60s, 70s, and 80s is long past. Anyone wishing to reside in the community can do so through the purchase of existing property or by renting.

Rancho Bernardo is well known for its stucco homes with red tile roofs, beautiful landscapes, and rolling hills. Residents take pride in their homes and their community. In order to keep the Rancho Bernardo look, a list of covenants and restrictions were drawn up and put into place for all residents and businesses. They are overseen by the Bernardo Home Owners Corporation (BHOC) and the Community Planning Board.

Transportation
Rancho Bernardo is conveniently located next to Interstate 15, with easy access to Lindbergh International Airport and Downtown San Diego. Both destinations are within a 30 minute drive time. Interstate 15 is a north/south highway that connects to the south with the 805 and 5 to reach Tijuana, Mexico, and reaches Canada to the north.

Ten miles to the north of Rancho Bernardo, Interstate 15 connects with Route 78, which runs west for access to Oceanside and Interstate 5 to Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Other east/west access routes are available to the south, and include Route 52 and Interstate 8. Route 56 will open in 2004 for access to Del Mar on the coast. It will connect four miles south of Rancho Bernardo.

Local bus transportation is provided through the North County Transit System and the San Diego Transit System. There are bus stops throughout the community with regularly scheduled stops every day of the week.

The Coaster commuter rail service provides train access along the coast from San Diego to Oceanside. Amtrak service is available from San Diego to Los Angeles and beyond.

San Diego Harbor, administered by the San Diego Unified Port District, operates two marine terminals, as well as a cruise ship port. The Port District also oversees Lindbergh International Airport.

The City of San Diego has a trolley system with service in the downtown area, Mission Valley, East County, and Tijuana, Mexico.