Poway

What was once a quaint rural cattle town with ranches, farms, orchards, and vineyards has now become a bustling city known for its hiking trails, large business center, and top ranking schools.

 

The name Poway was derived from the Diegueno and Luiseno Indians who called it Pauwai several hundred years before the Spaniards came. Poway was a sleepy town until it experienced a growth boom in the late 1950s with the construction of its first subdivision and a dam was built to create Lake Poway.

 

Located in northeast San Diego, Poway is now home to around 50,000 residents who love to call this “City in the Country”, home. The community is popular among San Diegans because it offers a diverse range of housing options, an outstanding school district, a great dining and shopping scene, beautiful parks, and 76 miles of trails. In the late 1980s, the 700-acre Poway Business Park was developed and is now home to more than 500 businesses providing 18,000 jobs.

 

Niche.com rated Poway as #7 in Best Suburbs to Live in San Diego Area with an overall grade of A-. There is a deep sense of community pride for people who call Poway home.

 

There are no shortages of delicious restaurants, from fine dining to casual, in Poway. A standout is Mainstream Bar & Grill with great food and 20 beers on tap. On the menu you’ll find juicy burgers, pasta dishes, and seafood dishes. The Brigantine is a classic, with several locations throughout San Diego. Brigantine is famous for its delicious seafood. The fish tacos are award-winning! Enough said.

 

Poway’s first craft brewery, Lightning Brewery, opened in 2006 and has been a staple in Poway’s drink culture ever since. They are known for their top-rated German style lagers and ales. Tours of the facility are available offering a selection of beers that are sampled in the tasting room.

 

Another popular spot for delicious libation is Mission Cellars where you can taste award-winning handcrafted wines. They offer comprehensive tours of the property to see how the wines are made. Mission Cellars also offer classes and special wine tastings.

 

The Poway Farmers’ Market is a family-friendly affair where visitors enjoy shopping for local fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers and more from more than 65 vendors. Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm on Midland Road.

 

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 70,000 patrons a year who enjoy an array of plays, musicals, and art exhibitions. Shows such as the Youth Theater’s Alice and Wonderland and a Tribute to Aretha Franklin or examples of the productions offered at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

 

The Poway-Midland Railroad is a full-size, narrow-gauge heritage railroad in Old Poway Park that carries passengers aboard antique railroad cars. The cars are pulled by a 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive. The trains run on weekends and each loop through the park takes about 5 minutes.

 

The City of Poway has done an exemplary job of setting aside open space for preservation. Poway is home to over 4,700 acres of open space, 55 miles of trails, and 25 parks. The parks are used for general enjoyment, sports events, and family-oriented celebrations like Summer Concerts in the Park and Christmas in the Park.

 

Poway is home to the famous Potato Chip Rock, an eight-mile hike up a mountain that is not for the novice hiker. Yet, once you get to the top, you get to take pictures on top of a rock that juts out from the landscape and looks like a thin potato chip, hence the name.

 

The Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is a 700-acre wildlife preserve teaming with oak trees, native chaparral and hiking opportunities. Iron Mountain is a five mile steep hike with panoramic views of San Diego once you reach the top.

 

Old Poway Park is a favorite in town for its plethora of activities and attractions. The trails are perfect for meandering, the grass is nice for family picnics, and the Poway Midland Railroad cable car is fun for the kids. Other popular community recreation and entertainment sites are:

 

• Community Park

• Goodan Ranch

• Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center

• Lake Poway

• Old Poway Park

• Poway Center for the Performing Arts

• Poway Community Library

Poway is served by the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) with 11 schools located in the City of Poway: two high schools, two middle schools, seven elementary schools, and one adult school.

 

PUSD is the 3rd largest school district in the county serving approximately 36,000 students. North Inland San Diego County area is served by Palomar Community College, as well as numerous universities and colleges throughout the region.

 

The Poway Unified School District was named the second-best school district in the San Diego area and the 14th best district in California. It received an overall grade of A+ from Niche.

 

Poway is a community that attracts families because of its outstanding schools, parks, and family-oriented activities. A little over 80% of all households are family households with 58% of the population who have some form of college education. The percentage of white-collar employees in Poway is 88% and 68% of those employed in the city work for private companies. The average household income is nearly $138,000.