Fallbrook - Our Town

IT'S RURAL

If a peaceful rural countryside is what you are looking for, Fallbrook is the place.

The community of 45,000 is spread over 127 square miles, offers a modern, 50-bed acute-care medical facility, 54-acre high school campus with excellent academic and extracurricular programs, numerous elementary schools and a junior high. Four golf courses operate within a 10-mile radius of the town center. There is even an Air Park located here.

BUSINESS

Fallbrook's primary business is agriculture. Known as the Avocado Capital of the World, Fallbrook has been a primary avocado growing area since the fruit was first planted in 1912. Revenue from avocados alone annually reaches approximately $26 million, earned on small groves of two to ten acres. With nursery products and market flowers annually producing approximately $83 million and citrus adding another $1.3 million, agriculture accounts for just under a third of the area's personal income. Add to that the agricultural support services and the picture of an agri-economy becomes clear.

In addition to the economics, the area's farm industry helps maintain a circle of green, open spaces surrounding the town. The community is committed to preserving the quality of life with a design review process and a county-sponsored Rural Future Task Force.

Fallbrook boasts a healthy retail and service business base. Main Street has preserved a turn-of-the-century charm with many of the commercial buildings dating to the late 1800's. Retail trade is supplemented by seven shopping centers in Fallbrook and neighboring Bonsall.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Fallbrook has a 54 acre high school campus, which recently completed a 33 million dollar renovation . In town, there is one junior high and six elementary schools. The schools have excellent academics, staffs, facilities, outstanding boys and girls sports teams and award winning 4-H and FFA agriculture programs with strong community support.

PRESERVES AND PARKS

Fallbrook's 26 acre Live Oak Park is open daily with numerous facilities including playgrounds, baseball fields, gardens, picnic areas and open space. Live Oak Park is operated by the Live Oak Park Community Coalition for the enjoyment of individuals and groups.

The Los Jilgueros Preserve, Dinwiddie Preserve and Palomares House, demonstrates the Fallbrook land Conservancy's dedication to the mission of preserving open space and historical buildings. The Los Jilgueros Preserve adds 46 acres of open space on the southern approach to the community. It is a place to view native California flora and fauna, while walking the trails or having a quiet picnic. The Palomares House is a historical building, which dates to 1874 when Rancho Monserate was being divided among the heirs of Ysidro Alvarado. Today the Palomares House and the surrounding gardens are available for meetings, weddings and other group activities. The Dinwiddie Preserve is located across Stagecoach Lane from the Palomares House. Its primary purpose is to enhance the meadowlands habitat, while providing for the dual interests of public use and preservation.

GROWING SLOWLY

Fallbrook has escaped the growth explosion of other parts of San Diego County and Orange and Riverside counties for a number of reasons. One of them is you do not drive through Fallbrook on your way to someplace else. Fallbrook is tucked away in the northernmost corner of the county as the crow flies, we are 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The Community is unincorporated in the County of San Diego therefore it is administered by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. We are bordered on the west by Camp Pendleton, so you can access I-15 on the east, via six mile drive which offers easy access to Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange and Riverside counties. Or you can access I-5 on the west in Oceanside via Hwy. 76 and S13 within 20 minutes. Fallbrook is life in the country. It has a class which sets is apart and gives all who live in its midst a special pride. It is as country as you want within a two-hour drive of six million people.

CLIMATE

The favorable climate is one of the most valuable assets of the community. Ideal year-round, with pleasant, summers and mild winters, Fallbrook stands at an elevation of 500 to 1500 feet, with an average height of 685 feet. Residents enjoy an average year-round temperature of 61 degrees. Due to the prevailing ocean breezes the humidity is relatively low and constant. The average high in Fallbrook is 76 degrees, with the warmest summer temperatures seldom exceeding 90 degrees. Most of the area is frost-free; during the coldest periods the average temperature is about 42 degrees. Annual rainfall is roughly 16 inches and comes mostly between November and April. The area is ideal for avocados, fruits, strawberries, tomatoes and many subtropical fruits, vegetables and flowers.

PROTECTION

Fallbrook's North County Fire Protection District with 5 stations provides fire and emergency crews with the addition of a paramedic service since 1990. The county sheriff's department is responsible for law enforcement with the California Highway Patrol handling traffic and parking laws.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Fallbrook Hospital District, a 149-bed health care organization, has served the people of Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow and Deluz communities since 1950. Fallbrook Hospital's 24-hour Emergency Department is staffed by Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians, specialists who are on duty seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Located just east of Main Street in the heart of Fallbrook, the hospital enjoys full accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations. More than 80 physicians are members of Fallbrook Hospital's Medical Staff, who with the hospital, enjoy a reputation for diagnostic excellence and quality care.

Fallbrook Hospital and its medical staff provide care through many preferred provider arrangements with third party payers including Medicare, Medi-Cal, Blue Cross, Prudential, Pacificare, HealthNet, Aetna, Cigna, MedCare Plus California Care, Community Care and more. Fallbrook Hospital proudly serves the residents of the greater Fallbrook communities with a complete continuum of care from the prenatal through geriatric programs.

MAIN STREET CHARM

Much of downtown along Main Street is like where grandma or grandpa lived back East or in the Midwest. The wooden buildings, some with unique fronts, many of which are historical, is part of the charm of Fallbrook. Art, gifts, antiques, jewelers and handmade items abound in this area. Fallbrook's growing Art selections are attracting worldwide pieces and clients. These gems of Fallbrook provide the variety that can keep a visitor busy for hours or days. This turn-of-the-centry atmosphere is one that will be preserved by a design review process for all new business, industrial, multi-family projects and many other facets of construction.

RESIDENTS KEEP BUSY

While Fallbrook maintains a rural reputation, the community bustles with activity. Fallbrook is known for its active volunteer organizations which serve a variety of community needs and interest. The Fallbrook Historical Society shares its museum with the Gem and Mineral Society. The Mission Theater is home to the products of numerous live theater groups including the Fallbrook Players. The Art Association, Music Society, Village Association, Chamber of Commerce, 4-Wheel Drive Club and Italian Club are only a sampling of the over one hundred organizations in the community.

Fallbrook has its own Community Center, Joslyn Senior Center and Boys and Girls Club. For those fond of golf and tennis there are numerous opportunities on the local courses and courts. Many local pilots use the Fallbrook air Park for business and pleasure. While there are no commercial flight services, an air charter service is maintained.

FALLBROOK'S HISTORY

The Community of Fallbrook began in the area now known as Live Oak County Park. The first permanent recorded settlement was in 1869, when the Vital Reche family settled here. They named the new community Fall Brook after their former homestead town in Pennsylvania.

The present town site was plotted in 1885. The original Fallbrook School, though closed as a school in 1939, still serves the community as the Reche Clubhouse. One of the churches in the community was constructed in 1890.

Oak trees were the original primary trees in Fallbrook. Olives became a major crop by the 1920's and this was eventually phased out in favor of the present avocado and floral industry.

Though the population continues to increase at a moderate pace, Fallbrook maintains an easy lifestyle retaining its "Friendly Village" atmosphere loved by local residents and envied by visitors.