Local guidesMid-City & East San DiegoTierrasanta
Tierrasanta
Tierrasanta is a planned community inside the City of San Diego, California, whose name is Spanish for holy land, set between State Route 52, Interstate 15 and Mission Trails Regional Park.
Where is Tierrasanta, and what is it like?
Tierrasanta is a community of the City of San Diego, in San Diego County, California. It is not a separate city. Its name is Spanish for holy land or holy ground, and its symbol is an encircled Conquistador cross. Locals call it the Island in the Hills, because only four roads lead in and all of them end inside the community. The ZIP code is 92124.
State Route 52 and the southern fields of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar form the northern edge. Mission Trails Regional Park is to the east. To the west, slopes overlook the Interstate 15 corridor from Friars Road to Route 52. In the south, homes overlook the Admiral Baker Golf Course and the San Diego River.
What is the land like?
The developed area rises from west to east and is cut by many canyons. Coastal sage scrub and chaparral grow in the canyons and undeveloped areas. The average elevation is 354 feet (108 m). The highest point is 780 feet (240 m) and the lowest is 180 feet (55 m).
Greenbelts with walking paths run through the canyons, kept up by Friends of Tierrasanta Canyons. Several entrances lead into Mission Trails Regional Park, including one with parking at the eastern end of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
How did Tierrasanta begin?
Before 1900 the land was part of the ranch of Mission San Diego de Alcala, active in the late 1700s and the 1800s. In 1941 the U.S. military bought it as Camp Elliott, a Marine Corps training base. The Marines left in 1944 and the land passed to the Navy. The base was deactivated in 1946.
In 1961 the U.S. government sold the area, along with part of what is now Mission Trails Regional Park, to the City of San Diego. The Elliott Community Plan followed in 1962 as a roadmap for development, and Tierrasanta was founded in 1971.
How was Tierrasanta planned and built?
The community plan first issued in 1982 described single-family homes, condominiums and apartments, three shopping centers, a San Diego public library branch and a research park. The population was about 24,000 in 1980, and the community was nearly fully built out by the early 1990s.
About 2,300 homes in the southwest portion form the Murphy Canyon military housing complex. The original plan proposed extending Clairemont Mesa Boulevard east into the community, but the 2019 Mission Trails Regional Park Master Plan Update said this was no longer implementable. The ZIP code 92124 had a population of 30,443 at the 2010 census.
What parks and recreation are in Tierrasanta?
The Tierrasanta Recreation Center has lighted sports fields, a large swimming pool, tennis courts, a gymnasium and meeting rooms. Admiral Baker Golf Club, run by Navy Region Southwest, has two courses on the southern edge and gives priority to military players.
Mission Trails Regional Park covers 7,220 acres, was established in 1974, and has 60 miles of trails. Cowles Mountain, at 1,592 feet (485 m), is the park's highest point and the highest point in the city of San Diego.
Who runs community services in Tierrasanta?
The Tierrasanta Community Council is an elected body that handles community planning and advises the City and other agencies. The Tierrasanta Maintenance Assessment District, set up in 1972, maintains open space and medians.
The Tierra Times, a free community newspaper, has been published since 1971.
What schools serve Tierrasanta?
Public schools are run by the San Diego Unified School District, with several elementary and middle schools in the community. Canyon Hills High School is the high school.
The community has one high school and several elementary and middle schools.
Find a local business in Tierrasanta
Tierrasanta is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide. Start with the businesses in Tierrasanta itself, or look across the whole guide by what they do.
Businesses in TierrasantaQuestions about Tierrasanta
- Is Tierrasanta a city?
- No. It is a community inside the City of San Diego, California.
- What does Tierrasanta mean?
- It is Spanish for holy land or holy ground.
- Why is Tierrasanta called the Island in the Hills?
- Only four roads lead into the community, and all of them end inside it.
- What was Tierrasanta before houses were built?
- The U.S. military bought the land in 1941 as Camp Elliott, a Marine Corps training base. It was sold to the City of San Diego in 1961.
- What park is next to Tierrasanta?
- Mission Trails Regional Park lies on its eastern side, and the park has 60 miles of trails.
- Is there a local business directory for Tierrasanta?
- Yes. Tierrasanta is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide from Local Business America. It lists local businesses in Tierrasanta and the towns around it, and it is free to read.
- How do I list my business in Tierrasanta?
- Open the Mid-City & East San Diego guide and choose Claim your listing. If your business is not there yet, choose List your business. Claiming is free, and a person checks each claim.
- What does a business listing in Tierrasanta cost?
- Every business has a free listing with opening hours, a map and a link to your website. Essentials is $19 a month and adds a photo gallery, an enquiry form and your Google reviews. Premium is $39 a month and adds a boost to the top of your category and a do-follow link to your website.