Community Overview

The City of Poway was incorporated in 1980. Its nickname, the "City in the Country," still stands today even though it has grown with a population of about 50,500.

A proposed town center has been presented to the City Council and could become a reality in the next year. Poway's town center will be pedestrian oriented with outdoor cafés, shops, offices, and housing.

The Poway Business Park, which began in 1997, has helped make Poway #6 in business growth in the State of California, as rated in Outlook Magazine. Geico Insurance, Office Depot Inc., and Home Depot Inc., are just a few businesses operating within this business park.

The History of Poway

Just like many early San Diego towns, Poway was once settled by the Native American tribe, the Digueños. Many pictographs seen on boulders within Poway date back to the 1500s but the newest history began in 1758. The padres from the Mission San Diego de Alcala kept cattle in the valley during this time.

The original spelling "Paguay" has shown up on mission documents dating back to 1774. It was written in many variations since then, Paui, Pauai, Powaii, and in the end, Poway. The definition of the word also has variations. One Native American linguist believes it means "here, where the waters meet," whereas many translations come to "the two little valleys".

Type of Housing

Poway offers a wide variety of housing including apartments, condos and single family homes.

Along with the countless rental and for-sale choices, there is also a wide variety of affordable housing options. All of Poway's affordable housing communities are owned and operated by local nonprofit housing developers. Currently in the building phase, is a solar powered affordable living apartment complex, called Solara, which will produce 90% of the project's energy load. A few more developments include Poway Villas, Brookview Village, and Haley Rand Estates.

Transportation

Poway sits right off Interstate 15 and has easy access to State Route 56. Residents are a short drive away from Downtown San Diego or the beautiful coastline.

Poway's transportation history mirrors that of early California. In 1888, the first stagecoach began to service local communities and the stage made one stop in town, at the Poway Post Office. The city of San Diego discontinued the stage line in 1912 and in 1961 Poway achieved an 80% paved road rate. Today, the city still posses a number of dirt roads, for use by horses, bikers, pedestrians, and hikers.

Poway residents can access local and regional destinations with public transit and park-and-ride services. Local bus transportation is provided through the Metropolitan Transit System. There are bus stops throughout the community with regularly scheduled stops every day of the week.

Education

The Poway Unified School District was created in 1871 and encompasses all of Poway and the nearby communities. Back in its beginning, first through eighth graders were all included in one classroom. Students did not usually continue to high school, but if they did, they would have to travel to Escondido to do so. Today, it operates twenty-two elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools, and one continuation high school.

Poway High School was recently selected as one of 33 in the nation to receive a $1,000 Grammy Signature Award for excellence in music education. This school has also earned the top statewide rank of 10, the maximum.

Within San Diego County, the Poway Unified School District is the third largest and serves approximately 33,000 students.

Located in Poway, the Poway Academy of Hair Design, is one of three nationally accredited schools of the San Diego Beauty Academy. As a Pivot Point Member school, they are recognized as the world leader in Cosmetology education.

Recreation

Poway offers 22 parks, 66 miles of trails, and 230 acres of developed parkland. Lake Poway is nestled against the hills with groves of eucalyptus and is a wonderful spot for fishing and boating. Nearby, sits the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, whose primary purpose is habitat conservation making it a wonderful place to go hiking.

The Old Poway Park features a 2-acre green park for picnics and relaxation. It houses historic buildings along with the Poway-Midland Railroad, which still has a working trolley car and steam locomotive. Historical tours can be taken with groups of 20 or more and they include presentations in the Nelson House, an 1800s farmhouse, and the Heritage Museum, which focuses on the pioneer times in Poway and the Kumeyaay Indians.

Tours can be taken through the historic site of where the Kumeyaay-Ipai Indians lived, at the Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center. The City of Poway and the San Pasqual Band of Indians have been working together to start on the development of a replica Kumeyaay Village.