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Oceanside, California is a popular senior vacation and retirement community in the San Diego area.

Oceanside CA History

On July 20, 1769, Father Juan Crespi arrived in the area known today as the San Luis Rey Valley, which was populated by Native American Indians. Because of his recommendation, Franciscan Brothers built Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in 1798. Approximately four miles from the present site of Oceanside, the prosperous mission was known as "King of the Missions".

In 1841, Pio Pico and his brother, Andreas, received a grant of 133,441 acres from Mexico. Known as Rancho Margarita and Las Flores, this land grant is the present site of the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. A small town grew around Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. A storekeeper there, Andrew Jackson Meyers, received a Federal homestead grant of 160 acres just south of Rancho Santa Margarita. This land became the very heart of Oceanside. Going to the "ocean side" was a popular weekend retreat for rancho families living in the warmer inland areas. The two words eventually merged in to "Oceanside". Oceanside incorporated in 1888.

In the 1920's the city prospered. Streetlights were installed, a new golf course was laid out and a grand new theater, "The Palomar", was built. Many noteworthy visitors enjoyed the area, including Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. And, a number of movies were filmed here during this decade.