Carmel Valley, San Diego

Carmel Valley is an affluent suburban planned community in the north-western corner of San Diego, California, United States. The community is composed of commercial offices, residential units, hotels, and retail stores and restaurants. This is not to be confused with Carmel Valley Village, an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California.

History
Carmel Valley is one of the newer neighborhoods of the City of San Diego, California. The community was formed by the City of San Diego on February 1, 1975. The construction later began in 1983. The name Carmel Valley comes from the Carmelite Sisters of Mercy, who established a dairy farm and monastery in the area c. 1905. Although the area was known locally as Carmel Valley, in 1974 the area was given the institutional name North City West in the master plan. The name Carmel Valley was readopted in the early 1990s.

Geography
Carmel Valley is bordered to the north by the North City Future Urbanizing Area (NCFUA) and Pacific Highlands Ranch; to the south by Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Torrey Hills; to the east by Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Mesa; and to the west by Interstate 5 and Torrey Pines. Nearby is the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, where one of two stands of the endangered Torrey Pine is found to occur. The area overlooks the ocean and is located in the hills.

While many people in the area are now referring to the entire 92130 zip code as Carmel Valley, the actual boundaries of the community remain unchanged from the original community plan. The remainder of the 92130 zip code is filled by the surrounding communities of Del Mar Mesa, Pacific Highlands Ranch, and Torrey Hills. Torrey Highlands, the easternmost section of Del Mar Mesa, is considered to be a part of Carmel Valley and the boundary between Carmel Valley and Rancho Peñasquitos.

Demographics
According to the San Diego County Assessor's Office's 2006 estimates, there were 42,047 people residing in the neighborhood, a 49.2% increase from 2000. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 70.6% White, 18.0% Asian & Pacific Islander, 7.0% Hispanic, 3.4% from other races, 0.89% African American, and 0.001% American Indian.

The neighborhood is diverse in age with 30.2% under 18 and 6.5% over 65. The median age was 36.6. There were 2.7 persons per household. The annual median household income was $120,886.

Very low crime rates and a very small homeless population within the community.

Education
Carmel Valley has an overlay of various school districts. For the elementary schools, the northern section is part of the Solana Beach School District (K-6). The southern section is managed by the Del Mar Union School District (K-6). Overlaying the entire community, the San Dieguito Union High School District manages the middle schools and high schools. Some Carmel Valley residents attend schools in the bordering communities of Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, and Torrey Pines. Carmel Valley schools are known for outstanding education and rigorous academics.

Elementary schools

 * Ashley Falls (Del Mar Union School District)
 * Carmel Creek (Solana Beach School District)
 * Carmel Del Mar (Del Mar Union School District)
 * Del Mar Pines (private, nonsectarian)
 * Ocean Air (Del Mar Union School District)
 * Sage Canyon (Del Mar Union School District)
 * Solana Highlands (Solana Beach School District)
 * Solana Pacific (Solana Beach School District)
 * Solana Ranch (Solana Beach School District)
 * Sycamore Ridge (Del Mar Union School District); actually in Pacific Highlands Ranch
 * Torrey Hills (Del Mar Union School District); actually in Torrey Hills

Middle schools and junior high schools

 * Carmel Valley Middle School (San Dieguito Union High School District)
 * Pacific Trails Middle School (San Dieguito Union High School District)
 * Earl Warren Middle School (San Dieguito Union High School District); actually located in Solana Beach

K through 8

 * Notre Dame Academy (Roman Catholic)
 * Del Mar Pines School (Private)

High schools

 * Torrey Pines High School (San Dieguito Union High School District)
 * Canyon Crest Academy (San Dieguito Union High School District)
 * Cathedral Catholic High School (Catholic)
 * Westview High School (Poway Unified School District)

K through 12

 * San Diego Jewish Academy (Jewish)

Healthcare
Healthcare services in this neighborhood include:
 * Scripps Clinic, Carmel Valley
 * Scripps Clinic, Del Mar
 * Sharp Rees-Seally
 * Lindora Clinic (in Rite Aid)
 * Rite Aid Pharmacy
 * Vons Pharmacy
 * Kaiser Permanente

Economy
Companies with offices in this neighborhood include US Bank, Scripps Health, Opera Solutions, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Fish & Richardson, Morrison & Foerster, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and The Allen Group. The headquarters of Neurocrine Biosciences and ICW Group Insurance Companies are located in this neighborhood.