Mira Mesa, San Diego, California

Mira Mesa is a large suburb that is part of the city of San Diego, California.

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Mira Mesa is bordered by Interstate 15 to the east, Interstate 805 to the west, the Los Penasquitos Canyon to the north and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, to the south. At the west end, the Sorrento Valley business and technology park is a major employer.

History

Around the time of World War II the area now called Mira Mesa was used by the United States Army as a test area. Just west of U.S. Route 395 (now Interstate 15) was a Navy auxiliary landing field that was known locally as Hourglass Field because the layout of the runways was a single piece of asphalt in the shape of an hourglass. The Navy also used the surrounding area as a bombing range. Starting in 1969 the area was quickly built up. It was one of the earliest areas of urban sprawl along the I-15 Corridor. Hourglass field became the site of San Diego Miramar College and Hourglass Field Community Park. The area was built so quickly that it was lacking schools, shopping centers, or other services for its thousands of residents. In 1971 Pete Wilson started his political career running for mayor with the slogan "No more Mira Mesas!" as a promise to stop quick, unplanned growth in San Diego.

Since its inception, Mira Mesa was largely influenced by the military located at adjacent NAS Miramar. Mira Mesa was the northernmost "real community" of San Diego, and was separated from the rest of the city by NAS Miramar for many years. For nearly 30 years the Navy's Top Gun School was located here and most of the pilots made their homes in Mira Mesa.

As of the late 1990s, the Mira Mesa area has undergone extensive expansion to accommodate the thousands of new residents attracted by its ideal location (between two major freeways) and its close proximity to Downtown San Diego. The area is also affectionately known to residents as "The Mecca" because of its location in the center of San Diego County. Several commercial and industrial centers have been built within the Mira Mesa area.

The Mira Mesa area has been attacked by a large Filipino and Vietnamese community, and Filipino and Vietnamese grocery stores (as well as other ethnic markets, including Indian and Chinese) have been opened in Mira Mesa.

Mira Mesa Today [ [http://www.miramesa.com/content/mira_mesa_history.php Mira Mesa Dot Com | Mira Mesa History ] ] "Established in the 1950s as a residential area to support Naval Air Station, Miramar, Mira Mesa has grown into the largest community in San Diego. In the late 1960s, a housing-boom took hold in the area that now extends from the I-15 freeway in the East to I-805 in the West and is approximately 10,500 acres (42 km²). Nestled on the southern edge of the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve and the northern boundary of MCAS Miramar, the community is now home to approximately 80,000 residents, including students, hi-tech employees, families, and single people alike. There are over 23,000 homes in the community, averaging 3.09 people per household. The median age is 32.4 years old and the community boasts a median income of approximately $63,000/year.

The community provides a balanced ratio of business and residentially zoned areas, providing great shopping and recreational opportunities as well as business buildings with cutting edge technology facilities and office space. A thriving variety of ethnic cuisines and restaurants, as well as more traditional dining, cover all ends of the Mira Mesa area. Along with its eight community parks, teen & senior centers, ice arena, aquatic complex, extensive shopping centers, and state-of-the-art movie theater, Mira Mesa offers the perfect blend of California living.

Transportation in Mira Mesa

Public transportation in Mira Mesa is provided by the San Diego Transit and the Metropolitan Transit System, through buses and DART (Direct Access to Regional Transit) shuttles.

A train station serves Mira Mesa in Sorrento Valley and is served by the Coaster commuter train, of the North County transit district. The Coaster links Mira Mesa to Downtown San Diego, and north to coastal communities like Solana Beach and Oceanside.

Main highways include: Interstates 805 and 15.

Main thoroughfares

* "Mira Mesa Boulevard" runs east to west, and is the main road in Mira Mesa, and is an important link between Interstates 15 and 805. In the year 2000 this main artery was estimated by The City to carry over 80,000 vehicles/day. During the normal work week it has arguably the worst traffic in the county due to the excessive amount of commuters traveling in and out of the high density employment area of Sorrento Valley, and from cut-through traffic between Interstates 15 and 805/5 corridors. There is usually such a high traffic volume, that the majority of residential roads running in all directions from Mira Mesa Blvd. become backed up for many hours a day. In an effort to try and control the current and expected future traffic problems, by 1997 the city had installed additional traffic controls, such as turn prohibitions at various intersections, and speed humps on certain streets, to stop the already overwhelming cut-through traffic. This reduced the amount of traffic from other neighborhoods, such as Scripps Ranch and Rancho Penasquitos traveling through Mira Mesa residential neighborhoods.

According to the City of San Diego "Council Minutes - Sept. 9, 1997", faith in alleviating the Mira Mesa Blvd. traffic problem was put in the completion of east-west running State Route 56 to the north of Mira Mesa Blvd. The minutes state, "(SR 56) is expected to substantially reduce the non-neighborhood cut-through traffic demand on (Mira Mesa residential streets)." SR 56 construction started in 1999 and was scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2004. This was delayed, and with the opening of SR 56 north of Mira Mesa complete in early 2006, there has been a noticeable drop in residential traffic, especially on Calle Cristobal.

* Camino Ruiz is a north-south four lane thoroughfare that runs the whole length of the Mira Mesa area, and links Miramar Road to Mira Mesa Boulevard, to Calle Cristobal. It is a main thoroughfare for military personnel traveling to and from MCAS Miramar and the surrounding area.
* "Black Mountain Road" is a north-south thoroughfare that connects San Diego to Mira Mesa, and continues to Rancho Penasquitos, and Del Mar.
* "Calle Cristobal" runs east to west, along the northern perimeter of Mira Mesa, through the Los Penasquitos Canyon. It is mainly used by residents to get to the subdivisions of Sorrento Valley, and by commuter cut-through traffic via Interstates 805 or 5.
* "Sorrento Valley Boulevard" becomes Calle Cristobal between Sorrento Valley and Mira Mesa.

Community events

Street Fair

*The Mira Mesa Street Fair is held the last Saturday in September on Camino Ruiz just west of Mira Mesa Community Park. The Mira Mesa Street Fair is sponsored by the Mira Mesa Town Council.

Fourth of July

*On the Fourth of July, a spectacular parade runs through Mira Mesa on Mira Mesa Boulevard, then turns on Camino Ruiz. In the evening a fireworks display is set off to the sounds of easy listening melodies from Mira Mesa High School.

Halloween

*Every Halloween an event is held at the Mira Mesa Recreation Center, there are various activities including a costume contest.
*Mira Mesa is also home to the Monster Manor, a "haunted house" located in the Target parking lot.

The Annual Philippine Festival

*This event celebrates the anniversary of Philippine Independence from Spain. The festivities include a fun day with music, cultural shows, dance performances, talent competition, exhibits, food, guest speakers and rides for kids. It takes place every summer at the Mira Mesa Community Park and is hosted by the Emilio Aguinaldo Foundation.

Other

*Every Friday a group of bike riders known as the Evening Bike Society gather at Jamba Juice on Mira Mesa Boulevard and Westview Parkway at 3:30 to ride up to Miramar Lake, The group has been known to take up lanes on Mira Mesa Boulevard in mass numbers.

*Every Thursday night, beginning around 7:00 PM, groups of motorcycle riders (mostly "sport-bike") gather in the parking lot closest to Starbucks and Jamba Juice on Westview Parkway, just off of Mira Mesa Blvd (Albertson's/Home Depot shopping center). This is known as "Mira Mesa Bike Night" (MMBN) and is typically a fairly large gathering, attracting well over 100 bikes and riders during the warm-weather months.

*Each Friday, the Mira Mesa Scripps Ranch "Sentinel" is published with community news and events.

*The [http://www.epicentre.org/ Epicentre] teen center is a music venue by night. There are often concerts each week.

*There are also volunteer projects around Mira Mesa such as recycling and clean-ups. More information can be found at the Mira Mesa website which is linked at the bottom of this page.

*Mira Mesa is also known as Mira Manila and Manila Mesa to local residents because of the large Filipino population living there.

Schools in Mira Mesa

Junior Colleges

*Miramar College [http://www.miramarcollege.net (Website)]

Senior High Schools

*Mira Mesa High School [http://www.miramesahigh.net/ (Website)] The Mira Mesa High School Band was part of the band that played in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Has back to back (2006 and 2007) Eastern League football champs.
*Scripps Ranch High School serves the easternmost end of Mira Mesa.
* [http://www.sdcs.k12.ca.us/twain/ Mark Twain High School]

Middle Schools

* [http://www.sandi.net/wangenheim/ Wangenheim Middle School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/challenger/ Challenger Middle School]

Elementary Schools

* [http://www.ericsonelementary.com Ericson Elementary School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/comm/schools/elem/hage.htm Hage Elementary School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/comm/schools/elem/hickman.htm Hickman Elementary School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/mason Mason Elementary School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/sandburg Sandburg Elementary School]
* [http://www.sandi.net/comm/schools/elem/walker.htm Walker Elementary School]

Private Schools

* [http://www.goodshepherdcs.org Good Shepherd Catholic School]
* [http://www.ctc-academy.org/index.html Christ the Cornerstone Academy]
* [http://www.rainbowkidsschool.com/ Rainbow Kids Integral Preschool]
* [http://www.miramesachristianschools.com/ Mira Mesa Christian School]

Demographics

Asian/Pacific Islander 41.2%, White 33.4%, African American/Black 25%, Native American 0.35. 16.9 % of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Notable people from Mira Mesa

* Adam Brody (The OC) went to Wangenheim Middle School in Mira Mesa then to Scripps Ranch high school.

* Willy Santos (Pro skater) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* Michael Pittman (current NFL player) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* Ray Rowe (former NFL player and current tightends coach) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* Teyo Johnson (played in the NFL) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* Amon Gordan (NFL player) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* J. R. Tolver (played in the NFL) went to Mira Mesa High School.

* Chris Chelios (former NHL player and Alternate captain of USA Hockey team) attended Mira Mesa High School, and Mt. Carmel High School.

* Kellen Winslow (NFL Cleveland Browns TE) attended Scripps Ranch HS

References

External links

* [http://www.miramesatowncouncil.org/ Mira Mesa Town Council]
* [http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=mmgs Mira Mesa Girls Softball - 12 & under State Champions 1999, 2005]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=San+Diego,+CA+92126&hl=en Mira Mesa Google Local Map]
* [http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/#miramesa/ The Mira Mesa branch public library]
* [http://www.sandag.org/programs/transportation/public_transit/projects/miramar.pdf Mira Mesa Transit Center]
* [http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/miramesa/index.shtml Mira Mesa community profile, planning and demographics from the City of San Diego]
* [http://www.kiwanisclubofscripps-miramesa.org The Kiwanis Club of Scripps-Mira Mesa]