Like most California towns, Valley Center and its surrounding hamlets of Pauma Valley, Pala and Palomar Mountain are steeped in Native American history. The Luiseño cultivated these lands before the arrival of the Franciscan padres who came to the area in search of sites upon which to establish missions. The simple but beautiful Mission San Antonio de Pala, located in the village of Pala, is an example of one such mission. Settlers arrived first in the Valley Center area to participate in the Rancho Guejito Spanish land grant and, after the Mexican-American War, came in even greater numbers as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862’s promise of free land.
Valley Center has also been known as Lilac Valley because of the brilliant lilac fields that emblazon the countryside every spring and fall. It has also been known as Bear Valley in honor of the now-famous giant grizzly that was shot there in the late 1800’s. Weighing in at slightly more than 2200 pounds, this bear is said to be the largest grizzly ever shot in California. Don’t believe us? Well, you can see all 8 feet of that grizzly (or one just like him!) for yourself at the Valley Center History Museum. The town’s current name of Valley Center was approved by the U.S. Post Master in 1887 and Valley Center it has been ever since.
Valley Center is everyone’s idea of a small town with farms, horse ranches, pumpkin fields, hometown parades, rodeos, quaint shops, family-owned restaurants, historical sites, and good people who love their town and love to share it with visitors. But don’t take our word for it, come see for yourselves!
The economy sector of Valley Center employs 4400 people. The most prominent industries in Valley Center are Educational services (580 people), Retail Trade (480 people), and Administrative, Support, and Waste Management Services (450 people). The highest paying industries are Information, Public Administration, and Utilities.
The median household income in Valley Center is $84,742. The most common job groups, by a number of people living in Valley Center, are:
| Share | Title |
|---|---|
| 10.4% | Management Occupations |
| 6.25% | Education Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 4.47% | Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
| 3% | Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
| 16.7% | Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
| 13.1% | Sales and Related Occupations |
| 7.9% | Building, Grounds, Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations |
| 3.63% | Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
| 3.79% | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
| 8.11% | Construction and Extraction Occupations |
| 2.79% | Installation, Maintenance and Repair Occupations |
| 4.18% | Production Occupations |
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