Encinitas: Our History and People

CHAPTER 2
E N C I N I T A S I S B O R N : 1 8 5 0 - 1 8 9 9
By the time California became the 31st state of the Union in 1850, Encinitas as we now know it
started to take shape. America continued to move west, bringing innovation and new settlers looking
for a new place to call home. Early outposts in what were to become Leucadia, Encinitas, Olivenhain
and Cardiff started to appear. By the time the 1880s rolled around, the region started to see
accelerated growth, led by the new Santa Fe railroad. Encinitas’ first school house, our beloved 1883
school house, was built. The early settlements of Olivenhain and Leucadia started to take root.
Agriculture started to develop, boosting the local economy.
G
The 1800 Schoolhouse. The original
one room schoolhouse sat neatly atop
the highest part of the western bluff.
Originally the building faced east to
west with the doors facing east. Two
doors, one for girls and one for boys.
When the building was moved back to
its current location it had to face
south to north, although only 100 feet
from its original location.
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