Rancho Bernardo is a master-planned community in the northern hills of the city of San Diego, California.
Geography
The topography of Rancho Bernardo consists of canyons and rolling hills. It is a sprawling community, with shopping malls, golf courses and office parks typical of San Diego development.
The community is located about 20 miles (32Â km) north-north-east of downtown San Diego, immediately east of 4S Ranch, north of Carmel Mountain Ranch, northwest of the city of Poway and south of Escondido.
History
Rancho Bernardo is located on the Rancho San Bernardo Mexican land grant made in 1842.
In the 1960s, Rancho Bernardo was annexed by San Diego. The area was developed by AVCO Community Developers.
On October 22, 2007, the Witch Creek Fire burned through Rancho Bernardo and several other populous areas of San Diego County, destroying hundreds of homes, and completely destroying several entire neighborhoods, particularly ones that firefighters had trouble accessing due to rugged terrain and rapidly advancing flames pushed by strong Santa Ana winds.The highly unpredictable flames pushed into the northeast section of Poway during the day, prompting evacuation of Palomar-Pomerado Hospital. The neighborhoods of the Trails, Montelena and Westwood were the main areas hit in Rancho Bernardo.
Economy
Tourism
There is an annual carnival-type street fair, RB Alive!, during the summer. Rancho Bernardo is also home to the oldest operating winery in Southern California, the Bernardo Winery Established in 1889 and family owned and operated since 1927.
Industry
Rancho Bernardo is home to Corporate Headquarters of Sony US, the first integrated television factory opened in the U.S. by a Japanese company Other companies in the area include Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Renovate America, Teradata, LSI Corporation, BAE Systems, ASML and Northrop Grumman. Located in a 685 acres (277Â ha) business park, there are approximately 50,000 workers employed by these companies.
Education
The area is part of the Poway Unified School District.
Schools
Primary
- Creekside Elementary School
- Highland Ranch Elementary School
- Shoal Creek Elementary School
- Turtleback Elementary School
- Westwood Elementary School
- Chaparral Elementary School
- Painted Rock Elementary School
Secondary
- Rancho Bernardo High School
- Bernardo Heights Middle School
Community
Rancho Bernardo Girls Softball (RBGSL)
In 1970 a Rancho Bernardo girls' softball team of fourteen players, the RB Raiders, was formed to compete in a league in Poway comprising five teams from Poway and one from Rancho Bernardo. After a slow start the RB Raiders completed the season with a 31-8 victory over the Lucky Lions to win the 1970 Poway Girls Softball League with a record of 15-3.Bernardo Brandings reported, "The awards banquet held on July 11 recognized all the girls and also gave special awards to the following girls: Most improved, Susana Chambers; Most Inspirational, Dianna Chambers; Most Valuable Players, Kelly Chinn and Kathy Gibby. Others receiving league trophies were Kiki Nellis, Susan Tillerson, LynnTelian, Ann Tedeschi, Cindy Aufderheide, Kathy Warlick, Moreen Warlick, and Diana Hadden. Manager, Trudi Aufderheide; Coach, Rocky Lucia."
The following year Rancho Bernardo formed its own league, the Rancho Bernardo Girls' Softball League (RBGSL). According to the Bernardo News, "The league was started in 1971 under the direction of Bill Stewart, who was then Director of Recreation for Avco [community developers], and Mary Chambers. That first year Gary Murphy served as its first president and the league took the field with five teams composed of girls 8-14 competing on the same level." Registration took place at the Swim and Tennis Club with Nicki ter Horst and at the Westwood Club with Gary Hargrave, and fees were $4 per girl or $10 per family. Seventy-nine players signed up and were divided into five teams. Mrs. Gary Rogers, secretary of the board of governors, noted that "Coaching the teams will be Mrs. Mary Murphy, Mrs. Mary Chambers and others." Opening Day ceremonies were held on May 16. All games were played at Westwood Club. Bob Beeson and Bert Benefiel were the first umpires.
At the close of the inaugural season the Poway News Chieftain observed, "The Booster Club team won the Rancho Bernardo Girls Softball League Championship with a perfect record of 8 straight wins. Final standings announced this week follow. Booster Club 8-0, Westwood Men's Club 6-2, Balistreri Land Maintenance 3-5, Ivy Barn Restaurant 1-6, S & C Liquor Mart 1-6." League president, Gary Murphy, credited the success of the first season to "the fine efforts of many RB residents. A special thanks must go to the elected Board, the managers and coaches, the volunteer umpires and scorekeepers. The cooperation of the Little League teams and officials has been great too! I can't fail to mention that many things could not have been done if it were not for the sponsorship by these following people: Joe Balistreri Landscape Maintenance, Ivy Barn Restaurant, S&C Liquor, and the Westwood Men's Club."
References
External links
Media related to Rancho Bernardo, San Diego at Wikimedia Commons
- San Diego North Chamber of Commerce (formerly Rancho Bernardo Chamber of Commerce)
- Rancho Bernardo Historical Society Web site
- Boy Scout Troop 667
- Boy Scout Troop 680
- Boy Scout Troop 686
- Rancho Bernardo Girls Softball
