Recent Changes for "Southern California" - Davis Wiki

Southern California

JoePomidor — 2009-02-24 17:31:01

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
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- * Orange County. Los Angeles County gives way to Orange County south of Palos Verdes Peninsula along the coast, with the city of Long Beach being the southernmost city that can pass for LA. The suburban sprawl cuts off at Camp Pendelton, a military base between San Diego and Orange counties.	+ * Orange County. Los Angeles County gives way to Orange County south of Palos Verdes Peninsula along the coast, with the city of Long Beach being the southernmost city that can pass for LA. The suburban sprawl cuts off at Camp Pendleton, a military base between San Diego and Orange counties.

Southern California

BrentLaabs — 2008-09-29 00:20:25

link fix

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 68:	Line 68:
- Santa Barbara is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the south, a coastal preserve to the west and north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south east side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the--very rare--development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.	+ Santa Barbara is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["Users/EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the south, a coastal preserve to the west and north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south east side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the--very rare--development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.

Southern California

Darcie — 2008-03-03 13:22:18

Clairmont --> Claremont for Inland Empire region.

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 56:	Line 56:
- The Inland Empire sits roughly southeast of Los Angeles. It is increasingly a bedroom community for LA. Noteworthy towns of more then 100k people include Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also, the development of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's.	+ The Inland Empire sits roughly southeast of Los Angeles. It is increasingly a bedroom community for LA. Noteworthy towns of more then 100k people include Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Claremont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also, the development of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's.

Southern California

NicoleTheWonderNerd — 2007-07-06 21:18:24

Added painful truths about life in LA

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 13:	Line 13:
- Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose"). Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions:	+ Southern California is difficult to identify, as many Californians insist on placing themselves in ["NorCal" Northern California] and everyone south of them in Southern California. (This is especially true of the far northern reaches of Northern California, such as ["Humboldt"] or ["Del Norte"] counties, where "Southern California" means "San Francisco". In extreme cases, such as ["Crescent City"], residents reject California ''in toto'' and claim instead to be in Oregon.) Once one is south of ["San Luis Obispo"] or ["Santa Barbara"], however, it becomes increasingly pointless to deny that one is well and truly in SoCal. + + Geographically, Southern California can be thought of as several distinct regions:
Line 27:	Line 29:
- San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach..	+ San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach.
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- Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though O.C. (NOT The OC, though there are indeed several television shows about the area) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County, especially in the recently developed Irvine and southern areas of the county. O.C. is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful).	+ Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though O.C. (which locals never call ''The OC'', though there are indeed several television shows about the area) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County, especially in the recently developed Irvine and southern areas of the county. O.C. is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful).
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- This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Hollywood, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.	+ This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Hollywood, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. The area on the coastal plain between the ocean and downtown LA is usually called ''the Westside''; ''the Valley'' usually means the San Fernando Valley but may also mean the San Gabriel Valley. The Valley and the Westside are linked by the dread highway 405. + + Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. And they will be right.
Line 43:	Line 47:
- Term to describe the real, or proper, city of Los Angeles. Students from LA Proper typically come from either a 213 or 323,818,714 area code. In some cases the 310 area code counts as LA Proper but it depends on the specific location.	+ Term to describe the real, or proper, city of Los Angeles. Common area codes include 213 (Central LA), 323 (Central LA), 310 (Westside) 424 (Westside), and 818 (San Fernando Valley).
Line 47:	Line 51:
	+ ====Neighborhoods versus Cities==== + Most Angelenos do not have a mailing address with "Los Angeles" in it. The Los Angeles urban area is a crazy quilt of ''neighborhoods'' and ''cities''. ''Neighborhoods'' (e.g. Venice Beach, Northridge, Los Feliz) are part of the City of Los Angeles: you vote for council members on the LA City Council, and you'll get the Los Angeles Fire Department if you call the fire department. ''Cities'' (e.g. Santa Monica, El Segundo, Pasadena) are full-fledged cities with their own city councils, fire departments, libraries, etc. Confused? So are most Angelenos, who have become wearily resigned to things like having four library cards (e.g. City of LA, County of LA, City of Santa Monica, UCLA) and never remembering which books are checked out from where. +
Line 49:	Line 56:
- The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most notably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relatively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relatively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in Riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the development of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's	+ The Inland Empire sits roughly southeast of Los Angeles. It is increasingly a bedroom community for LA. Noteworthy towns of more then 100k people include Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also, the development of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's.
Line 51:	Line 58:
- The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are notables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are notable. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.
Line 57:	Line 64:
- North of LA, I generally think of as two areas: The Ventura and Santa Barbara areas. The Ventura area is larger, and more spread out. It encompasses Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and several other areas. It has a LOT of good beaches, and plenty of places to surf. Its also generally considered to still be a fairly affordable place to live (although it is getting costly in some areas). Some parts of the Ventura area still have a small town feel, but also the area is slowly succumbing to sprawl and big box malls. Also, there are parts of the Ventura area, especially Oxnard, that have quite a gang presence.	+ North and northwest of LA lies Ventura County; beyond that, Santa Barbara. The Ventura area encompasses Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and several other areas. It has a LOT of good beaches, and plenty of places to surf. Its also generally considered to still be a fairly affordable place to live (although it is getting costly in some areas). Some parts of the Ventura area still have a small-town, laid-back, California-beach-movie feel, but also the area is slowly succumbing to sprawl and big box malls. Also, there are parts of the Ventura area, especially Oxnard, that have quite a gang presence.
Line 61:	Line 68:
- Santa Barbara is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the south, a coastal preserve to the west and north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south east side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.	+ Santa Barbara is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the south, a coastal preserve to the west and north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south east side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the--very rare--development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.

Southern California

DavidPoole — 2007-04-05 23:29:28

Should we start refering to davis as D?

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 32:	Line 32:
- Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful).	+ Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though O.C. (NOT The OC, though there are indeed several television shows about the area) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County, especially in the recently developed Irvine and southern areas of the county. O.C. is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful).

Southern California

JessicaLuedtke — 2007-04-05 09:45:18

brokenness fixed

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 25:	Line 25:
- The ["San Diego"] area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown ["San Diego"] is quite nice, and overall, the ["San Diego"] sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. ["San Diego"] still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park.	+ The ["San Diego"] area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown ["San Diego"] is quite nice, and overall, the ["San Diego"] sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. ["San Diego"] still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park
Line 27:	Line 27:
	+ San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach..
Line 31:	Line 32:
- Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach.	+ Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful).
Line 34:	Line 35:
- This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.	+ This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Hollywood, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.
Line 44:	Line 45:
- Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. Often Students who are from parts of southern California not related to Los Angeles - San Diego especially- will be vehement is explaining that they are not from LA, but are from southern California.	+ Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. Often students who are from parts of southern California not related to Los Angeles - San Diego especially- will be vehement is explaining that they are not from LA, but are from southern California.
Line 47:	Line 48:
- [[Image(arrowhead.jpg, thumbnail, 210, right, "Lake Arrowhead is nestled within the San Bernardino Mountians.")]] - The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most noteably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relitively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relitively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the devlopment of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's	+ [[Image(arrowhead.jpg, thumbnail, 210, right, "Lake Arrowhead is nestled within the San Bernardino Mountains.")]] + The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most notably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relatively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relatively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in Riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the development of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's
Line 50:	Line 51:
- The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are notables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.
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- To the north and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.	+ To the north and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemet and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.

Southern California

JabberWokky — 2007-04-05 04:50:52

Nuked redundant top title.

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 1:	Line 1:
- = Overview and Statistics=

Southern California

SteveOstrowski — 2007-03-02 00:26:48

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 16:	Line 16:
- * San Diego and Imperial Counties.	+ * ["San Diego"] and Imperial Counties.
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- The San Diego area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park.	+ The ["San Diego"] area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown ["San Diego"] is quite nice, and overall, the ["San Diego"] sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. ["San Diego"] still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park.

Southern California

PopeChristof — 2007-02-12 23:53:32

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 45:	Line 45:
- Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. Often Students who are from parts of southern California not related to Los Angeles - San Diego espeially- will be vehement is explaining that they are not from LA, but are from southern California	+ Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. Often Students who are from parts of southern California not related to Los Angeles - San Diego especially- will be vehement is explaining that they are not from LA, but are from southern California.

Southern California

PopeChristof — 2007-02-12 23:51:44

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
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- LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. Development to the south, however, is heavily restricted by Camp Pendleton, however. Much growth is occurring to the east and North/Northeast corridors along 215/15 (into Ontario through to Rancho and Fontana) and state route 14 (Palmdale, with LA rail transit into Lancaster).
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- LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. Development to the south, however, is heavily restricted by Camp Pendleton, however. Much growth is occurring to the east and North/Northeast corridors along 215/15 (into Ontario through to Rancho and Fontana) and state route 14 (Palmdale, with LA rail transit into Lancaster).	+ LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. Development to the south, however, is heavily restricted by Camp Pendleton. Much growth is occurring to the east and North/Northeast corridors along 215/15 (into Ontario through to Rancho and Fontana) and state route 14 (Palmdale, with LA rail transit into Lancaster).

Southern California

PopeChristof — 2007-02-12 23:49:51

fixing some geography, ensuring that san diego isn't an ellay burb

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
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- Southern California is characterized by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach. Although the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].	+ Southern California is characterized by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping, small bungalow towns, surfers, and, of course, the beach. Although the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].
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- LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. This is largely due to strongly pro-development attitudes to the south and fiercely anti-development attitudes north.	+ LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. Development to the south, however, is heavily restricted by Camp Pendleton, however. Much growth is occurring to the east and North/Northeast corridors along 215/15 (into Ontario through to Rancho and Fontana) and state route 14 (Palmdale, with LA rail transit into Lancaster).
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	+ LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. Development to the south, however, is heavily restricted by Camp Pendleton, however. Much growth is occurring to the east and North/Northeast corridors along 215/15 (into Ontario through to Rancho and Fontana) and state route 14 (Palmdale, with LA rail transit into Lancaster). +
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- Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default.	+ Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. Often Students who are from parts of southern California not related to Los Angeles - San Diego espeially- will be vehement is explaining that they are not from LA, but are from southern California
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- North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the west, a coastal preserve to the north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.	+ North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This extends west of Santa Barbara to Point Concepcion. The shape of the coast at this point is very nearly East-West, causing confusion for people who think of the Pacific as "West" when From Santa Barbara and Goleta out to San Augustine and Concepcion, the ocean is to the south. + + Santa Barbara is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the south, a coastal preserve to the west and north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south east side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.

Southern California

JessicaLuedtke — 2007-02-12 23:04:43

As a native San Diegan, I found the LA-centricism of this article offensive.

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 14:	Line 14:
	+ Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose"). Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions:
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- Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose"). Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions: - * Los Angeles area. This doesn't just mean the city of LA, but also the whole LA basin, Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, etc. - * North of Los Angeles. This means everything in Ventura/Oxnard/Thousand Oaks and in the Santa Barbara area. North of Santa Barbara is generally no longer considered to be in Southern CA, but rather ["Central California"], or the ["Central Coast"]. - * South of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County gives way to Orange County south of Palos Verdes Peninsula along the coast, with the city of Long Beach being the southernmost city that can pass for LA. The suburban sprawl cuts off at Camp Pendelton, a military base between San Diego and Orange counties. - * East of Los Angeles. Beyond Riverside lies desert. People play golf there, I'm told.	+ * San Diego and Imperial Counties. + * Orange County. Los Angeles County gives way to Orange County south of Palos Verdes Peninsula along the coast, with the city of Long Beach being the southernmost city that can pass for LA. The suburban sprawl cuts off at Camp Pendelton, a military base between San Diego and Orange counties. + * Los Angeles area. This doesn't just mean the city of LA, but also the whole LA basin. + * Inland Empire. Beyond Riverside lies desert. People play golf there, I'm told. + * Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. North of Santa Barbara is usually considered the ["Central Coast"].
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- ==Los Angeles Proper==	+ ==San Diego & Imperial Counties== + + The San Diego area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park. + + LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. This is largely due to strongly pro-development attitudes to the south and fiercely anti-development attitudes north. + + San Diego County extends from the Mexican border to Carlsbad and Poway, right up to the Camp Pendleton military base just north of Oceanside. + + ==Orange County== + Anything north of Camp Pendleton but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach. + + ==Los Angeles Area== + This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really. + + LA is the home of the "freeway culture". Other parts of Southern CA may have aspects of it, but LA is its spiritual home. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is an entertaining, somewhat fictionalized treatment of the subject. + + ===Los Angeles Proper===
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- ==Greater Los Angeles==	+ ==Inland Empire== + [[Image(arrowhead.jpg, thumbnail, 210, right, "Lake Arrowhead is nestled within the San Bernardino Mountians.")]] + The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most noteably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relitively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relitively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the devlopment of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's
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- This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.
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- LA is the home of the "freeway culture". Other parts of Southern CA may have aspects of it, but LA is its spiritual home. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is an entertaining, somewhat fictionalized treatment of the subject.	+ To the north and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.
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- ==North of Los Angeles==	+ ==Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties==
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- - ==South of Los Angeles== - - The San Diego area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park. - - LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. This is largely due to strongly pro-development attitudes to the south and fiercely anti-development attitudes north. - - There is an important distinction between San Diego and Orange County. San Diego County extends to Carlsbad and Poway, right up to Camp Pendleton. Anything north of that but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach. - - ==East of Los Angeles== - [[Image(arrowhead.jpg, thumbnail, 210, right, "Lake Arrowhead is nestled within the San Bernardino Mountians.")]] - The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most noteably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relitively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relitively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the devlopment of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's - - The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003. - - To the north and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.

Southern California

CarlosOverstreet — 2006-08-04 22:29:48

Differences for Southern California

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	+ + [[TableOfContents]]

Southern California

CarlosOverstreet — 2006-08-04 22:24:28

Differences for Southern California

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- [[Image(palms.jpg, left, "Santa Barbara pictured above, chosen for its embodiment of SoCal stereotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.")]]	+ = Overview and Statistics= + [[Image(palms.jpg, right, "Santa Barbara pictured above, chosen for its embodiment of SoCal stereotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.")]] + This page is part of a four ('''["Northern California"]''', '''["Central California"]''', & '''["Central Coast"]''') page series on ["California" California's] regions.
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- == Overview and Statistics==
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- == Sub-regions ==	+ = Sub-regions =
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- ===Los Angeles Proper===	+ ==Los Angeles Proper==
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- ===Greater Los Angeles===	+ ==Greater Los Angeles==
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- ===North of Los Angeles===	+ ==North of Los Angeles==
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- ===South of Los Angeles===	+ ==South of Los Angeles==
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- ===East of Los Angeles===	+ ==East of Los Angeles==

Southern California

JabberWokky — 2006-07-21 11:27:09

+spelling

Differences for Southern California

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- [[Image(palms.jpg, left, "Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.")]]	+ [[Image(palms.jpg, left, "Santa Barbara pictured above, chosen for its embodiment of SoCal stereotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.")]]
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- Southern California is characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach. Although the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].	+ Southern California is characterized by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach. Although the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].
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- The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalists began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.

Southern California

CarlosOverstreet — 2006-06-30 23:37:54

Conformed to Wikipedia format and added images.

Differences for Southern California

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- [[Image(palms.jpg)]] [[BR]]''Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.''	+ [[Image(palms.jpg, left, "Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.")]]
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	+ == Overview and Statistics==
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- = Sub-regions =	+ == Sub-regions ==
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- '''Los Angeles Proper''' -	+ ===Los Angeles Proper=== + [[Image(losangeles.jpg, thumbnail, 210, left, "The Land of Oz: Downtown Los Angeles.")]]
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- '''Greater Los Angeles'''	+ ===Greater Los Angeles===
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- '''North of Los Angeles''' - [[Image(thecross.png, "View from the Cross in Ventura", thumbnail)]]	+ ===North of Los Angeles=== + [[Image(thecross.png, 210, "View from the Cross in Ventura", thumbnail)]]
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- '''South of Los Angeles'''	+ ===South of Los Angeles===
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- '''East of Los Angeles''' -	+ ===East of Los Angeles=== + [[Image(arrowhead.jpg, thumbnail, 210, right, "Lake Arrowhead is nestled within the San Bernardino Mountians.")]]

Southern California

CarlosOverstreet — 2006-06-30 23:35:58

Upload of image arrowhead.jpg.

Southern California

CarlosOverstreet — 2006-06-30 23:19:44

Upload of image losangeles.jpg.

Southern California

MaxMikalonis — 2006-05-21 19:42:45

Differences for Southern California

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- Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose"). - Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions:	+ Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose"). Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions:
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- Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default.	+ Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default.
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- The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up are are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up and are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.

Southern California

ChristyMarsden — 2006-01-15 23:40:55

Differences for Southern California

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- attachment:palms.jpg [[BR]]''Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.''	+ [[Image(palms.jpg)]] [[BR]]''Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.''
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-	+ [[Image(thecross.png, "View from the Cross in Ventura", thumbnail)]]

Southern California

ChristyMarsden — 2006-01-15 23:39:46

Upload of image thecross.png.

Southern California

DomenicSantangelo — 2005-09-29 10:02:24

Added central coast link.

Differences for Southern California

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- * North of Los Angeles. This means everything in Ventura/Oxnard/Thousand Oaks and in the Santa Barbara area. North of Santa Barbara is generally no longer considered to be in Southern CA, but rather ["Central California"].	+ * North of Los Angeles. This means everything in Ventura/Oxnard/Thousand Oaks and in the Santa Barbara area. North of Santa Barbara is generally no longer considered to be in Southern CA, but rather ["Central California"], or the ["Central Coast"].

Southern California

MiriamKaufman — 2005-04-10 20:36:04

grammar

Differences for Southern California

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- Southern California's generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose").	+ Southern California is generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose").

Southern California

RyanBasilio — 2005-03-07 05:51:18

Differences for Southern California

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- Term to describe the real, or proper, city of Los Angeles. Students from LA Proper typically come from either a 213 or 323 area code. In some cases the 310 area code counts as LA Proper but it depends on the specific location.	+ Term to describe the real, or proper, city of Los Angeles. Students from LA Proper typically come from either a 213 or 323,818,714 area code. In some cases the 310 area code counts as LA Proper but it depends on the specific location.
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- There is an important distinction between San Diego and Orange County. San Diego County extends to Carlsbad and Poway, right up to Camp Pendleton. Anything north of that but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere. Oh yeah, and you can drink on the beach in PB.	+ There is an important distinction between San Diego and Orange County. San Diego County extends to Carlsbad and Poway, right up to Camp Pendleton. Anything north of that but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere.There is a nude beach called Black Beach.
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- The Inland Empire sits in the San Gabriel Valley directly east of Los Angeles. This is still part of LA County, but land is a bit cheaper here. Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino.	+ The Inland Empire sits to the east of the San Gabriel Valley directly east of the Los Angeles county line most noteably the LA fair is in Pomona. Land here in the San Gabriel valley is not cheap. This area of LA suffers from the hill valley effect. That is the hills have multi million dollar homes and the valley is relitively cheap (median home price in the valley floor is 500k- 1M. )While the surronding hill communities of San Dimas, Dimond Bar, Glendora, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, and Chino are relitively expensive (700k+)(area code 626 & 909). Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909 or 951 in riverside county), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA although note worthy towns of more then 100k people are Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Clairmont, Upland, and Riverside. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. Also the devlopment of the 57/10 interchange provided for enough blockage to block the smog in the 80's
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- The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up are are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight.	+ The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up are are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. Sadly though the death of the forest helped fuel the wildfires of 2003.
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- To the south and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.	+ To the north and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.

Southern California

EricTalevich — 2005-02-19 19:17:17

Includes existence of Orange County

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 11:	Line 11:
- Southern California's generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.")	+ Southern California's generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose").
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- * Los Angeles area. This doesn't just mean the city of LA, but also the whole LA basin, Orange County, San Fernando, etc.	+ * Los Angeles area. This doesn't just mean the city of LA, but also the whole LA basin, Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, etc.
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- * South of Los Angeles. I generally think of Los Angeles stopping at about the point that interstate 5 hits the coast (i.e. San Juan Capistrano/Dana Point), but some people also think of Camp Pendelton as being the southern barrier against LA. Anything south of here is generally separate, and is really more San Diego than LA.	+ * South of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County gives way to Orange County south of Palos Verdes Peninsula along the coast, with the city of Long Beach being the southernmost city that can pass for LA. The suburban sprawl cuts off at Camp Pendelton, a military base between San Diego and Orange counties.
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- -----	+ = Sub-regions = +
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- This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to over several million dollars for a single 1/2 acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.	+ This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to several million dollars for a single half-acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.
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- North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on one side, the ocean on another, a coastal preserve on another, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the other hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.	+ North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on the east side, the ocean on the west, a coastal preserve to the north, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the south side hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.
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- If you can afford to live there, Santa Barbara provides excellent beaches and surfing. It is also a great place for ["Bicycling" biking], providing lots of flat and mountainous terrain. Oh, and there are a LOT of really good restaurants here, whether you like authentic mexican, american mexican, or something that isn't even remotely mexican.	+ If you can afford to live there, Santa Barbara provides excellent beaches and surfing. It is also a great place for ["Bicycling" biking], providing lots of flat and mountainous terrain. Oh, and there are a LOT of really good restaurants here, whether you like authentic Mexican, American Mexican, or something that isn't even remotely Mexican.
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- LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted.	+ LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted. This is largely due to strongly pro-development attitudes to the south and fiercely anti-development attitudes north.
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	+ + '''East of Los Angeles''' + + The Inland Empire sits in the San Gabriel Valley directly east of Los Angeles. This is still part of LA County, but land is a bit cheaper here. Past that is San Bernardino County (area code usually 909), home to Riverside, San Bernardino, and a number of other generally pleasant cities that are nowhere near the size of LA. The San Bernardino Mountains form a geographic wall along the east side of coastal Southern California, and combined with a constant inland breeze from the ocean, this results in soupy smog traveling from its origin in the LA Basin to the base of the mountain range, where it collects squarely on top of the city of San Bernardino. + + The San Bernardino Mountains are capped by both snow (in the winter) and resorts (year-round). Arrowhead, Big Bear and Snow Summit are noteables. Intriguingly, when unusually warm winters and a persistent drought hit Arrowhead, there was an outbreak of bark beetles that is currently decimating the Ponderosa Pine forests that cover the mountain; journalsts began writing about the tragedy and the decline in the quality of the natural area, and LA homeowners, sensing bargain rates and wistfully reminded of their childhood family trips to the mountains, began buying homes like mad. Housing prices shot up are are now much higher than they were before the forests' blight. + + To the south and east of the mountain range lies desert, featuring Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The land is mostly undeveloped, but there are some smaller cities, like Hemit and Palm Springs. It's pretty hot out there.

Southern California

DanielMedinaCleghorn — 2005-02-17 11:39:18

San Diego/Orange County distinction

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 44:	Line 44:
	+ + There is an important distinction between San Diego and Orange County. San Diego County extends to Carlsbad and Poway, right up to Camp Pendleton. Anything north of that but south of LA (Orange, San Juan Capistrano, etc.) is Orange County, which has a very different feel from San Diego. San Diego is more urban and culturally diverse, though OC (NOT The OC) is becoming so. Quintessential Southern California sprawl tract homes and winding subdivisions can be seen in Orange County. OC is also widely known for a surf/skate culture that tends to dominate the youth (and in some cases, the not-so-youthful). San Diego represents a wide array of cultures, from bros and SDSU students, UCSD students, surfers and skaters, to hipkids and other fans of the downtown and older parts of town. San Diego has the amenities of a big city (corruption included) with a reasonably small town feel to it (though everything is 15 minutes from everything else). Lots of cool bars and small clubs, good places to see live music, and interesting restaurants everywhere. Oh yeah, and you can drink on the beach in PB.

Southern California

ArlenAbraham — 2005-02-01 23:30:30

LA proper added

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 19:	Line 19:
- '''Los Angeles'''	+ '''Los Angeles Proper''' + + Term to describe the real, or proper, city of Los Angeles. Students from LA Proper typically come from either a 213 or 323 area code. In some cases the 310 area code counts as LA Proper but it depends on the specific location. + + Many students claim to be from Los Angeles but what they really mean is Los Angeles County or Southern California, not LA Proper. Some are unsure if Northern Californians know the geography of SoCal so they use Los Angeles as a term of default. + + '''Greater Los Angeles'''

Southern California

ChrisTakemura — 2004-12-14 03:57:41

minor edits, thanks guys. nice job.

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 12:	Line 12:
- Geographically, it can be thought of as three different regions:	+ Geographically, it can be thought of as several distinct regions:
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	+ * East of Los Angeles. Beyond Riverside lies desert. People play golf there, I'm told.
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- This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $300,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to over several million dollars for a single 1/2 acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.	+ This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $200,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to over several million dollars for a single 1/2 acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.
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- LA is the home of the "freeway culture". Other parts of Southern CA may have aspects of it, but LA is its spiritual home.	+ LA is the home of the "freeway culture". Other parts of Southern CA may have aspects of it, but LA is its spiritual home. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is an entertaining, somewhat fictionalized treatment of the subject.
Line 28:	Line 29:
- North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest track development home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on one side, the ocean on another, a coastal preserve on another, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the other hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.	+ North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest tract home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on one side, the ocean on another, a coastal preserve on another, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the other hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades.
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- I don't know as much about the San Diego area. It generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park.	+ The San Diego area generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park.
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- [[Comments]]	+ LA is growing in the general direction of San Diego, it should be noted.

Southern California

JamesDawe — 2004-12-14 03:47:49

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 3:	Line 3:
- Southern California is characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach.	+ Southern California is characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach. Although the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].
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- Alhtough the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].	+ Percentage of Student Body from some Southern Californian Counties: ([http://why.ucdavis.edu/facts_figures.cfm source]) + 8.2% Los Angeles + 4.0% San Diego + +

Southern California

EricKlein — 2004-12-14 03:41:01

Differences for Southern California

Deletions are marked with - .	Additions are marked with +.
Line 3:	Line 3:
- Alhtough the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis]. Southern California's generally agreed to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.")	+ Southern California is characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, 24-hour shopping and, of course, the beach.
Line 5:	Line 5:
- It's characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, and 24-hour shopping.	+ Alhtough the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis].
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- ---- - ''As someone who has lived in Southern California locations as varied as Los Angeles, Camarillo, San Diego, Riverside and Apple Valley, I have to remind the world that smog and "freeway culture" is mostly something that centers around LA, and goes away the further you go. There's a lot to Southern California besides LA.'' -["Jaime Raba" jr]	+ Southern California's generally considered to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.") + Geographically, it can be thought of as three different regions: + * Los Angeles area. This doesn't just mean the city of LA, but also the whole LA basin, Orange County, San Fernando, etc. + * North of Los Angeles. This means everything in Ventura/Oxnard/Thousand Oaks and in the Santa Barbara area. North of Santa Barbara is generally no longer considered to be in Southern CA, but rather ["Central California"]. + * South of Los Angeles. I generally think of Los Angeles stopping at about the point that interstate 5 hits the coast (i.e. San Juan Capistrano/Dana Point), but some people also think of Camp Pendelton as being the southern barrier against LA. Anything south of here is generally separate, and is really more San Diego than LA.
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- ''Also, Southern California is really diverse. Some areas are relatively desert like (i.e. Palmdale), and some places are positively lush. Generally though, the nicer the area geographically speaking, the more you'll pay. Santa Barbara is quite nice, but only rich retirees can really afford to move there. Oddly enough, if you live far enough out in Malibu, costs can start getting reasonable, since the commute to Santa Monica starts getting so bad (and because of the relatively high incidence of fire/flood/earthquake/storm damage to Malibu). Some places, like Santa Barbara, try very hard to avoid urban sprawl and massive industry, but again, you pay for that by having more expensive (and more elusive) housing.'' -["EricKlein"]	+ ----- + '''Los Angeles'''
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- ''I've never lived in Southern California but it appears that there is an inevitable march of freeways and urban sprawl spiraling out from the Los Angeles basin. True SoCal might all not be LA for now but give it a few years : )'' -jd	+ This is often what people think of first when they think of Southern California. It is characterized by massive urban sprawl, smog, lots and lots of stuff to do, and many excellent places to eat. It is also really, really varied. If you spend some time in Santa Monica, some time in Pasadena and some time in Irvine, you'll have been in three really different towns, but most people lump all three into the "LA" label. Generally, LA is a good place to get a job, but also an expensive place to live. Also, the further inland you go, the worse the smog. By the time you get to Riverside, the ocean is a distant memory, and the smog is a constant companion. Housing can be as little as $300,000 for a house (probably less in some areas), to over several million dollars for a single 1/2 acre of undeveloped land. It all depends on where you are looking, but basically, expect things to be expensive. Also, expect traffic to be bad, but not as bad as in the Silicon Valley area. Also, don't expect to bike anywhere. If you do, people will honestly think you are nuts. Really.
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- ''A lot of people in Southern California (who aren't already in LA) are afraid of just this. Luckily for some, certain geographic features of parts of Southern CA make this unlikely. Anything north of Ventura is pretty much cut off by ocean/mountain from the rest of Southern CA, and the same is true of anything south of Camp Pendelton. South of Pendelton, the San Diego sprawl is taking over, but north of Ventura is only Santa Barbara, and they are pretty ravenously anti-development. They have even kept their southbound freeways shitty in an attempt to make people drive south as little as possible (and to change things as little as possible). Again, it makes for a better quality of life, but it also makes that life damn expensive.'' -["EricKlein"]	+ LA is the home of the "freeway culture". Other parts of Southern CA may have aspects of it, but LA is its spiritual home.
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- ''Re-integrate this. ["EricKlein"], that means you. --["ChrisTakemura" ct]	+ '''North of Los Angeles''' + + North of LA, I generally think of as two areas: The Ventura and Santa Barbara areas. The Ventura area is larger, and more spread out. It encompasses Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and several other areas. It has a LOT of good beaches, and plenty of places to surf. Its also generally considered to still be a fairly affordable place to live (although it is getting costly in some areas). Some parts of the Ventura area still have a small town feel, but also the area is slowly succumbing to sprawl and big box malls. Also, there are parts of the Ventura area, especially Oxnard, that have quite a gang presence. + + North of Ventura, you've got the Santa Barbara area. This is one of the nicest towns that I've ever been to (disclaimer, I grew up there -["EricKlein" ek]). It is also insanely expensive. It generally has some of the highest gas prices in the state, and hands down, has the most expensive home prices in the state. Last time I checked, median home prices were about $1 million for a modest track development home. The cost is largely because development is frozen in the area. There is no room to expand, and the locals like it that way. They are very afraid of turning into LA, so they limit growth as much as they can. The mountains on one side, the ocean on another, a coastal preserve on another, and a narrow connecting corridor (between cliffs and ocean) to Ventura on the other hem Santa Barbara in on all sides. The only development happening in Santa Barbara these days is either redevelopment of old property, or the very rare development of old preserved land. As often as not these days, the old preserved land is being bought by land trusts to preserve the land as a natural habitat so that it cannot be developed. Developers who are under intense community pressure often sell land that they had planned to build homes on to these land trusts. The final result is a very nice town that has mostly kept its small town charm, but is also too expensive for most people to live in. Because of this, many middle class families (and jobs) are leaving the area, and the people left are either (a) rich retirees, (b) twenty and thirty somethings willing to live several people to a house, or the odd family that has lived there for decades. + + If you can afford to live there, Santa Barbara provides excellent beaches and surfing. It is also a great place for ["Bicycling" biking], providing lots of flat and mountainous terrain. Oh, and there are a LOT of really good restaurants here, whether you like authentic mexican, american mexican, or something that isn't even remotely mexican. + + '''South of Los Angeles''' + + I don't know as much about the San Diego area. It generally has the best overall weather of Southern CA. It's usually sunny and relatively warm all year. Downtown San Diego is quite nice, and overall, the San Diego sprawl is much more courteous and restrained than the LA sprawl. San Diego still has a lot of Navy/Marine influence in town, and if you spend much time there, it's hard not to notice it. As with many large cities, there are quite a few things to do, but I highly recommend both the zoo and the wild animal park. + + [[Comments]]

Southern California

ChrisTakemura — 2004-12-14 01:54:57

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	+ + ''Re-integrate this. ["EricKlein"], that means you. --["ChrisTakemura" ct]

Southern California

EricKlein — 2004-12-14 01:42:17

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	+ + ''A lot of people in Southern California (who aren't already in LA) are afraid of just this. Luckily for some, certain geographic features of parts of Southern CA make this unlikely. Anything north of Ventura is pretty much cut off by ocean/mountain from the rest of Southern CA, and the same is true of anything south of Camp Pendelton. South of Pendelton, the San Diego sprawl is taking over, but north of Ventura is only Santa Barbara, and they are pretty ravenously anti-development. They have even kept their southbound freeways shitty in an attempt to make people drive south as little as possible (and to change things as little as possible). Again, it makes for a better quality of life, but it also makes that life damn expensive.'' -["EricKlein"]

Southern California

JamesDawe — 2004-12-14 01:19:43

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- attachment:palms.jpg	+ attachment:palms.jpg [[BR]]''Santa Barbara pictured above, choosen for its embodiment of SoCal sterotypes: palm trees, beach, and clear weather.''
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- ''This is a picture of Santa Barbara, right?'' - ["EricKlein"] ''Yes''-jd - - Southern California's generally agreed to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.")	+ Alhtough the minority, a significant number of Southern California students make the trek northward to attend ["Campus" UC Davis]. Southern California's generally agreed to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.")
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	+ + ''I've never lived in Southern California but it appears that there is an inevitable march of freeways and urban sprawl spiraling out from the Los Angeles basin. True SoCal might all not be LA for now but give it a few years : )'' -jd

Southern California

EricKlein — 2004-12-14 00:10:25

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	+ + ''Also, Southern California is really diverse. Some areas are relatively desert like (i.e. Palmdale), and some places are positively lush. Generally though, the nicer the area geographically speaking, the more you'll pay. Santa Barbara is quite nice, but only rich retirees can really afford to move there. Oddly enough, if you live far enough out in Malibu, costs can start getting reasonable, since the commute to Santa Monica starts getting so bad (and because of the relatively high incidence of fire/flood/earthquake/storm damage to Malibu). Some places, like Santa Barbara, try very hard to avoid urban sprawl and massive industry, but again, you pay for that by having more expensive (and more elusive) housing.'' -["EricKlein"]

Southern California

JaimeRaba — 2004-12-13 23:16:56

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	+ + + ''As someone who has lived in Southern California locations as varied as Los Angeles, Camarillo, San Diego, Riverside and Apple Valley, I have to remind the world that smog and "freeway culture" is mostly something that centers around LA, and goes away the further you go. There's a lot to Southern California besides LA.'' -["Jaime Raba" jr]

Southern California

JamesDawe — 2004-12-13 22:50:44

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- ''This is a picture of Santa Barbara, right?'' - ["EricKlein"]	+ ''This is a picture of Santa Barbara, right?'' - ["EricKlein"] ''Yes''-jd

Southern California

EricKlein — 2004-12-13 14:29:42

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	+ + ''This is a picture of Santa Barbara, right?'' - ["EricKlein"]

Southern California

JamesDawe — 2004-12-12 23:33:38

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	+ attachment:palms.jpg +

Southern California

JamesDawe — 2004-12-12 23:32:36

Upload of image palms.jpg.

Southern California

ChrisTakemura — 2004-12-12 23:09:48

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	+ Southern California's generally agreed to be everything south of the Grapevine, (although some Northern Californians believe otherwise, even, in extremis, holding it to be "everything south of San Jose.") + + It's characterised by good ethnic food, smog, "freeway culture," urban sprawl, and 24-hour shopping.