Linda Vista is a 7.5 square mile community located atop a mesa in the Central San Diego area. For city planning purposes, the Linda Vista Community is the area roughly bounded on the south by Friars Road, on the west by Interstate 5, on the north by Tecolote Canyon and Mesa College Drive, and on the east by State Route 163.

It is an ethnically, racially, socio-economically, and religiously diverse community. Delineated as Census tracts 86-91, Linda Vista was developed as defense industry housing during World War II. It has primarily remained a working class neighborhood and became the site for the University of San Diego in 1949. Linda Vista is “home” to 33,618 residents (2004) and according to the 2000 Census has an overall household income of $41,133, well below the city of San Diego’s median income of $50,543. 24 distinct cultures and 38 different languages are found in Linda Vista with the majority of these residents living in the low income Census tracks 86, 87, and 88 with the respective median incomes of $32,565, $37,722 and $36,411. Census Tracks 89 through 91 which includes the University of San Diego has a median income of $42,449.

Demographics

See Linda Vista Community Area Census 2000 Profile (SANDAG)

Historical Background

Killory, Christine. 1993. “Temporary Suburbs: The Lost Opportunity of San Diego’s National Defense Housing Projects.” The Journal of San Diego History, 39(1-2).
Taschner, Mary. 1982. “Boomerang Boom: San Diego 1941-1942.” The Journal of San Diego History, 28(1).

Resources

Linda Vista Community Plan (1998)

Local Stakeholder Meetings

Linda Vista Collaborative

The Linda Vista Collaborative (LVC) offers a forum for public deliberation among the stakeholders of Linda Vista and promotes collaboration among them with the goal of improving the quality of life of all its residents. Since 1995, LVC has been the hub for community leaders, elected representatives, members of non-profit organizations, government staff, and school administrators, among others. LVC meets at Bayside Community Center (2202 Comstock St., San Diego, CA 92111) monthly, on the third Wednesday from 3:00-5:00 PM. For more information, please call Adriana Gallardo at: (858) 278-0771 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Linda Vista Planning Group

The Linda Vista Planning Group functions as a liaison between the members of the community and the City of San Diego, as well as advising the San Diego City Council, City Planning Department, and other government agencies (as may be appropriate) regarding a broad range of local planning issues, concerns and activities in the community as they pertain to the Linda Vista Community Plan. The Committee meets the fourth Monday of each month (except December) at 6:00 p.m. at the Linda Vista Branch Library (2160 Ulric St., San Diego, CA 92111). All meetings are open to the public. For more information, please contact Jeff Perwin, Chairman, Linda Vista Planning Group, P.O. Box 711994, San Diego, CA 92171 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Linda Vista Town Council

The Linda Vista Town Council is a 501(c) 4 non-profit civic organization founded in 1993. Its purpose is to promote the civic, commercial, educational and cultural interests and the general welfare of Linda Vista as a community of greater San Diego. The Town Council meets the third Thursday of each month (except July & December) at 7:00 p.m. at the Baha’i Center (6545 Alcala Knolls Drive, San Diego, CA 92111). All meetings are open to the public. For more information, please contact Tom Kaye, President, Linda Vista Town Council, P.O. Box 711813, San Diego, CA 92171 or call (858) 277-6973.