Census-designated place in California, United StatesBonsall, CaliforniaCensus-designated placeLocation in San Diego County and the state of CaliforniaBonsall, CaliforniaLocation in the United StatesCoordinates: 33°16′47″N 117°11′37″W / 33.27972°N 117.19361°W / 33.27972; -117.19361Country United StatesState CaliforniaCountySan DiegoArea[1] • Total13.80 sq mi (35.74 km2) • Land13.63 sq mi (35.29 km2) • Water0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) 1.28%Elevation[2]180 ft (55 m)Population (2020) • Total4,546 • Density333.7/sq mi (128.83/km2)Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific) • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)ZIP code92003Area codes442/760FIPS code06-07498GNIS feature IDs1660358, 2407884
Bonsall is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,546 at the 2020 census, up from 3,982 at the 2010 census.
The Bonsall area was heily affected by the Lilac Fire in December 2017, which burned 4,100 acres.[3]
Name[edit]The area known as Bonsall was originally called Mount Fairview and had a post office by that name from December 28, 1871, to December 28, 1880.[4] It received a post office in 1881 under the name Osgood, after California Southern Railroad chief engineer Joseph O. Osgood; the renaming was supposedly an unsuccessful attempt to convince Osgood to build the railroad through the San Luis Rey River Valley (the rail line eventually followed the Santa Margarita River instead). Following a contest, the town was renamed Bonsall in 1890, after local minister James A. Bonsall.[5]
Geography[edit]Bonsall is just east of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton, north of Vista and northwest of Hidden Meadows.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35 km2). The 13.4 square miles (35 km2) is land whereas 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) or (1.28%) is water.
Demographics[edit] Historical population CensusPop.Note%± 19901,881—20003,40180.8%20103,98217.1%20204,54614.2%U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–1870[7][8] 1880-1890[9] 1900[10] 1910[11] 1920[12] 1930[13] 1940[14] 1950[15] 1960[16] 1970[17] 1980[18] 1990[19] 2000[20] 2010[21]Bonsall was first listed as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. census.[19]
Bonsall CDP, California – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[22] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020 White alone (NH) 2,496 2,757 2,886 73.39% 69.24% 63.48% Black or African American alone (NH) 29 59 75 0.85% 1.48% 1.65% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 8 21 14 0.24% 0.53% 0.31% Asian alone (NH) 89 136 190 2.62% 3.42% 4.18% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 5 10 0.12% 0.13% 0.22% Other race alone (NH) 4 10 17 0.12% 0.25% 0.37% Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 42 101 257 1.23% 2.54% 5.65% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 729 893 1,097 21.43% 22.43% 24.13% Total 3,401 3,982 4,546 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%The 2020 United States census reported that Bonsall had a population of 4,546. The population density was 333.7 inhabitants per square mile (128.8/km2). The racial makeup of Bonsall was 68.0% White, 2.0% African American, 1.0% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from other races, and 13.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.1% of the population.[25]
The whole population lived in households. There were 1,645 households, out of which 28.8% included children under the age of 18, 60.4% were married-couple households, 6.7% were cohabiting couple households, 18.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 19.2% of households were one person, and 9.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The erage household size was 2.76.[25] There were 1,227 families (74.6% of all households).[26]
The age distribution was 19.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% aged 18 to 24, 23.9% aged 25 to 44, 26.5% aged 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males.[25]
There were 1,789 housing units at an erage density of 131.3 units per square mile (50.7 units/km2), of which 1,645 (92.0%) were occupied. Of these, 73.4% were owner-occupied, and 26.6% were occupied by renters.[25]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $110,316, and the per capita income was $59,884. About 9.9% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[27]
Education[edit]Bonsall is served by the Bonsall Unified School District.[28] consisting of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[29] Joseph Clevenger has served as superintendent since July 1, 2021.
Politics[edit]In the California State Legislature, Bonsall is in the 40th senatorial district, represented by Republican Brian Jones, and in the 75th Assembly district, represented by Republican Carl DeMaio.[30]
In the United States House of Representatives, Bonsall is in California's 48th congressional district, represented by Republican Darrell Issa.[31]
In June 1988, Bonsall-area voters defeated a ballot initiative to create a Community Services District ("CSD") after opponents argued that the boundaries included too many county taxpayers who more closely associated with neighboring cities Vista and Fallbrook rather than the unincorporated Bonsall community.[32]
References[edit] ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021. ^ "Bonsall". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 5, 2015. ^ Figueroa, Teri (December 12, 2017). "Lilac fire 95 percent contained". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2017. ^ Frickstad, Walter N., A Century of California Post Offices 1848-1954, Philatelic Research Society, Oakland, CA. 1955, pp. 147-158. ^ Fetzer, James. San Diego County Place Names A to Z. San Diego: Sunbelt, 2005. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ a b "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bonsall CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bonsall CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bonsall CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. ^ a b c d "Bonsall CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2025. ^ "Bonsall CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2025. ^ "Bonsall CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2025. ^ "2020 census - school district reference map: San Diego County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 1-2 (PDF pp. 2-3/7). Retrieved December 21, 2024. - Text list ^ "Bonsall Unified School District". ^ "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved July 29, 2025. ^ "California's 48th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. ^ June 1988 editions of Vista Press and Oceanside Blade-Tribune vteMunicipalities and communities of San Diego County, California, United StatesCounty seat: San DiegoCities Carlsbad Chula Vista Coronado Del Mar El Cajon Encinitas Escondido Imperial Beach La Mesa Lemon Grove National City Oceanside Poway San Diego San Marcos Santee Solana Beach Vista San Diego County mapCDPs Alpine Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Bostonia Boulevard Campo Camp Pendleton Mainside Camp Pendleton South Casa de Oro-Mount Helix Crest Del Dios Descanso Elfin Forest Eucalyptus Hills Fairbanks Ranch Fallbrook Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Harmony Grove Hidden Meadows Jacumba Jamul Julian Lake San Marcos Lakeside La Presa Mount Laguna Pala Pine Valley Potrero Rainbow Ramona Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe San Diego Country Estates Spring Valley Valley Center Winter Gardens Unincorporatedcommunities 4S Ranch Ballena Banner Casa de Oro Cuyamaca Deerhorn Valley De Luz De Luz Heights Dehesa Dulzura East Otay Mesa Flinn Springs Foster Guatay Jesmond Dene Kentwood-In-The-Pines Lincoln Acres Manzanita Oak Grove Ocotillo Wells Pala Mesa Palomar Mountain Pauma Valley Pine Hills Ranchita Rincon San Luis Rey Santa Ysabel Shelter Valley Tecate Warner Springs Wynola Indianreservations Barona Reservation Campo Indian Reservation Capitan Grande Reservation Ewiiaapaayp Indian Reservation Inaja and Cosmit Reservation Jamul Indian Village La Jolla Indian Reservation La Posta Reservation Los Coyotes Indian Reservation Manzanita Reservation Mesa Grande Reservation Pala Indian Reservation Pauma and Yuima Indian Reservation Rincon Indian Reservation San Pasqual Reservation Santa Ysabel Reservation Sycuan Band Reservation Viejas Reservation Ghost towns Banner City Branson City Coleman City Cuyamaca City Eastwood Jofegan Palm Spring Station Panhe San Felipe Station San Pasqual Stonewall Stratton Vallecito California portal United States portal