Poway

History

The Kumeyaay people lived in the area for centuries before the Spanish colonization of the region. Artifacts such as arrowheads, spear points, metates, grinding stones, and pottery found along the bed of Poway Creek all indicate an early Kumeyaay presence. Various pictographs adorn many of Poway's boulders, and modern dating techniques suggest these paintings date to the 16th century and earlier. In the late 18th century, Mission San Diego de Alcalá kept cattle in the valley. Documents of Mission San Diego de Alcala record the name of the valley as "Paguay" as early as 1828. The name "Poway" is likely derived from a Kumeyaay term meaning "arrowhead" (pawii) or "watering hole" (paguay). Other sources suggest that "Paguay" means "the meeting of little valleys" or "end of the valley". Some controversy also surrounds the proper spelling; historically it has also been written by the Mexican authorities as Paguai. It has also been written as Paui, Pauai, Pauy, and Powaii. For approximately a century, Poway served as a stock range for the mission and local ranchos. In September 1839, Corporal Rosario Aguilar was granted Rancho Paguai a ranch in the valley and it was confirmed on May 22, 1840, but he refused it, becoming juez de paz in 1841 and moving instead to San Juan Capistrano. American settlers began to come to the valley for farming purposes in the late antebellum period. Few records of this time have survived, and not until 1894 and the inception of the Poway Progress was the town's history regularly recorded. In 1887, about 800 people lived and farmed in Poway. Around the start of the 20th century, Poway farmers had moderate success in the production and vending of fruit, grain, and dairy products. The expansion, however, failed to follow agricultural success.…

Geography

Poway is east of the city of San Diego and south of the city of Escondido. Nearby communities include Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Ramona to the east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of , 99.78% of it land, and 0.22% of it water. The confluence of the 33rd parallel north and 117th meridian west is located on a hillside in a private property. Poway has a borderline semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsh) and hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with hot summers and cool, wet winters.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  43,196
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  36,984
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  36,972
• Black Phoebe

  Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  36,450
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  35,184
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  33,404
• Lesser Goldfinch

  Spinus psaltria (Say, 1822) · Aves
  33,292
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  32,672

Largest nearby schools

• Pacific Coast Academy
  Other · Poway · 4,891 students · 32.6:1 ratio
• Cabrillo Point Academy
  Other · Poway · 4,283 students · 29.5:1 ratio
• Del Norte High
  High · San Diego · 2,531 students · 26.6:1 ratio
• Canyon Crest Academy
  High · San Diego · 2,336 students · 27.5:1 ratio
• Rancho Bernardo High
  High · San Diego · 2,318 students · 26:1 ratio
• Westview High
  High · San Diego · 2,257 students · 25.1:1 ratio
• Poway High
  High · Poway · 2,233 students · 24.5:1 ratio
• Mira Mesa High
  High · San Diego · 2,219 students · 25.2:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.77 — 2026-10-15
  3 km NNW of San Jacinto, CA
• M 2.71 — 2026-10-11
  4 km E of San Jacinto, CA
• M 2.51 — 2026-10-05
  31 km SW of Dana Point, CA
• M 2.81 — 2026-10-05
  32 km SW of Dana Point, CA
• M 3.48 — 2026-10-05
  31 km SW of Dana Point, CA
• M 3.08 — 2026-10-01
  20 km ESE of Anza, CA