Bob Bekins

San Marcos gots its name when the recovery of a stolen herd of cattle happened on St. Marks holiday.  These had been taken from the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside and their loss could have meant starvation for the inhabitants there.  It was a blessing.

During the World Wars, silk was in high demand, and San Marcos was thought to be an area where silk worms could be cultivated to produce that animal/agricultural product.  It was not successful but the traces of that industry are shadowed in names and trees.  See Mulberry Avenue and the trees on it, which the silk worms fed upon.

San Marcos is known for having some of the best restaurants in North County. Old California Restaurant Row features a large concentration of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines.

San Marcos features several golf courses, notably Lake San Marcos, which itself is a recreational venue. Recently, the growth of Cal State San Marcos has led to great opportunities for youth (such as the high-tech sector) are increasingly setting up workshop in the city's robust economy.

San Marcos is a bookends community as a home to a large population of retired persons and University students. Palomar College is one of the largest junior colleges in America offering one of the finest furniture making curriculums on the West Coast and hundreds of other professional AA degrees.  California State University San Marcos is an accredited four-year school with Bachelor's Degree programs in Native American Studies, Business, and many other fine professions. 

A lighted cross, which stands on a hill above Lake San Marcos and is visible at night from many parts of the city, has been a community landmark for decades.

Maps:

Location of San Marcos in San Diego County