Carlsbad - The Southwest Border

As noted in previous posts the diversity in the demographics of Carlsbad is quite limited. It is over 80% Caucasian with less than 1% American Indian and less than 12% Hispanic. This is quite a feat considering the history of California with it being a part of Mexico and coupled with the huge influx of immigration from south of the border into the region. Moreover, San Diego County also has a greater number of native American Indian tribes than any other county in the United States. There are 18 reservations and 20,000 American Indians residing in San Diego County. There a re four tribal groupings in these 18 smaller reservations, the Kumeyaay/Diegueño, the Luiseño, the Cupeño, and the Cahuilla. Still Carlsbad remains a privileged community despite its location.

http://www.sandiego.edu/nativeamerican/reservations.html

The Empty Interior includes the Salton Sea

Carlsbad is not part of the "The Empty Interior" of the United States. However, just a few hours directly to the east is the Salton Sea which is part of this expansive, sparsely populated region. The history of the inland salt water body is marked by extreme change. Located in the area called the Salton Sink, which is 230 feet below sea level, the Salton Sea has appeared and disappeared several times over the last three million years. Depending on the changing flow of the Colorado River north into the Sink, then back to the south again, the lake was created accidentally recently. In the late 1800's farming in the area was supported by irrigation canals pulled from the Colorado River. In 1905, during higher than normal flows, the Colorado River overtook the canals and filled the Salton Sink area forming the largest lake in California. As a result, the Salton Sea has become a vital habitat for 400 species of birds. It is also home to approximately 10 million talapia fish. Unfortunately, the salt level is increasing 1% every year and consequently major devastating ecological events are occurring in the area. If this trend continues unchecked, much of the wildlife in this area is at risk. In recent years, plans are being discussed about how to offset these changes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKsK13NDkpg

All of Carlsbad's Water is Imported

Nearly all of Carlsbad's water is imported. It comes from two costly sources, one in Northern California, the Bay Delta and the other from the Colorado River. Both of these sources are overburdened and highly susceptible to drought conditions. As a response to this ongoing problem, the City of Carlsbad has decided to invest in a desalination project. This process not only removes the salts from the Pacific Ocean water that will be used but also removes all the minerals and organic material. The end product will be completely potable water suitable for drinking. This project is currently in production and will be operational in 2012.

Agricultural Core vs. Theme parks

As stated previously in this blog, Carlsbad has a modest agricultural center. The greater San Diego area does have a notable agriculture industry. However, one industry that is big in the San Diego area is theme parks. Sea World and the San Diego Zoo are the top attractions. A relative newcomer is Legoland which is located in Carlsbad. It is one of four Legoland parks with the other three located in Europe; England, Germany and Denmark. The US Legoland opened in 1999 and is geared toward younger kids. The average attendance is estimated at 1.4 million each year. It has stiff competition in this industry with the aforementioned parks a few minutes south and Disneyland, Universal Studios and Six Flags Magic Mountain to the north. It does fit a niche with its focus on smaller children with scaled down rides and exhibits.



http://www.google.com/maps?q=carlsbad,%20ca&lci=com.panoramio.all&iwloc=lyrftr:com.panoramio.all,8767243306314437832,33.126150,-117.311507&ll=33.126150,-117.311507&z=10&ei=8tevS8j9GozatgPHgZXuCw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=photo-link&cd=1&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ8wEoADAA

The Southern Coastland - Gulf Coast

The Southern Coastlands of the United States has a rich and diverse tradition in jazz, food, agriculture, tourism and petroleum. From the border town of Brownsville to the large port city of Houston, to the Mississippi delta town of New Orleans, through the panhandle of Florida and down to the Florida keys, this region and its people are as varied as any in the world. Contrast this with my city of Carlsbad, CA that has little to no diversity, forgettable food, only the thoughtful alternative indie rock group "Switchfoot" can be claimed as its native sons.

Agriculture and Demographics

In Carlsbad, there is primarily only small scale agriculture. Due to the sandy soil conditions which aids in drainage and the temperate weather, flowers are grown in and around the Carlsbad area for nearly a century. As one travels southward on Interstate 5, especially during the spring months, fields of flowers can be seen. There a few organic farms scattered about the town.

The demographics in the area are overwhelmingly caucasian accounting for 85% of the population. About 12% is Latino, with less than 1 % being African American. The population demographics and agriculture are much different than that of the Changing South.

Mining vs. Golf

The Appalachians and the Ozarks have little in common with Carlsbad, CA. However, there are a few similarities. First, both areas we late to develop in relation to the surrounding areas close in proximity. The Appalachian Mountains acted as a natural barrier to the original colonies regarding westward movement. No such barrier exists in Carlsbad but the natural ports of San Diego and Los Angeles attracted more settlers and traffic than the nondescript coast of Carlsbad. Also, both regions tend to be more politically conservative. Of course, there are huge disparities as well. The Appalachia and the Ozark are known for extreme poverty while Carlsbad is considered one of the wealthiest areas in the United States. There does not seem to much of a native Indian presence in Appalachia and the Ozark while San Diego County has 18, more than any other county in the United States.