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PROFILE OF BORREGO
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
 Borrego Springs is a village community surrounded by
Anza-Borrego
Desert State Park, the largest state park in California. It
is a destination for over 600,000 visitors yearly. Borrego
Spring’s permanent population is around 3100 persons. That level
increases when flowers bloom in the Spring. Then upwards of
10,000 persons may be in town on any given day during the
blooming period. Growth here is slow over the years but
residents have come to enjoy the slower life style, the desert’s
grand beauty, and eight months of very fine temperate weather.
Vacations and retirement have become the mainstays of the town’s
economy. Agriculture brings up a close third in the economic
base.
 We are
located in San Diego County, two hours from downtown San Diego
and Palm Springs, seventy minutes from El Centro and Escondido,
California and 30 miles from the Salton Sea. Other major
metropolitan areas are within five hours drive like Los Angeles,
San Bernardino, Riverside, and Yuma, Arizona.
Among the
permanent residents are professional people, service industry
workers, ranchers, citrus growers, retired people and a host of
visitors who have found a haven in this desert environment. Our
Hispanic population makes up over 50% of the population. Their
contribution to the economic picture includes workers and owners
of restaurants, construction firms, and landscaping
businesses. They are an integral part of the town’s economy.
CLIMATE
 Seasonal
temperatures range is wide. During the Spring, temperatures
range from highs of 80 to lows of 45, summertime the range goes
from 90-120 degrees for the highs and the lows in the 80’s. The
Winter can bring cold temperatures ranging from the 50’s during
the day to lo 30’s at night. Fall is a mixture of late summer
temperatures and early winter ones. Rainfall averages around
5-6 inches per year in normal times and less during the cyclic
droughts that desert can be so affected by the climatic
variations over the years.
MEDICAL
SERVICES
Borrego
Springs Medical Center provides general medical assistance and
treatment. Specialists are recommended by staff and patients are
referred to other locations for those services. A fulltime
dentist is available. We have a 24 hour paramedic services
through our local fire department. We also have air ambulance
service provided by San Diego County and called upon by local
law enforcement and fire personnel.
SCHOOLS
 Borrego
Springs has an elementary, middle and high school. Current
population is just over 400 children and youths. The school
provides basic education and sports and other activities for
their young people. The schools are integrated with the State
Park and other local entities for additional educational
opportunities. Small class is size the ideal sought by staff to
provide quality education for the children of the community.
Hispanic families make up over 50% of the student population.
Spanish is spoken and English as a second language encouraged to
blend students into the local community. Bussing is provided
for students by the local school district. New library,
gymnasium and swimming pool have been built to provide students
with a variety of activities during and after school. Head Start
Program is provided at the Children’s Center.
CHURCHES
Borrego Springs is
blessed with nine churches.
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St. Richard’s
Catholic church is the oldest in the area and serves the
largest congregation in town. Hispanic families make up the
bulk of the Catholic church’s population.
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The Christian
Center operates year round and offers a full range of
services to a congregation of young adults and families.
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The First
Baptist church offers a full range of services including a
Sunday School.
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The Community
United Methodist church offers Sunday services as well as
pastoral counseling for adults and youth. The Methodists
stress outreach programs and work groups also. A new
minister soon to be appointed.
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The Seventh Day
Adventists meet at the Methodist Church on Saturdays.
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The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints meets on Sundays.
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The Borrego
Lutheran church offers Christian Education and Sunday
services.
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St. Barnabas
Episcopal Church meets on Sundays and provide early morning
and mid morning services and bible study during the week.
Morning Prayer and Holy Communion are celebrated.
MUSEUMS,
GALLERIES AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS
The San
Diego Public Library is housed in their new facilities located
at the east end of The Mall. Computers are available for the
public to use besides a large selection of literature for the
townspeople.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park headquarters, Visitor Center and
main campground are located at the west end of town. Information
and maps and books about the State Park and its 600,000 acres of
desert wilderness are provided on a daily basis during the
season and on weekends in the summer months. Desert protection
and education are the main goals of the State Park. Professional
staff and volunteers provide a wide array of activities,
destinations and special features to the visiting public.
Many art
galleries are located in Borrego Springs. Metal sculptures to
canvas art is available to the visiting public. We also have The
Circle of Art, the Art Institute, the Art Guild and classes for
creative writing.
 The
Community Concert series provides concerts through their
subscription program. Classical to jazz and modern artists bring
their talents for the community concert goers to enjoy.
The
College of Borrego offers adult classes, art classes and pottery
classes.
The
Borrego Spring Performing Arts Center is the local community
theater. This non-profit provides theatrical plays and musicals,
performing artists and events for the community. It is also the
venue for the Borrego Community Concert Series. Junior Theater
and Reader’s Theater are offered in the summer months.
The town
also sports individuals who get together to play music and just
have a good time together.
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Borrego
Springs has branches of the American Legion, Kiwanis Club,
Rotary Club, Soroptimists International, and the Lions Club.
TRANSPORTATION
Northeast
Rural Bus transfers to other San Diego County Transit systems in
Escondido and El Cajon, California.
The
Borrego Valley Airport is a county airport sporting a 5000 plus
foot runway for private aircraft, business jets and occasional
commercial aircraft.
HOUSING
There is a
wide range of house prices in Borrego Springs. Currently there
is a surplus of available houses. Pricing ranges from the low
thousands to over million dollars. The average house ranges
around $210,000.
SHOPPING
Borrego
Springs has one food market at The Center and small convenience
market at one of the local hotels and the local gas stations.
Borrego is a center point from major cities where larger and
more varied markets and supermarkets are located in El Centro,
Escondido, Palm Springs, Indio, Desert Hot Springs and San
Diego.
On
Fridays, the Farmers Market, sponsored by the Chamber of
Commerce, offers a variety of fresh produce, flowers and
vegetables not found at the local stores.
Almost
everything from antiques to fudge can be found on the main
streets. Three gas stations, an auto mechanic, tire repair, and
auto parts store are relocated along the main street of town. A
fully equipped hardware store, gift shops, pharmacy and
restaurants also dot the main street corridor.
RECREATION
 Camping
and Hiking: There are two developed campgrounds in the State
Park for RV and tent campers, one Horse Campground north of town
and open camping opportunities over the 500 miles of back roads
that crisscross the State Park. Maps and directions can be
obtained at the State Park Visitor Center, The local Nature
Store run by the Anza-Borrego Natural History Association or at
the local Chamber of Commerce.
Birding
groups meet throughout the year to watch migrating birds come
and land in the Borrego Valley and assist in annual bird counts.
The Annual Christmas Bird Count is a major event in Borrego
every December.
The Annual
Desert Big Horn Sheep Count is sponsored by Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park every July 4th weekend.
Golf is
available at the Borrego Springs resort 18- hole Golf Course,
the Roadrunner Club Golf Course and Club Circle Course. Both
have par 3 courses. The Golf Course at the De Anza Country Club
and Montesoro are member and guest only facilities.
Tennis is
available at the Borrego Springs Resort, the Tennis Center and
The Springs RV Park.
Swimming
is available at the local motels and inns and resorts. The High
School opens its pool to the public during the summer months.
The Senior
Center provides inexpensive lunches for Seniors, a venue for
activities for seniors, quilters, Bridge players, Bingo Night
and just a place to relax.
EVENTS
Every
October, Borrego Days opens the new tourist season with
activities, a parade and arts and crafts show at Christmas
Circle. Youth Games food , music and entertainment besides the
crowning of Miss Borrego Springs at the High School on Friday
night before the annual parade.
In March the
Circle of Art holds its annual juried art show.
The first
weekend of April, the Annual Peg Leg Smith Liars Contest is held
for the best story teller about Peg Leg Smith.
Cinco de
Mayo is held the first weekend in May to celebrate that day of
Mexican Independence. Dances, food and music are offered to the
public.
Every
Veterans Day is celebrated by the American Legion
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