Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a beach community tucked between Encinitas and Solana Beach in San Diego County, California. It has the Pacific Ocean on its west, Encinitas on its east and north, and a beach and lagoon on its south. Operating as part of the city of Encinitas, the town with a population of under 12,000 still considers itself a separate entity. Indeed, the community even has its own ZIP code (92007) unlike the other communities that comprise parts of Encinitas: Leucadia and Olivenhain. Like so many other towns around the region, locals prefer the small town atmosphere and most want to keep it like that. It is located 25 miles north of California's second largest city, San Diego. Many residents live on hillsides with gorgeous ocean views, but are still within reasonable commuting distance of downtown San Diego using primarily Interstates 5 and 805.
Over eighty years ago, this farming community in the hills north of the San Elijo Lagoon began to take root and grow as Cardiff when developer J. Frank Cullen broke ground to build new homes. Many streets in Cardiff bear names this English-born landowner grew up with in his native UK. Birmingham, Oxford, Chesterfield, and Manchester are familiar streets to Cardiff residents.
While Cardiff has no official mayor, Martha "Magic" is considered to be acting mayor de facto.
Cardiff is known for many of its great surf spots. Swamis, Seaside, Pipes, Tabletops, and Cardiff Reef are just to name a few.
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