The City of Poway incorporated in December 1980 as a full-service, general law city and operates under the Council/Manager form of government. Poway, with a population of more than 50,000 residents, is a unique community in San Diego County.

Located in northeast San Diego County, Poway is known as “The City in the Country” and prides itself on the fact that over half of the city’s 39.4 square-mile area is preserved as dedicated open space. The community offers a diverse range of housing options, an outstanding school district, a thriving business park with over 19,000 jobs, a broad range of dining and shopping opportunities, beautiful parks, 76 miles of trails, numerous community events throughout the year, and more.

Poway is located 3 miles east of Interstate 15, and just west of Highway 67. The San Diego International Airport is located 24 miles south of the city.

Poway is served by the Poway Unified School District (PUSD). Eleven schools are located in the City of Poway: 2 high schools, 2 middle schools, 7 elementary schools, and 1 adult school.

PUSD serves approximately 36,000 students and is the 3rd largest school district in the county. The district encompasses 100 square miles (inclusive of City of San Diego and incorporated County of San Diego communities) and overall operates 25 elementary schools (K-5), 6 middle schools (6-8), 1 combined K-8 school, 5 comprehensive high schools (9-12), and 1 adult high school.

Housing Units
Within the city limits are 16,364 housing units. The city’s vacancy rate is approximately 5 percent. There is a broad continuum of housing options available, ranging from multi-family apartments to single-family homes on large rural parcels. 80% of the city’s housing units are single-family dwellings. There are 10 beautifully maintained senior- and family-oriented affordable housing complexes in Poway.

Quality of Life
The City of Poway is committed to the preservation of natural open spaces, which is reflected in our “City in the Country” motto. Poway is home to over 4,700 acres of open space, 55 miles of trails, and 25 parks. Throughout the year, the City also provides numerous family-oriented events such as the Old Fashioned 4th of July, Summer Concerts in the Park, Christmas in the Park, and the Youth Fishing Derby.

Well-known recreational amenities include:

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
Community Park
Goodan Ranch
Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center
Lake Poway
Old Poway Park
Poway Center for the Performing Arts
Poway Community Library