At about this time a town, called Nuevo-Spanish for "new", began to develop in the middle of the valley. In 1884, land speculator Milton Santee purchased 7000 acres in the Valley, and added romance to the existing charm of the area by changing the name of the town to Ramona, after a lovely Indian maiden featured in the book "Ramona", written by Helen Hunt Jackson. The famous Ramona Pageant, performed annually in Hemet, CA recounts the romantic tale of Ramona.

Today, more that one hundred years later, Ramona is still a town of warmth and romance. Early western culture can be experienced by visiting Verlaque House, the only western adobe home of French Provincial design still in existence. Verlaque House, site of the Guy B. Woodward Museum, is locate in a complex of historic buildings offering shops, exhibits, artifacts, and a research library about the local area.

Ramona is located 36 miles northeast of San Diego in the foothills of the Cuyamaca Mountains at an elevation of 1400 feet. Venture over the mountains and you will be in beautiful Anza Borrego Desert, playground for the camping enthusiast. Also known as the Valley of the Sun, Ramona boasts clean, clear air and glorious days of sunshine and gentle breezes. Summertime temperatures average in the 90's, giving way to cool, pleasant evenings. Wintertime temperatures average in the 60's providing a slight crispness to the warmth of the sun.

Delightfully situated as a semi-rural "bedroom community" of the larger cities of San Diego and Escondido, Ramona gently combines the amenities of a larger community with small-town charm. There are major shopping areas, numerous financial institutions, health care facilities, and a wide variety of recreational interests--ranging from golf to horseback riding to mountain climbing. Good fishing can be found at lakes Sutherland and San Vicente. Water skiing can also be enjoyed at the latter.

For out-of-doors enjoyment, Ramona provides two popular parks. Visitors can enjoy activities from family picnics to full camping facilities. Each park is unique and boasts some of the following; equestrian and hiking trails, tennis courts and an outdoor pavilion for weddings and special functions.

For those who enjoy a little less exhilarating pace--there is the annual Golf Tournament. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the tournament is held at one of Ramona's two professionally designed golf courses. The Ted Robinson course at San Vicente Inn and Golf Club was the first to locate in Ramona. Offering 6,585 yards of challenge, the 18-hole championship course has been rated one of the top courses in the county. The course is also home to San Diego Country Estates, a 3,000 acre planned community. In addition to swimming; golf, tennis, entertainment, and dining, there are banquet and meeting facilities as well. San Diego Country Estates also offers an International Equestrian Center and the Casey Tibbs Western Center.

Ramona's most recent addition to the golfing community is Mt. Woodson Golf & Country Club. Situated among huge boulders and 100 year old oaks trees at the base of Mt. Woodson, the course was designed and landscaped to be water sensitive. The Landmark Signature design & 18-hole golf course provides 6,200' yards of excitement for the golfing enthusiast. Mt. Woodson Golf and Country Club offers 189 homes on 380 acres of tranquillity.

Like most other communities, each year Ramona selects a young ambassador. The Miss Ramona Pageant introduces one local young lady selected from a field of many, to represent Ramona at numerous events held county-wide.

Note, for those occasional times where you might enjoy an out-of-town excursion -- within an hour's drive of Ramona is the major metropolis of San Diego. In this bustling city, one can enjoy the performing arts, theater, major league sports competition, extensive water sports activities, and of course, the beaches along the glistening Pacific Ocean.

With a population of approximately 43,000 plus, Ramona is the fastest growing unincorporated town in San Diego County. While keeping up with the changing times and experiencing a growth rate of over 40 percent during the past few years, Ramona has succeeded in retaining its original rustic charm.

We invite you to explore life at its best--Ramona.