Carlsbad is a coastal resort city lying along the Pacific Ocean in the North County San Diego section of Southern California. Carlsbad is located 87 miles (140 km) south of Los Angeles and 35 miles (56 km) north of downtown San Diego. High property values, very high median family incomes, and high education levels have made Carlsbad one of the wealthiest communities in California and in the United States. A low population density, coastal location, thriving commercial sector, and an award-winning school district all contribute to the high standard of living in the area. It is one of the highest income places in the United States. The city is mainly known for shopping, tourism, a booming high-tech industry, and resort living.

The 2009 population was estimated by the California Department of Finance to be 104,652.[2] Carlsbad was incorporated in 1952, in large part to generate sufficient funding to connect with the water pipeline running through San Diego County, but also to avoid being annexed by Oceanside. The city has drafted ordinances protecting sensitive wildlife habitat, becoming one of the first municipalities in the State of California to do so. The city has also pledged to protect a specified amount of land within the city limits from development of any kind and spends significant funds to restore habitats destroyed by newer development projects.