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 growth of the town did not really get underway until the late 1950s, when Poway Valley Homes opened the first subdivision. In 1971, a dam was constructed, creating Lake Poway, to provide residents with a more permanent source of water. In December 1980, Poway incorporated as a full-service, general law city, which operates under the Council / Manager form of government. Prior to that, Poway was an unincorporated area of San Diego. In the late 1980s, development of the 700-acre Poway Business Park began in the southern area of the city. The Business Park is home to more than 500 businesses today and provides more than 18,000 jobs.

The community offers a diverse range of housing options, an outstanding school district, the thriving business park, plus a broad range of dining and shopping opportunities. The City of Poway also offers special events year-round that draw the community together, more than 78 miles of some of the finest trails in Southern California, as well as Lake Poway to enjoy one of San Diego's best lakes.