The community of Fallbrook was first settled by the Payomkawichum people, later called Luiseños by the Spanish missionaries who were present in the area in the late 1700s.

The first permanent recorded settlement was during the Mexican period in 1846, when Ysidro Alvarado was granted Rancho Monserate by then governor of Mexican California, Pio Pico, who was residing to the west of Fallbrook where Camp Pendleton is currently located.

Alvarado and Pico were second-generation Californians and San Diegans and were citizens of Mexico and the United States.

Pio's nephew and local vaquero, Jose Maria Pico, had been residing in the area now known as the Fallbrook High School during the 1860 census and his family had registered to vote in October 1868, in time for the November presidential election, the first election after the Civil War ended.

Later, Canadian immigrant Vital Reche settled here with his family just north of Alvarado's ranch at the site now known as Live Oak Park.

[6][7] Furthermore, olives became a major crop by the 1920s and continued through World War II, but were eventually phased out in favor of the present avocado and floral industry.

[8] On October 21, 2007, wildfires broke out across San Diego county and other parts of Southern California.

By October 23, the Rice Canyon Fire had crossed Interstate 15 and spread into the east area of Fallbrook along Reche Road, prompting a mandatory evacuation order for all residents.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.6 square miles (46 km2).

Due to its proximity to the ocean, days often start with early morning fog; afternoons can be breezy.

[citation needed] Annual rainfall is roughly 14 inches (36 cm) and comes mostly between November and April.

The area is ideal for avocados, strawberries, tomatoes and many other sub-tropical fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

There were 10,855 housing units at an average density of 618.1 per square mile (238.6/km2), of which 5,921 (59.2%) were owner-occupied, and 4,078 (40.8%) were occupied by renters.

[20] Fallbrook is a center for the arts with longtime residents fostering a creative atmosphere and newcomers bringing additional talents to the area.

In the 1940s and 1950s it was the home of film director Frank Capra, who raised olives on his Red Mountain Ranch.