Before the development of the Estates, the area was inhabited by the northern Ipai, a semi-nomadic people and a group of the Kumeyaay.

The San Vicente Valley was home to the temporary settlements of these people who traveled the region between Escondido and Lake Henshaw.

Grinding stones, commonly found in large boulders throughout the valley alongside creeks and used to create acorn meal for bread, are testament to their historic presence in the area.

In the 1700s the valley in which San Diego Country Estates is located received its name when Father Mariner of Mission San Diego de Alcalá discovered the location, proclaiming it a constant and beautiful valley, and named it in honor of Saint Vincent.

[3] As the area became colonized by the Spanish and later fell under Mexican jurisdiction, the land of the San Vicente Valley became a part of the Mexican land-grant known as Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona in 1846.

Under the grant prominent persons such as William Augustus Barnett and families, the Dukes, settled the region.

Court was challenged to a tennis match by Riggs and the game was held at the San Vicente Country Club and Golf Course Resort.

On October 23, 2003, the Cedar Fire began approximately 3 miles east of the Estates in Cleveland National Forest.

The Witch Creek fire caused the evacuation of the thousands of residents of the Estates area and evacuating cars were bottlenecked on the San Vicente Highway, a main artery leading to San Diego Country Estates from Ramona.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the Estates has a total area of 16.9 square miles (43.6 km2), all land.

[7] bordered on all sides by rolling hills with the exception of the prominent Mount Gower, in Cleveland National Forest.

To the west of San Diego Country Estates are Poway and Ramona, to the south is Lakeside, to the east is Cleveland National Forest and to the north is the Palomar Mountain Range.

In the valley there lies the San Diego Country Estates International Equestrian Center, Barona Oaks Motocross Park, and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities present in Cleveland National Forest and the surrounding state parks.

The Estates are accessible via two major North County high ways and numerous smaller roads.