Through the 1950s, the north coastal region of San Diego County was rural and had few services of its own. However, by 1960 the region was beginning to grow rapidly and the need for community healthcare to maintain prosperity became apparent.
Recognizing this, visionaries from the Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista Chambers of Commerce, along with elected officials and business leaders from the three cities, developed a plan for creating a hospital to serve the needs of an emerging region. Soon, with the support of local leaders and voters, a bond was approved to construct a hospital and the Tri-City Hospital District was formed.