San Diego County
Demographics (2010): 45.2% White, 32.0% Hispanic, 10.9% Asian, 5.1% Black
Population (2010): 3,095,313
Growth rate: Moderately fast (19.7% since 2000)
President: 52.45% R / 46.33% D (2004), 53.95% D / 43.79% R (2008), 52.51% D / 44.95% R (2012), 56.30% D / 36.57% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $47,067
% Bachelor's: 38.1%
San Diego County, named after Saint Didacus, was the first part of California where Europeans settled and founded the Mission San Diego de Alcala and the San Diego Presidio.
One of the original counties of California, San Diego was considerably larger geographically than it is now. San Diego County in 1850 had land that is in modern-day Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.
San Diego County remained sparsely populated for much of the late 19th century until 1880 when rapid growth was brought about by the development and establishment of many military facilities. Growth was especially fast in the mid-20th century.
The main regions of San Diego County are the city of San Diego and the South Bay, North County, and East County. San Diego proper and the South Bay were Democratic-leaning before becoming heavily Democratic in the 2000s. North County, being more upscale and highly educated, leaned Republican in the 2000s and trended Democratic in the 2010s. East County is the most conservative part of San Diego County (though less Republican than it used to be), having been represented by a Duncan Hunter for almost 40 years.
San Diego
Demographics (2010): 45.1% White, 28.8% Hispanic, 15.9% Asian, 6.7% Black
Population (2010): 1,307,402
President: 55.06% D / 43.91% R (2004), 62.57% D / 35.73% R (2008), 61.29% D / 36.43% R (2012), 65.86% D / 28.00% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $45,733
% Bachelor's: 45.3%
San Diego is the second-largest city in California. It has been nicknamed "the birthplace of California" because it was the first European settlement in what would become California. The widely known unofficial nickname of San Diego as "America's Finest City" came in the 1970s when Mayor Pete Wilson proclaimed the week of the 1972 Republican National Convention "America's Finest City" week, even though the convention ended up occurring in Miami, Florida. San Diego would host the 1996 Republican National Convention. Today, the largest convention in the city is Comic-Con, which started out in 1970 as the Golden State Comic Book Convention.
Early on in California statehood, San Diego had serious financial problems and was sparsely populated. A wharf built by investor William Heath Davis was "Davis' Folly" when the steamer Los Angeles collided with the poorly-built wharf, totaling the wharf. Water shortages and high shipping costs stunted San Diego's growth early on. However, in 1867 Alonzo Horton purchased some land near the water, promoted the city, and built a better wharf to bring people and businesses. This triggered San Diego's growth, so much that by the late 1870s, San Diego's port was thought to become a rival of San Francisco's. The railroads in the 1880s brought another population boom.
By the 1890s, San Diego became more important with its strategic location after United States military action in the Pacific and the opening of the Panama Canal. San Diego sought to become "the Gibraltar of the Pacific".
Congressman William Kettner lobbied to make San Diego a prominent military location. By the 1920s San Diego had become a major military city rather than catering to tourists for recreation and health reasons. North of the city, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was established in 1942 and today remains one of the Marines' main training bases.
Heiress Ellen Browning Scripps supported the San Diego Zoo and with her brother E.W. established the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Businessman George Marston hired architect John Nolen to help make Balboa Part prominent. Nolen acquired Presidio Hill, the first European settlement in California, and developed it.
San Diego was also "the tuna capital of the world", being home to the country's tuna fishing and canning industries where immigrants worked the jobs. First were Portuguese in the 1860s and the Japanese. Later Italians joined this workforce. San Diego fared better during the Great Depression than most of the country, though housewives still appreciated the tuna because of it practicality. During World War II, after many Japanese-American-owned boats were confiscated and fishing was not possible, the boats served as the Navy's "pork chop express" delivering food and supplies to military sites in the Pacific. Later in the 20th century, foreign competition greatly reduced the industry's presence. Today the tuna industry is but a memory in Little Italy and Point Loma, where the Portuguese fishermen lived.
World War II and aviation in the decades after brought growth and prosperity to San Diego. Military wives moved to the city to take jobs in the defense industry while their husbands trained. Fresh water was brought from the Colorado River via the San Diego Aqueduct. At this time, San Diego rose to become California's second-largest city. After military spending shrunk in the 1990s, biotech and telecommunications grew, as did the craft beer industry.
Chula Vista
Demographics (2010): 58.8% Hispanic, 17.9% White, 16.0% Asian, 4.6% Black
Population (2010): 243,916
President: 50.19% R / 49.03% D (2004), 59.48% D / 39.16% R (2008), 60.49% D / 37.91% R (2012), 66.13% D / 28.68% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $29,826
% Bachelor's: 28.8%
Chula Vista (Spanish for "beautiful view") was so named because of its placement between San Diego Bay and the coastal mountains. It is home to one of the country's few year-round Olympic Training centers.
Lemons were introduced in the late 1880s, around the time the Sweetwater Dam was built for farm irrigation, and Chula Vista at one point was the largest lemon-growing center in the world. Chinese, Filipino, and Mexican laborers that lived in San Diego worked the fields.
One of Chula Vista's first council members was Cleveland native Greg Rogers, who headed the Chula Vista Yacht Club. Chula Vista's Yacht Club was the first on the West Coast to produce boats built for racing.
Even as the Great Depression wiped out many Americans' jobs, Chula Vista residents still had income from their agriculture. Japanese American farms grew other crops such as celery. Anti-Japanese sentiments existed in Chula Vista before World War II because of competition between Japanese and White farmers, though an association formed later relieved some of the tensions.
After the war, Chula Vista's population boomed as factory workers and servicemen stayed, and the citrus groves and farms disappeared. In the 1960s, Filipinos and Mexicans moved into Chula Vista. This booming population led to Chula Vista becoming San Diego County's second-largest city.
Chula Vista continued to boom into the 21st century, thanks to rapid growth in Eastlake and Otay Ranch.
National City
Demographics (2010): 63.0% Hispanic, 20.2% Asian, 11.7% White, 5.2% Black
Population (2010): 58,582
President: 58.36% D / 40.56% R (2004), 64.88% D / 33.35% R (2008), 69.91% D / 28.47% R (2012), 73.81% D / 21.01% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $29,826
% Bachelor's: 14.9%
National City started out as El Rancho de Rey (the Ranch of the King), used by the Spanish for horse grazing. After Mexico gained independence in 1821, they renamed it Rancho de la Nacion. President Andrew Johnson listed the name as the English translation, "The National Ranch".
San Francisco builder Frank Kimball built the first modern house in the county in the late 1860s, with hot, running water. Kimball and his brothers Warren and Levi brought roads and railroads to National City, as well as the first post office for sea-related commerce. Trees the Kimball brothers brought to the city can still be seen today.
In the mid-20th century, National City's "Mile of Bars" brought entertainment to Sailors stationed at San Diego's Naval Base. Later, automobile dealerships resulted in the transition of National Avenue to "Mile of Cars".
Imperial Beach
Demographics (2010): 52.3% Hispanic, 30.7% White, 7.5% Asian, 5.0% Black
Population (2010): 26,324
President: 49.78% R / 48.84% D (2004), 57.61% D / 40.27% R (2008), 58.16% D / 39.25% R (2012), 57.63% D / 35.37% R (2016)
MHI (2018): $51,838
% Bachelor's: 18.8%
Imperial Beach was named after Imperial County, from where farmers and landowners came for the cooler summers. Some laborers that built the Hotel del Coronado stayed permanently.
In recent years Imperial Beach has worked to become more of a commercial center, though remains mostly residential.
For 31 years, Imperial Beach hosted the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, the largest such competition in the country. Another landmark is Surfhenge, surfboard-shaped arches, named after Stonehenge in Great Britain.
Coronado
Demographics (2010): 74.4% White, 15.6% Hispanic, 4.0% Black, 3.7% Asian
Population (2010): 18,912
President: 62.93% R / 36.26% D (2004), 56.94% R / 41.73% D (2008), 59.10% R / 39.04% D (2012), 48.06% R / 45.90% D (2016)
MHI (2007): $91,748
% Bachelor's: 63.3%
Coronado, Spanish for "crowned one" sits on a peninsula, formerly an island, that is connected to the mainland via a mound called a tombolo. It was named after four islands offshore called "The Four Crowned Martyrs".
The northern part of the island was developed by the United States Navy in the 1940s. Now Coronado is home to a Naval Air Station in the north and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in the south. In the latter, SEALs and Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen are trained.
Coronado has long been a Republican stronghold and while it isn't as Republican as it used to be, it still votes Republican for president like it has since 1964, which is unlike most parts of the San Diego metro.
The land that would become Coronado was purchased with the intent of making a resort destination. The Coronado Beach company was organized in 1886. The Hotel del Coronado was built in 1888. Another tourist area south of the Hotel was named Tent City. Later, cottages went up.
Bonita
Demographics (2010): 44.9% Hispanic, 34.4% White, 13.2% Asian, 2.3% Black
Population (2010): 12,538
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $84,526
% Bachelor's: 37.8%
Meaning "beautiful" in Spanish, Bonita was named after a ranch owned by lawyer Henry Ernest Cooper in the 1880s, where lemons were grown.
In the late 20th/early 21st century, concerns arose that the development of the South Bay Expressway would hurt Bonita's rural nature.
Glen Abbey Memorial Park was designed by architects who did work on Balboa Park, and was designated a historic district in 2007.
North County
Oceanside
Demographics (2010): 48.3% White, 34.9% Hispanic, 7.6% Asian, 4.7% Black
Population (2010): 167,086
President: 56.51% R / 42.44% D (2004), 50.30% D / 47.82% R (2008), 49.50% D / 48.27% R (2012), 50.94% D / 42.65% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $46,301
% Bachelor's: 30.3%
Oceanside started as a beach town. Many of the residential areas that date between the 1890s and 1940s are preserved as historic buildings. When the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton went up in 1942, many military personnel called Oceanside home.
In the 1970s, Oceanside shifted from ammunition manufacturing to suburban development for people looking for relatively affordable housing. The California Surf Museum is located in Oceanside.
Escondido
Demographics (2010): 48.9% Hispanic, 40.4% White, 6.1% Asian, 2.5% Black
Population (2010): 143,911
President: 63.40% R / 35.65% D (2004), 53.07% R / 45.10% D (2008), 53.17% R / 44.67% D (2012), 49.26% D / 44.08% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $42,567
% Bachelor's: 23.6%
Escondido's population was primarily Hispanic in 1850. After statehood, non-Hispanic settlers moved in, especially during the "Southern California Land Boom" in the 1880s when the railroads came to town.
Escondido also started out as a town with agriculture as its main economic activity, especially muscat grapes. Later, after the completion of a dam, oranges, lemons, walnuts, and olives were grown. Avocados were the largest local crop by the 1960s.
From the 1970s on, the farms gave way to housing developments.
Carlsbad
Demographics (2010): 72.8% White, 14.3% Hispanic, 8.3% Asian, 0.9% Black
Population (2010): 105,328
President: 56.77% R / 42.30% D (2004), 49.39% D / 48.98% R (2008), 53.31% R / 44.76% D (2012), 52.12% D / 41.67% R (2016)
MHI (2018): $107,172
% Bachelor's: 59.6%
In the 1880s sailor John Frazier offered fresh water from a well at a train station named after him. Another well was found to have water chemically similar to spas, and the town was named after the spa in Karlsbad, Bohemia (modern day Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic). Frazier's well is still around, at Alt Karlsbad, a replica of a German Hanseatic house.
The Carlsbad Land and Mineral Water Company was formed, and growth came to the area as did agricultural development. It was incorporated in 1952 so Oceanside would not annex them.
The first modern skateboard park came to Carlsbad in 1976. Legoland California Resort came in 1999. Carlsbad is also home to the largest desalination plant in the country, which was finished in 2015.
Vista
Demographics (2010): 50.3% Hispanic, 40.1% White, 4.7% Asian, 3.1% Black
Population (2010): 93,834
President: 60.00% R / 39.01% D (2004), 49.05% R / 48.84% D (2008), 50.21% R / 47.31% D (2012), 51.59% D / 41.42% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $42,594
% Bachelor's: 23.1%
Vista started out as an agricultural town, when Frenchman Bernard Delpy built "Delpy Corners", where he and his nephew Jules Jacques built the first successful winery.
Later, after the local irrigation district secured a water supply from Lake Henshaw, rapid growth came along with expanded agriculture. In 1948, Vista was known as the "avocado capital of the world" before agriculture gave way to subdivisions.
San Marcos
Demographics (2010): 43.2% White, 40.2% Hispanic, 9.8% Asian, 2.9% Black
Population (2010): 83,781
President: 60.08% R / 39.13% D (2004), 49.72% R / 48.48% D (2008), 51.59% R / 46.26% D (2012), 51.52% D / 42.16% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $51,292
% Bachelor's: 36.0%
San Marcos was settled when Spanish troops came upon a fertile valley while pursuing Native Americans and named it Los Vallecitos de San Marcos (Little Valleys of Saint Mark) in honor of the discovery date of Saint Mark's Day, April 25. The first permanent settlement came later with Major Gustavus French Merriam. The Merriam homestead began producing wine and honey.
Later, German and Dutch immigrants moved into the area. Farming was most of the town's economy early on. The population grew rapidly in the second half of the 20th century, from 2,500 in the 1950s to almost 84,000 by 2010.
Encinitas
Demographics (2010): 79.5% White, 13.1% Hispanic, 3.8% Asian, 0.8% Black
Population (2010): 59,518
President: 54.54% D / 44.32% R (2004), 61.15% D / 36.99% R (2008), 56.39% D / 41.20% R (2012), 62.36% D / 31.00% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $63,954
% Bachelor's: 61.0%
Encinitas means "little oaks" in Spanish and was formed from the communities of old Encinitas, new Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain.
Old Encinitas is a beachside area with businesses and houses. New Encinitas has larger tract homes and larger houses. Leucadia has tree-lined streets, art galleries, and unusual stores. Olivenhain is semi-rural with equestrian facilities. Cardiff, like its British namesake, has streets named after British cities and classical composers.
Poway
Demographics (2010): 64.8% White, 18.1% Hispanic, 11.7% Asian, 1.5% Black
Population (2010): 47,811
President: 65.76% R / 33.39% D (2004), 58.06% R / 40.30% D (2008), 59.60% R / 38.44% D (2012), 48.94% R / 44.33% D (2016)
MHI (2000): $92,083
% Bachelor's: 47.8%
Poway started out as a rural community that would lead to its slogan "The City in the Country". American settlers came to the valley to farm, though the lack of easily accessible water kept growth and expansion down. After the Poway Municipal Water District was established in 1954 and the sewer system was built, the city became more residential.
Solana Beach
Demographics (2010): 73.6% White, 16.7% Hispanic, 5.8% Asian, 1.0% Black
Population (2010): 12,867
President: 49.64% D / 49.43% R (2004), 56.55% D / 41.86% R (2008), 51.03% D / 47.10% R (2012), 59.89% D / 34.58% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $71,774
% Bachelor's: 65.1%
Originally called Lockwood Mesa, Solana Beach developed rapidly after the Lake Hodges Dam went up in the late 1910s. As the population of the area boomed, access to the beach was made possible after water pressure, from a fire hose and water from the dam's spillway, was used to erode the earth to make the Fletcher Cove entry.
Growth continued throughout the 20th century through incorporation in 1986. Also, Solana Beach hosted Desi Arnaz's funeral.
In 2003, Solana Beach was the first city in the United States mainland to pass a ban on smoking on the public beaches. Many other coastal communities followed soon after.
La Colonia de Eden Gardens is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, dating to the 1920s when Mexican farmers wanted homes closer to the ranch owners that they worked for in Rancho Santa Fe.
Del Mar
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 4.2% Hispanic, 2.8% Asian, 0.2% Black
Population (2010): 4,347
President: 56.71% D / 42.04% R (2004), 63.51% D / 34.87% R (2008), 53.21% D / 45.03% R (2012), 61.83% D / 32.37% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $120,001
% Bachelor's: Unknown, likely high
Del Mar means "of the sea" in Spanish. In 1885 Colonel Jacob Taylor purchased land here with the goal of building a seaside resort catering to the rich and famous. Desi Arnaz, Tony Hawk, and George R. Lunn (first Socialist Mayor of New York as well as Congressman and Lieutenant Governor from New York) have called Del Mar home.
Fallbrook
Demographics (2010): 47.2% Hispanic, 45.7% White, 2.6% Black, 2.4% Asian
Population (2010): 30,534
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $43,778
% Bachelor's: 25.1%
Located immediately east of Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook is known for avocado groves, and claims to be the unofficial "Avocado Capital of the World", with an annual Avocado Festival downtown. Olives were also a major crop in the early 20th century, but were phased out after World War II as avocados took over.
Fallbrook is also known as "The Friendly Village" and was named after the former Pennsylvania homestead of Canadian immigrant Viral Reche.
Camp Pendleton South
Demographics (2010): 57.3% White, 26.7% Hispanic, 11.4% Black, 0.5% Asian
Population (2010): 10,616
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $32,829
% Bachelor's: 21.8%
Camp Pendleton South is southwest of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
San Diego Country Estates
Demographics (2010): 80.8% White, 13.3% Hispanic, 1.7% Asian, 1.0% Black
Population (2010): 10,109
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $77,547
% Bachelor's: 32.6%
Also known as "the Estates", San Diego Country Estates is a resort area in the San Vicente Valley. The valley got its name after Father Mariner of Mission San Diego de Alcalá proclaimed the valley as "constant and beautiful", and named it after Saint Vincent. In 1970 builder Raymond A Watt bought over 3,000 acres in the valley that would become San Diego Country Estates.
The Estates have also been near where wildfires such as the Cedar Fire in 2003 and the Witch Fire in 2007 started.
Valley Center
Demographics (2010): 69.1% White, 20.7% Hispanic, 4.4% Asian, 0.7% Black
Population (2010): 9,277
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $64,649
% Bachelor's: 29.8%
Valley Center originally didn't have a name when it was settled in 1845 and homesteaded in 1862 after the Homestead Act was signed. The capture and killing of the largest California Grizzly Bear, which tipped the scales at 2,200 pounds, in 1866 resulted in the naming of the community as Bear Valley, then Valley Centre before Valley Center.
Valley Center's economy is based on agriculture and has had slow growth because of the 2-acre minimum requirement for land parcels. Indian casinos in the are brought some changes, though there are still no chain department stores.
The History Museum has an exhibit of a Grizzly as its main attraction, as well as memorabilia from celebrities including John Wayne and Fred Astaire.
Camp Pendleton North
Demographics (2010): 62.3% White, 28.2% Hispanic, 3.4% Black, 3.0% Asian
Population (2010): 5,200
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $28,558
% Bachelor's: 33.1%
Camp Pendleton North is southeast of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, while it is relatively north of the community Camp Pendleton South.
Lake San Marcos
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 10.5% Hispanic, 3.0% Asian, 0.8% Black
Population (2010): 4,437
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $50,857
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Bonsall
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 22.4% Hispanic, 3.5% Asian, 1.7% Black
Population (2010): 3,194
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $60,625
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Originally called Mount Fairview and Osgood (named after railroad chief engineer Joseph Osgood), the community was renamed after minister James Bonsall.
Hidden Meadows
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 9.4% Hispanic, 9.1% Asian, 1.9% Black
Population (2010): 3,485
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $57,545
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Fairbanks Ranch
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 7.1% Hispanic, 6.6% Asian, 0.8% Black
Population (2010): 3,148
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): >$200,000
% Bachelor's: Unknown, likely high
The whole population of Fairbanks Ranch lives in two gated communities divided by a formerly private road. Author Dinesh D'Souza, actor Douglas Fairbanks ('Zorro'), and McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc (Ray's third wife) have lived here.
Rancho Santa Fe
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, .% Hispanic, .% Asian, .% Black
Population (2010): 3,117
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): >$200,000
% Bachelor's: Unknown, likely high
Rancho Santa Fe was renamed in 1922 after being known as Rancho San Dieguito. In the 1920s architect Lillian Rice developed the town's master plan in a low-density, high green space style that is unique in Southern California.
Bing Crosby hosted a golf tournament, the "Clambake", at the local country club. Tournaments matched professional golfers against Hollywood celebrities and drew large crowds. In 1947 the tournament was moved to Monterey.
Rainbow
Demographics (2010): Unknown % White, 36.3% Hispanic, 2.3% Asian, 1.0% Black
Population (2010): 1,832
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $40,938
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Originally called "Vallecitos", or "little valley", the valley was renamed "Rainbow Valley" after homesteader James Peebles Marshall Rainbow. Many palm tree farms are here.
East County
El Cajon
Demographics (2010): 57.1% White, 28.5% Hispanic, 6.0% Black, 3.8% Asian
Population (2010): 99,478
President: 61.51% R / 37.62% D (2004), 51.80% R / 46.59% D (2008), 52.05% R / 46.05% D (2012), 48.94% R / 45.38% D (2016)
MHI (2000): $35,566
% Bachelor's: 20.1%
El Cajon is the largest city in the East County. Its nickname is basically the same as its actual name, "The Box", so named because it appeared to be "boxed" in to the valley.
After the Civil War, Amaziah Lord Knox, a New Englander hired by Los Angeles developer Isaac Lankershim to manage the rancho, founded a hotel to serve the increased volume of travelers, including their horses, from San Diego to Julian when gold was discovered in the latter.
In the early 20th century, El Cajon was a prominent grape and citrus-growing area. A few decades later Frontier Town, Big Oak Ranch, was an Old West-themed tourist attraction. Cajon Speedway was founded by Earle Brucker Jr. and ran from 1961 to 2005, closing after Brucker's son Steve died. Now the racetrack, "the fastest 3/8 mile paved oval in the West", is a historic museum.
La Mesa
Demographics (2010): 55.5% White, 21.5% Hispanic, 8.0% Black, 5.8% Asian
Population (2010): 57,065
President: 50.70% R / 48.26% D (2004), 55.69% D / 42.48% R (2008), 55.25% D / 42.29% R (2012), 57.44% D / 35.83% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $41,693
% Bachelor's: 36.3%
Meaning "the table" or "the plateau" in Spanish, La Mesa is known as "the Jewel of the Hills".
Santee
Demographics (2010): 69.1% White, 18.1% Hispanic, 5.4% Asian, 2.1% Black
Population (2010): 53,413
President: 66.70% R / 32.32% D (2004), 58.98% R / 39.40% D (2008), 59.92% R / 37.77% D (2012), 56.43% R / 37.24% D (2016)
MHI (2000): $71,806
% Bachelor's: 28.9%
Bisected by the San Diego River, Santee was named after Milton Santee. Santee was married to Jennie Blodgett, whose first husband George Cowles was a pioneer rancher in the area. Sharon Davis, wife of former governor Gray Davis, is a Santee native.
Lemon Grove
Demographics (2010): 46.7% Hispanic, 28.9% White, 14.3% Black, 6.1% Asian
Population (2010): 25,650
President: 49.87% D / 48.99% R (2004), 58.45% D / 39.76% R (2008), 61.38% D / 36.43% R (2012), 61.90% D / 31.79% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $39,823
% Bachelor's: 17.6%
Lemon Grove got its name from Tempa Waterman Allison, wife of the first proprietor of the area, Robert Allison. Subtropical fruits and vegetables including lemons thrived in the local climate, which drew many farmers from further east.
In the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, Mexican American parents took the Lemon Grove school board to court, challenging the board's decision to build a seperate school for students of Mexican descent. Alvarez v. Lemon Grove was the first successful lawsuit against segregation in schools.
With post-war suburbanization, incorporation was a hot topic among residents in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Lemon Grove finally incorporated in 1977.
La Presa
Demographics (2010): 48.5% Hispanic, 24.7% White, 11.7% Asian, 11.1% Black
Population (2010): 34,169
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $45,939
% Bachelor's: 18.4%
Meaning "The Dam" in Spanish, La Presa was part of Spring Valley until 1990.
Spring Valley
Demographics (2010): 39.9% White, 36.2% Hispanic, 12.1% Black, 5.6% Asian
Population (2010): 28,205
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $48,271
% Bachelor's: 26.1%
Spring Valley was named after a local spring, later called El aguaje de San Jorge, or St. George's Spring, by the Spanish.
Rancho San Diego
Demographics (2010): 69.5% White, 19.6% Hispanic, 4.0% Asian, 2.6% Black
Population (2010): 21,208
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $68,185
% Bachelor's: 43.4%
Rancho San Diego started out as subdivisions in the 1970s.
Lakeside
Demographics (2010): 72.4% White, 18.6% Hispanic, 2.9% Black, 2.8% Asian
Population (2010): 20,648
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $48,910
% Bachelor's: 16.0%
Lakeside was founded after the El Cajon Valley Land Company purchased more than 6,000 acres of land around Lindo Lake and built the Victorian-style Lakeside Hotel in 1886. The community became connected to the railroads in 1889. In the early 1900s John H. Gay bought the hotel and built a racetrack around the lake. The racetrack and hotel eventually became popular among celebrities and millionaires and drew crowds of spectators on trains.
Lakeside had a rural, "cowboy" and "rodeo" feel for a long time.
Winter Gardens
Demographics (2010): 71.1% White, 20.4% Hispanic, 1.9% Black, 1.5% Asian
Population (2010): 20,631
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $45,791
% Bachelor's: 17.5%
Ramona
Demographics (2010): 59.1% White, 33.3% Hispanic, 3.5% Asian, 0.7% Black
Population (2010): 20,292
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $48,625
% Bachelor's: 22.6%
Originally called Nuevo (Spanish for "new"), the town became known as Ramona after a land speculation syndicate acquired land to build a town. They reverted to Nuevo to avoid confusion with a community in Los Angeles also named Ramona. However, that Ramona did not last, and Nuevo became known as Ramona again. A Mexican restaurant, Nuevo Grill, commemorates the town's original name.
When the town was named Ramona is unknown. It is thought that the town was named after the titular fictional character in Helen Hunt Jackson's best-seller Ramona. Ramona was inspired by the well-known novel written by Jackson's friend Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin.
The devastating Cedar Fire in October 2003 started in Ramona.
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
Demographics (2010): 63.6% White, 23.3% Hispanic, 5.9% Black, 3.2% Asian
Population (2010): 18,762
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $60,387
% Bachelor's: 42.5%
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix got its name from a neighborhood called Casa de Oro, and the prominent hill called Mount Helix. The community started out with a much shorter name, Helix, by Rufus King Porter, after the discovery of a European snail in nearby Spring Valley in the 1880s. Around the same time, Hubert Howe Bancroft bought the Porters' ranch and some surrounding areas that would be known as "Helix Farms". In the early 1900s, Helix Farms had the largest olive ranch in Southern California. Some of the olive trees from that time are still standing today.
Bostonia
Demographics (2010): 51.4% White, 34.5% Hispanic, 8.6% Black, 2.0% Asian
Population (2010): 15,379
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $37,148
% Bachelor's: 16.0%
Part of the El Cajon area, Bostonia was home to the Boston Ranch in the El Cajon Valley. It is unknown if the namesake of the ranch was Boston, Massachusetts.
Alpine
Demographics (2010): 60.4% White, 10.9% Hispanic, 1.8% Asian, 1.2% Black
Population (2010): 14,236
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $61,832
% Bachelor's: 32.6%
Alpine got its name from a resident who suggested the community be named after the environment in her native Switzerland. Some suburban development has come recently, though ranches and small farms are still common.
Jamul
Demographics (2010): 75.1% White, 19.3% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, 2.1% Black
Population (2010): 6,163
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $87,309
% Bachelor's: 42.8%
Jamul means "foam" in the language of the Tipai Kumeyaay tribe. The tribe proposed a new hotel and casino in their sovereign land that was built in spite of opposition on the grounds of traffic going through the middle of the town.
Eucalyptus Hills
Demographics (2010): 74.3% White, 14.4% Hispanic, 2.7% Asian, 2.1% Black
Population (2010): 5,313
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2018): $92,422
% Bachelor's: 36.5%
Harbison Canyon
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 16.2% Hispanic, 1.8% Asian, 0.3% Black
Population (2010): 3,841
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $56,975
% Bachelor's: Unknown
The town of Harbison Canyon was named after John Stewart Harbison, a beekeeper who brought 110 bee colonies from his family's western Pennsylvania farm to San Diego. Harbison, the "King of the Beekeepers", eventually became the largest producer of honey in the world from his 2,000-3,000 hives, and sold bees to residents. This resulted in San Diego County becoming the largest honey-producing county in the state, and California the largest honey-producing state.
The Cedar Fire in October 2003 hit Harbison hard, destroying more than 80% of the homes there. Harbison received considerable attention from the media and a visit by outgoing Governor Gray Davis (D), Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), and President George W. Bush (R). Harbison was later rebuilt with support from organizations, including the New York Says Thank You Foundation that was created from support given to New York after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Borrego Springs
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 35.5% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% Black
Population (2010): 3,429
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $37,045
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Borrego Springs, in the westernmost extent of the Sonoran Desert, is completely surrounded by the largest state park, Anza-Borrego (named after Juan Bautista de Anza and "Borrego", lamb in Spanish. The town is recognized as an International Dark Sky Community and is a center for many public astronomy activities.
Borrego Springs has no stop lights. A landmark in the town is the traffic roundabout known as Christmas Circle between the center of town and the airport.
Granite Hills
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 13.2% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, 1.4% Black
Population (2010): 3,035
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $73,269
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Campo
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 29.6% Hispanic, 4.2% Black, 1.2% Asian
Population (2010): 2,684
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): 2,684
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Campo was a military town during World War II and home to the Buffalo Soldiers. It was known as Camp Lockett and hosted a camp for Italian prisoners of war. The United States Military continues some activities there, at the La Posta Mountain Warfare Training Facility.
Crest
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 12.3% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, 0.9% Black
Population (2010): 2,593
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $56,728
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Crest got its name from the former communities in the north, La Cresta, and south, Suncrest. It is on a hill just east of El Cajon.
Pine Valley
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 10.2% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Black
Population (2010): 1,510
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $71,949
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Pine Valley is named for the locally unique strand of Jeffrey pine found along the drainage Pine Valley Creek.
Julian
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 13.0% Hispanic, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Black
Population (2010): 1,502
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): $44,681
% Bachelor's: Unknown
Julian is an historical town, having been settled in 1869. The town was named after the "better looking" Mike Julian, former Confederate soldier and later San Diego County Assessor. Gold was found by former slave Fred Coleman in a creek just west of the town that was later named after him.
The majority of San Diego County's black population in the late 1800s lived in or around the town.
In the 20th century, it was found that Julian would not have enough water for major development. A long-lasting drought stunted the town's growth.
In 1991 the first fast food restaurants, Dairy Queen and Subway, set up shop in Julian after the community lost its bids to stop fast food restaurants from being built.
Another drought at the turn of the millennium resulted in the catastrophic Cedar Fire of 2003, which occurred at the same time as the devastating fires in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The main parts of the town survived the fires and became more geared to tourists visiting the mountains.
Julian is also known for apple pie and an Apple Days Festival.
Descanso
Demographics (2010): Unknown White, 10.5% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Black
Population (2010): 1,423
President: .% R / % D (2004), .% R / % D (2008), .% R / % D (2012), .% R / % D (2016)
MHI (2000): Unknown
% Bachelor's: Unknown
This small mountain community is home to many San Diego commuters. Its name means "rest from labor" in Spanish. It is popular with hikers and horseback riders because of its closeness to the San Diego back-country.
