East County, San Diego
Encyclopedia
East County is a region of San Diego County, California
. It is east of the city of San Diego.
—El Cajon, La Mesa
, Santee
, and Lemon Grove—as well as suburban unincorporated communities such as Lakeside
, Spring Valley, Jamul, and Alpine
. Many sources also include vast swathes of the backcountry
of San Diego County also known as the Mountain Empire
, including communities along Interstate 8
such as Pine Valley
and Descanso
, and communities along the rural section of California State Route 94
such as Potrero
, Boulevard
, and Jacumba. Other sources consider communities within the entire eastern two-thirds of the county to be East County, thereby encompassing places like Ramona
, Julian
, and Borrego Springs, although the Ramona urban area—Ramona, San Diego Country Estates and Barona Mesa—is often considered part of inland North County.
The populace of East County primarily dwells in the interior valleys east of San Diego proper while some development encroaches the coastal foothills.
A broader definition of East County exists that includes the Cuyamaca Mountains
, Laguna Mountains
, and Palomar Mountain
, as well as the desert area of Anza-Borrego State Park. Yet, this definition, when used by SANDAG, excludes the East Suburban centers.
Prominent geologic formations include El Capitan, a large dome-shaped mountain overlooking Santee and Lakeside.
most populous region in the San Diego metropolitan area, though its population is almost equivalent to that of South Bay.
, Grossmont Union High School District
, Cajon Valley Union School District, Lakeside Union School District, Lemon Grove School District, and La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.
and Cuyamaca Community College are two community college
's located in El Cajon. San Diego Christian College
is located in El Cajon.
, El Capitan, Mt. Helix, Santee Lakes, Sweetwater Reservoir
and Lake Cuyamaca.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is east of the city of San Diego.
Geography
East County does not have an official geographic definition. It commonly includes the four cities east of San Diego and South BaySouth Bay, San Diego
South Bay is a region in southwestern San Diego County, California consisting of the communities and cities of Bonita, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lincoln Acres, National City, and South San Diego....
—El Cajon, La Mesa
La Mesa, California
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
, Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
, and Lemon Grove—as well as suburban unincorporated communities such as Lakeside
Lakeside, California
Lakeside is a Census Designated Place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.- History :...
, Spring Valley, Jamul, and Alpine
Alpine, California
Alpine is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Alpine had a population of 14,236 at the 2010 census, up from 13,143 at the 2000 census.Alpine is the residence of former United States Representative Duncan Hunter...
. Many sources also include vast swathes of the backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
of San Diego County also known as the Mountain Empire
Mountain Empire, San Diego
The Mountain Empire is a rural area in southeastern San Diego County, California. The Mountain Empire subregion consists of the backcountry communities in southeastern San Diego County...
, including communities along Interstate 8
Interstate 8
Interstate 8 is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. It runs from the southern edge of Mission Bay at Sunset Cliffs Blvd, in San Diego, California, almost at the Pacific Ocean, to the junction with Interstate 10, just southeast of Casa Grande, Arizona...
such as Pine Valley
Pine Valley, California
Pine Valley is a community and census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 1,510 at the 2010 census, up from 1,501 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and Descanso
Descanso, California
Descanso is a small census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California and part of California's 52nd congressional district. Descanso is located east of Alpine and west of Pine Valley. The population was 1,423 at the 2010 census.The community's name...
, and communities along the rural section of California State Route 94
California State Route 94
State Route 94 in the U.S. state of California is the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway from Interstate 5 in Downtown San Diego to the end of the freeway portion past Route 125 in Spring Valley; the non-freeway segment of SR 94 is Campo Road....
such as Potrero
Potrero, California
Potrero is a census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California.-Location:State Route 94 connects Potrero by road west to San Diego and east to Campo. Potrero is Spanish for 'pasture land'...
, Boulevard
Boulevard, California
Boulevard is a census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County. At the 2010 census, it had a population of 315...
, and Jacumba. Other sources consider communities within the entire eastern two-thirds of the county to be East County, thereby encompassing places like Ramona
Ramona, California
Ramona is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,292 at the 2010 census.The term Ramona also refers to an unincorporated community that includes both the Ramona CDP and the adjacent CDP of San Diego Country Estates CDP...
, Julian
Julian, California
Julian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...
, and Borrego Springs, although the Ramona urban area—Ramona, San Diego Country Estates and Barona Mesa—is often considered part of inland North County.
The populace of East County primarily dwells in the interior valleys east of San Diego proper while some development encroaches the coastal foothills.
A broader definition of East County exists that includes the Cuyamaca Mountains
Cuyamaca Mountains
The Cuyamaca Mountains, locally the Cuyamacas, are a mountain range in San Diego County, California. The mountains run roughly northwest to southeast. The highest elevations are Cuyamaca Peak at and Stonewall Peak at...
, Laguna Mountains
Laguna Mountains
The Laguna Mountains are a section of the Peninsular Ranges in eastern San Diego County, California. The mountains run in a northwest/southeast alignment for approximately ....
, and Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
, as well as the desert area of Anza-Borrego State Park. Yet, this definition, when used by SANDAG, excludes the East Suburban centers.
Prominent geologic formations include El Capitan, a large dome-shaped mountain overlooking Santee and Lakeside.
Demographics
East County is the fourthRegions of the San Diego metropolitan area
The Regions of the San Diego metropolitan area and San Diego County, as they cover the same area are:*The Anza Borrego, or Desert or Inland, region includes all of northeastern San Diego County, including Borrego Springs...
most populous region in the San Diego metropolitan area, though its population is almost equivalent to that of South Bay.
Incorporated
- El CajonEl Cajon, California-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
– 99,478 - La MesaLa Mesa, CaliforniaLa Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
– 58,065 - SanteeSantee, CaliforniaSantee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
– 53,413 - Lemon GroveLemon Grove, CaliforniaLemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 25,320 at the 2010 census, up from 24,918 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
– 25,230
Unincorporated CDPs
- JamulJamul, CaliforniaJamul is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Jamul had a population of 6,163 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau Jamul is located at ....
– 61,613 - La PresaLa Presa, CaliforniaLa Presa is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, United States. The population of was 34,169 at the 2010 census, up from 32,721 at the 2000 census...
– 34,126 - Spring Valley – 28,205
- Rancho San DiegoRancho San Diego, CaliforniaRancho San Diego is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 21,208 at the 2010 census, up from 20,155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rancho San Diego is located at ....
– 21,208 - Winter GardensWinter Gardens, CaliforniaWinter Gardens is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,631 at the 2010 census, up from 19,771 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Winter Gardens is located at ....
– 20,631 - LakesideLakeside, CaliforniaLakeside is a Census Designated Place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.- History :...
– 20,648 - Casa de Oro-Mount HelixCasa de Oro-Mount Helix, CaliforniaCasa de Oro-Mount Helix is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The CDP encompasses several neighborhoods in unincorporated parts of the county near the cities of El Cajon and La Mesa as well as part of the unincorporated community of Spring Valley...
– 18,762 - BostoniaBostonia, CaliforniaBostonia is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. A neighborhood comprising areas within the city limits of northeast El Cajon, as well as areas of unincorporated San Diego County bears the same name...
– 15,379 - AlpineAlpine, CaliforniaAlpine is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Alpine had a population of 14,236 at the 2010 census, up from 13,143 at the 2000 census.Alpine is the residence of former United States Representative Duncan Hunter...
– 14,236 - Harbison CanyonHarbison Canyon, CaliforniaHarbison Canyon is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Harbison Canyon had a population of 3,841 as of the 2010 census, up from 3,645 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:...
– 3,841 - Granite HillsGranite Hills, CaliforniaGranite Hills is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The name is also applied to a neighborhood within the city limits of El Cajon in the eastern part of that city...
– 3,035 - CrestCrest, CaliforniaCrest is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, California. The Crest census-designated place had a population of 2,593 at the 2010 census, down from 2,716 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
– 2,593
Primary and secondary schools
East County is served by Santee School DistrictSantee School District
Santee School District is the district that governs all public elementary schools in Santee, California...
, Grossmont Union High School District
Grossmont Union High School District
The Grossmont Union High School District is a public school district located in eastern San Diego County, California, and serves high school, adult school, and Regional Occupational Program students in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee; and the unincorporated communities of...
, Cajon Valley Union School District, Lakeside Union School District, Lemon Grove School District, and La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.
Colleges and universities
Grossmont CollegeGrossmont College
Grossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...
and Cuyamaca Community College are two community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
's located in El Cajon. San Diego Christian College
San Diego Christian College
San Diego Christian College is a private, evangelical Christian college located in El Cajon, California, in suburban San Diego, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.-History:In January 1970, Tim F...
is located in El Cajon.
Landmarks
Important landmarks in East County included Gillespie FieldGillespie Field
Gillespie Field is a county-owned public-use airport located 10 miles northeast of the central business district of San Diego, in El Cajon, San Diego County, California, United States....
, El Capitan, Mt. Helix, Santee Lakes, Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir is a artificial lake in San Diego County, California formed by the Sweetwater Dam on the Sweetwater River. It lies near the city of Spring Valley....
and Lake Cuyamaca.
See also
- South BaySouth Bay, San DiegoSouth Bay is a region in southwestern San Diego County, California consisting of the communities and cities of Bonita, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lincoln Acres, National City, and South San Diego....
- North County
- Mountain EmpireMountain Empire, San DiegoThe Mountain Empire is a rural area in southeastern San Diego County, California. The Mountain Empire subregion consists of the backcountry communities in southeastern San Diego County...