Cuyamaca, California
Encyclopedia
Cuyamaca is a region of eastern San Diego County. It lies east of the Capitan Grande Indian Reservation in the western Laguna Mountains
, north of Descanso
and south of Julian
. Named for the 1845 Rancho Cuyamaca
Mexican land grant
, the region is now dominated by the 26000 acres (105.2 km²) Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
. Within the park is the prominent Cuyamaca Peak
, the second-highest mountain in San Diego County at 6512 feet (1,984.9 m). In 1889 Cuyamaca Dam was completed, creating Cuyamaca Reservoir. A wooden flume, now long gone, was constructed to carry water west toward San Diego. Before the Cedar Fire of 2003 the community of Cuyamaca consisted of approximately 145 homes on a mountain (North Peak) north of the reservoir.
The name is a Spanish
corruption of the Kumeyaay
phrase "'Ekwiiyemak", which means, according to Margaret Langdon
's translation, "Behind the clouds". It has also been translated as "the place where it rains", a reference to the region's higher average precipitation than San Diego County's low coastal areas. Cuyamaca is a popular toponym lending its name to streets, businesses and a community college
in the San Diego
area.
. Nearly 25000 acres (101.2 km²) in the state park and 120 homes in the community of Cuyamaca were incinerated. The historic Dyer Ranch house in the center of the state park, which functioned as a museum and the park headquarters, was also destroyed.
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 ....
, north of 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 south of 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...
. Named for the 1845 Rancho Cuyamaca
Rancho Cuyamaca
Rancho Cuyamaca was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Agustin Olvera. The grant extended south of present day Julian and encompassed Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Lake Cuyamaca, and Cuyamaca Peak.-History:Olvera remained in Los...
Mexican land grant
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
, the region is now dominated by the 26000 acres (105.2 km²) Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a state park located forty miles east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges. The park's 26,000 acres feature pine, fir, and oak forests, with meadows and streams that exist due to the relatively high elevation of the area compared...
. Within the park is the prominent Cuyamaca Peak
Cuyamaca Peak
Cuyamaca Peak is a mountain in San Diego County roughly from the Pacific Ocean, in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park east of San Diego and southwest of Julian...
, the second-highest mountain in San Diego County at 6512 feet (1,984.9 m). In 1889 Cuyamaca Dam was completed, creating Cuyamaca Reservoir. A wooden flume, now long gone, was constructed to carry water west toward San Diego. Before the Cedar Fire of 2003 the community of Cuyamaca consisted of approximately 145 homes on a mountain (North Peak) north of the reservoir.
The name is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
corruption of the Kumeyaay
Kumeyaay
The Kumeyaay, also known as Tipai-Ipai, Kamia, or formerly Diegueño, are Native American people of the extreme southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. They live in the states of California in the US and Baja California in Mexico. In Spanish, the name is commonly spelled...
phrase "'Ekwiiyemak", which means, according to Margaret Langdon
Margaret Langdon
Margaret Langdon was a linguist who studied and documented many languages of the American Southwest and California, including Kumeyaay, Northern Diegueño , and Luiseño....
's translation, "Behind the clouds". It has also been translated as "the place where it rains", a reference to the region's higher average precipitation than San Diego County's low coastal areas. Cuyamaca is a popular toponym lending its name to streets, businesses and a community college
Cuyamaca College
Cuyamaca Community College is a community college in the San Diego County community of Rancho San Diego, near El Cajon, California. Along with Grossmont College it serves the eastern suburbs in the San Diego area. Cuyamaca opened in 1978 and now offers 59 associate's degree programs and almost 66...
in the San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
area.
Cedar Fire
On October 27 and 28th, 2003 most of the Cuyamaca region was consumed by the Cedar FireCedar Fire
The Cedar Fire was a human-caused wildfire that burned out of control through a large area of San Diego County, in Southern California, in October 2003...
. Nearly 25000 acres (101.2 km²) in the state park and 120 homes in the community of Cuyamaca were incinerated. The historic Dyer Ranch house in the center of the state park, which functioned as a museum and the park headquarters, was also destroyed.