El Cajon, California
Encyclopedia
History
El Cajon is located on the Rancho El CajonRancho El Cajon
Rancho El Cajon was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico to María Antonia Estudillo de Pedrorena. The name means "the box" in Spanish, and refers to the valley between hills. The grant encompassed present day El Cajon, Bostonia,...
Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena
Miguel Pedrorena
Miguel Telesford Pedrorena or Miguel de Pedrorena was an early settler of San Diego, California-Life:Miguel Pedroena moved to San Diego in 1845. He married María Antonia Estudillo, daughter of José Antonio Estudillo and María Victoria...
. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox (1833-1918), a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling between San Diego and 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...
, where gold had been discovered in 1869. Room and board for a guest and horse cost $1 a night. The area became known as Knox's Corners and was later renamed.
El Cajon was incorporated as a city in 1912. A portion of the western boundary of the city follows the eastern boundary of a similar land grant, made under Spanish law (prior to Mexican independence) to the Mission San Diego de Alcala
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that El Cajon had a population of 99,478. The racial makeup of El Cajon was 68,897 (69.3%) White, 6,306 (6.3%) African American, 835 (0.8%) Native American, 3,561 (3.6%) Asian (1.7% Filipino, 0.5% Chinese, 0.4% Vietnamese, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Indian, 0.1% Korean, 0.6% Other), 495 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 12,552 (12.6%) from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6,832 (6.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28,036 persons (28.2%).
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 94,869 people, 34,199 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6,510.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,514.0/km²). There were 35,190 housing units at an average density of 2,415.0 per square mile (932.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.0% White, 5.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.5% of the population.
There were 34,199 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,566, and the median income for a family was $40,045. Males had a median income of $32,498 versus $25,320 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,698. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of GovernmentsSan Diego Association of Governments
The San Diego Association of Governments is an association of local San Diego County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the County, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and a County Supervisors, and also has capital planning and fare setting powers...
, the median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
of El Cajon in 2005 was $47,885 (not adjusted for inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
). When adjusted for inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
(1999 dollars; comparable to Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
data above), the median household income was $38,884.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
, El Cajon is located in the 36th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Dennis Hollingsworth
Dennis Hollingsworth
Dennis Clark Hollingsworth is an American politician who represented California's 36th State Senate district, which includes portions of San Diego and Riverside County, from 2002 to 2010. In 2000, Hollingsworth was elected to the Legislature as a member of the Assembly, and in 2002, Hollingsworth...
, and in the 77th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson is a California politician and Republican member of the California State Senate in the 36th Senate District. Before his election to the State Senate he was a member of the California Assembly representing the 77th Assembly District, and he also served on the Padre Dam Municipal Water...
. Federally, El Cajon is located in California's 52nd congressional district
California's 52nd congressional district
California's 52nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Diego County. The district consists of many of San Diego's suburbs, including Lakeside, Poway, Ramona, La Mesa, and Spring Valley....
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +9 and is represented by Republican Duncan D. Hunter
Duncan D. Hunter
Duncan Duane Hunter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter...
.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grossmont–Cuyamaca Community College District | 1,490 |
| 2 | GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics GKN GKN plc is a multinational automotive and aerospace components company headquartered in Redditch, United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and can trace its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.GKN is listed on the London Stock... |
648 |
| 3 | City of El Cajon | 464 |
| 4 | Taylor Guitars Taylor Guitars Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :... |
320 |
| 5 | Sears | 300 |
| 6 | Eldorado Care Center | 298 |
| 7 | 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... |
278 |
| 8 | Home of Guiding Hands | 266 |
| 9 | Senior Senior plc Senior plc is the holding company for a global group of firms in the manufacturing and engineering industries, headquartered in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.... |
250 |
| 9 | Target Target Corporation Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's... |
250 |
| 10 | Country Hills Health Care & Rehabilitation Center | 247 |
Elementary schools
- Anza Elementary
- Avocado Elementary
- Ballantyne (John) Elementary ( closed down in 2004)
- Blossom valley Elementary
- Bostonia Elementary
- Chase Avenue Elementary
- Crest Elementary
- Cuyamaca Elementary
- Fletcher Hills Elementary
- Flying Hills Elementary
- Fuerte Elementary
- Jamacha Elementary
- Johnson Elementary
- Lexington Elementary
- Literacy First Charter School
- Madison Elementary
- Magnolia Elementary
- Meridian Elementary
- Naranca Elementary http://www.cajonvalley.net/naranca/
- Pepper Dr. Elementary
- W.D. Hall Elementary
- Rios Elementary
- Vista Grande Elementary
- Rancho San Diego Elementary
- Literacy First Charter School
- Northmont Elementary
Middle schools
- Cajon Valley Middle School
- Emerald Middle School
- Greenfield Middle School
- Hillsdale Middle School
- Los Coches Creek Middle School
- Montgomery Middle School
High schools
- Chaparral High School
- Christian High SchoolChristian High School San DiegoChristian High School, part of the Christian Unified Schools of San Diego, is located in El Cajon, California. It offers a college preparatory education, with the goal to "prepare students who are academically and spiritually prepared to be a light in their community and who understand the nature...
- El Cajon Valley High SchoolEl Cajon Valley High SchoolEl Cajon Valley High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in El Cajon, California, which is in the eastern county of San Diego, and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Established in 1955, El Cajon Valley is the third of twelve high schools to be built in the...
- Granite Hills High SchoolGranite Hills High School (El Cajon, California)Granite Hills High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in El Cajon, California and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Opened in 1960, Granite Hills is one of thirteen high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District. GHHS is the home of the Eagles...
- Valhalla High SchoolValhalla High School (El Cajon, California)Valhalla High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in Rancho San Diego, a neighborhood near El Cajon, California. It serves approximately 1,700 students in grades nine through twelve. Opened in 1974, Valhalla is the tenth of 12 high schools established by the Grossmont Union High...
- Grossmont High SchoolGrossmont High SchoolGrossmont High School is the oldest high school in San Diego's east county, California. Its mascot is the Foothiller, so chosen because, at the time of the school’s construction, east county was much more isolated from the rest of San Diego than it is today and was often referred to as the...
- Steele Canyon High School
Famous residents
- Lester BangsLester BangsLeslie Conway "Lester" Bangs was an American music journalist, author and musician. He wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock 'n' roll criticism....
, Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
rock critic - William BengenWilliam BengenWilliam P. Bengen is an author and a certified financial planner, who published what has come to be referred to as The Four Percent Drawdown rule for withdrawal rates from retirement savings ....
, Certified Financial PlannerCertified Financial PlannerThe Certified Financial Planner designation is a professional certification mark for financial planners conferred by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc...
who proposed the 4 percent draw-down rule in retirement planningRetirement planningRetirement planning, in a financial context, refers to the allocation of finances for retirement. This normally means the setting aside of money or other assets to obtain a steady income at retirement... - Kurt BevacquaKurt BevacquaKurt Bevacqua is a former Major League Baseball player. He was chosen in the 12th round of the 1967 draft by the Cincinnati Reds and debuted in the big leagues in 1971 with the Cleveland Indians, ultimately playing for six different teams during his career. His final appearance was in with the...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Aaron BooneAaron BooneAaron John Boone is a former Major League Baseball infielder whose famous home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield won the 2003 American League Championship Series for the New York Yankees. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Washington...
, Current Major League Baseball Player - Bob BooneBob BooneRobert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Bret BooneBret BooneBret Robert Boone is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.-Personal life:Boone was born in El Cajon, California to Susan G. Roel and Bob Boone. He is a graduate of El Dorado High School and the University of Southern California. He is the grandson of former major leaguer Ray Boone and...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Tony ClarkTony ClarkAnthony Christopher Clark, known as Tony , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current MLB Network studio analyst....
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Kevin CorreiaKevin CorreiaKevin John Correia is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Early life:...
, Current Major League Baseball Player - William John CoxWilliam John CoxWilliam John Cox is an American public interest lawyer, retired prosecutor, author and political activist.- Background :...
(Billy Jack Cox), public interest attorney, author and political activist lived and served as a police officer in El Cajon between 1962 and 1968. - Dave DraveckyDave DraveckyDavid Francis Dravecky is a Christian motivational speaker, author, and former Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Amy FinleyAmy FinleyAmy Finley is a cook and writer who was the winner of the third season of The Next Food Network Star and was thus awarded a commitment to host a cooking show on the Food Network...
, "The Gourmet Next Door" Host On The Food Network Channel - Geoff GearyGeoff GearyGeoffrey Michael Geary is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.-Biography:...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Brian GilesBrian GilesBrian Stephen Giles is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During his career he played for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Marcus GilesMarcus GilesMarcus William Giles is a former Major League Baseball player. He played second base and batted right-handed. His older brother, Brian Giles, was an outfielder who also played in the Major Leagues.-Career:...
, Fomer Major League Baseball Player - Broc GloverBroc GloverBroc Glover was a leading motocross racer in the 1970s and early 1980s. Glover earned six AMA National Motocross Championships, a record which stood for nearly 20 years until 2003, when Ricky Carmichael finally eclipsed the mark...
, Professional Motocross Racer - Brian GrahamBrian GrahamFor the Scottish footballer, see Brian Graham Brian Graham is a former minor league baseball player, coach and manager and major league coach for the Cleveland Indians...
, Former Minor League Baseball Player - Ryan HansenRyan HansenRyan Hansen is an American actor, best known for having portrayed Dick Casablancas on Veronica Mars and Nolan in Friday the 13th...
, Actor - Mike HartleyMike HartleyMichael Edward Hartley is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of East Carolina University.Signed as an amateur free agent by the St...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - David JeremiahDavid JeremiahFor the article on the retired U.S. Navy admiral and former Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, see David E. Jeremiah.David P. Jeremiah is a conservative evangelical Christian author, evangelist, and currently the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, an evangelical...
, ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
minister - Jimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonJimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, Reigning five-time NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Champion - Rick Johnson, Motocross racer
- Joe Kennedy, Former Major League Baseball Player
- David Lee Volleyball Olympic Gold Medalist
- Greg LouganisGreg LouganisGregory "Greg" Efthimios Louganis is an American Olympic diver and author.He received the James E. Sullivan Award from the Amateur Athletic Union in 1984 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States....
, OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Diver - Mark MaloneMark MaloneMark M. Malone is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.-Playing career:Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California...
, Former NFL Football Player and Sportscaster - Glen MorganGlen MorganGlen Morgan is an American television producer, writer, and director.-Biography:Morgan is best known for his screen work with long-time writing partner James Wong, including The X-Files, Millennium, Space: Above and Beyond, the Final Destination series, The One, Willard, and the 2006 remake of...
, Film director - Swen NaterSwen NaterSwen Eric Nater is a retired Dutch professional basketball player, primarily in the ABA and NBA.-Basketball career:Nater helped John Wooden's UCLA Bruins win two NCAA titles....
, Former NBA Basketball Player - Grant RobertsGrant RobertsGrant William Roberts is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. A right-handed relief pitcher, Roberts pitched for the New York Mets from to . His career was derailed by injuries and a violation of baseball's steroid policy.-Early life and career:Roberts graduated from Grossmont High School...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Brant Rustich, Current Major League Baseball Player
- Julia Schultz, Former Model & Playmate For Playboy Magazine
- Brian SipeBrian SipeBrian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....
, Former NFL Football Player - Shane SpencerShane SpencerMichael Shane Spencer is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. In Major League Baseball, he played a total of 538 games for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and New York Mets, compiling 438 hits, 59 home runs, and 242 RBI...
, Former Major League Baseball Player - Tommy VardellTommy VardellThomas "Tommy" Arthur Vardell is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League.-College career:Tommy Vardell was a star running back for the Stanford Cardinal...
, Former NFL Football Player - Brandon WhittBrandon WhittBrandon Whitt is a third-generation race car driver. He has run in all three of NASCAR's top divisions...
, Current NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver - Katie WilkinsKatie WilkinsKatie Wilkins is a professional volleyball player. She has been a member of Team USA since 2002 and plays professionally for the Hungkuk Pink Spiders in South Korea's Hillstate Women's Volleyball League....
, Team USA Olympic Volleyball Player - James WongJames Wong (producer)James 'Jim' Wong is a Cantonese-American television producer, writer, and film director notable for his screen works of The X-Files, Space: Above and Beyond, Millennium, Final Destination 1 & 3, The One, and the remakes of Willard and Black Christmas along with writing partner Glen...
, Television producer - Barry ZitoBarry ZitoBarry Zito is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He previously played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award and made three All-Star teams....
, Current Major League Baseball Player - Jolene BlalockJolene BlalockJolene K. Blalock is an American film and television actress and model, perhaps best known for playing the Vulcan T'Pol on the UPN science fiction series Star Trek: Enterprise. The star of several feature films, she is a regular guest star in television films and series.- Early career :A popular...
, Model, Actress - Ron Lechien, Professional Motocross Racer