Mountain Empire, San Diego
Encyclopedia
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. The area is also sometimes considered part of the East County region of San Diego County.
and foothills between Interstate 8
and the U.S.-Mexico border east of Otay Mountain and west of Imperial County. The Pacific Crest Trail
has its southern terminus in Mountain Empire, along the international border just south of the town of Campo
. Portions of the Mountain Empire are located in the Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest
.
California State Route 94
and Interstate 8
are the primary highways through the region. Historic U.S. Route 80 also passes through the Mountain Empire, as does the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
.
. Regionally, it is served by East County Magazine, and locally by the Back Country Messenger.
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...
. The Mountain Empire subregion consists 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...
communities in southeastern San Diego County. The area is also sometimes considered part of the East County region of San Diego County.
Geography
The Mountain Empire occupies the largely hilly, rugged terrain of the Laguna MountainsLaguna 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 foothills between 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...
and the U.S.-Mexico border east of Otay Mountain and west of Imperial County. The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
has its southern terminus in Mountain Empire, along the international border just south of the town of Campo
Campo, California
Campo is a census-designated place located in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 2,684 at the 2010 census....
. Portions of the Mountain Empire are located in the Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
.
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....
and 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...
are the primary highways through the region. Historic U.S. Route 80 also passes through the Mountain Empire, as does the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels...
.
Communities
- BoulevardBoulevard, CaliforniaBoulevard 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...
- CampoCampo, CaliforniaCampo is a census-designated place located in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 2,684 at the 2010 census....
- DescansoDescanso, CaliforniaDescanso 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...
- Guatay
- Jacumba
- Lake Morena Village
- Pine ValleyPine Valley, CaliforniaPine 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:...
- PotreroPotrero, CaliforniaPotrero 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'...
- TecateTecate, CaliforniaTecate is an unincorporated community in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California, directly adjacent to the Mexican city of Tecate, Baja California. The area is best known for its border crossing between the United States and Mexico, and nearby Tecate Peak.The...
- Tierra del Sol
Education
The region is served by the Mountain Empire Unified School District, which consists of six elementary schools and Mountain Empire High School. The Mountain Empire Unified School District is geographically the largest school district in California, occupying over 600 square miles.Media
The Mountain Empire is served by countywide publications such as the San Diego Union-Tribune and the San Diego ReaderSan Diego Reader
The San Diego Reader is the largest alternative press paper in the county of San Diego, distributed free in stands and private businesses throughout the county, funded by advertisements...
. Regionally, it is served by East County Magazine, and locally by the Back Country Messenger.