Bonita, California

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View east from Bonita Downs toward Mount Miguel.

Bonita is an unincorporated community in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. It is also a Census-designated place defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Climate
4 Government
5 Educational institutions
6 Parks and recreation
7 Clubs and organizations
8 Events
9 Census Data
10 External links

[edit] Geography

Location of Bonita, in red, within San Diego County.

While Bonita is politically designated as an unincorporated community, bounded by the incorporated cities of Chula Vista, San Diego, and National City the community of Bonita is more closely associated with the geography of the Lower Sweetwater Valley. Thus considered, Bonita occupies about a five mile (8 km) stretch of the Sweetwater River, its valley, and surrounding hills on either side, bounded upstream (east) by the Sweetwater Reservoir, and downstream (west) effectively by Interstate 805. The community crosses west of I-805 -- an area less than 160 acres (0.6 km²) -- reaching as far south and west as East H Street and Hilltop Drive. Its northern boundary is California State Route 54 and its southern extent reaches approximately one mile (2 km) south of the river.

Large portions of modern Bonita consist of housing tracts built throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including:

Bonita Downs
Bonita Glen
Bonita Highlands
Bonita Long Canyon
Bonita Woods
Emerald Ranch
Lynwood Hills

[edit] History

In 1888, the Sweetwater Dam was built, creating the Sweetwater Reservoir and forever changing the geography of the region. Soon after, in 1906, the dam broke as a result of extensive rains which overfilled the reservoir, and the Bonita Valley was completely flooded.

Bonita has experienced minor flooding throughout history, generally as a result of high seasonal rains attributed to El Niño. The floods most affect the Central Avenue river crossing, as no bridge has ever been built, unlike the Bonita Road and Willow Road crossings which are bridges, the former of which was rebuilt in the late 1990s.

In the 1990s and 2000s, the development of California State Highway 125 (SR-125, The South Bay Expressway) became a major issue to Bonita residents, much as Interstate 805 and California State Highway 54 did during their development. For many years, residents protested the development, but to no avail. The new highway has plans to be opened in early 2007, and homes in the eastern part of the community have been removed to make way for the highway. Hopes are that the highway will reduce the significant increase in car traffic the community has seen since the 1980s when the eastern Chula Vista communities surrounding Eastlake were developed.

The Bonita Historical Museum is the principal repository of historical information for the Lower Sweetwater Valley.

[edit] Climate

The climate in Bonita is a combination of the coastal and inland valley climates of San Diego County. Warmer (and sunnier during the May Gray and June Gloom periods) than areas directly adjacent to San Diego Bay or the coast, but not as hot as inland valleys such as El Cajon, or even nearby Spring Valley. In summer, Bonita's climate is pleasant.

[edit] Government

As of July 2005, government representation for Bonita is as follows:

San Diego County District 1 (Greg Cox)
California State Assembly District 78 (Shirley Horton)
California State Senate District 40 (Denise Moreno Ducheny) & District 36 (Dennis Hollingsworth)
United States House of Representatives District 51 (Bob Filner)

[edit] Educational institutions

The following schools serve (or served) the local Bonita community:

Chula Vista Elementary School District
- Ella B. Allen Elementary School
- Southwestern Satellite School (closed)
- Sunnyside Elementary School
- Tiffany Elementary School (Chula Vista)
- Valley Vista Elementary School
Sweetwater Union High School District
- Bonita Vista Middle School (Chula Vista)
- Bonita Vista High School (Chula Vista)
Southwestern College (Chula Vista)

[edit] Parks and recreation

View over Sweetwater Reservoir toward Mt. Miguel.

To visitors and residents alike, one of the most visible features of Bonita recreational life is the walking trail which loops the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course in central Bonita. Hundreds of residents walk, run, and ride this trail each and every day for pleasure and fitness, and the trail has become a vital component of Bonita life for many residents.

In the late 1990s the Sweetwater Regional Park was expanded and significantly improved, extending the walking and equestrian trails to an even greater number, and introducing a camping area at Summit Meadow Road. Now, virtually the entire valley from the reservoir to I-805 formally serve recreational purposes as either park or golf course.

Equestrianism has long been a part of the Bonita community, and many trails exist throughout the Lower Sweetwater Valley. There are a number of connections to trails external to Bonita as well. In fact many residents still keep their own horses and can be seen riding the trails regularly. The Bonita Valley Trails organization monitors and supports the network of trails throughout the valley.

The following parks serve the Bonita community:

Fred H. Rohr Park
Sweetwater Regional Park
Sweetwater Reservoir Riding and Hiking Trail
Bonita Golf Course
Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course

[edit] Clubs and organizations

Bonita Agua Dulce 4-H Club
Bonita Business and Professional Association
Bonita Kiwanis Club
Bonita Optimist Club
Bonita Rebels (soccer club)
Bonita Road Runners
Bonita Valley Garden Club
Bonita Valley Trails
Las Primeras (charity organization)
Sweetwater Valley Civic Association
Sweetwater Valley Little League
Sweetwater Women's Club
Sunnyside Saddle Club

[edit] Events

Bonitafest is an annual community event, held in early autumn, highlighted by a parade and street fair along Bonita Road which includes crafts, music, entertainment, and food. The Kiwanis Club hosts a Bonitafest Golf Tournament in conjunction with this event.

[edit] Census Data

View south across Bonita Valley.

Bonita is located at 32°39′30″N, 117°2′7″W (32.658420, -117.035336)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bonita has a total area of 13.2 km² (5.1 mi²). 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.54%) is water.

As of the 2000 census^GR2, there were 12,401 people, 4,179 households, and 3,397 families residing in Bonita. The population density was 977.2/km² (2,533.3/mi²). There were 4,281 housing units at an average density of 337.3/km² (874.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.99% White, 3.11% African American, 0.56% Native American, 8.54% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 10.64% from other races, and 4.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.47% of the population.

There were 4,179 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.22.

In Bonita the population is spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,109, and the median income for a family was $79,333. Males had a median income of $50,495 versus $39,653 for females. The per capita income for Bonita is $31,131. About 2.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.