| City of El Cajon | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location in San Diego County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Diego |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 14.433 sq mi (37.381 km2) |
| • Land | 14.433 sq mi (37.381 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 99,478 |
| • Estimate (2011) | 100,116 |
| • Density | 6,892.4/sq mi (2,661.2/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP codes | 92019-92022, 92090 |
| Area code(s) | 619 |
| FIPS code | 06-21712 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652701 |
| Website | http://www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us/ |
El Cajon ( /ɛlkəˈhoʊn/; Spanish: [elkaˈxon]) is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 99,478 at the 2010 census and grew to 100,116 in 2011[2]. Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, the city has acquired the nickname of "The Big Box".[3] Its name originated similarly, from the Spanish phrase "el cajón", which means "the big box" or "the drawer".
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El Cajon is located at (32.798300, -116.960055).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 square miles (37 km2), all land. It is bordered by San Diego and La Mesa on the west, Spring Valley on the south, Santee on the north, and unincorporated San Diego County on the east. It includes the neighborhoods of Fletcher Hills, Bostonia, and Rancho San Diego.
Under the Köppen climate classification system, El Cajon straddles areas of Mediterranean climate (CSa) and Semi-arid climate (BSh). As a result, its often described as "arid Mediterranean" and "Semi-arid Steppe". Like most of inland areas in Southern California, the climate varies dramatically within a short distance, known as microclimate. El Cajon's climate has greater extremes compared to coastal San Diego. The farther east from the coast, the more arid the climate gets, until one reaches the mountains, where precipitation increases due to orographic uplift.[5]
El Cajon's climate is warm during summer with mean temperatures averaging 70.1 °F (21.2 °C) or higher and cool during winter with mean temperatures averaging 55.4 °F (13.0 °C) or higher.
The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 88.1 °F (31.2 °C), while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 40.3 °F (4.6 °C).
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate with an average difference of 24°F (13°C) during the summer, and an average difference of 26°F (14°C) during the winter.
The annual average precipitation at El Cajon is 11.96 inches (30.4 cm). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the winter months, but rare in summer. The wettest month of the year is March with an average rainfall of 2.66 inches (6.8 cm).
The record high temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) on June 14, 1917; September 1, 1955; July 22, 2006; and September 27, 2010. The record low temperature was 19 °F (−7 °C) on January 8, 1913. The wettest year was 1941 with 28.14 inches (71.5 cm) and the dryest year was 1989 with 1.51 inches (3.8 cm). The most rainfall in one month was 11.43 inches (29.0 cm) in January 1993. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.60 inches (14.2 cm) on January 27, 1916. A rare snowfall in November 1992 totaled 0.3 inches (0.76 cm).[6] 3 inches of snow covered the ground in January 1882.
| Climate data for El Cajon, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
69 (21) |
70 (21) |
74 (23) |
76 (24) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
88 (31) |
87 (31) |
80 (27) |
74 (23) |
68 (20) |
76.9 (25.0) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 42 (6) |
44 (7) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
55 (13) |
59 (15) |
62 (17) |
64 (18) |
61 (16) |
55 (13) |
45 (7) |
40 (4) |
51.9 (11.1) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.47 (62.7) |
2.57 (65.3) |
2.66 (67.6) |
0.79 (20.1) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.06 (1.5) |
0.04 (1) |
0.06 (1.5) |
0.15 (3.8) |
0.46 (11.7) |
1.18 (30) |
1.36 (34.5) |
11.96 (303.8) |
| Source: The Weather Channel Data[7] | |||||||||||||
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 (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, 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.[8][9]
El Cajon was incorporated as a city in 1912.[10] 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.
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 races, and 6,832 (6.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28,036 persons (28.2%).[11]
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 94,869 people, 34,199 households, and 23,152 families residing in the city. The population density 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, 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 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 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.
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of El Cajon in 2005 was $47,885 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $38,884.
In the state legislature, El Cajon is located in the 36th Senate District, represented by Republican Joel Anderson, and in the 77th Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Jones. Federally, El Cajon is located in California's 52nd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +9[13] and is represented by Republican Duncan D. Hunter.
Westfield Parkway is located in El Cajon.
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grossmont–Cuyamaca Community College District | 1,490 |
| 2 | GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics | 648 |
| 3 | City of El Cajon | 464 |
| 4 | Taylor Guitars | 320 |
| 5 | Sears | 300 |
| 6 | Eldorado Care Center | 298 |
| 7 | Grossmont Union High School District | 278 |
| 8 | Home of Guiding Hands | 266 |
| 9 | Senior | 250 |
| 9 | Target | 250 |
| 10 | Country Hills Health Care & Rehabilitation Center | 247 |
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