City, San Diego County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 92019, 92020, 92021, 92022
Inland
city, about 12 miles from the ocean. Blue collar and middle-class suburban and,
in its west hills where many homes have views, affluent. www.mccormacks.com
Name
translates to The Box. Much of El Cajon (pronounced El Ka Hone) is built on a
valley floor surrounded by hills.
Like La
Mesa, its neighbor to the west, El Cajon down through the years has been
steadily improving itself. Some improvements are government driven —
redevelopment in the downtown which has brought in restaurants and shops, a
performing arts center, and the extension of the trolley line, which makes the
commute easier.
Click for regional or detailed map
Some are
driven by market forces. When home prices soared, many homeowners throughout
California borrowed against their equity and renovated and remodeled their
homes. This was especially true in communities like El Cajon that came to life
in the 1950s and 1960s, the first wave of modern suburbia. Another factor, also
driven by high prices, in-filling of lots bypassed in the first boom. The new
homes were generally bigger and built to the Mediterranean style popular today.
If you
wander a little north of downtown El Cajon you will come across streets that
have no sidewalks and mix run-down homes with machine shops and light industry.
But if you check your map you will find that you are not in El Cajon but a
large pocket of county unincorporated area. County governments, regionally
oriented, generally take a hands-off attitude toward urban revival; cities, the
opposite.
To judge
El Cajon by its labors, drive the streets south of Broadway, where most of the
1950s tracts were built. Some homes will need repair, the great majority will
come across as tidy and well maintained but nothing fancy. This is a section
that mows its own lawns. www.mccormacks.com
For the
upscale and the views, look to the streets north and south of the Fletcher
Parkway, on the west side. Many of the homes have views to the east and rising
sun; a few, to the west and the setting sun. Some of these blocks are in
transition, the older homes being renovated or replaced. The homes being
retained were built decades ago but to a much higher standard and often fall
into the category of large ranchers, well maintained. Fair amount of brush and
greenery; the steepness of the hills limits development.
For
another side of El Cajon, take a spin on east side where you find on ranchettes
or large homes on large flat lots decorated with boulders. The local high
school, with good reason, is called Granite Hills. Also in this section, on a
gently rising hill, are a Christian college and high school, well kept and just
in appearances a benefit to the neighborhood.
Lastly,
for the some of the newest tract housing, 10 to 20 years old, drive the streets
above Main-Broadway on the east side.
All in
all, a good mix, from exceedingly modest (the county streets near the
downtown), to improving middle class (most of the flatland housing), to upscale
and country.
And
housing prices that are going to be high (everything is high) but not as high
as found in many other parts of San Diego County. www.mccormacks.com
One of the
larger towns in San Diego County. Population 97,934. Median age of residents is
33. Those under age 18 make up 28 percent of population. Family town.
School
rankings, state comparison, range from 50th percentile to the 90th. Kids attend
schools in Cajon Valley Elementary district, then move up to schools in the
Grossmont district, also scores from the 50th to 90th percentile. See Schools.
In 2000,
the elementary district passed a $75 million bond to renovate its schools and
build a new one. In 2004, the high school district followed, approving a $274
million bond for renovation and construction, a good endorsement for schools.
Overall
crime rating in the suburban range. Seven homicides in 2004, four in 2003, two
in 2002, five in 2001, two in 2000, three in 1999, seven in 1998 and in
previous years, six, two, six and six, reports FBI. In 2004, residents voted in
a half-cent sales tax to build police and fire stations and an animal shelter.
In 2006, two young clerks shot and killed in liquor store holdup. See Crime.
Rental
units outnumber owner-occupied 60 percent to 40 percent. Among the
owner-occupied, that old favorite, the three-bedroom home, dominates, followed
by the four-bedroom. www.mccormacks.com
El Cajon
built about 1,600 units in the Forties, 6,600 in the Fifties, 7,300 in the
Sixties, and 11,400 in the Seventies, 5,800 in the Eighties, and about 1,900
units in the Nineties.
The state
in 2008 counted 35,545 housing units, of which 13,744 were single-family
detached, 1,566 single attached, 18,201 multiples and 2,034 mobile homes.
Interstate
8, which leads to downtown San Diego, splits El Cajon and connects to other
freeways. The commute is often congested but with the trolleys and buses El
Cajon moves faster than many other towns in the county.
Local
shopping plentiful. Parkway Plaza includes several department stores, including
a Wal-Mart, Mervyns and a Sears. Also in this section, a Target and several
discount-warehouse stores. Borders book store. All pump in sales-tax revenues
to run city operations. Kaiser
medical facility.
Regional
airport on the north side. If buying near the airport, or on its approaches,
ask neighbors about noise. Businesses, warehouses located near the airport.
Annual airshow. www.mccormacks.com
Established
cities — El Cajon incorporated in 1912 — usually do a good job on
recreation and social amenities. Nine parks, four swimming pools, miniature
golf course-amusement center, six recreation centers. Four public golf courses
nearby. Driving range near airport. Besides the performing arts center, which
seats about 1,100, El Cajon also has on its border Grossmont Community College
(many classes, activities). Mother Goose Parade, annual event, draws hundreds
of thousands. Ethnic fair. Oktoberfest. Aerospace museum. Summer Farmers Market
with live entertainment. Annual bike race. Cuyamaca Community College, south of El Cajon, has a
state-of-the-art sports complex that includes gym, track, fitness room,
aerobics arena. Casino to the east.
Local
champ: Greg Louganis, diver, Olympic gold medalist.
El Cajon
has spruced up its downtown with trees, brick crosswalks and slanted parking
and attracted more apartments (local shopping), sidewalk cafes, restaurants and
a variety of stores.
The
downtown, which includes the performing arts center, has been a work in a
progress for years. Car shows, summer farmer markets, Friday concerts.
East
county Chamber of Commerce (619) 440-6161. www.mccormacks.com
El Cajon
is experimenting with an unusual traffic light; it flashes yellow and informs
drivers that after yielding to opposite traffic they can turn left at certain
intersections. These intersections used red, green and green arrow. When the
green arrow cycled out, traffic often backed up in the left-turn lane. The
flashing yellow relieves the backup.
El Cajon
has approved the construction of a Home Depot but the project is snared in a
fight with another government agency — see you in court.
Venture
Christian High School relocating from downtown El Cajon to Fletcher Hills.
School
district and city went partners at new gym at downtown middle school. When
school is out, community can use gym.
Two
planes from Gillespie Field collided in 2006, raining debris on El Cajon and La
Mesa. Three men in planes killed; no one on ground injured. www.mccormacks.com
City
web site: www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us
