East County is a region of San Diego County, California, east of San Diego.
Geography East County does not have an official geographic definition, although East County boundaries are unofficially drawn by the County of San Diego for its second district.See, e.g., District 2 Boundaries It commonly includes El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee, as well as suburban and rural unincorporated communities such as Lakeside, Spring Valley, Jamul, and Alpine. Many sources also include vast swaths of the backcountry of San Diego County also known as the Mountain Empire, including communities along Interstate 8 such as Pine Valley and Descanso, and communities along the rural section of California State Route 94 such as Potrero, Boulevard, and Jacumba.See, e.g., East County Magazine neighborhoods, . Retrieved 19 March 2011. Other sources consider communities within the entire eastern two-thirds of the county to be East County, thereby encompassing places like Ramona, Julian, and Borrego Springs.See, e.g., Mellin, Maribeth, and Onstott, Jane. Insider's Guide to San Diego. 5th ed. Morris Book Publishing. 2010. p. 8See also Vaughn, Jacqueline, and Cortner, Hanna J. Funding Fire: A Losing Proposition? The California Journal of Politics and Policy. Vol. 2, Issue 1. 2010. p.10. The Ramona area—Ramona, San Diego Country Estates and Barona Mesa—is often considered part of inland North County due to its association with Rancho Bernardo, Escondido and other North County Inland communities.North County Times: Coastal and Inland cities
The populace of East County primarily dwells in the interior valleys east of San Diego proper while some development encroaches on the coastal foothills.
A broader definition of East County exists that includes the Cuyamaca Mountains and the Laguna Mountains, as well as the desert area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.Mellin, Maribeth, and Onstott, Jane. Insider's Guide to San Diego. 5th ed. Morris Book Publishing. 2010. p. 8 Yet, this definition, when used by SANDAG, excludes the East Suburban centers.
Prominent geologic formations include El Cajon Mountain, a large, dome-shaped mountain overlooking Santee and Lakeside.
Demographics East County is the fourth most populous region in the San Diego metropolitan area, though its population is close to that of South Bay.
Populated places Populations listed are from the 2020 census:
Incorporated cities +Incorporated Cities in East County, San Diego City Population El Cajon 106,215 La Mesa61,121 Santee 60,037 Lemon Grove 27,627
Census-designated places + Census-designated places in East County, San Diego Census-designated place Population La Presa35,033Spring Valley 30,998Winter Gardens 22,380 Rancho San Diego21,858Lakeside 21,152Casa de Oro-Mount Helix 19,576 Bostonia 16,882 Alpine 14,696 Jamul 6,179 Eucalyptus Hills 5,517 Harbison Canyon 4,048 Granite Hills 3,267 Crest 2,828
Other unincorporated communities Dehesa Flinn Springs
Former communities Foster
Education
Primary and secondary schools East County is served by Santee School District, Grossmont Union High School District, Cajon Valley Union School District, Lakeside Union School District, Lemon Grove School District.
Higher education Grossmont College, located in El Cajon, and Cuyamaca College, located in Rancho San Diego, are two community colleges in the East County region. San Diego Christian College is located in Santee.
Landmarks Important landmarks in East County included El Capitan, Mt. Helix, Santee Lakes, Sweetwater Reservoir, and Lake Cuyamaca.
See also South Bay North County Mountain Empire
References
External links