Bostonia, California

Last updated

Bostonia, California
Bostonia Store 1.jpg
Bostonia Store in the early 20th century, at 2nd & Broadway. The store was established in 1886, and closed in February 1960.
San Diego County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bostonia Highlighted.svg
Location in San Diego County and the state of California
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bostonia, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°49′8″N116°57′37″W / 32.81889°N 116.96028°W / 32.81889; -116.96028
Country Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of California.svg  California
County San Diego
Area
[1]
  Total
1.93 sq mi (4.99 km2)
  Land1.93 sq mi (4.99 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
486 ft (148 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
16,882
  Density8,765.32/sq mi (3,383.73/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific)
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
92021
Area code 619
FIPS code 06-07624
GNIS feature IDs 1656442, 2407889

Bostonia is a neighborhood in San Diego County, California, comprising part of the northeastern portion of the city of El Cajon, as well as adjacent unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The portion of Bostonia that lies outside the El Cajon city limits is classified as a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau. The population of the CDP was 16,882 at the 2020 census, up from 15,379 at the 2010 census.

Contents

History

Agriculture

Former Virginia agriculturalist Eugene Halstead of San Diego planted a crop of tobacco in Bostonia in 1896 and said later that the tobacco was "superior in some respects to that of the Cuban plantations," one "serious drawback" to cultivation being the scarcity of rain in the area. [3]

Civic events

In 1898, David G. Gordon was appointed postmaster in Bostonia to replace Joseph Donald, who had resigned. [4] C.O. Graves held the office in 1903. [5] In 1914, William M. Wright was appointed postmaster to replace R.W. Foffland, who had resigned. [6]

In 1928, Murray Wright was president of the Bostonia Chamber of Commerce. [7]

In that same year, civic leaders in Bostonia planned to name a local observation as "Grape Day" which led some in neighboring Escondido to complain that their city already had an event under the same name. They were mollified when Bostonians said they would call their event "Home Products Day" instead. [8] [9]

Crime

"Firebugs" believed by Sheriff Conklin to have been members of the Industrial Workers of the World, "German sympathizers" or "disgruntled employees," torched the Meridian School building, a large packing house and two stables of the Bostonia Fruit Growers and Packers Association on October 6, 1917. Waste soaked in oil or phosphorus was found in what remained of the buildings, which burned to the ground. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Shoot-out

Sheriff's deputies engaged in a short gun battle in Bostonia and captured a suicidal man who had threatened a bank in Lakeside, California, with ten pounds of dynamite and fled with his loot. [14] [15]

Annexation

In May 1953 residents of the southern portion of Bostonia approved annexation to the city of El Cajon, California, by a vote of 315 to 271. [16] [17]

Swap meet

In 1981 a group of Bostonia residents organized to complain about the disruption caused by historic El Cajon Swap Meet, reputedly the "granddaddy of all the nation's swap meets. They said the weekend operation had grown beyond the "small-time affair it once was," turning the usually quiet area into a "mob scene." [18]

Fire district and fires

A petition was submitted in 1977 by owners of 112 acres within the 480-acre Bostonia Fire Protection District to secede and join the Santee district. It was denied by the Local Agency Formation Commission. [19]

In 1986, a fire in nearby El Cajon killed two and injured five residents at a home for the aged despite the fact that it broke out only a hundred yards from a station within the Bostonia Fire Protection District. [20] [21]

The Bostonia firefighters were prevented from battling the blaze because the district had no mutual-aid agreement with El Cajon, whose firefighters arrived three minutes after the fire was reported. El Cajon Fire Chief Art Melbourne said that Bostonia firefighters did give help but declined to say exactly what it was. [20]

El Cajon Fire Chief Roger House said that Bostonia was not part of any agreement because it did not meet the requirements for belonging, including round-the-clock staffing and a certain kind of equipment. [22]

Geography

The center of the community is near the intersection of North 2nd Street and Broadway in the city of El Cajon. Bostonia Street, the Bostonia Post Office, the former Bostonia Ballroom, Bostonia Elementary School and the Bostonia Fire Station are all within 2,000 feet (610 m) of this location and all, except the fire station, are within the city of El Cajon. This is the area identified on most maps as Bostonia. However, the census-designated place of Bostonia is entirely outside the city limits of El Cajon, in an unincorporated area of County. The CDP comprises most of unincorporated El Cajon[ clarification needed ] north of Broadway and east of State Route 67, and a small area west of State Route 67. Mail sent to all parts of Bostonia is addressed to El Cajon.

According to the United States Census Bureau Bostonia is located at 32°49′18″N116°57′0″W / 32.82167°N 116.95000°W / 32.82167; -116.95000 (32.821612, -116.949905). [23] This is approximately one mile northwest of where the USGS places Bostonia, near the geographic center of the CDP. The CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all land.

Ecology

Bostonia was home to numerous populations of Ambrosia pumila , a rare, clonal plant narrowly distributed in southern California and Baja California. Most populations of Ambrosia pumila in Bostonia grew on vacant lots, backyard strips, and gravel roads, and many since have been extirpated by development. Additionally, Artemisia palmeri , a sagebrush nearly endemic to San Diego County, was once found in the neighborhood. [24] Other plants historically collected from Bostonia include Primula clevelandii, [25] Sidalcea malviflora, [26] Sisyrinchium bellum [27] and Viola pedunculata . [28]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1990 13,670
2000 15,16911.0%
2010 15,3791.4%
2020 16,8829.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [29]
1850–1870 [30] [31] 1880-1890 [32]
1900 [33] 1910 [34] 1920 [35]
1930 [36] 1940 [37] 1950 [38]
1960 [39] 1970 [40] 1980 [41]
1990 [42] 2000 [43] 2010 [44]

The statistics below include only the census-designated place, not the part of Bostonia within the city limits of El Cajon.

2010

At the 2010 census Bostonia had a population of 15,379. The population density was 7,973.4 inhabitants per square mile (3,078.5/km2). The racial makeup of Bostonia was 10,891 (70.8%) White, 1,011 (6.6%) African American, 102 (0.7%) Native American, 375 (2.4%) Asian, 89 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 1,781 (11.6%) from other races, and 1,130 (7.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,941 persons (25.6%). [45]

The census reported that 15,272 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 55 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 52 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,573 households, 2,028 (36.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,381 (42.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 976 (17.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 405 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 416 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 47 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,338 households (24.0%) were one person and 545 (9.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 3,762 families (67.5% of households); the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution was 3,813 people (24.8%) under the age of 18, 1,820 people (11.8%) aged 18 to 24, 4,157 people (27.0%) aged 25 to 44, 3,832 people (24.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (11.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

There were 5,893 housing units at an average density of 3,055.3 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,342 (42.0%) were owner-occupied and 3,231 (58.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%. 6,071 people (39.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,201 people (59.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 15,169 people, 5,640 households, and 3,778 families in the CDP. The population density was 7,810.2 inhabitants per square mile (3,015.5/km2). There were 5,819 housing units at an average density of 2,996.1 per square mile (1,156.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.81% White, 3.98% African American, 0.90% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 7.79% from other races, and 5.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.63%. [46]

Of the 5,640 households 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 24.3% of households were one person and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median household income was $37,148, and the median family income was $41,727. Males had a median income of $32,240 versus $26,335 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,328. About 9.1% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

A new Episcopal Church (United States) was dedicated in Bostonia on July 28, 1895, the Rev. H.B. Restarick officiating. [47] Later, Alfred Fletcher took charge of the church under Restarick, who had become dean. [48] W.J. Cleveland took over as rector in November 1910. [49]

Government

In the California State Legislature, Bostonia is in the 38th Senate District , represented by Democrat Catherine Blakespear, and in the 71st Assembly District , represented by Republican Kate Sanchez. [50]

In the United States House of Representatives, Bostonia is in California's 50th congressional district , represented by Democrat Scott Peters. [51]

Education

The Riverview School District was separated from the Bostonia District (which included Lakeside) in 1919. [52]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alondra Park, California</span> Place in California, United States

Alondra Park, also known as El Camino Village, is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the unincorporated area north of Alondra Community Regional Park and El Camino College. It is east of Lawndale, south of Hawthorne, west of Gardena, and north of Torrance. Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard are the two major cross streets in the area. The population was 8,569 at the 2020 census, down from 8,592 at the 2010 census. There is an official Alondra Park Post Office of the U.S. Postal Service in nearby Gardena, California. Urbanized cement-lined Dominguez Creek bisects a portion of Alondra Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avocado Heights, California</span> Place in California, United States

Avocado Heights is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is almost entirely surrounded by the City of Industry with only a small strip of unincorporated Los Angeles County separating it from South El Monte. It is in close proximity to both the Pomona (SR-60) and San Gabriel (I-605) freeways. To the west is the San Gabriel River and the California Country Club. Avocado Heights is approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center. The population was 15,411 at the 2010 census, up from 15,148 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Aire, California</span> Place in California, United States

Del Aire is a census-designated place (CDP) in the inland South Bay, Los Angeles County, California, United States, between El Segundo and Hawthorne. The population was 10,001 at the 2010 census, up from 9,012 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Rancho Dominguez, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

East Rancho Dominguez, also known as East Compton, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in southern Los Angeles County, California. The population was 15,135 at the 2010 census, up from 9,286 at the 2000 census. East Rancho Dominguez is an accepted city name according to the USPS, and shares the 90221 ZIP Code with Compton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Whittier, California</span> Place in California, United States

East Whittier is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 9,757 at the 2010 census, up from 9,538 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined this community as a census-designated place (CDP). The name was changed from East La Mirada in 2012, likely due to its precise location in relation to the city of Whittier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence-Graham, California</span> Census-designated place in Huntington Park, California

Florence-Graham is a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 61,983 at the 2020 census, down from 63,387 at the 2010 census. The census area includes separate communities of Florence, Firestone Park, and Graham. It is located in the south central region of Los Angeles County. The neighboring communities are Central-Alameda, Florence, Green Meadows, Lynwood, Vernon, Walnut Park, Watts, and Compton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladera Heights, California</span> Unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, US

Ladera Heights is a community and unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 6,634 at the 2020 census. Culver City lies to its west, the Baldwin Hills neighborhood to its north, the View Park-Windsor Hills community to its east, the Westchester neighborhood to its south and southwest and the city of Inglewood to its southeast. With an average household income of $132,824, Ladera Heights ranks third amongst the ten wealthiest majority-Black communities in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Athens, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

West Athens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 9,393 at the 2020 census. It is an unincorporated community within the 2nd Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County. West Athens is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, operating out of the South Los Angeles Station. The approximate boundaries for West Athens are: 87th Street to the north, Vermont Avenue to the east, El Segundo Boulevard to the south, and approximately Western Avenue to Van Ness Avenue to the west. West Athens is predominantly residential, with commercial uses along its main corridors. Los Angeles Southwest Community College lies within the West Athens neighborhood and city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmont, California</span> Place in California, United States

Westmont is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, a part of the South Los Angeles area, just east of Inglewood. The population was 33,913 at the 2020 census, up from 31,853 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Westmont as a census-designated place (CDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrightwood, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Wrightwood is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California. It sits at an elevation of 6,208 feet (1,892 m). The population was 4,525 at the 2010 census, up from the population of 3,837 at the 2000 census. Wrightwood is located 77 miles (124 km) northeast of Los Angeles. It is on the Pacific Crest Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Alpine is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Cuyamaca Mountains of San Diego County, California. Alpine had a population of 14,696 at the 2020 census, up from 14,236 at the 2010 census. The town is largely surrounded by Cleveland National Forest and borders two reservations of the Kumeyaay, Viejas and Sycuan tribes, and the rural unincorporated areas around the city of El Cajon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, California</span> Census designated place in California, United States

Casa de Oro-Mount Helix is a census-designated place (CDP) in the East County region of San Diego County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Cajon, California</span> City in California, United States

El Cajon is a city in San Diego County, California, United States, 17 mi (27 km) east of downtown San Diego. The city takes its name from Rancho El Cajón, which was named for the box-like shape of the valley that surrounds the city, and the origin of the city's common nickname "the Box".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granite Hills, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Granite Hills is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The name is also applied to a neighborhood within the city limits of El Cajon in the eastern part of that city. The population of the CDP, which does not include the people living within the city of El Cajon, was 3,267 at the 2020 census, down from 3,035 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harbison Canyon, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Harbison Canyon is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. It had a population of 4,048 as of the 2020 census, up from 3,841 as of the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hidden Meadows, California</span> Census designated place in California, United States

Hidden Meadows is a census-designated place (CDP) near Escondido in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,484 at the 2020 census, up from 3,485 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Crescenta-Montrose, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

La Crescenta-Montrose is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The community is bordered by Glendale to the south and west, La Cañada Flintridge to the east, and Angeles National Forest to the north. According to the United States Census Bureau, the La Crescenta-Montrose Census-Designated Place (CDP) measures about 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), and the population was 19,997 at the 2020 census, up from 19,653 in 2010 and 18,532 in 2000.

A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulevard, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Boulevard is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. At that time, it had a population of 359 at the 2020 United States census, up from 315 2010 United States census. The area is rural high desert along the Mexican border near the eastern extent of San Diego County.

Alta is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Placer County, California, United States, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Auburn. The village is located off Interstate 80 and along the historical First transcontinental railroad. The ZIP code is 95701 and the area code 530. One of the few buildings other than private residences is the Alta-Dutch Flat Grammar School serving kindergarten through eighth grade students. The high school that serves Alta is named Colfax High School. Colfax High School is 11 miles southwest in the incorporated town of Colfax. The population of Alta was 615 at the 2020 census.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. "Bostonia". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. Santa Barbara, quoted in "Tobacco," Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1899, image 61
  4. "Postmaster and Pensions," Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1898, image 3
  5. Marilyn Kimball, "'Unofficial Historian' Sparks Stories With Human Interest," The Life News, La Mesa, November 10, 1976, image 29
  6. "Postmaster at Bostonia," Los Angeles Times, January 26, 1914, image 66]
  7. "Loyalty to Home Town Gave Escondido Benefit," Times-Advocate, Escondido, April 10, 1928, image 3
  8. Percy Evans, editorial, Daily Times-Advocate, Escondido, February 22, 1928, image 2
  9. "Bostonia is O.K. on Grape Day," Times-Advocate, April 2, 1928, image 1
  10. "Firebugs Busy in Sou. California," Bakersfield (California) Morning Echo, October 7, 1917, image 5
  11. "Warned, Watch for Approach of I.W.W.'s Saturday," Santa Register Register, October 8, 1917, image 1
  12. "Statewide Conspiracy of Firebugs," The Pomona Progress, October 8, 1917, image 1
  13. "Four Packing Plants Fired Near San Diego," The San Francisco Examiner, October 8, 1917, image 2
  14. "Lone Bandit Had Dynamite Supply to Blow Up Bank," The Sacramento Bee, March 28, 1924, image 4
  15. "Tubercular Veteran Is Identified as Bank Bandit," The Modesto Evening News, March 28, 1924, image 13
  16. "Annexation Favored," Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1953, image 44
  17. "South Bostonia Votes to Annex to El Cajon," Weekly Times-Advocate, Escondido, May 29, 1953, image 4
  18. "Swap Meet in El Cajon Under Fire," Los Angeles Times, November 28, 1981, image 9
  19. "Bradley to Stay in Bostonia," Life News, La Mesa, California, image 1
  20. 1 2 H.G. Reza, "Jurisdictional Issue Raised in Fatal Fire in El Cajon," Los Angeles Times, February 8, 1986, image 27
  21. Associated Press, "Nearby Station No Help in Fatal Fire," Times-Advocate, Escondido, California, February 9, 1986, image 1
  22. Carla Rivera, "Alarm: Switched-Off Horns May Be Linked to 3 Deaths in Blaze," Los Angeles Times, February 11, 1986, image 37
  23. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  24. Gander, Frank F. (1938). "Notes On Some San Diego County Endemics". Madroño. 4 (5): 163–165. ISSN   0024-9637.
  25. Purer, Edith A. (March 13, 1932). "SD38125: Primula clevelandii". Consortium of California Herbaria: CCH2. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  26. Purer, Edith A. (March 13, 1932). "SD39298: Sidalcea malviflora". Consortium of California Herbaria: CCH2. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  27. Purer, Edith A. (March 13, 1932). "SD38488: Sisyrinchium bellum". Consortium of California Herbaria: CCH2. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  28. Purer, Edith A. (March 13, 1932). "SD38900: Viola pedunculata". Consortium of California Herbaria: CCH2. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  29. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
  30. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  31. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  32. "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  33. "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  34. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  35. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  36. "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  37. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  38. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  39. "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  40. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  41. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  42. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  43. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  44. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  45. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Bostonia CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  46. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  47. "San Diego County," Los Angeles Times, July 30, 1895, image 11
  48. "The Episcopal Convention," Los Angeles Herald, May 28, 1896, image 2
  49. "Local and Personal," Times-Advocate, November 11, 1910, image 2
  50. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  51. "California's 50th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  52. "Locals Win Close Game," The Times-Advocate, Escondido, March 21, 1919, image 1