Lemon Grove is a city in
San Diego County
San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634, making it California's second-most populous county and the fi ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, United States. The population was 27,627 at the
2020 census, up from 25,320 at the
2010 census.
History
The area that eventually became Lemon Grove was part of
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá ( es, Misión San Diego de Alcalá) was the second Franciscan founded mission in The Californias (after San Fernando de Velicata), a province of New Spain. Located in present-day San Diego, California, it w ...
, one of the
Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California ( es, Misiones españolas en California) comprise a
series of 21 religious outposts or missions established between 1769 and 1833 in what is now the U.S. state of California. Founded by Catholic priests o ...
. After
Mexico became independent from Spain, the
Californio
Californio (plural Californios) is a term used to designate a Hispanic Californian, especially those descended from Spanish and Mexican settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries. California's Spanish-speaking community has resided there sinc ...
s (residents of
Alta California
Alta California ('Upper California'), also known as ('New California') among other names, was a province of New Spain, formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but ...
) ranched on various
land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate—land or its use privileges—made by a government or other authority as an incentive, means of enabling works, or as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service. Grants ...
s. The area that now includes Lemon Grove was granted to
Santiago Argüello
Santiago Argüello (1791–1862) was a Californio, a soldier in the Spanish army of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Las Californias, a major Mexican land grant ranchos owner, and part of an influential family in Mexican Alta California and post- ...
, who received more than 59,000 acres.
[Helen M. Ofield & Pete Smith, ''Images of America: Lemon Grove, Lemon Grove Historical Society'' (Arcadia: 2010).]
The first proprietor of Lemon Grove, Robert Allison, arrived in the region in 1850, coming from
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
. He purchased thousands of acres from Santiago Argüello's heirs; this land eventually became Lemon Grove,
La Mesa,
Encanto
''Encanto'' is a 2021 American computer-animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 60th film produced by the studio, it was directed by Jared Bus ...
, and part of
Spring Valley. Allison became a director and stockholder of the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railroad in 1886 and built the Allison Flume.
Allison's son Joseph filed subdivision maps for "Lemon Grove" in 1892. The name is attributed to Joseph's mother, Tempa Waterman Allison. The climate was suitable for the cultivation of
subtropical fruits and vegetables, and farmers from the East and Midwest flocked to the region.
The Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association was formed in 1893; in 1894, the ''
San Diego Union
''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, that has run since 1868.
Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time, ''The San Diego Union'' and ...
'' newspaper referred to Lemon Grove as "a sea of lemon trees."
Joseph and Anton Sonka,
immigrants from Bohemia, moved to Lemon Grove after stints in Seguin, Texas, and San Diego. The brothers opened a well-known
general store, A. Sonka and Son. Anthony "Tony" F. Sonka, the eldest son of Anton Sonka and his
German American
German Americans (german: Deutschamerikaner, ) are Americans who have full or partial German ancestry. With an estimated size of approximately 43 million in 2019, German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups by the Unite ...
wife Anna Klein Sonka, was also a local notable. He was a key supporter of the huge lemon that became the town's symbol and landmark.
Sonka and a committee of local ranchers hired local architect Alberto Treganza to build the huge lemon to "make the ultimate statement about the town's purpose, prosperity, and optimism."
In the
Lemon Grove Incident
The Lemon Grove Case (Roberto Alvarez vs. the board of trustees of the Lemon Grove School District), commonly known as the Lemon Grove Incident, was the United States' first successful school desegregation case. The incident occurred in 1930 and ...
in 1931,
Mexican American
Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexica ...
parents in Lemon Grove pursued a successful judicial challenge against the decision of the local school board to build a separate school for Mexican American pupils. The decision of the
Superior Court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal legal cases. A superior court is "superior" in relation to a court with limited jurisdiction (see small claims court), which is restricted to civil ...
for San Diego County in ''Alvarez v. Lemon Grove'' was the first successful lawsuit against
school segregation School segregation is the division of people into different groups in the education system by characteristics such as race, religion, or ethnicity. See also
*''D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic''
*School segregation in the United States
*Single- ...
.
By
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, most of the citrus groves had disappeared and
suburbanization
Suburbanization is a population shift from central urban areas into suburbs, resulting in the formation of (sub)urban sprawl. As a consequence of the movement of households and businesses out of the city centers, low-density, peripheral urba ...
had begun.
There had been four elections on
incorporation from the 1950s to the 1970s; the issue caused heated debate in the town. The city was finally incorporated on July 1, 1977, becoming California's 414th city.
Lemon Grove was incorporated as a general-law city; however, it continues to receive law enforcement services, via contract, from the
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD), is the primary and largest law enforcement agency in San Diego County, California, and one of the largest sheriff's departments in the United States: with over 4,000 employees, an annual budget ...
.
Geography
Lemon Grove is located at (32.733451, −117.033702).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Transportation
The city is served by California State Routes
94 and
125. It is also served by the
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. It is known colloquially as "The Trolley". The Trolley's operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. (SDTI), is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Tra ...
's
Orange Line, at
Lemon Grove Depot
Lemon Grove Depot is a station on the Orange Line of the San Diego Trolley. It is located in the San Diego suburb of Lemon Grove, California and serves the densely populated surrounding commercial and residential area.
The station has also been ...
as well as at
Massachusetts Avenue Station
Massachusetts Avenue station is a rapid transit station in the South End and Symphony neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the MBTA Orange Line, and is located at 380 Massachusetts Avenue. The station opened in 1987 as part of ...
.
Demographics
2010
At the
2010 census Lemon Grove had a population of 25,320. The population density was . The racial makeup of Lemon Grove was 8,545 (33.3%) White, 3,495 (13.8%) African American, 225 (0.9%) Native American, 1,628 (6.3%) Asian, 275 (1.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,828 (19.1%) from other races, and 1,801 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,635 persons (45.2%).
The census reported that 24,974 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 200 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 146 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,434 households, 3,295 (39.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,863 (45.8%) were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,419 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 601 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 516 (6.1%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 94 (1.1%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,928 households (22.9%) were one person and 734 (8.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 5,883 families (69.8% of households); the average family size was 3.51.
The age distribution was 6,458 people (25.5%) under the age of 18, 2,583 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 6,900 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,550 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,829 people (11.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 2,285.4 per square mile, of the occupied units 4,609 (54.6%) were owner-occupied and 3,825 (45.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 13,984 people (55.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,990 people (43.4%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the
2000 census there were 24,918 people in 8,488 households, including 5,958 families, in the city. The population density was 6,557.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,531.8/km). There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the city was 33.7% White, 13.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 6.7% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 13.5% from other races, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.3%.
Of the 8,488 households 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 22.4% of households were one person and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.
The age distribution was 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median household income was $39,823 and the median family income was $45,844. Males had a median income of $35,042 versus $28,509 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,002. About 9.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Current estimates
According to estimates by the
San Diego Association of Governments, the
median household income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of ...
of Lemon Grove in 2005 was $55,436 (not adjusted for
inflation
In economics, inflation is an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reductio ...
). When adjusted for
inflation
In economics, inflation is an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reductio ...
(1999 dollars; comparable to
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
data above), the median household income was $45,016.
Government
The City Council includes Mayor Racquel Vasquez, and Council members George Gastil, Jerry Jones, Liana LeBaron and Jennifer Mendoza. The City Manager is Lydia Romero.
In the
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is a bicameral state legislature consisting of a lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members; and an upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members. Both houses of the Legisla ...
, Lemon Grove is in , and in the 79th Assembly district, represented by
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Akilah Weber .
In the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
, Lemon Grove is in .
Notable people
*
Rob Crow
Robertdale Rulon Crow Jr. (born February 21, 1971) is an American singer and musician from San Diego, California, known for his involvement with the bands Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, Physics, Optiganally Yours and Thingy. He has also led the band ...
, American musician
*
Rob $tone, Rapper
*
John Forester, cycling activist, author and cycling transportation engineer
* Actor
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer. He attended the Actors Studio, made his first television appearance in 1954, and soon after appeared in ''Giant'' (1956). In the next ten years ...
, around age 13.
*
Mary Moore (1922–1962), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, a native of Lemon Grove
*
Conan Gray
Conan Lee Gray (born December 5, 1998) is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Lemon Grove, California and raised in Georgetown, Texas, he began uploading vlogs, Cover version, covers and original songs to YouTube as a teenager. Gray sig ...
, American singer-songwriter and social media personality
*
Abdussattar Shaikh
Abdussattar Shaikh (ar عبد الستار شيخ) was an asset of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office from May 14, 1994, to July 2003. He was called "The FBI's Best Chance to Uncover September 11th Before it Happened" by the Joint Inquiry into I ...
, Cofounder of San Diego's Islamic Center
*
"Shotgun Tom" Kelly
Thomas Joseph Irwin (born August 8, 1949), known professionally as "Shotgun Tom" Kelly, is an American radio and television personality, two-time Emmy award winner, '' Billboard'' Air Personality of the Year winner and recipient of a star on th ...
, radio personality
*
Lalo Alcaraz
Lalo Alcaraz (born April 19, 1964) is an American cartoonist most known for being the author of the comic ''La Cucaracha'', the first nationally syndicated, politically themed Latino daily comic strip. Launched in 2002, ''La Cucaracha'' has becom ...
, cartoonist
*
Boyd Rice
Boyd Blake Rice (born December 16, 1956) is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the ''Partridge Family Temple'' religious group, co-founder of ...
, American musician, artist, photographer and author
"The World's Biggest Lemon"
Weighing some 3000 pounds, and approximately 10 feet long and six feet wide, the lemon sculpture—affectionately known as the World's Biggest Lemon—sits on a concrete base at the corner of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue, adjacent to 3361 Main Street. It lies before a small lemon grove beside the
Orange Line Trolley tracks near the local trolley station and downtown bus stop. Written across the base of this monument are the words "Best Climate On Earth". Designed by Lemon Grove architect
Alberto O Treganza, the lemon was originally built as a parade float for the 1928 Fourth of July Fiesta de San Diego parade, carrying the town's first Miss Lemon Grove, Amorita Treganza, Alberto's 16-year-old daughter. In 1930, the float was plastered to create a permanent sculpture and displayed near its current location.
Education
Public primary education in the city is provided by the
Lemon Grove School District
Lemon Grove School District is a school district located in Lemon Grove, San Diego County, California.
It runs one middle school, two K-8 schools, and four elementary schools. Lemon Grove School district was officially founded on March 18, 1893 ...
.
Grossmont Union High School District
The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) is a public school district located in eastern San Diego County, California, and serves high school, adult school, and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) students in the cities of El Cajon, Le ...
provides secondary and adult education.
High schools
Eligible students are sent outside the town for secondary education.
Middle schools
*Lemon Grove Academy Middle School
K-8 schools
*Vista La Mesa Academy
*Mount Vernon School
Elementary schools
*Lemon Grove Academy Elementary School
*Monterey Heights Elementary School
*San Altos Elementary School
*San Miguel Elementary School
See also
*
References
External links
*
City DataLemon Grove Historical Society- Official Website
{{authority control
Cities in San Diego County, California
East County (San Diego County)
San Diego metropolitan area
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California