Descanso, California
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Descanso ( Spanish for "Rest"; Kumeyaay: ''Wataay'') is a small
unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...
in the Cuyamaca Mountains, within the Mountain Empire area of southeastern
San Diego County, California San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county (United States), county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, north to its Mexico-United States border, border with Mexico. As of the 2020 United States Cen ...
. The community's name is a Spanish word meaning "rest from labor". The population was 1,499 at the 2020 census, up from 1,423 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
categorizes Descanso as a
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
. It is in
California's 50th congressional district California's 50th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California, and encompasses parts of the Mid-Coast and northeastern parts of San Diego County. Scott Peters (politician), Scott Peters is currently the U ...
. Descanso is located east of Alpine and west of Pine Valley. At a elevation, it is located at the south entrance to
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a state park in inland San Diego County, California, United States, located east of the metropolitan area of San Diego, California, San Diego. The park is situated near the southernmost reaches of the Cleveland Nat ...
and also borders
Cleveland National Forest Cleveland National Forest is a National forest (United States), U.S. national forest in Southern California that encompasses 460,000 acres/ of inland Montane ecosystems, montane regions. It is approximately 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean, withi ...
to the west and east. The area was heavily threatened by the 2003 Cedar Fire. The community consists of many small ranches and newer homes of
San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
commuters. Horseback riding and hiking are frequent pastimes due to the proximity to San Diego's back-country recreation areas. It is approximately a 50-minute commute from downtown San Diego. The majority of residents generally commute to San Diego as the local job market is limited. Community radio station KNSJ operates out of Descanso. The Descanso Fire Station of the
United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...
is home to the Laguna Hotshots. Descanso is home to many firefighters, and many local teenagers join either the Forest Service or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (which also provides direct fire and EMS protection to the community). The ZIP Code is 91916 and the community is inside area code 619.


History

In 1884, a group of Spiritualists started Hulburd Grove. In 1898, the residents of the area started the Descanso school and the Descanso Town Hall. Peter Jacobs started the Descanso Park Addition in 1926.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the CDP covers an area of 19.2 square miles (49.8 km2), all of it land.


Climate

According to the
Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Descanso has a
warm-summer Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.


Demographics


2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Descanso had a population of 1,499. The population density was . The racial makeup of Descanso was 1,221 (81.5%)
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 6 (0.4%)
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 13 (0.9%) Native American, 15 (1.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%)
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 49 (3.3%) from other races, and 195 (13.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 230 persons (15.3%). The whole population lived in households. There were 604 households, out of which 132 (21.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 344 (57.0%) were married-couple households, 42 (7.0%) were cohabiting couple households, 103 (17.1%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 115 (19.0%) had a male householder with no partner present. 141 households (23.3%) were one person, and 72 (11.9%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48. There were 415 families (68.7% of all households). The age distribution was 274 people (18.3%) under the age of 18, 89 people (5.9%) aged 18 to 24, 302 people (20.1%) aged 25 to 44, 460 people (30.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 374 people (24.9%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 50.5years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. There were 673 housing units at an average density of , of which 604 (89.7%) were occupied. Of these, 490 (81.1%) were owner-occupied, and 114 (18.9%) were occupied by renters. In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $125,714, and the
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
was $53,639. About 0.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line.


2010

The 2010 United States census reported that Descanso had a population of 1,423. The population density was . The racial makeup of Descanso was 1,290 (90.7%)
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 5 (0.4%)
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 29 (2.0%) Native American, 16 (1.1%) Asian, 9 (0.6%)
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 46 (3.2%) from other races, and 28 (2.0%) from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 150 persons (10.5%). The census reported that 1,423 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 585 households, out of which 152 (26.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 326 (55.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 44 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 27 (4.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 33 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 7 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 140 households (23.9%) were made up of individuals, and 54 (9.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43. There were 397 families (67.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.82. The population was spread out, with 256 people (18.0%) under the age of 18, 108 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 260 people (18.3%) aged 25 to 44, 604 people (42.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 195 people (13.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males. There were 696 housing units at an average density of , of which 440 (75.2%) were owner-occupied, and 145 (24.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%. 1,086 people (76.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 337 people (23.7%) lived in rental housing units.


Local attractions

Local attractions include: * Laguna Mountains * Viejas Casino * Lake Cuyamaca * Lake Morena * Pacific Southwest Railway Museum * Julian, nearby historical mining town * Sweetwater River


Local churches

* Chapel of the Hills Methodist Church * Our Lady of Light Catholic Church


Transportation

San Diego MTS route 888 provides service on Mondays and Fridays between El Cajon, Descanso, and Jacumba Hot Springs.https://www.sdmts.com/sites/default/files/routes/pdf/888.pdf


References


External links


Descanso Town HallDescanso Community Water District
{{authority control Census-designated places in San Diego County, California Cuyamaca Mountains Mountain Empire (San Diego County) Census-designated places in California