Santee, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santee, California
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| Motto(s):
Do More, Due East; East County’s Best Kept Secret; Sustainable Santee
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Location within San Diego County
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 Santee, California
Location in San Diego County, California
Santee, California
Location in California
Santee, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  California |
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| County |  San Diego |
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| Incorporated | December 1, 1980 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 16.72 sq mi (43.30 km2) | ||
| • Land | 16.54 sq mi (42.83 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.47 km2) 1.77% | ||
| Elevation | 351 ft (107 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 60,037 | ||
| • Density | 3,590.7/sq mi (1,386.54/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
92071-92072
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| Area code(s) | 619 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-70224 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1656619 | ||
Santee is a city located in San Diego County, California, in the United States. In 2020, about 60,037 people lived there. Santee is part of the East County area. The San Diego River flows through the city. This river area is a greenbelt with parks, trails, and over 1,100 acres (450 ha) of natural spaces.
Contents
History of Santee
The land where Santee is now was once home to the Kumeyaay people. They had a village called Sinyeweche along the San Diego River.
In 1877, a rancher and businessperson named George A. Cowles bought 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of land. He started vineyards there. The area became known as Cowlestown. It was connected by the Cuyamaca Railroad.
Later, in 1893, the town was renamed Santee. This name honored Milton Santee. He was the second husband of Jennie Blodgett, who was George A. Cowles's first wife.
In 1980, the people of Santee voted to become an official city. They had voted against it just three years before. This vote created the City of Santee as we know it today.
Geography and Climate
Santee is in a valley, sharing its northern part with the city of El Cajon. The San Diego River cuts through Santee, flowing from east to west for about 4.2 miles (6.8 km). Hills form a natural barrier on the city's northern and western sides.
The highest point in Santee is Rattlesnake Mountain. It stands at 1,198 feet (365 m) high. The Sky Ranch community is located on Rattlesnake Mountain. During the holiday season, a large lit-up star shines from its top.
Santee's Climate
Santee has a semi-arid climate. This means it gets some rain, but it's generally dry. This type of climate is known as BSk on climate maps.
Santee's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 21,107 | — | |
| 1980 | 47,080 | 123.1% | |
| 1990 | 52,902 | 12.4% | |
| 2000 | 52,975 | 0.1% | |
| 2010 | 53,413 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 60,037 | 12.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Santee has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at its population:
Population in 2020
In 2020, Santee had a population of 60,037 people. Most residents were White (68.7%). Other groups included African American (2.3%), Asian (5.9%), and Native American (0.8%). About 19.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. There were 20,509 households in the city. About 30.4% of these households had children under 18 living there.
Economy in Santee
Santee is home to the Las Colinas Detention Facility. This facility is where women who are arrested in San Diego County are first taken. It started as a place for young people in 1967. In 1979, it became a facility for adult women.
Arts and Culture
Every summer, Santee hosts the Santee Summer Concerts series. These free concerts take place from mid-June to mid-August. They are held on Thursday nights at Town Center Community Park East.
In the fall, the Santee Twilight Brews and Bites Festival is held. This event helps raise money for community programs in the city. It used to be called the Santee Bluegrass Festival.
Parks and Recreation
City Parks
Santee has nine city parks for everyone to enjoy:
- Big Rock Park
- Deputy Ken Collier Park
- Mast Park
- Shadow Hill Park
- Sky Ranch Park
- Town Center Community Park
- West Hills Park
- Woodglen Vista Park
- Weston Park
Town Center Community Park is a popular spot. Many of Santee's events happen here, like the summer concerts and the Brews and Bites Festival. This park is next to the San Diego River. It has sports fields, a concession stand, and a paved trail. The park also includes the Cameron Family YMCA, the City of Santee Aquatics Center, and Sportsplex USA Santee. Sportsplex USA Santee hosts many sports leagues and tournaments each year.
Mast Park was updated in 2018 with many new features. It reopened in 2020 after a big renovation. This 80-acre (32 ha) park has 2 miles (3.2 km) of lit trails. It also has a disc golf course, a nature area, play equipment, a basketball court, and a dog park.
Trails for Exploring
The Walker Preserve Trail is a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) path. It runs east along the San Diego River. This trail opened in April 2015. It connects to Lakeside Baseball Park and continues beyond Santee. You can even fish in the San Diego River from this trail. It is part of a bigger plan by the San Diego River Park Foundation. They want to create a greenbelt along the 52-mile (84 km) San Diego River.
The Mast Park West Trail is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long. It is located near the Carlton Oaks Golf Course. This trail connects to Mast Park. There are plans to extend this trail to connect to Mission Trails Regional Park.
Fun Activities
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is a 190-acre (77 ha) park. It's a great place for fishing, camping, bird watching, and picnics. The park has seven lakes filled with recycled water. These lakes are stocked with fish all year round. There are also 300 campsites available.
The Carlton Oaks Golf Course and Lodge has an 18-hole golf course. It was designed by famous golf course designer Pete Dye. The lodge also has 51 rooms for guests.
Santee has a special 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) Race Walking course. It is certified by World Athletics. This course has hosted important events. These include the US Olympic Trials for the 50k racewalk in 2012, 2016, and 2020.
Education in Santee
Santee has two main school districts: Santee School District and Grossmont Union High School District.
San Diego Christian College moved to Santee in 2013. This college offers 15 different degree programs. It has about 475 students and 28 teachers. The college hopes to grow to 1,200 students.
High Schools in Santee
There are two high schools in Santee. Both are part of the Grossmont Union High School District:
- Santana High School
- West Hills High School
Elementary and Middle Schools
Elementary and middle schools in Santee are part of the Santee School District. Most schools serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8). They often have separate areas and schedules for younger and older students. This is different from having separate elementary and middle schools.
Here are the elementary and middle school campuses:
- Cajon Park School
- Carlton Hills School
- Carlton Oaks School
- Chet F. Harrit School
- Hill Creek School
- Pepper Drive School
- Pride Academy at Prospect Avenue School
- Rio Seco School
- Sycamore Canyon School (only K-6)
Transportation and Infrastructure
State Route 52 now goes through Santee. It connects to State Route 67 on the east side of the city. Four main roads cross Santee: Mast Boulevard and Mission Gorge Road go east and west. Magnolia Avenue and Cuyamaca Street go north and south.
Santee is also the end point for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Copper Line trolley route. This trolley connects Santee to El Cajon. From El Cajon, you can connect to other trolley lines that go to Old Town and downtown San Diego. MTS also offers bus services in the city.
Gillespie Field is an airport located on Santee's southern border. It is the oldest and largest of eight commercial airports in San Diego County. This airport is important for local businesses.
Notable People from Santee
Many interesting people have connections to Santee:
- Joe Davenport, a former MLB pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies.
- Sharon Ryer Davis, who was Miss Santee in 1968. She is the wife of former California Governor Gray Davis.
- Brian Jones, a politician who serves in the California State Senate.
- Mega64, an Internet comedy group with members Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield.
- Hayden Penn, a former MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Dat Phan, a stand-up comedian and winner of the first season of Last Comic Standing.
- Randy Voepel, a politician.
- William Wall, a filmmaker.
