Santee

Santee is one of San Diego County's youngest cities, and one of its most up-and-coming. With a population just under 60,000 and roughly half of its 17 square miles still undeveloped, this ambitious town is one of the few suburban cities than can easily accommodate growth – and in fact is one of the county's fastest-growing communities.

Located at the intersection of Highways 52 and 125, Santee offers easy access to downtown San Diego, Sorrento Valley, and La Jolla. Plans to connect SR-52 with SR-67 would put Santee at the heart of East County's transportation network. Santee also serves as the eastern terminus of the San Diego Trolley's Green and Orange Lines, connecting residents and visitors to SDSU, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, Qualcomm, and the Gaslamp.

Low crime, family-oriented neighborhoods, and a convenient location have helped to make Santee one of the county's most appealing residential destinations. Single family homes account for over 60% of the city's housing options, and over 70% of those homes are owner-occupied.

Quality educational opportunities, an aggressive business development plan, and a commitment to parks and wildlife have also helped fuel Santee's housing boom. In the 1960s, Santee pioneered water reclamation as a source of irrigation and recreation, converting gravel pits into a series of lakes and 190 acres of trails, protected habitats, and fishing, swimming, and camping fun at Santee Lakes. Mast Park offers 58 acres of riparian habitat and parkland and has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects, California Landscape Contractors Association, and American Society of Landscape Architects. Mission Trails Regional Park features almost 5,800 acres of open space preserves and developed recreational areas, including Lake Murray, and is one of the nation's largest urban parks.

Originally home to the Kumeyaay Indians, Santee's colonial history began with the construction of the Old Mission Dam in 1779. Built by Kumeyaay laborers, the mission padres used the dam to direct water to Mission de Alcala and surrounding pasturelands. Nearly a century later, after the mission lands had become Spanish land grants, the vast parcels were split and sold to the new American settlers.

George Cowles (pronounced 'coals') began purchasing land for vineyards, olives, grains, and pomegranate trees in 1877, eventually amassing 4,000 acres. His land was actually two separate ranches, Woodside and Magnolia, names reflected today in Woodside and Magnolia Avenues. Of his many crops, Cowles' muscat grapes were particularly successful, and he soon became known as the "Raisin King of the US." Gillespie Field stands where one of Cowles' most successful vineyards thrived.

Cowles lent his name to the small settlement of Cowlestown that sprung up around his property. The school, train station, and a nearby peak were also named for him. After his death, his widow Jennie continued ranching Woodside and Magnolia. In 1891, Jennie, who had married surveyor and real estate baron Milton Santee, opened the Santee post office. Cowlestown, the school, and the station followed suit in 1893, leaving only Cowles Mountain to honor its founding father.

In subsequent years, Santee continued to be a patchwork community of family and commercial farms and the small businesses that served them. Residents enjoyed their open spaces and the openness that comes from knowing all your neighbors, even if they are a mile away. By 1950, it still only had a population of about 2,000. As with most of the East County, times changed with the boom of the postwar years and the construction of the freeways. By 1970, the population had swelled to over 25,000.

Forward thinking and industrious, Santee is a city full of promise and vitality. A small town that wanted to preserve its rural lifestyle but foresaw a population explosion, its residents took the initiative to ensure growth with guidelines. Incorporating in 1980 gave the town the power to craft development plans that best fit its character, incorporating modern practices with a balanced approach to environmental preservation.

The result is a pleasant and inviting blend of mixed-use retail centers, wildlife preserves, village-style living centers, mixed-use high-tech professional campuses, and walkable communities with parklands and multi-purpose recreational spaces.