El Cajon
California
City of El Cajon
History :
Two historical names keynote the early development of the modern commercial municipality of El Cajon - The Big Box Valley and The Corners. Its growth is directly linked to its initial role as the agrarian heartland and communications center of San Diego County.
In the early part of the nineteenth century the explorations of the mission padres for pasture land led them to El Cajon Valley. The surrounding foothills were a barrier to straying cattle as well as a watershed to gather the sparse rainfall for verdant grasslands along the valley floor. For years the pasture lands supported the cattle herds of the mission and its native Indian converts.
With independence from Spain, the Spanish Dons began to cast envious eyes on the vast holdings of the Roman Catholic Missions. With secularization, California Governor Pio Pico in 1845 confiscated the lands of Mission San Diego de Alcala and granted the eleven square leagues of El Cajon
Valley to Dona Maria Antonio Estudillo, wife of Don Miguel de Pedrorena, to repay a $500 government obligation. The grant included generally the present communities of Lakeside, Santee, Bostonia, Glenview, Johnstown, El Cajon, and part of Grossmont.
Recorded history affords scant evidence to establish a beginning date for either a permanent Spanish or American community in the valley. The Pedrorenas continued their residence in San Diego and their absentee proprietorship did not foster any economic development. Scattered homes of adobe construction were erected in the area during the mid 19th century, but the permanency of their occupancy is open to question. The establishment of a school for six children in 1870 in a homestead at Park and Magnolia offered conclusive proof that a permanent American settlement had been established.
The City of El Cajon incorporated on November 12, 1912 as a General Law City. This means that the legal authority for the city's acts originates with laws of the State of California rather than from a city charter.
Recent News
Multiple Arrests and Stolen Property Recovered Assisted by Flock Safety ALPR
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Multiple Arrests and Stolen Property Recovered Assisted by Flock Safety ALPR DATE AND TIME OCCURRED: Varied LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: El Cajon RESUME OF INCIDENT: The El Cajon Police Department recently started an automated…
Read More »City of El Cajon Police Department News Holding DUI Checkpoint January 27, 2023
El Cajon, Calif. – The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint January 27 from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the 900 block of El Cajon Blvd in El Cajon. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests.…
Read More »City of El Cajon News - El Cajon Partners with American Medical Response to Launch Innovative New 9-1-1 Nurse Navigator Program
El Cajon Partners with American Medical Response to Launch Innovative New 9-1-1 Nurse Navigator Program Beginning on January 31, El Cajon residents who call 9-1-1 may receive expanded medical services through the new El Cajon Community Care program,…
Read More »City of El Cajon : Two Arrested for Attempted Homicide of Juvenile
El Cajon Police Detectives have arrested two juvenile males for the December 12 attempted murder of a 16-year-old female victim at an El Cajon motel. The suspects, ages 15 and 17, will not be identified because they are juveniles. A group of El…
Read More »City Of El Cajon : Steve Goble Appointed As Deputy Mayor
On Tuesday, December 13th, the El Cajon City Council voted unanimously to appoint Steve Goble as Deputy Mayor for the 2023 Calendar year. In accordance with the City’s Municipal Code, the City Council chooses the Deputy Mayor annually during…
Read More »City of El Cajon : Launches New Neighborhood Cleanup Program in 2023
El Cajon, CA – Beginning January 1, 2023, the City of El Cajon will debut a new program designed to encourage clean neighborhoods and community pride. The Neighborhood Cleanup Program will be a free City service created to empower local…
Read More »The City of El Cajon is Seeking Applicants to Serve on its Veterans Coalition
The City of El Cajon is Seeking Applicants to Serve on its Veterans Coalition The City of El Cajon Veterans Coalition is seeking new members. The Veterans Coalition will open its application period from January 9, through February 10, 2023. Active…
Read More »City of El Cajon News : Launches Automated Plan Review App for Solar Projects
El Cajon, CA – Last week, the City of El Cajon became just the second City in San Diego County, and only one of a handful of cities in California, to launch SolarAPP+, an automated permit review applications for permitting new residential…
Read More »City Of El Cajon Police DUI Checkpoint : December 16, 2022
El Cajon, Calif. – The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint December 16th from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the 1400 block of E. Washington in El Cajon. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and…
Read More »City of El Cajon News Fatal Pedestrian Collision
FATAL PEDESTRIAN COLLISION IN EL CAJON TYPE OF INCIDENT: FATAL PEDESTRIAN COLLISION DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 12-6-22 at 6:50 pm LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 724 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA. RESUME OF INCIDENT: On 12/6/22, at approximately…
Read More »City of El Cajon Named As 2022 Top Workplace
El Cajon, CA – The City of El Cajon has been recognized as a Top Workplace in San Diego for 2022. The award comes solely from employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. The survey measures organizational culture, empowerment of…
Read More »City of El Cajon : LT. W. Miller
EL CAJON POLICE DEPT. – PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION SHEET OCCURRED: November 12, 2022 at 9:00 PM LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 1355 E. Main El Cajon, CA 92019 SAN DIEGO COUNTY VOUCHER RECIPIENT ARRESTED AT EL CAJON HOTEL FOR TWO FELONY…
Read More »City of El Cajon News : Arrest Made In East County Robbery Series
On November 1, 2022 around 6:38 PM, El Cajon Police Officers responded to a robbery at the Vans Store in the 800 block of N. Second Street in El Cajon, which was similar to a series of robberies in the past week. Officers began checking the area…
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