Lemon Grove, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Lemon Grove | |
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| Motto: Best Climate on Earth | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Diego |
| Incorporated | July 1, 1977 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Council-Manager |
| - Mayor | Teresa Sessom |
| - City Manager | Graham Mitchell |
| Area | |
| - City | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km²) |
| - Land | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 440 ft (136 m) |
| Population (2005 - 2007 incl. Tijuana)[1][2] | |
| - City | 24,124 |
| - Density | 6,557.3/sq mi (2,531.8/km²) |
| - Metro | Incl. Tijuana: 4,922,723 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 91945 |
| Area code(s) | 619 |
| FIPS code | 06-41124 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660902 |
| Website: http://www.ci.lemon-grove.ca.us/ | |
Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 24,918 as of the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
The community was settled in 1869 by its first known permanent resident, sheep rancher Robert Allison. From the 1860s to 1900 the area was known for sheep and poultry ranching and vegetable crops. In the early 1900s, the community acquired its name when large citrus groves were planted and lemon and orange growing and shipping became the area's major industry. By World War II, most of the citrus groves had disappeared and suburbanization had begun. By 1960, most of the easily developable land was gone. Lemon Grove was incorporated as a general law city in 1977.[3]
[edit] The Lemon Grove Mummy
In 1966, two teenagers ventured to caves near Chihuahua, Mexico in search of a mummy to keep for their own. After spending more than a month exploring caves, the teens finally found two mummies which they packed up and smuggled across the border.
Having no idea what to do with their discoveries and not wanting their parents to know, the teens asked a friend if they could store a box in her garage in Lemon Grove, California.
For 14 years, the mummies of the girl and the infant remained in the Lemon Grove garage, until the mother of the friend began to clean out her garage. The mother discovered the mummies and as a result believed a murder had taken place. When the mummies where tracked back to the two males, they wanted to donate the mummies to a museum. The San Diego Museum of Man officials contacted Mexican authorities and asked for permission to keep the mummies as exhibits and an addition to the permanent collection. Permission was granted, and the mummies were placed on exhibit.[4]
[edit] Geography
Lemon Grove is located at (32.733451, -117.033702)[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.8 km² (3.8 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 24,918 people, 8,488 households, and 5,958 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,531.8/km² (6,557.3/mi²). There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of 886.2/km² (2,295.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.63% White, 12.08% African American, 1.10% Native American, 5.75% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 13.50% from other races, and 7.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.52% of the population.
There were 8,488 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the city was $39,823, and the median income for a family 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, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Lemon Grove in 2005 was $55,436 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $45,016.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Lemon Grove is located in the 39th Senate District, represented by Democrat Christine Kehoe, and in the 78th Assembly District, represented by Republican Shirley Horton. Federally, Lemon Grove is located in California's 53rd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +12[7] and is represented by Democrat Susan Davis.
[edit] Notable Residents
- Noted cycling activist, author and cycling transportation engineer John Forester.[8]
- Speed Martin former Major League Baseball player[citation needed]
- Actor Dennis Hopper, around age 13.[9]
[edit] "The World's Biggest Lemon"
There is a ten foot wide statue of a lemon located at 3361 Main Street. It lies before a small lemon grove besides 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".
[edit] Urban Legends
There is a local urban legend that a worker died during the construction of the giant lemon, and was eventually entombed inside the lemon.
Another local urban legend has it that a Native American princess was buried in Lemon Grove, near the shopping center off College Avenue, just north of the Federal/Broadway intersection. In fact, there was a grave at that location although it was the Polish princess Filomena Wojciechowski. The flag of Poland flew over the grave until it was moved in the late 1960s during the construction of the present College Avenue offramp from eastbound Highway 94.
[edit] Schools
Primary education in the City is provided by the Lemon Grove School District [1]
Elementary Schools
Golden Avenue Elementary School
Monterey Heights Elementary School
Mount Vernon Elementary School
San Altos Elementary School
San Miguel Elementary School
Vista La Mesa Elementary School
Middle Schools
Lemon Grove Middle School
Palm Middle School
Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) provides secondary and adult education.
High schools serving Lemon Grove:
Helix High School
Mount Miguel High School
Monte Vista High School
[edit] Landmark case
The Lemon Grove Incident in 1931 was a boycott of segregated schools by Mexican-Americans resulting in the first court ordered school desegration in the United States.
[edit] External links
- ^ Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 Population Estimates, Census 2000, 1990 Census
- ^ World Gazetteer – San Diego-Tijuana
- ^ "General law" means under the provisions established by the legislature, as opposed to a charter city which would have more options. UCB Institute for Governmental Studies
- ^ Video Gallery - Famous Speeches - The History Channel
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ John Forester's website with Lemon Grove address
- ^ San Diego Reader, July 5, 2001
- Lemon Grove, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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