Lemon Grove, California
City
Motto: 
Best Climate on Earth
Location of Lemon Grove in San Diego County, California.
Location of Lemon Grove in San Diego County, California.
Lemon Grove, California is located in the United States
Lemon Grove, California
Lemon Grove, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°44′29″N 117°01′54″W / 32.74139°N 117.03167°W / 32.74139; -117.03167
Country United States
State California
CountySan Diego
IncorporatedJuly 1, 1977[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorRacquel Vasquez[2]
 • City managerLydia Romero[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
3.88 sq mi (10.05 km2)
 • Land3.88 sq mi (10.05 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[5]
446 ft (136 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
27,627
 • Estimate 
(2024)[6]
27,867
 • Density7,100/sq mi (2,700/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
91945
Area code619
FIPS code06-41124
GNIS feature IDs1660902, 2410818
Websitewww.lemongrove.ca.gov

Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 27,627 at the 2020 census, up from 25,320 at the 2010 census.[7]

History

[edit]

The area that eventually became Lemon Grove was part of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, one of the Spanish missions in California. After Mexico became independent from Spain, the Californios (residents of Alta California) ranched on various land grants. The area that now includes Lemon Grove was granted to Santiago Argüello, who received more than 59,000 acres.[8]

The first proprietor of Lemon Grove, Robert Allison, arrived in the region in 1850, coming from Sacramento. He purchased thousands of acres from Santiago Argüello's heirs; this land eventually became Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Encanto, and part of Spring Valley. Allison became a director and stockholder of the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railroad in 1886 and built the Allison Flume.[8] Allison's son Joseph filed subdivision maps for "Lemon Grove" in 1892. The name is attributed to Joseph's mother, Tempa Waterman Allison. The climate was suitable for the cultivation of subtropical fruits and vegetables, and farmers from the East and Midwest flocked to the region.[8] The Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association was formed in 1893; in 1894, the San Diego Union newspaper referred to Lemon Grove as "a sea of lemon trees."[8]

Joseph and Anton Sonka, immigrants from Bohemia, moved to Lemon Grove after stints in Seguin, Texas, and San Diego. The brothers opened a well-known general store, A. Sonka and Son. In 2023, the historical building that was once Sonka's general store became Lemon Grove Bistro.

Anthony "Tony" F. Sonka, the eldest son of Anton Sonka and his German American wife Anna Klein Sonka, was also a local notable. He was a key supporter of the huge lemon that became the town's symbol and landmark.[8] Sonka and a committee of local ranchers hired local architect Alberto Treganza to build the huge lemon to "make the ultimate statement about the town's purpose, prosperity, and optimism."[8]

In the Lemon Grove Incident in 1931, Juan De Dios Gonzalez led fellow Mexican American parents in Lemon Grove and pursued a successful judicial challenge against the decision of the local school board to build a separate school for Mexican American pupils. The decision of the Superior Court for San Diego County in Roberto Alvarez vs. the board of trustees of the Lemon Grove School District was the first major successful lawsuit against school segregation.[9][10]

By World War II, most of the citrus groves had disappeared and suburbanization had begun.[8] There had been four elections on incorporation from the 1950s to the 1970s; the issue caused heated debate in the town. The city was finally incorporated on July 1, 1977, becoming California's 414th city.[8] Lemon Grove was incorporated as a general-law city;[11] however, it continues to receive law enforcement services, via contract, from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.[12]

Geography

[edit]

Lemon Grove is located at 32°44′0″N 117°2′1″W / 32.73333°N 117.03361°W / 32.73333; -117.03361 (32.733451, −117.033702).[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), all land.

Transportation

[edit]

The city is served by California State Routes 94 and 125. It is also served by the San Diego Trolley's Orange Line, at Lemon Grove Depot as well as at Massachusetts Avenue Station.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
196019,348—
197019,6901.8%
198020,7805.5%
199023,98415.4%
200024,9183.9%
201025,3201.6%
202027,6279.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1860–1870[15][16] 1880-1890[17]
1900[18] 1910[19] 1920[20]
1930[21] 1940[22] 1950[23]
1960[24][25] 1970[26] 1980[27]
1990[28] 2000[29] 2010[30]
2020[31]

2020

[edit]
Lemon Grove city, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[32] Pop 2010[33] Pop 2020[31] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 12,017 8,787 7,479 48.23% 34.70% 27.07%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,874 3,277 3,174 11.53% 12.94% 11.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 169 109 81 0.68% 0.43% 0.29%
Asian alone (NH) 1,391 1,545 2,360 5.58% 6.10% 8.54%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 189 244 228 0.76% 0.96% 0.83%
Other race alone (NH) 71 38 154 0.28% 0.15% 0.56%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,100 885 1,301 4.41% 3.50% 4.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,107 10,435 12,850 28.52% 41.21% 46.51%
Total 24,918 25,320 27,627 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The 2020 United States census reported that Lemon Grove had a population of 27,627. The population density was 7,122.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,749.9/km2). The racial makeup of Lemon Grove was 35.3% White, 12.1% African American, 1.4% Native American, 9.0% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 22.9% from other races, and 18.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.5% of the population.[34]

The census reported that 97.9% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.9% were institutionalized.[34]

There were 9,002 households, out of which 37.0% included children under the age of 18, 44.7% were married-couple households, 7.7% were cohabiting couple households, 28.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 18.7% had a male householder with no partner present. 21.6% of households were one person, and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.0.[34] There were 6,323 families (70.2% of all households).[35]

The age distribution was 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% aged 18 to 24, 28.5% aged 25 to 44, 24.5% aged 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males.[34]

There were 9,345 housing units at an average density of 2,409.1 units per square mile (930.2 units/km2), of which 9,002 (96.3%) were occupied. Of these, 53.3% were owner-occupied, and 46.7% were occupied by renters.[34]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 17.2% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 61.4% spoke only English at home, 30.4% spoke Spanish, 1.2% spoke other Indo-European languages, 5.6% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.4% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 89.1% were high school graduates and 20.3% had a bachelor's degree.[36]

The median household income in 2023 was $79,278, and the per capita income was $35,402. About 7.3% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[37]

2010

[edit]

At the 2010 census Lemon Grove had a population of 25,320. The population density was 6,525.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,519.4/km2). The racial makeup of Lemon Grove was 8,545 (33.3%) White, 3,495 (13.8%) African American, 225 (0.9%) Native American, 1,628 (6.3%) Asian, 275 (1.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,828 (19.1%) from other races, and 1,801 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,635 persons (45.2%).[38]

The census reported that 24,974 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 200 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 146 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,434 households, 3,295 (39.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,863 (45.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,419 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 601 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 516 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 94 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,928 households (22.9%) were one person and 734 (8.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 5,883 families (69.8% of households); the average family size was 3.51.

The age distribution was 6,458 people (25.5%) under the age of 18, 2,583 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 6,900 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,550 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,829 people (11.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 2,285.4 per square mile, of the occupied units 4,609 (54.6%) were owner-occupied and 3,825 (45.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 13,984 people (55.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,990 people (43.4%) lived in rental housing units.

Current estimates

[edit]

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.

Government

[edit]
Lemon Grove sign.

As of September 2024, the city council includes Mayor Racquel Vasquez, and council members George Gastil, Alysson Snow, Liana LeBaron and Jennifer Mendoza.[39] The City Manager is Lydia Romero.[40]

In the California State Legislature, Lemon Grove is in the 39th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Akilah Weber, and in the 79th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Akilah Weber.[41]

In the United States House of Representatives, Lemon Grove is in California's 51st congressional district, represented by Democrat Sara Jacobs.[42]

Notable people

[edit]

"The World's Biggest Lemon"

[edit]

Weighing some 3000 pounds, and approximately 10 feet long and six feet wide, the lemon sculpture—affectionately known as the World's Biggest Lemon—sits on a concrete base at the corner of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue, adjacent to 3361 Main Street. It lies before a small lemon grove beside 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". Designed by Lemon Grove architect Alberto O. Treganza, the lemon was originally built as a parade float for the 1928 Fourth of July Fiesta de San Diego parade, carrying the town's first Miss Lemon Grove, Amorita Treganza, Alberto's 16-year-old daughter. In 1930, the float was plastered to create a permanent sculpture and displayed near its current location.

Education

[edit]

Public primary education in the city is provided by the Lemon Grove School District. Grossmont Union High School District provides secondary and adult education.

High schools

[edit]

Eligible students are sent outside the town for secondary education.

Middle schools

[edit]
  • Lemon Grove Academy Middle School

K-8 schools

[edit]
  • Vista La Mesa Academy
  • Mount Vernon School

Elementary schools

[edit]
  • Lemon Grove Academy Elementary School
  • Monterey Heights Elementary School
  • San Altos Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Mayor & Council". City of Lemon Grove. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "City Manager". City of Lemon Grove. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Lemon Grove". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts: Lemon Grove city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lemon Grove city, California; United States". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Helen M. Ofield & Pete Smith, Images of America: Lemon Grove, Lemon Grove Historical Society (Arcadia: 2010).
  9. ^ Matt S. Meier & Margo Gutiérrez, The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia (Greenwood, 2003), p. 215.
  10. ^ Mike Madrid, "The Lemon Grove Desegregation Case: A Matter of Neglected History" in Latino Civil Rights in Education: La Lucha Sigue (Routledge, 2016: eds. Anaida Colón-Muñiz & Magaly Lavadenz), pp. 52–57.
  11. ^ "General law" means under the provisions established by the legislature, as opposed to a charter city which would have more local-government options. UCB Institute for Governmental Studies Archived June 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ San Diego County Sheriff's Lemon Grove Station
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  14. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  20. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  28. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  29. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  30. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lemon Grove city, California". United States Census Bureau.
  32. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lemon Grove city, California". United States Census Bureau.
  33. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lemon Grove city, California". United States Census Bureau.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Lemon Grove city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  35. ^ "Lemon Grove city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  36. ^ "Lemon Grove city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  37. ^ "Lemon Grove city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  38. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Lemon Grove city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  39. ^ "The Mayor & City Council". The City of Lemon Grove: The Best Climate on Earth. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  40. ^ "Office of the City Manager". The City of Lemon Grove: The Best Climate On Earth. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  41. ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  42. ^ "California's 53rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  43. ^ John Forester's website with Lemon Grove address
  44. ^ San Diego Reader, July 5, 2001
  45. ^ ABDUSSATTAR SHAIKH
  46. ^ Pearlman, Karen. "Shotgun Tom remembers his East County roots". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  47. ^ Hamblin, Abby (October 3, 2019). "Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz's journey from Lemon Grove to Hollywood to improve Latino representation". San Diego Union.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lemon_Grove,_California&oldid=1304429848"