Bostonia, California

"Bostonia" redirects here. For the alumni magazine of Boston University, see Bostonia (magazine).

Bostonia, California
Neighborhood
Bostonia Store in the early 20th century, at 2nd & Broadway. The store was established in 1886, and closed in February 1960.
Location in San Diego County and the state of California
Bostonia, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°49′8″N 116°57′37″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Diego
Area
• Total	1.93 sq mi (4.99 km2)
• Land	1.93 sq mi (4.99 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	486 ft (148 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,882
• Density	8,765.32/sq mi (3,383.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	92021
Area code	619
FIPS code	06-07624
GNIS feature IDs	1656442, 2407889

Bostonia is a neighborhood in San Diego County, California, comprising part of the northeastern portion of the city of El Cajon, as well as adjacent unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The portion of Bostonia that lies outside the El Cajon city limits is classified as a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau. The population of the CDP was 16,882 at the 2020 census, up from 15,379 at the 2010 census.

History

Agriculture

Former Virginia agriculturalist Eugene Halstead of San Diego planted a crop of tobacco in Bostonia in 1896 and said later that the tobacco was "superior in some respects to that of the Cuban plantations," one "serious drawback" to cultivation being the scarcity of rain in the area.

Civic events

In 1898, David G. Gordon was appointed postmaster in Bostonia to replace Joseph Donald, who had resigned. C.O. Graves held the office in 1903. In 1914, William M. Wright was appointed postmaster to replace R.W. Foffland, who had resigned.

In 1928, Murray Wright was president of the Bostonia Chamber of Commerce.

In that same year, civic leaders in Bostonia planned to name a local observation as "Grape Day" which led some in neighboring Escondido to complain that their city already had an event under the same name. They were mollified when Bostonians said they would call their event "Home Products Day" instead.

Crime

"Firebugs" believed by Sheriff Conklin to have been members of the Industrial Workers of the World, "German sympathizers" or "disgruntled employees," torched the Meridian School building, a large packing house and two stables of the Bostonia Fruit Growers and Packers Association on October 6, 1917. Waste soaked in oil or phosphorus was found in what remained of the buildings, which burned to the ground.

Shoot-out

Sheriff's deputies engaged in a short gun battle in Bostonia and captured a suicidal man who had threatened a bank in Lakeside, California, with ten pounds of dynamite and fled with his loot.

Annexation

In May 1953 residents of the southern portion of Bostonia approved annexation to the city of El Cajon, California, by a vote of 315 to 271.

Swap meet

In 1981 a group of Bostonia residents organized to complain about the disruption caused by historic El Cajon Swap Meet, reputedly the "granddaddy of all the nation's swap meets. They said the weekend operation had grown beyond the "small-time affair it once was," turning the usually quiet area into a "mob scene."

Fire district and fires

A petition was submitted in 1977 by owners of 112 acres within the 480-acre Bostonia Fire Protection District to secede and join the Santee district. It was denied by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

In 1986, a fire in nearby El Cajon killed two and injured five residents at a home for the aged despite the fact that it broke out only a hundred yards from a station within the Bostonia Fire Protection District.

The Bostonia firefighters were prevented from battling the blaze because the district had no mutual-aid agreement with El Cajon, whose firefighters arrived three minutes after the fire was reported. El Cajon Fire Chief Art Melbourne said that Bostonia firefighters did give help but declined to say exactly what it was.

El Cajon Fire Chief Roger House said that Bostonia was not part of any agreement because it did not meet the requirements for belonging, including round-the-clock staffing and a certain kind of equipment.

Geography

The center of the community is near the intersection of North 2nd Street and Broadway in the city of El Cajon. Bostonia Street, the Bostonia Post Office, the former Bostonia Ballroom, Bostonia Elementary School and the Bostonia Fire Station are all within 2,000 feet (610 m) of this location and all, except the fire station, are within the city of El Cajon. This is the area identified on most maps as Bostonia. However, the census-designated place of Bostonia is entirely outside the city limits of El Cajon, in an unincorporated area of County. The CDP comprises most of unincorporated El Cajon north of Broadway and east of State Route 67, and a small area west of State Route 67. Mail sent to all parts of Bostonia is addressed to El Cajon.

According to the United States Census Bureau Bostonia is located at 32°49′18″N 116°57′0″W (32.821612, -116.949905). This is approximately one mile northwest of where the USGS places Bostonia, near the geographic center of the CDP. The CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all land.

Ecology

Bostonia was home to numerous populations of Ambrosia pumila, a rare, clonal plant narrowly distributed in southern California and Baja California. Most populations of Ambrosia pumila in Bostonia grew on vacant lots, backyard strips, and gravel roads, and many since have been extirpated by development. Additionally, Artemisia palmeri, a sagebrush nearly endemic to San Diego County, was once found in the neighborhood. Other plants historically collected from Bostonia include Primula clevelandii, Sidalcea malviflora, Sisyrinchium bellum and Viola pedunculata.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	13,670		—
2000	15,169		11.0%
2010	15,379		1.4%
2020	16,882		9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

The statistics below include only the census-designated place, not the part of Bostonia within the city limits of El Cajon.

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Bostonia had a population of 16,882. The population density was 8,765.3 inhabitants per square mile (3,384.3/km²). The racial makeup of Bostonia was 55.8% White, 7.0% African American, 1.2% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 16.5% from other races, and 15.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.8% of the population.

The census reported that 99.4% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.3% were institutionalized.

There were 5,742 households, out of which 36.5% included children under the age of 18, 44.8% were married-couple households, 7.9% were cohabiting couple households, 29.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 18.1% had a male householder with no partner present. 21.9% of households were one person, and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.92. There were 4,061 families (70.7% of all households).

The age distribution was 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% aged 18 to 24, 28.3% aged 25 to 44, 24.4% aged 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males.

There were 5,945 housing units at an average density of 3,086.7 units per square mile (1,191.8 units/km²), of which 5,742 (96.6%) were occupied. Of these, 43.3% were owner-occupied, and 56.7% were occupied by renters.

2023 estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 58.2% of the population were born in California, 19.4% were born in a different state, 2.4% were born in a US territory or abroad to an American parent, and 19.9% were born outside US jurisdiction. Of those aged 5 or older, 65.6% spoke only English at home, 18.8% spoke Spanish, 3.0% spoke other Indo-European languages, 3.5% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 9.1% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 87.3% were high school graduates and 22.6% had a bachelor's degree.

The median household income was $73,549, and the per capita income was $32,959. About 13.1% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line.

Religion

A new Episcopal Church (United States) was dedicated in Bostonia on July 28, 1895, the Rev. H.B. Restarick officiating. Later, Alfred Fletcher took charge of the church under Restarick, who had become dean. W.J. Cleveland took over as rector in November 1910.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Bostonia is in the 38th Senate District, represented by Democrat Catherine Blakespear, and in the 71st Assembly District, represented by Republican Kate Sanchez.

In the United States House of Representatives, Bostonia is in California's 50th congressional district, represented by Democrat Scott Peters.

Education

The Riverview School District was separated from the Bostonia District (which included Lakeside) in 1919.