Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, California
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The CDP encompasses several neighborhoods in unincorporated parts of the county near the cities of El Cajon and La Mesa as well as part of the unincorporated community of Spring Valley. The CDP gets its name from the neighborhood of Casa de Oro, which straddles the line between Spring Valley and unincorporated El Cajon, and Mount Helix, a prominent hill in La Mesa. The population was 18,762 at the 2010 census, down from 18,874 at the 2000 census.
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | |
|---|---|
Census designated place | |
 Location in San Diego County and the state of California | |
  Casa de Oro-Mount Helix Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 32°45′48″N 116°58′39″W | |
| Country |  |
| State |  |
| County |  |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.853 sq mi (17.749 km2) |
| • Land | 6.853 sq mi (17.749 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 18,762 |
| • Density | 2,700/sq mi (1,100/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 92041, 92077 |
| Area code | 619 |
| FIPS code | 06-11691 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407979 |
Geography
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix is located at 32°45′48″N 116°58′39″W (32.763359, -116.977474).[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.9 square miles (18 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[3] | |||
2011
At the 2010 census Casa de Oro-Mount Helix had a population of 18,762. The population density was 2,737.8 people per square mile (1,057.1/km²). The racial makeup of Casa de Oro-Mount Helix was 13,375 (64.6%) White, 1,108 (5.9%) African American, 89 (0.5%) Native American, 593 (3.2%) Asian, 96 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 996 (5.3%) from other races, and 999 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,815 persons (23.3%).[4]
The census reported that 18,563 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 110 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 89 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 6,943 households, 2,179 (31.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,036 (58.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 745 (10.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 360 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 365 (5.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 77 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,319 households (19.0%) were one person and 617 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67. There were 5,141 families (74.0% of households); the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution was 3,945 people (21.0%) under the age of 18, 1,510 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 3,807 people (20.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,012 people (32.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,488 people (18.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 45.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 1,057.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 5,018 (72.3%) were owner-occupied and 1,925 (27.7%) were rented.The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 13,358 people (71.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,205 people (27.7%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the 2000 census there were 18,874 people, 7,012 households, and 5,287 families in the CDP. The population density was 2,760.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,065.4/km²). There were 7,140 housing units at an average density of 1,044.1 per square mile (403.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.7% White, 7.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.2%.[5]
Of the 7,012 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 17.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 2.99.
The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median household income was $60,387 and the median family income was $72,127. Males had a median income of $51,234 versus $31,923 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $33,565. About 5.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1872, after a scientist discovered a European snail (Cornu aspersum) living on a small mountain, Rufus King Porter, the founder of what is now unincorporated Spring Valley, California, named the peak Mt. Helix.[6] Then in 1885, the U.S. Postal Service rejected the use of two words for a post office name, so Rufus submitted just the name Helix and also became the first postmaster in Spring Valley; the Helix Post Office was operated out of his home.
Around this same time, Hubert Howe Bancroft came to the area. He bought the Porters' ranch and also acquired neighboring properties, accumulating about 500 acres (2.0 km2). He began calling his property "Helix Farms." Bancroft hired workers to help develop Helix Farms, planting orchards and building structures for his ranch. By the early 1900s, Helix Farms was home to the largest olive ranch in southern California; some of the original olive trees can still be found today. Bancroft died in 1918, and eventually his family sold the property.
Education
Public high school education is provided by the Grossmont Union High School District. Elementary and middle schools are run by the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.
Government
In the California State Legislature, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix is in the 38th Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Jones, and in the 71st Assembly District, represented by Republican Randy Voepel.[7]
In the United States House of Representatives, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix is in California's 53rd congressional district, represented by Democrat Susan Davis.[8]
References
- "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Casa de Oro-Mount Helix CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- Fetzer, Leland (2005). San Diego County Place Names A to Z. San Diego: Sunbelt Publications. p. 61.
According to the snail theory, the name resulted from a visit made by ... Louis Agassiz, who came to San Diego in August 1872 aboard the research vessel Hassler. He made a collecting trip ... including the Spring Valley area, where he collected specimens of Helisx aspersa, a snail never recorded before in the region ... Rufus K. Porter named the hill in his honor, giving it the snail name ... The snail theory is well authenticated and convincing.
- "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- "California's 53rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
