Jump to content

Potrero, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Potrero
census-designated place
Potrero General Store located south of California State Route 94.
Potrero General Store located south of California State Route 94.
Location in San Diego County, California
Location in San Diego County, California
Potrero is located in California
Potrero
Location of Potrero in California
Coordinates (32.6048° N, 116.6131° W): 32°36′17″N 116°36′47″W / 32.60472°N 116.61306°W / 32.60472; -116.61306
Country United States
State California
CountySan Diego
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2)
 • Land3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
2,336 ft (712 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
648
 • Density206/sq mi (79.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
91963, 91990
Area code619
FIPS code06-06073
GNIS feature ID247733[2]
[2][4]

Potrero (Spanish for "Pasture")[5] is a census-designated place in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 648 at the 2020 United States census, down from 656 at the 2010 census.[6]

Location

[edit]

State Route 94 connects Potrero by road west to San Diego and east to Campo. Potrero is Spanish for 'pasture land'. Its closest neighbor is Tecate, Mexico.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.2 square miles (8.2 km2), all of it land.

The area has Lathyrus splendens and Quercus engelmannii, both being rare species of plants.[7]: 37–38  It is within the Tijuana watersheed, with water draining into Potrero Creek.[7]: 14 [a]

History

[edit]

The area which today is within the unincorporated community of Potrero was part of the area traveled by the Kumeyaay, artifacts that originate from the Kumeyaay have been found that date to at least a thousand years ago;[9] a prehistoric archeology site was also found in the area.[7]: 72–74  The area was a good source for acorns, which was a significant part of the Kumeyaay diet.[10] The first settler was Charlie McAlmond.[11][b] A sage honey apiary existed in the community, that created honey for export;[7]: 65  cattle and sheep raising, as well as freight hauling, were other industries of the area.[13] Between 1888 and 1896, a trading post was established in Potrero by the owners of the Campo Gaskill store.[14]

A road originating in Campo, came through Potrero, to Jamul was created in 1889.[7]: 67  The road, which was used by stage coachs began to by maintained by San Diego County in 1912, and was the precursor of California State Route 94.[7]: 68  Ranching continued in Potrero in the early 20th century.[7]: 71  Fires came through the area in 1942, 2001 (Bell), and 2007 (Harris Fire).[7]: 14  The Harris Fire began in Potrero.[15] Another fire occurred in the area in 1943, and was named for the community;[16] firefighting was largely conducted by Soldiers from Camp Lockett as well as Marines from Camp Pine Valley.[17]

In 1990, the Los Angeles Times featured the community describing it as "The Last Resort" for those who have chemical sensitivities.[18]

Blackwater controversy

[edit]

In 2007, Blackwater USA submitted plans to build a weapons training facility in Potrero. The plans generated substantial controversy in the community.

Local activists organized a recall campaign against the members of the local planning group.[19] On 11 December 2007, all five members of the Potrero Community Planning Group who approved the Blackwater project lost their seats in a recall election.[20] On March 7, 2008, Blackwater USA pulled their application for this facility.[21]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010656—
2020648−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
1860–1870[23][24] 1880-1890[25]
1900[26] 1910[27] 1920[28]
1930[29] 1940[30] 1950[31]
1960[32][33] 1970[34] 1980[35]
1990[36] 2000[37] 2010[38]
2020[39]

Potrero first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.[38]

Potrero CDP, 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 2010[40] Pop 2020[39] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 140 101 21.34% 15.59%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 6 0.00% 0.93%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 4 2 0.61% 0.31%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 0 0.46% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 10 8 1.52% 1.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 499 531 76.07% 81.94%
Total 656 648 100.00% 100.00%

The 2020 United States census reported that Potrero had a population of 648. The population density was 205.7 inhabitants per square mile (79.4/km2). The racial makeup of Potrero was 191 (29.5%) White, 8 (1.2%) African American, 5 (0.8%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 302 (46.6%) from other races, and 142 (21.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 531 persons (81.9%).[41]

The whole population lived in households. There were 180 households, out of which 77 (42.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 114 (63.3%) were married-couple households, 8 (4.4%) were cohabiting couple households, 30 (16.7%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 28 (15.6%) had a male householder with no partner present. 27 households (15.0%) were one person, and 15 (8.3%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.6.[41] There were 141 families (78.3% of all households).[42]

The age distribution was 213 people (32.9%) under the age of 18, 48 people (7.4%) aged 18 to 24, 200 people (30.9%) aged 25 to 44, 127 people (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 60 people (9.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males.[41]

There were 192 housing units at an average density of 61.0 units per square mile (23.6 units/km2), of which 180 (93.8%) were occupied. Of these, 95 (52.8%) were owner-occupied, and 85 (47.2%) were occupied by renters.[41]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Potrero creek is 9.3 metres (0.0093 km) long, and flows into Cottonwood Creek; it may be habitat for the bufo californicus.[8]
  2. ↑ Born in Maine, he settled in the area after being injured at Mazatlan as a sailor, bringing Alpha (his wife who was born in Indiana), and having six kids (Edna, Charles, Agnes, Maury, Egbert, and Bertie).[12]

References

[edit]
Specific
  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Potrero, California. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  3. ↑ "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ "ZIP Code Lookup". Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  5. ↑ Gudde, Erwin G. (1998). California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names. Univ of California Press. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-520-26619-3. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Albright, Brian (June 29, 2018). Potrero Mason Property Management Plan (PDF). Department of Parks and Recreation (Report). San Diego: County of San Diego. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus); Proposed Rule. Federal Registrar. April 28, 2004. pp. 23254–23328. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ Gibson, Eric (August 3, 2011). Potrero Community Plan (PDF). Mountain Empire Subregional Plan (Report). County of San Diego. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Potrero County Park" (PDF). sdparks.org. San Diego: County of San DIego Department of Parks and Recreation. February 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  11. ↑ The Canyoneers (September 19, 2018). "A fitness routine surrounded by natural sights and sounds". San Diego Reader. Golden Hill, San Diego. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
    McCain, Ella (1955). Memories of the Early Settlements, Dulzura, Potrero, and Campo. p. 38. Retrieved June 13, 2026 – via University of California.
  12. ↑ Reider, Shirley (2004). "Capt. Charles G. McAlmond". Potrero Roots: A Backcountry Heritage. Santee, California: Potrero Friends of the Library. p. 5.
  13. ↑ Reider, Shirley (2004). "Early Occupations in Potrero". Potrero Roots: A Backcountry Heritage. Santee, California: Potrero Friends of the Library. p. 22.
  14. ↑ Kimball, Russell F. "Campo, California: A Brief History". psrm.org. Campo: Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  15. ↑ Cohee, Sharisse (June 13, 2026). "Lookback: Major San Diego County wildfires of past 25 years". KUSI. San Diego: Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ Jones, Fred D. "Camp Lockett History". militarymuseum.org. Sacramento: 9th and 19th Horse Cavalry Association. Retrieved June 15, 2026 – via California State Military History and Museums Program.
    Vezina, Meredith (Spring 1993). Crawford, Richard W. (ed.). "Defending the Border". The Journal of San Diego History. 39 (1 & 2). San Diego Historical Society. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  17. ↑ Smith, Jeff (August 5, 2004). "Men sizzle in Hauser Canyon, part 1". San Diego Reader. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  18. ↑ Wallace, Amy (July 1, 1990). "For Those Who Find Living in a World of Chemically Treated Products Impossible, the Town of Potrero Is: The Last Resort". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  19. ↑ Moore, Solomon (December 11, 2007). "Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  20. ↑ Sizemore, Bill (December 12, 2007). "Voters in California town recall planners who approved Blackwater facility". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  21. ↑ Krueger, Anne (March 8, 2008). "Blackwater bid is withdrawn". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  22. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  29. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  30. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  31. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  32. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  33. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  34. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  35. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  37. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  38. 1 2 "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  39. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Potrero CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  40. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Potrero CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  41. 1 2 3 4 "Potrero CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Potrero CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
General
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potrero,_California&oldid=1359865299"