El Cajon sits in a valley 15 miles from the coast, surrounded by mountains. The Spanish called this valley The Box or El Cajon. The town is the fourth largest in the county. It dates to the 1870s, when the old Knox Hotel, once located near Main and Magnolia streets, served as a stagecoach stop.
El Cajon experienced rapid growth from 1950 to 1980, developing distinct areas in mid-city, the north, and the south. In recent years a downtown revitalization project has created new senior housing projects, two retail shopping complexes, a fire station, a community center, and a library. Other features include a Performing Arts Center, Gillespie Air Field, golf, and recreation centers. Annual community events include the Mother Goose Parade and The Harvest Festival. Nearby communities include Santee and La Mesa.
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