Alpine Homes for Sale

Although you won´t find yodelers or an inordinate number of cuckoo clocks there, Alpine, California does resemble Switzerland in its lakes and Cuyamaca Mountain foothills locale. The East San Diego County community was named for a resident in the 1880s who saw a resemblance between her new home and her native country, Switzerland.

Today, Alpine, with its population of roughly 14,000, consists of small ranches, estates, and more affordable housing set amidst pine trees and eucalyptus groves near the Cleveland National Forest. The unincorporated city is located near Highway 8, 30 miles east of the City of San Diego.

History

The Kumeyaay lived in the Alpine area for more than 10,000 years before the first Spanish people entered San Diego´s harbor in the mid-16th century. The Kumeyaay lived as hunters and gatherers who also practiced some horticulture.

Spanish settlers populated Alpine throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s before residents of the United States began to migrate westward and discover the mild climate and sheltered plateau location.

That climate, which has an average high of 77 degrees, gained Alpine some significant attention in the early 1900s, when a government survey indicated its climate was the best in the US. The town slogan soon became, ¨Best Climate in the USA by Government Report.¨

The average high temperature in July is 90 degrees, with an average low temperature in January of 42.2 degrees. The average rainfall is approximately 16.4 inches per year, with 0 inches of snow per year. No weather information available.

Education:

The Alpine Union School District is composed of three elementary schools, a middle school, and an early education school. Local parents are actively involved in their children´s educations. The State of California has recognized the elementary and middle schools for academic excellence.

High school students who live in Alpine attend Granite Hills HIgh School or Steele Canyon High School, both of which are located in the Grossmont High School District.

The area is served by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, which has campuses in El Cajon and La Mesa.

Economy

Local businesses, most of which are located downtown, include small professional services firms and retail stores. The town is also home to the Alpine Creek Shopping Center and Countryside Center, as well as the Viejas Casino and Viejas Outlet Center.

Several hundred other businesses operate from home offices in the community. The Alpine Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the local economy through its ¨Shop Alpine First¨ campaign. Alpine residents who work for others include ranch hands, casino staff, and those who commute to San Diego for their jobs. The median Alpine household income is $75,214 compared to $59,424 in the surrounding county and $50,935 nationwide.

Attractions

Surrounded as it is by water, Alpine is a favorite destination among sports fishermen. Lake Morena, Loveland Reservoir, and El Capitan Lake teem with bass, trout, sunfish, and other fish. Other popular outdoor activities in Alpine include hiking and horseback-riding.

The annual Lakeside Rodeo is held every year about 10 miles northeast of Alpine. The three-day event offers spectators the chance to watch authentic cowboys ride bulls, rope calves, and wrestle steers. The Viejas Outlet Center and Viejas Casino attract visitors year-round.

Real Estate

Alpine´s many homes and ranches are located on hills covered and surrounded by chaparral, sage, oaks, sycamores, eucalyptus, and other trees. As of November 2013, the median sales price of Alpine homes was $403,200, which is down 4.32 percent from the same time last year. About 250 members of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay live on a 1,600-acre reservation in the Viejas Valley, east of Alpine.

Latest Alpine Homes for Sale:

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