Santee is entering its 31st year as a municipality, having incorporated in 1980. Santee is the 11th largest city of the 18 that comprise San Diego. Santee is unique from the other 17 cities, in that, it actually has land still to develop. The city has plans for residential housing, a high-tech business park, a 55 acre community park and open space. These improvements will serve to enhance an already unique setting of an urban living within the safety of country living.
Santee has many lakes as well as the San Diego River running through it. Parks surround the lakes and river with walking trails, campsites, fishing, bird-watching, sports fields, and open space. The city is working on connecting a river walk to the existing river walk in Lakeside in one direction and the Mission Trails Regional Park in Santee.
Sportsplex USA Santee is a 15 acres sports field complex with three softball fields, four batting cages and two soccer fields, all lighted for night-time use. Also a part of the complex is spectator seating, parking and a restaurant ready to provide sports themed food.
Shopping is located at the heart of the city at Santee Trolley Square with 45 nationally recognized stores in a town like setting with outdoor walking, benches, fountains and a 250 seat outdoor amphitheatre for year-round events like the 10 week summer concerts. The Trolley runs right into the heart of the shopping center for easy access throughout San Diego. Several freeways are close to the shopping center as well.
Santee has a population of 54,700 in 16.528 square miles. It has one of the lowest crime rates in all of San Diego. The two school districts that serve Santee, both have awards in the local, state and national levels of academic excellence. They have outstanding extracurricular activities in many different fields as well. Santee does not have a senior community center as of this writing. Despite that, Santee is a great place to retire and enjoy country living with the conveniences of the city. Shopping, lakes, parks, river, sports facilities all within a safe community are all reasons to call Santee home.