• Crest, a Quaint and Established Community Crest has settled into a quiet and homey community. The residents love the quaint small-town feeling yet with big city amenities just a few short miles down the hill. There have not been many changes in the past twenty-five years and that is the way folks like it. There are plenty of dirt roads. Sidewalks, street lights, and signals are pretty much non-existent. Many residents rely on septic systems, propane, and wells for their basic utilities. The community still depends on the chalkboard at the top of the hill for up-to-date local event postings. The Crest Community Association continues to meet in the La Cresta Clubhouse, which still acts as the town hall location.

1993–1994 San Diego Gas and Electric Company Brings Natural Gas to Crest.
It wasn’t until 1993 that San Diego Gas and Electric felt it was economically to their advantage to bring gas to the Crest community. They offered to bring it to the residents at little charge with the commitment that three appliances be converted to gas.

Coyote Country Café – 1998 – 2001
A quaint little coffee shop called the Coyote Country Café opened in Crest across the street from the Rainbow Market in 1998. The café came alive with music as local talent started visiting the Crest stage. Among them were Dave Silva, the Granddaddy-0s, and Don Halte, to name a few. Coffeehouse owner, Willa Winters, daughter Chris Seebold, and staff worked hard to provide the kind of establishment where folks would feel welcome and cherished. But with only 4,000 people in town, business was not as brisk as it needed to be and the coffeehouse closed in September 2001.

1999 – Crestridge Ecological Reserve Established (Oakridge Park)
The Crestridge Ecological Reserve, is a 3,000 acre reserve owned by the California Department of Fish and Game and managed by the Endangered Habitats Conservancy. The reserve is bounded on the north by Interstate 8, on the east by Harbison Canyon, on the south by Mountain View and La Cresta Roads, and on the southwest by La Cresta Road.
Once the site of a Kumeyaay Indian village, it includes three prehistoric archaeological sites. The Crestridge property was known locally as “Oakridge.” It was once the home of the Cornelius family in the early 1920s. During the 1990s, plans were approved by San Diego County for residential development. In response to the development proposal, the citizens of Crest formed the Crest Open Space Supporters and the Back Country Land Trust to advocate for conservation of the property as open space and incorporation into the County of San Diego MSCP preserve system. The Crest Open Space Supporters contacted Endangered Habitats League (EHL) in 1998 about preserving the property, which had an approved 92-lot subdivision. From 1998-2000, EHL negotiated the sale of Crestridge from the owner Frank Gatlin. The property was sold to the California Department of Fish and Game in 2000.
Crestridge is the home of The Earth Discovery Institute (EDI), a program of the Endangered Habitats League in San Diego providing environmental education. The Earth Discovery Institute (EDI) began in 2001 as an environmental education program of the Endangered Habitats League (EHL) at Crestridge Ecological Reserve. In 2008, EDI became a free-standing non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, conducting environmental education programs at Crestridge Ecological Reserve as well as at other locations in San Diego County. The Earth Discovery Institute also develops and implements volunteer and interpretive programs to support conservation and environmental stewardship throughout southern San Diego County.
The mission of the Earth Discovery Institute is to conduct innovative, effective science education and conservation stewardship programs that are integrated with science-driven ecological conser-vation. EDI conducts education, restoration, and community outreach activities at Crestridge.
Also located on this property is a straw bale house designed by James Hubbell, celebrated San Diego artist and architect. It serves as the park kiosk and an example of straw bale architecture. Unfortunately, the building sustained extensive dam-age in the 2003 wildfires and was rebuilt in 2005.

Crest in the 2000s
The 2000 U.S. Census stated that the population of Crest was 2,780. In 2010, the population decreased 4.5% to 2,593. The percentage of kids under 18 decreased to 19.1% in 2010 from the 2000 figure of 36.5%. Housing units increased to 997 in 2010 from the 2000 figure of 964. Median income ranged from $56,728 (census) to $59,123.
Most likely due to the fact that transportation is so readily available, there are few services available in Crest. While small restaurants try to establish themselves in this small community, they ultimately find it is a difficult task with the small population and isolated location. Crest Foods and Rainbow Market, our two original markets, and Jerry’s Auto shop are the remaining businesses on the hill.
The Crest Sun newsletter reports the Crest news bi-monthly, which can be obtained at the local stores or online via the TheCrestSun.com website and Facebook page. The community issues pretty much remain the same; common themes throughout the decades:
• Constant vigilance regarding fire protection and related issues. Defensible space, fire department issues, taxes, and community preparedness are ever present on the Crest residents’ minds.
• Continually seeking ways to support and maintain the community clubhouse.
• Finding ways to keep the community united through local events such as the July 4th parade, community dinners, as well as school and church activities.

Crest Publications:

Echoes, Crest Historical Society Newsletter 1989 to present  Dorothy Miller 

Crest Weekly News –- 1990-1993  Pat Huntington Biagini

Connie and Carol’s Crest News – 1991-1998 – Connie Gipson and Carol Worra

The Community News – 1992 – Published by the CCA

What about our Fire Department?

As time went on, federal and state grants/programs became available allowing the fire department to start hiring full-time fire fighters, starting with typically one paid man per shift. Eventually, Crest merged with the Bostonia Fire Department in the 1990s to create the East County Fire Protection District. At that point, there wasn’t as great a need for volunteers or fundraising. Eventually, the Smoke Eaters organization slowly died off.

On July 1, 1994, the Bostonia and Crest Fire Protection Districts were consolidated into the East County Fire Protection District. After analyzing the budget, it became apparent that without additional revenue, the budget could not be balanced with current staffing levels. This would later lead to the demise of the East County Fire Protection District.