Boulevard, California

The Kumeyaay and Cocopah Indians were Boulevard's earliest inhabitants, and the area is rich in Native American history, culture and archeological resources. Today Boulevard is the headquarters of the Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians.[3]

An area near Calexico Lodge is occasionally referred to as Eckener Pass. Reportedly, this is a reference to German Zeppelin pioneer Hugo Eckener. In August 1929, Hugo Eckener's Zeppelin Z-127 "Graf Zeppelin", a sister ship of the Hindenburg, landed here on the Los Angeles-Chicago leg of her round-the-world tour.[4][5]

The town and post office were named Boulevard after US Highway 80 which ran through town. Eventually Interstate 8 was constructed, bypassing the town.[6] Local residents report an alternate version of the origin of the name. Boulevard used to be a stage coach stop, reportedly near today's McCain Valley road, east of today's core of Boulevard. Coming from Arizona, this stop was on the first long, flat straight stretch of road, "a boulevard", after climbing the winding In-Ko-Pah mountains and passing through windier roads in Jacumba.

In January 2007, the La Posta Casino, owned and operated by the La Posta Band of Mission Indians,[7] opened.[8] It was the smallest casino in the county until it closed in 2012 due to its financial situation.[9][10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), all land. However, this only includes the village area of Boulevard. More commonly, Boulevard includes rural outlying areas. The Boulevard Community Planning Group includes approximately 55,350 acres, or about 86 square miles.[11]

Located in the East County section of San Diego County, Boulevard with its unique transitional location straddles the Tecate Divide, between the Laguna Mountains above and the desert below, providing views of the surrounding Laguna, In-Ko-Pah and Sierra de Juarez mountains.

The community is south of Interstate 8 about 50 miles (80 km) west of El Centro. The US Post Office is plotted at 32°39′50″N 116°16′30″W[12] although the actual post office has since moved approximately two miles west near the separation of Old Highway 80 and State Route 94. The post office, and the community it serves, has the ZIP Code 91905.[13]

Regulatory filings show a California Department of Transportation facility described as a highway maintenance station in Boulevard. It is located in the 40000-block of Old Highway 80 on the south side at 32°39′46″N 116°15′58″W as of 1993, and still exists as of 2018.

The 2010 United States Census[16] reported that Boulevard had a population of 315. However, other sources report a population of more than 2000. The discrepancy is likely due to exactly which areas are included in the unincorporated area. The population density was 80.7 inhabitants per square mile (31.2/km²). The racial makeup of Boulevard was 272 (86.3%) White, 2 (0.6%) African American, 7 (2.2%) Native American, 3 (1.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 14 (4.4%) from other races, and 17 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44 persons (14.0%).

The Census reported that 315 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. However, Boulevard does have a prison facility, the McCain Valley Conservation Camp, as well as a border patrol facility with detention space.

There were 135 households, out of which 35 (25.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 66 (48.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 12 (8.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 5 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 7 (5.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 46 households (34.1%) were made up of individuals, and 17 (12.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33. There were 83 families (61.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.96.

The population was spread out, with 71 people (22.5%) under the age of 18, 9 people (2.9%) aged 18 to 24, 59 people (18.7%) aged 25 to 44, 123 people (39.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 53 people (16.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.5 males.

There were 218 housing units at an average density of 55.8 per square mile (21.5/km²), of which 83 (61.5%) were owner-occupied, and 52 (38.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 17.5%. 186 people (59.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 129 people (41.0%) lived in rental housing units.

At the federal level, Boulevard is in California's 48th congressional district, represented by Republican Darrell Issa. In the California State Legislature, it is in the 18th Senate District, represented by Democrat Steve Padilla, and the 75th Assembly District, represented by Republican Marie Waldron.[17]

Local students attend Cover Flat Elementary School, Mountain Empire Junior High School, and Mountain Empire High School.

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode "Goodbye, George" involves a road trip along Highway 80 through Boulevard.