Bonita is an unincorporated community in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. It is also a Census-designated place defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 1888, the Sweetwater Dam was built, creating the Sweetwater Reservoir and forever changing the geography of the region. Soon after, in 1906, the dam broke as a result of extensive rains which overfilled the reservoir, and the Lower Sweetwater Valley was completely flooded.
Bonita has experienced minor flooding throughout history, generally as a result of high seasonal rains attributed to El Niño. The floods most affect the Central Avenue river crossing, as no bridge has ever been built, unlike the Bonita Road and Willow Road crossings which are bridges, the former of which was rebuilt in the late 1990s.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the development of State Route 125 (SR 125, The South Bay Expressway) became a major issue to Bonita residents, much as Interstate 805 and State Route 54 did during their development. For many years, residents protested the development, but to no avail. The new highway has plans to be opened in early 2007, and homes in the eastern part of the community have been removed to make way for the highway. Hopes are that the highway will reduce the significant increase in car traffic the community has seen since the 1980s when the eastern Chula Vista communities surrounding Eastlake were developed.
The Bonita Historical Museum is the principal repository of historical information for the Lower Sweetwater Valley.
To visitors and residents alike, one of the most visible features of Bonita recreational life is the walking trail which loops the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course in central Bonita. Hundreds of residents walk, run, and ride this trail every day for pleasure and fitness, and the trail has become a vital component of Bonita life for many residents.
In the late 1990s the Sweetwater Regional Park was expanded and significantly improved, extending the walking and equestrian trails to an even greater number, and introducing a camping area at Summit Meadow Road. Now, virtually the entire valley from the reservoir to I-805 formally serve recreational purposes as either park or golf course.
Equestrianism has long been a part of the Bonita community, and many trails exist throughout the Lower Sweetwater Valley. There are a number of connections to trails external to Bonita as well. In fact many residents still keep their own horses and can be seen riding the trails regularly. The Bonita Valley Trails organization monitors and supports the network of trails throughout the valley.
Learn more about this city.
City of Bonita, CA official site
City of Bonita, CA Chamber of Commerce
City of Bonita, CA newspaper
County of Bonita, CA official site
State of California official site