History of San Diego
America’s Finest City was the first founded by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo as he claimed the land to be property of the King of Spain in 1542. The bay was not given an official name until 1602 by Don Sebastian Viscaino. Later on, the first European settlement was established in 1769, the Franciscan fathers built the first of 21 missions in the state. This particular mission overlooked the bay and was close to a Native American village. The mission was burned down by local tribes and at one time it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake, but every time something would happen to the the Franciscans would rebuild it. Every Sunday the mission still holds mass.
By the 1830’s an area in San Diego had become a successful trading village, this is located in today’s “Old Town.” It became a very important port for shipping cattle hide and quarried stone. People say that the famous cobble street stones of Boston were made using the stones from San Diego.
San Diego became the capital of Mexican California when Mexico gained independence from Spain in the year 1822. It also wasn’t incorporated as a city until the year 1850. In 1867 a land developer named Alonzo E. Horton bought 1,000 acres of land in the area which is now downtown San Diego. In his process Horton laid out streets, gave land to churches, built a wharf and a hotel as well.
In the year 1870 gold was found and many land booms occurred, this caused the population to grow very rapidly. Then, in 1885 the population of San Diego grew to 40,000 as a result of the Santa Fe railroad and eastern investors. Yet, when the new century rolled around, San Diego approached a decline. Businesses were failing and the price of real estate increased rapidly; the population went down to 17,000.
When the Panama Canal was finished in 1915 the population began to grow again, but this time it was at a slow and steady rate.
The aircraft industries also found San Diego very pleasant when they tested planes because of the land and climate. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy was in need of a new Pacific base. After San Diego was chosen, they became active almost immediately. When the war ended naval trainees were moved there as citizens. San Diego was now the Eleventh Naval District and Naval Air Command. Navy and Marine training centers were set up as well as the West Coast’s main supply depot, naval hospitals and laboratories and a large fleet.
When WWII started San Diego really grew, the city extended 20 miles in all directions.
By the 1830’s an area in San Diego had become a successful trading village, this is located in today’s “Old Town.” It became a very important port for shipping cattle hide and quarried stone. People say that the famous cobble street stones of Boston were made using the stones from San Diego.
San Diego became the capital of Mexican California when Mexico gained independence from Spain in the year 1822. It also wasn’t incorporated as a city until the year 1850. In 1867 a land developer named Alonzo E. Horton bought 1,000 acres of land in the area which is now downtown San Diego. In his process Horton laid out streets, gave land to churches, built a wharf and a hotel as well.
In the year 1870 gold was found and many land booms occurred, this caused the population to grow very rapidly. Then, in 1885 the population of San Diego grew to 40,000 as a result of the Santa Fe railroad and eastern investors. Yet, when the new century rolled around, San Diego approached a decline. Businesses were failing and the price of real estate increased rapidly; the population went down to 17,000.
When the Panama Canal was finished in 1915 the population began to grow again, but this time it was at a slow and steady rate.
The aircraft industries also found San Diego very pleasant when they tested planes because of the land and climate. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy was in need of a new Pacific base. After San Diego was chosen, they became active almost immediately. When the war ended naval trainees were moved there as citizens. San Diego was now the Eleventh Naval District and Naval Air Command. Navy and Marine training centers were set up as well as the West Coast’s main supply depot, naval hospitals and laboratories and a large fleet.
When WWII started San Diego really grew, the city extended 20 miles in all directions.
