History of San Diego

San Diego dates back to the nomadic Indian tribes who once inhabited the area. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator hired by Spain, explored the coast of California and in September 1542, sailed into the harbor of San Diego. He named the port San Miguel since their arrival coincided with the eve of the feast of St. Micheal the Archangel. What he found was an excellent harbor for shipping, a temperate climate and an abundance of fertile soil.

The name San Diego came from Sebastion Vizcaino who found the harbor and surrounding area to be unnaturally beautiful. He renamed the port San Diego de Acala after a saint from Madrid. At this time the area remained virtually undeveloped and still retained its Indian presence.

Not until Father Junipero Serra began his first mission, San Diego de Acala, did the Spanish first begin to take hold of the locality. The original site of the mission is present-day Presidio Park, but with a lack of water and poor soil, the site was later moved five miles east. Father Serra went on to form more missions up the southern California coast, but it must be remembered that he started here.

In 1812, California underwent a change when Mexico finally gained its independence from Spain. San Diego was still regarded as an agricultural center rather than an aspiring city such as Los Angeles, located 100 miles to the north. Not until 1850, when the United States finally gained control of California, did both the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles become incorporated.

Growth continued to be slow with more people attracted to fledgling-city Los Angeles rather than to San Diego. One of the most influential people who helped build San Diego into what it is today was Alonzo E. Horton. He first arrived in 1867 and bought 1,000 acres, on which now rests present day downtown. He looked toward the future with hopes to create a city on the bay. With the first development of those 1,000 acres, a gradual change shifted from Old Town to the area near the water. Businesses and people gradually moved from the Old Town area to the acreage closer to the Bay. But it was not until a fire destroyed a major building in Old Town that the change became permanent.

Today you can see what Alonzo Horton’s vision has accomplished; one of America’s most beautiful coastal cities serving as the foundation for aspiring towns around the country.