The written (as opposed to oral) history of the San Diego, California, region began in the present state of California, when Europeans first … See more

First Mexican Empire and First Mexican Republic (1821–1835): Pueblo de San Diego
In 1821, Mexico ousted the Spanish in the Mexican War of … See more

Alta California became part of the United States in 1848 following the U.S. victory in the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, with the US-Mexican border established just south of the town. The resident "Californios" became American … See more

Since World War I, the military has played a leading role in the local economy. World War II brought prosperity and gave millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen en route to the Pacific a view of the opportunities in California. The aircraft factories grew from … See more

Pre-European contact
La Jolla complex (~8000 BCE – 1000CE)
The first inhabitants of the region were the people of the See more

The city grew in bursts, especially in the 1880s and again from 1900 to 1930, when it reached 148,000.
The Gibraltar of the … See more

Californios and Chicano/Hispanic
In 1830, San Diego had 520 residents, land was owned by the government, with only seven ranchos … See more