San Diego Timeline

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Back to San DiegoSan Diego History Timeline

• 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sails into San Diego Bay.
• 1579 Sir Francis Drake overlooks the entrance to San Diego Bay on his way to San Francisco.
• 1602 Sebastian Vincaino arrives into the harbor and names it San Diego.
  
• 1769 A Spanish expedition led by Gaspar de Portol? drops off Franciscan Father Jun?pero Serra to establish San Diego de Alcala, the first of 21 California missions.
  
• 1774 The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala moves inland 6 miles to its present location near Mission Gorge.
  
• 1821 Mexico wins independence from Spain and annexes California.
  
• 1823 Captain Francisco Maria Ruiz establishes one of the first rancheros.
  
• 1825 For 6 years, tiny San Diego -- population 400 -- is the capital of the California territory.
  
• 1837 The population drops to 150 because of water shortages and Indian raids on the rancheros.
  
• 1846-48 War erupts between the United States and Mexico.
  
• 1848 Gold is discovered near Sacramento; gold fever consumes Northern California.
  
• 1850 California becomes the 31st state; San Diego is formally recognized as a city and county.
  
• 1867 Alonzo Horton buys 960 acres of bayfront property for $265.
  
• 1868 The San Diego Union begins publishing.
  
• 1869 "New Town" -- what will become downtown -- takes root.
  
• 1870 Gold is discovered in Julian, in the mountains east of San Diego. A mini-gold rush begins.
  
• 1885 Coronado is purchased for $110,000; the Hotel del Coronado is built.
  
• 1900 Population of San Diego County: 15,000.
  
• 1910 Marines are first stationed on North Island.
  
• 1915-16 Balboa Park is created.
  
• 1927 The Spirit of St. Louis is built; Charles Lindbergh takes off from North Island.
  
• 1929 Three noteworthy buildings are completed: the Serra Museum, Fox Theater (later becoming Symphony Hall), and Casa de Pico Motel (to be transformed into Bazaar del Mundo).
  
• 1935-36 Balboa Park sprouts more Spanish revival architecture.
  
• 1941 After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the navy's headquarters for the Pacific fleet move to San Diego.
  
• 1944 Aqueduct from the Colorado River built to import water to the city.
  
• 1948 Palomar Observatory debuts, and astronomers eye new realms at the world's largest telescope.
  
• 1969 Coronado Bridge is built.
  
• 1985 Horton Plaza Shopping Center opens; San Diegans come downtown to shop for the first time in years -- downtown redevelopment is begun.
  
• 2000 Population of San Diego County: 2.8 million.
  
• 2003 Fires sweep through the backcountry, destroying 2,200 homes.
  
• 2004 PETCO Park (San Diego Padres' new home) opens downtown.
  
• 2005 Green Line Trolley Extension opens.
  
• 2020 Projected population of San Diego County: 3.5 million.