San Diego County CAGenWeb

                                                                      

 My name is Bob Jenkins and I am the San Diego County Coordinator. 
 We have many genealogical resources available here.
 We would appreciate any contributions you would like to  make to this site.

San Diego County, California

San Diego County’s story begins over 12,000 years ago with the Kumeyaay people, who cultivated a rich culture across the region’s coastal and inland landscapes. Their villages—like Cosoy, Nipaquay, and Choyas—formed the earliest roots of what would become modern San Diego.

In 1542, Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay, marking the first European contact. But it wasn’t until 1769 that permanent settlement began with the founding of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of California’s 21 missions. This mission became a cornerstone of Spanish colonization and religious conversion.

After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, San Diego became part of Mexican territory. The era of ranchos—large land grants—shaped much of the county’s early economy and land ownership.

Following the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 transferred San Diego to U.S. control. Just two years later, in 1850, San Diego County was officially established as one of California’s original counties.

The late 19th century saw transformative growth, especially after the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1885 and the gold rush in Julian in 1869. Military installations, tourism, and biotech industries later fueled explosive development, especially during and after World War II.

Today, San Diego County is a vibrant blend of cultures, history, and innovation—home to stunning coastlines, historic missions, and a legacy that bridges centuries.

 

The CAGenWeb Project sincerely thanks the dedicated volunteers who devoted time and effort toward making this site a successful one: Pamela Storm-Wolfskill (1996 – 2006) Ron Filion (Co-Coordinator, 2002 – 2006) Joyce Pilgrim (2006 – 2016) Linda Simpson (2016 – 2022) Denise Wells (2022 – 2023)