Del Mar, California
History of Del Mar
Olde Del Mar
On August 14, 1882, the first California Southern Railroad train went over the tracks on its new route from San Diego to San Bernardino. Theodore M. Loop – the contractor and engineer who worked on the project – had taken acreage and built a home on a mesa just North of San Diego, a setting he described as “the most attractive place on the entire coast.”
Loop built a tent city on the beach and his wife, Ella, called it “Del Mar” – words taken from a popular poem, The Fight on Paseo Del Mar.
In that same year “Colonel” Jacob Taylor (left) – who had come with his family to live on Rancho Penasquitos – met Loop who suggested that they build a town. Taylor was captivated by the beauty and potential of the area, and in the summer of 1885, he purchased 338.11 acres at the northern end of the mesa from homesteader Enoch Talbert, paying $1,000. Thus the town of Del Mar was officially founded.
Taylor was a dynamic visionary who pictured Del Mar as a seaside resort for the rich and famous. With technical support from family and friends, he designed and built a town whose focal point was Casa del Mar, a hotel-resort. Other town attractions included a natatorium, dancing pavilions, and a bathing pool extending from the beach out into the sea. In 1889, the original hotel burned to the ground, leaving Del Mar without its main attraction.
The Del Mar Store
The first Del Mar Store was located on the north side of Ninth street. It was owned by Henry John Gottesburen and his wife Mary who had moved from Atchison, Kansas to Del Mar in 1884 and opened their first store. Their daughter Mary was the second child born in Del Mar and was affectionately known as “Baby Del Mar.”
Today, the old Del Mar Store does not exist any more, but you can visit our Online Store, with its collection of items and pictures reminiscent of the old days.
Building the New Hotel
With many Californians suffering from economic hardships, Del Mar became dormant for about 15 years. But, in the early 1900s, when South Coast Land Company began to develop San Diego County, Del Mar came alive again.
The South Coast Land Company hired a prominent Los Angeles architect, John C. Austin, to draw plans for a new hotel, the Hotel Del Mar. From its elegant opening in 1910, it served as a magnet for Hollywood stars of the silent film days.
The village also offered a pier, bath house, pool, golf course, and its own powerhouse.
Of course the “plunge” and pier were the main attractions. From 1912 to 1920, beautiful new homes soon became landmarks. Home building came to a halt in the late 1930s; however, life in Del Mar went on and a Civic Association was formed in 1931.
The Fairgrounds and The Racetrack
In 1933, a search for a location for the San Diego County Fair began. Ed Fletcher suggested that the 184 acre site in the San Dieguito Valley – just off the main highways and the Santa Fe Road – would be easily accessible and a perfect setting for a fairground.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided initial funding and the Del Mar Fair opened to a great fanfare on October 8, 1936. Fifty thousand people came to enjoy the exhibits and entertainment. Selection of a queen – the Fairest of the Fair – soon became a highlight of this annual event. The final touch on the fairgrounds was the mile-long oval racetrack.
Bing Crosby took the leadership role in making the Del Mar Turf Club a reality and Pat O’Brien became the Vice President. On opening day of the race track (July 3, 1937), a new era began in Del Mar. The track was hailed as Bing’s Baby or Movieland’s Own Track. In 1938, Bing recorded the song that would open and close everyday of racing since those early days – Where the Turf Meets the Surf.
For decades racing season has brought crowds to Del Mar and Hollywood celebrities decided to acquire residences in Del Mar such as Pat O’Brien, Jimmy and Marge Durante, Lucy and Desi Arnaz and their children, as well as Burt Bachrach and Angie Dickenson. The physician who included many celebrities in his practice, Marcus Rabwin and his wife Marcella, also decided to make Del Mar their home.
During World War II, the racetrack was closed and the grandstand became a bomber tail assembly production facility. Racing returned to Del Mar when the war in Europe was over. On August 14, 1945, Pat O’Brien announced to the assembled racetrack patrons that Japan had surrendered.
Post World War II and The University Years
By 1959, Del Mar decided to incorporate as a city and the 60s marked a time of relative tranquility with the exception of a local student uprising. As the University of California in San Diego came into being, its presence influenced the social, cultural, and political life of the area. The city of Del Mar gained new residents, many of whom were politically active, providing new community leadership. Emphasis began to shift to protecting the environment and beautifying Del Mar. From the late 60s to the early 80s people spoke of the “open space decade,” thus Seagrove Park was born. The 80s marked an increasing emphasis on beautification, coupled with progress and a higher cosmopolitan profile. Del Mar grew to become home to a major publishing concern and attracted artists, writers, and business. In 1985, Del Mar celebrated its centennial, and the Del Mar Historical Society was born.
The centerpieces of new Del Mar are L’Auberge – a beautiful hotel designed with the Stratford Inn in mind – and the elegant shops and boutiques of the picturesque seaside shopping center, Del Mar Plaza. Its selection of restaurants provides great taste, mood, and rave reviews.
Jacob Taylor would be pleased to know that his vision retains its elegant ambiance, hosting guests from all over the world in the crown jewel of San Diego, our Del Mar.
Information gathered from The City of Del Mar Website
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 4,389 people, 2,178 households, and 1,082 families residing in the city. The population density was 991.0/km² (2,559.7/mi²). There were 2,557 housing units at an average density of 577.3/km² (1,491.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.14% White, 0.25% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.87% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population.
There were 2,178 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.3% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the city the population was spread out with 13.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 105.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $81,001, and the median income for a family was $92,270. Males had a median income of $71,250 versus $50,069 for females. The per capita income for the city was $62,425. About 7.8% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.