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1885 - The Beginning:
It all started with the completion of the railroad link between San
Diego and the East Coast in 1885. A massive advertising and public
relations campaign paid for by the railroads and chambers of commerce
started a trickle of visitors that quickly turned into a torrent of
immigrants.
Thousands of people were arriving each month by the middle of 1886,
awaited by land speculators eager to make their fortune. Ramona, Del
Mar, San Marcos, El Cajon, Lakeside, La Jolla and Pacific Beach were a
few of the towns that came into being during this frenzied period.
The July 31, 1887 issue of the San Diego Union announced news of a
"Great Enterprise, a new city about to be build at "False Bay" (now
called Mission Bay). Lots in Pacific Beach went on sale December 12,
1887 and was said to be the "most successful in the history of San Diego
real estate transactions".
 By the end of 1889 the
San Diego & Pacific Beach Railroad was completed to the end of Grand
Avenue and with the convent transportation available, things were
looking up for the young community.
On March 15, 1894 the railroad extension into La Jolla was completed
and became the San Diego, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Railway. This
facilitated not only passenger transportation, but hauling of freight in
the form of lemons, lumber, coal and merchandise. Pacific Beach at the
turn of the century became a growing farming community of citrus fruit,
primarily lemons.
Early 1900's - A New Century:
In 1902 development became the new opportunity for those who took
advantage of the lots offered. The lot sizes were 25 X125 and were
usually sold in pairs for between $350 - $700 for ocean front property.
For those who preferred living two to five blocks from the ocean the
prices declined to between $150 - $200.
 In 1906 the Los Angeles
& San Diego Beach Railway was created by merging the San Diego, Old Town
and Pacific Beach lines with the San Diego, Pacific Beach and La Jolla
railway. The Lamont street station was where most passengers departed
the train was just west of Lamont on Grand Avenue. It is noteworthy to
identify that despite it’s name this railway never went further north
than La Jolla, In 1919 the railway was closed and abandoned as touring
cars and buses became the popular.
By the early 1920's Pacific Beach had a population of 500 and a new
modern school, The Pacific Beach School at 1580 Emerald Street. Around
the same time Earl Taylor and his family relocated to Pacific Beach from
the Midwest. Taylor soon purchased much of the land west of Cass Street
and proceeded to improve the area by paving the streets and building
sidewalks.  He was
looking for ways to make his property more saleable, facilitated
streetcar service to La Jolla and had an idea to build a "pleasure pier"
similar to the popular piers in Los Angeles. The opening of the pier
occurred on the weekend of July 4th 1927 with all of San
Diego flocking to see the new Crystal Ballroom located at the end of the
pier.
The building of roads to accommodate the increasing numbers of
automobiles had an impact on Pacific Beach as on December of 1930 the
Rose Canyon Highway was opened. Following, in January of 1931 the
causeway between Crown Point and Midway Drive across Mission Bay was
completed and open for use. In 1939 buses replaced the streetcar line to
La Jolla.
Modern Pacific Beach:
World War II had a most dramatic effect upon the beach area
increasing the population five-fold and with it bringing development
which transformed Pacific Beach into a thriving community. In December
1943 the new ROXY Movie Theater opened on Cass Street. Additionally
plans for improving Mission Bay were approved and the number of
businesses and residences doubled and re-doubled.
By 1950 the population of Pacific Beach reached 30,000 and the
average home sold for $12,000. The Taylor family, having recovered from
the depression years built markets and businesses throughout the beach
area. In 1951 a new library was built at the corner of Felspar and
Ingraham and later that year the Pacific Beach Town Council was
officially incorporated.
As the beach community entered the 1960's, development continued to
increase. Vacant lots were filled in and older buildings replaced. Along
sail bay large condominiums began to rise and slowly the quiet rural
Pacific Beach began to disappear. During this period the city’s
investment in Mission Bay Park facilitated the developments of the
Islandia, Vacation Village and Hilton Hotels. In 1964 Sea World opened
along with a host of other tourist and marine oriented businesses.
Today Pacific Beach pulses with the heartbeat of the young and
active. "PB", as it is now known locally is home to many college
students, single professionals and families. A paved walkway parallels
the beach from just south of Tourmaline Surfing Park to the navigable
inlet almost 3 miles to the south. Walking, jogging, bicycling and
skating are permitted on the walkway, but speed is regulated for safety
reasons. There is no shortage of places to eat, drink, shop and party
along Garnet Avenue and Mission Blvd., where dining becomes an adventure
of choice with a wide range of ethnic restaurants, nightclubs, sports
bars, pubs and coffee houses. Pacific Beach is the most popular beach
destination in the city of San Diego and draws large crowds in the
summer, especially holiday weekends.
The information and photographs above are excerpts
from the book
"A Short History of Pacific Beach"
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