The Ocean Park and Venice pleasure piers drew huge crowds, as did the Looff Pier (Santa Monica Pier). In 1905, the town had a population of 7,208.īy the 1920s, the population was growing rapidly. The city electorate went to the polls in November 1886 and voted 97 to 71 to incorporate Santa Monica. In later years the residents were glad that the beautiful bay and mountain country did not become an industrial or commercial region. Although some of Colonel Baker and Senator Jones dreams materialized, they were disappointed that the harbor at Santa Monica was not the one chosen by Los Angeles for the Los Angeles Port, and that Santa Monica was not a commercial city. Houses and stores sprang up, a general store was opened and a newspaper started. Within a few weeks after the town lot sale a change had come over the barren plain. Listening to the speeches, the people became anxious to own a lot in the new town. In 1839, Ysidro Reyes and Francisco Marquez were provisionally granted the Rancho known as Boca de Santa Monica (Santa Monica Canyon). In 1828, Don Francisco Sepulveda was given provisional title to Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica which included the area between the Santa Monica Canyon and what is now Pico Boulevard and northeasterly into the Westwood region.

In 1822, the land passed from Spanish rule to the Mexican Republic and came under private ownership. Monica shed for her erring-son, Augustine, they called the area Santa Monica. Monica’s day on the religious calendar, May 4 and as the springs reminded them of the tears St. After drinking the cool water and resting in the shade, the little party agreed that this place should have a name. They came to two springs of sparkling water below the shade of great sycamore trees. As the story goes it was hot and dusty as the little party walked over the pathless plain. While Portola and his party rested in camp, some of the men hunted for a trail up the Coast. In 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola was placed in command of an expedition in California.

In 1542, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, Spanish Conquistador dropped anchor in what is thought to be Santa Monica Bay.

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