County Past
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San Diego County, California

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
161historic places
—earliest paper
1850formed
3,298,634pop. 2020
64cemeteries
—CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 161 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1966; 17 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for California is not yet loaded on this site. Browse San Diego titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

98 of 161 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

161 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
Americanization SchoolOceansideBuilding1994
Anza Borrego-Palo Verde Site, S-2Borrego SpringsSite1985
Anza Borrego-Sin Nombre, S-4Borrego SpringsSite1985
Anza Borrego-Spit Mountain Site, S-3Borrego SpringsSite1985
Arnold and Choate’s Addition-North Florence Heights Historic District (Additional Documentation)San DiegoDistrict2024
BERKELEY NHLSan DiegoStructure1990
Baker, Pearl, Row HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1993
Balboa Park NHLSan DiegoDistrict1977
Balboa TheatreSan DiegoBuilding1996
Bancroft, Hubert H., Ranchhouse NHLSpring ValleyBuilding1966
Bandy HouseEscondidoBuilding1993
Beach, A.H., HouseEscondidoBuilding1993
Bear Valley Archeological SitePine ValleySite1974
Beardsley, John R. and Florence Porterfield, HouseSan DiegoBuilding2011
Bingham, Samuel, HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Bishop, Ellis, HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1999
Black, William, House-SDM-W-12 Locus A (CA-SDI-4669)La JollaSite2008
Brawn, Charles A., HouseVistaBuilding1986
Brick RowNational CityBuilding1973
Bumann RanchEncinitasBuilding2020
Burnham-Marston HouseSan DiegoBuilding1986
CABRILLO (Ferry)San DiegoStructure2025
Cabrillo National MonumentSan DiegoDistrict1966
California QuadrangleSan DiegoBuilding1974
Canfield-Wright HouseDel MarBuilding2004
Carlsbad Santa Fe DepotCarlsbadBuilding1993
Carmichael, Norman and Florence B., HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Case Study House No. 23CLa JollaBuilding2013
Castle, TheRamonaBuilding1978
Chaplain's HouseSan DiegoBuilding1978
Chicano ParkSan DiegoSite2013
Chicano Park NHLSan DiegoSite
Christiancy, George A. C., HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
City of San Diego Police Headquarters, Jails and CourtsSan DiegoBuilding1998
Clotfelter, Reginald M. and Constance, Row HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Coulter HouseSan DiegoBuilding1983
Cuyamaca VillageSan DiegoSite2008
Eagles HallSan DiegoBuilding1985
Edgemoor Farm Dairy BarnSanteeBuilding1985
El Cortez Apartment HotelSan DiegoBuilding2002
El Prado ComplexSan DiegoDistrict1976
Encinitas BoathousesEncinitasBuilding2019
Estudillo House NHLSan DiegoBuilding1970
Fages-De Anza Trail-Southern Emigrant RoadBorrego SpringsDistrict1973
Felicita County Park Prehistoric Village SiteEscondidoSite2008
Fleming, Guy and Margaret, HouseSan DiegoBuilding1998
Ford BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1973
Fort Rosecrans National CemeterySan DiegoDistrict2016
Gaslamp Quarter Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict1980
Georgia Street Bridge-Caltrans BridgeSan DiegoStructure1999
Ginty, John, HouseSan DiegoBuilding2006
Grand-Horton HotelSan DiegoBuilding1980
Granger HallNational CityBuilding1975
Grant, U.S. HotelSan DiegoBuilding1979
Haines, Alfred, HouseSan DiegoBuilding1992
Hawthorne InnSan DiegoBuilding1982
Heart of Bankers Hill Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict2024
Heilman VillasCoronadoDistrict1992
Holzwasser-Walker Scoot Building and Owl Drug BuildingSan DiegoBuilding2005
Hotel CharlottaEscondidoBuilding1993
Hotel Del Coronado NHLCoronadoBuilding1971
Howell HouseEscondidoBuilding1992
Independent Order of Odd Fellows BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1978
Initial Point of Boundary Between U.S. and MexicoSan DiegoSite1974
Inspiration Heights Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict2021
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsLa JollaBuilding2021
Johnson-Taylor Ranch HeadquartersSan DiegoBuilding1980
Kinsey, Martha, HouseLa JollaBuilding1992
KuchamaaTecateDistrict1992
Kwaaymii HomelandMount LagunaSite2015
La Jolla Park Coastal Historic DistrictLa JollaDistrict2024
La Jolla Post OfficeSan DiegoBuilding2013
La Jolla Women's ClubLa JollaBuilding1974
Lafayette HotelSan DiegoBuilding2012
Las Flores Adobe NHLCamp PendletonBuilding1968
Las Flores EstanciaCamp PendletonSite1993
Las Flores SiteCamp PendletonSite1975
Lee, Robert E., HotelSan DiegoBuilding1980
Libby, Charles, HouseOceansideBuilding1978
Lindstrom HouseSan DiegoBuilding2001
Long-Waterman HouseSan DiegoBuilding1976
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict1991
Marston, George W., HouseSan DiegoBuilding1974
McClintock Storage WarehouseSan DiegoBuilding1980
Medico-Dental BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1979
Mission Beach Roller Coaster NHLSan DiegoStructure1978
Mission BrewerySan DiegoBuilding1989
Mohnike AdobeSan DiegoBuilding2002
Montecito Ranch HouseRamonaBuilding2017
Moylan, Maj. Myles, HouseSan DiegoBuilding1984
Munk, Walter and Judith, HouseSan DiegoDistrict2021
Naval Air Station, San Diego, Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict1991
Naval Training StationSan DiegoDistrict2001
Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station NHLOak GroveBuilding1966
Oceanside City Hall and Fire StationOceansideBuilding1989
Old Mission Dam NHLSan DiegoStructure1966
Old Point Loma LighthouseSan DiegoStructure1974
Old Town San Diego Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict1971
Olivenhain Town Meeting HallOlivenhainBuilding1993
Osuna, Juan Maria, AdobeRancho Santa FeBuilding2017
PCF 816 (patrol craft fast)San DiegoStructure2018
PILOT (Pilot Boat)San DiegoStructure2011
Panama HotelSan DiegoBuilding1984
Park Place Methodist Episcopal Church SouthSan DiegoBuilding1983
Peterson, Robert O.-Russell Forester HouseSan DiegoBuilding2014
Portuguese Chapel of San DiegoSan DiegoBuilding2017
Pythias Lodge BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1981
RENOWN (yacht)San DiegoStructure2012
Ramona Main Street ColonnadeRamonaSite2018
Ramona Town HallRamonaBuilding1994
Rancho De Los KiotesCarlsbadDistrict1992
Rancho Guajome Adobe NHLVistaBuilding1970
Rancho Santa Fe Land and Improvement Company OfficeRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Red Rest and Red Roost CottagesLa JollaBuilding1976
Rice, Lilian Jenette, HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Robinson HotelJulianBuilding1978
Rockwell FieldSan DiegoDistrict1991
RosecroftSan DiegoBuilding2003
Rosicrucian Fellowship TempleOceansideDistrict1995
Ruiz-Alvarado Ranch SiteSan DiegoSite1982
SILVERGATE (FERRY)San DiegoStructure2025
STAR OF INDIA NHLSan DiegoStructure1966
San Diego Armed Services YMCASan DiegoBuilding2007
San Diego Athletic ClubSan DiegoBuilding2013
San Diego Civic CenterSan DiegoDistrict1988
San Diego Fire Department Shops at Station 6San DiegoBuilding2015
San Diego Mission Church NHLSan DiegoBuilding1970
San Diego Presidio NHLSan DiegoSite1966
San Diego Rowing ClubSan DiegoBuilding1979
San Diego State CollegeSan DiegoDistrict1997
San Diego Trust and Savings Bank BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1999
San Diego Veterans' War Memorial Building-Balboa ParkSan DiegoBuilding2000
San Luis Rey Mission Church NHLOceansideBuilding1970
Santa Fe DepotSan DiegoBuilding1972
Santa Margarita RanchhouseCamp PendletonBuilding1971
Scripps, George H., Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory NHLLa JollaBuilding1977
Shaffer, Charles A., HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Sorrento Valley SiteSan DiegoSite1975
Spreckels Theatre BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1975
St. Matthew's Episcopal ChurchNational CityBuilding1973
Station and General Office, California Southern RailroadNational CityBuilding1996
Sunnyslope LodgeSan DiegoBuilding1999
Sweet, A. H., Residence and Adjacent Small HouseSan DiegoBuilding1987
Table Mountain DistrictJacumbaDistrict1983
Talmadge Park Estates Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict2024
Teacher Training School Building-San Diego State Normal SchoolSan DiegoBuilding1999
Terwilliger, Claude and Florence, HouseRancho Santa FeBuilding1991
Thomas HouseEscondidoBuilding1992
Torrey Pines GliderportSan DiegoSite1993
Torrey Pines LodgeSan DiegoBuilding1998
Torrey Pines Park RoadSan DiegoStructure1998
U.S. CourthouseSan DiegoBuilding1975
U.S. Inspection Station/U.S. Custom HouseSan YsidroBuilding1983
US Inspection Station-TecateTecateBuilding1992
US Post Office-Downtown StationSan DiegoBuilding1985
University Heights Water Storage and Pumping Station Historic DistrictSan DiegoDistrict2013
Verlaque, Theophile, HouseRamonaBuilding1991
Villa MontezumaSan DiegoBuilding1971
Warner's Ranch NHLWarner SpringsBuilding1966
Watts BuildingSan DiegoBuilding1979
Wiipuk uun'yaw TrailMount LagunaSite2017

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

San Diego was formed in 1850 (1850-02-18) from unknown / original county.

SAN DIEGO created from non-county area.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

San Diego County population from 1850 to 2020 (Census historical series).

3.3M1.6M7981850188019201940196020002020
18501860188019001920194019501960198020002020
7984,3248,61835,090112,248289,348556,8081,033,0111,861,8462,813,8333,298,634

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

64 cemeteries and 15 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 64 of 64 listed
NameLatLon
All Saints Cemetery33.23447-117.32218
All Souls Episcopal Church Columbarium32.73142-117.24249
Alpine Cemetery32.84287-116.76708
Ballena Cemetery33.06561-116.77171
Calvary Cemetery32.74867-117.17705
Carmel Valley Cemetery32.94134-117.22035
Church of the Nativity Columbarium32.99752-117.19752
Cypress View Mausoleum32.70376-117.10892
Dearborn Memorial Park32.97355-117.02657
El Cajon Cemetery32.78817-116.90678
El Camino Memorial Park32.89486-117.18351
El Campo Santo Cemetery32.75161-117.19321
Ellis Ranch Cemetery32.83157-116.62103
Eternal Hills Memorial Park33.19434-117.33295
Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery33.39142-117.24031
Fallbrook Pioneer Odd Fellows Cemetery33.36831-117.25737
First United Methodist Church Columbarium32.76656-117.14262
Flinn Springs Cemetery32.85369-116.85025
Foothills United Methodist Church Columbarium32.75262-116.96052
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery32.68873-117.24582
Glen Abbey Memorial Park32.65259-117.04427
Greenwood Cemetery32.70622-117.10318
Holy Cross Cemetery32.71699-117.09835
Home of Peace Cemetery32.70542-117.11573
Inaja Indian Reservation Cemetery33.00565-116.63553
Julian Pioneer Cemetery33.07913-116.60472
La Vista Memorial Park32.66377-117.07276
Manzanita Cemetery32.76046-116.32475
Masonic Cemetery33.39267-117.24012
Meadowlark Pioneer Memorial Cemetery33.11013-117.22535
Miramar National Cemetery32.87389-117.18867
Mission San Antonio de Pala Cemetery33.36534-117.07404
Mount Hope Cemetery32.70833-117.11276
Mount Olivet Cemetery32.56869-117.088
Mount Pisgah Pioneer Cemetery32.81239-116.79817
Nuevo Memory Gardens33.05761-116.864
Oak Hill Memorial Park33.12944-117.02802
Oceanview Cemetery33.18309-117.36733
Old Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery33.23299-117.31855
Olivenhain Pioneer Cemetery33.03223-117.2424
Pala Indian Reservation Cemetery33.36655-117.07145
Pauma Indian Cemetery33.32666-116.9844
Potrero Cemetery32.61104-116.61351
Potrero Indian Cemetery33.28842-116.87858
Presidio Hill Cemetery32.75946-117.19505
Prince of Peace Abbey Cemetery33.21996-117.36482
Saint Bartholomew Cemetery33.27695-116.94819
Saint Carmel Cemetery32.65039-116.36481
Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church Columbarium32.79619-117.04972
Saint Francis Episcopal Church Memorial Garden33.29558-116.9684
Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery32.70328-116.8717
Saint Richard Catholic Church Parish Cemetery33.25134-116.37967
San Ignacio Cemetery33.30626-116.51971
San Luis Rey Pioneer Cemetery33.22843-117.31996
San Marcos Cemetery33.16124-117.14989
San Pasqual Cemetery33.09444-116.95531
San Pasqual Indian Cemetery33.08931-116.97998
San Ysidro Cemetery33.25553-116.56115
Santa Ysabel Asistencia Cemetery33.1307-116.67879
Singing Hills Memorial Park32.78963-116.88927
Smith Pioneer Cemetery32.95685-117.00312
Susan S Cashmore Memorial Columbarium33.00776-117.05584
Vallecito Stage Station Cemetery32.97539-116.34847
Valley Center Cemetery33.23897-117.03211
Historical populated places — 15 of 15
NameLatLon
Alta32.77977-116.98892
Branson33.0781-116.61724
Coronado Heights32.60089-117.12781
Cuyamaca32.98477-116.57085
Don33.31198-117.47726
El Capitan32.93477-116.77363
Elvira32.83755-117.23337
Ladrillo32.81949-117.22309
Linda Vista32.87782-117.17448
Mussey Grove32.92783-116.90642
Poway Grove32.94005-117.0642
Rock Haven32.99643-116.96864
Selwyn32.86366-117.1917
Tent City32.677-117.17364
Ysidora33.25976-117.36365

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for San Diego County, California

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