Timeline

1542 - Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sailing for Spain, claims "California" for the crown.

1602 - Sebastian Vizcaino anchors off Point Loma, and names San Diego Bay.

1769 - Sacred Expedition - First written historical document of Carlsbad by Father Crespi

1798 - Father Lausen established the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

1821 - Mexico gains independence from Spain

1844 - Rancho San Francisco changes name to Rancho Agua Hedionda

1848 - California becomes part of the United States of America

1860 - Rancho Agua Hedionda changes ownership to Frances Hinton

1870 - Hinton dies, wills Rancho Agua Hedionda to Robert Kelly

1880 - Robert Kelly gives right of way to railroad through Rancho Hedionda coastal land

1881 - John Frazier settles on Government surveyed land north of Rancho Agua Hedionda

1883 - Frazier discovers artesian and mineral water near coast

1886 - Capitalizing on Frazier's discovery, the real estate development company "Carlsbad Land and Water Company" is formed. It purchases Frazier's property and additional acreage north of Rancho Agua Hedionda and establishes the town of Carlsbad

1887 - Building lots subdivided, building boom in Carlsbad

1890 - Robert Kelly dies, wills Rancho Agua Hedionda to nieces and nephews

1900 - Land bust in Southern California- Carlsbad almost abandoned

1914 - South Coast Land Company purchases remaining land from defunct Carlsbad Land and Water Company

1922 - Water piped in from the San Luis Rey River allow development of Flower and avocado industry

1927 - Highway 101 diversion completed through Carlsbad, State highway bypasses downtown business district.

1930 - Carlsbad Mineral Springs Hotel opens- tourism industry born in Carlsbad

1936 - Army Navy Academy moves to Carlsbad

1937 - Leo Carrillo purchase Matthew Kelly homestead Los Kiotes

1940's - WWII comes to Carlsbad, houses demand increases

1952 - City of Carlsbad incorporates

1954 - I-5 Freeway connect Carlsbad to Oceanside

1956 - Carlsbad City's first city library established

1959 - Palomar Airport opens

1966 - I-5 from La Costa to San Diego opens

1969 - Plaza Camino Real Shopping Mall opens

1972 - La Costa annexed to City of Carlsbad

- Car Country Carlsbad opens

1981 - Carlsbad Triathlon begins

1999 - Lego Land opens

2002 - 50th anniversary of incorporation

2003 - Carrillo Ranch Park opens