20,000 BC - 1896: Prehistoric - Mission - Rancho
1896 - 1924: Town - Agriculture
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1769 - Sacred Expedition - First written historical document of Carlsbad by Father Crespi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