The Founding: July 16, 1769
The story of San Diego’s founding is tied to the “Sacred Expedition” organized by the Spanish Empire to secure its claim on Alta California against potential Russian or British encroachment. Two major figures led this effort:
- Gaspar de Portolá: A Spanish soldier and the first governor of the Californias.
- Father Junípero Serra: A Franciscan friar who would go on to establish the chain of 21 missions along the California coast.
On July 16, 1769, Father Serra raised a cross on Presidio Hill and dedicated the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. This marked the establishment of the first of California’s 21 missions. Adjacent to the mission, the soldiers established the San Diego Presidio, a military fortress designed to protect the settlement.
Indigenous Roots
Long before the Spanish flag was raised, the area was home to the Kumeyaay people (also known as the Diegueño). Archaeological evidence suggests they and their ancestors had inhabited the region for at least 10,000 to 12,000 years prior to European arrival. The Kumeyaay lived in complex social structures with villages like Cosoy (Kosa’aay), which provided the Spanish settlers with food and water during their desperate early months.
A Technical Distinction: Settlement vs. Incorporation
While San Diego is the oldest settled city, it was not the first to be legally incorporated as a US city. That title belongs to Sacramento.
Following the chaos and rapid population boom of the Gold Rush, Sacramento became the first city in California to be officially incorporated on February 27, 1850. San Diego followed shortly after, incorporating on March 27, 1850. Therefore, while San Diego is historically the oldest settlement, Sacramento is technically the oldest municipality in the state’s legal records.
San Diego is the oldest city in California, founded as a Spanish mission and presidio on July 16, 1769. This settlement laid the groundwork for the colonization of Alta California. While the Kumeyaay people had lived in the region for thousands of years, the 1769 date marks the beginning of the city’s modern recorded history. Sacramento holds the secondary distinction of being the first city to legally incorporate in 1850…