Temecula History
The Rich Results Of Temecula History
 As we look at some Temecula history, we will take you back to the 1800's as we look back.
If you have ever been to a wine festival in Southern California the chances are you have been to the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival but Temecula has a very interesting story.
There is both a long and short Temecula history. While the area has been inhabited for thousands of years, it has only been a true town since 1989.
Looking Back At The Temecula History
 Temecula sits in Riverside County California, not too far from San Diego and Los Angeles. This is one of the reasons it has such a large number of military families living there.
Some are from the San Diego Navel Base but it is also close to Camp Pendleton, the west coast Marine Recruit Training Depot , and MIRMAR, the base where the movie “Top Gun” was set. The desire for affordable housing during the 1990’s also helped fuel its growth as well as its growing reputation as a wine region.
That is Temecula now but during it history it had been much different. Its first inhabitants were known as Luisenos, named after one of the common Spanish Missions.
It is said they had lived in the are for 10,00 years though that part of Temecula history is the subject of some debate and they where the ones that gave the area its name. There is several interpretation of the exact meaning of the name it basically means “Land where the sun breaks through the mist”.
The 1850's And The Mexican Land Grants
Things where pretty peaceful in early years until the Mexican land grants. Those had the effect of destabilizing the region and raised tension between the Luisenos, settlers and the Cahulla Tribe. This lasted through the Mexican-American War but the increased in the 1850's when the claims by the Luisenos was denied and they were later evicted from the most fertile end of the Temecula Valley.
Temecula Got Their First Post Office & Railroad
 Soon after that, a new chapter of Temecula history began in 1857 when the area got stagecoach service which eventuality ran all the way to San Francisco.
This led Temecula to get a post office. It was only the second one in the state with the first one being in San Francisco.
Since then the Temecula post office has moved 9 times. The Southern California Railroad came to Temecula but, because of floods, did not last long.
This still brought a new chapter to the history of Temecula as a granite quarry opened and the are became important because of shipping cattle.
Temecula In The 1990’s
During the 1900's Temecula went mostly uneventful except from the land boom of the 1980's with I-15 being finished, the planting of grapes, and the decision of the citizens to become a city in 1989.The name they chose, Temecula, is the only original Indian name of any city in California.
The Start Of The Temecula Wineries
 Wine production has proved very important in recent years, starting a whole new chapter in Temecula history but it is hardly new to the area. It actually dates back 200 years to the Spanish Missions.
Modern wine making, however, did not begin until the late 1960's to early 1970's. More major production started in the late 1970's and was led, in part, by John Calloway of golf fame at the Callaway Winery.
It was in 1984 when it was designated as the Temecula Valley AVA because of the unique area. For instance, it has a climate that is very similar to the Mediterranean.
The morning mist helps keep moisture in the soil without too much rain. Coastal air keeps the temperature down and soil from getting too dry. Remember the granite quarry? The granite in the soil keeps it will drained which is needed for good grapes. All this has led to the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival each year.
Temecula has had a long and varied history. With its location, climate, and wine, Temecula history will continue to grow rich for many years.
Make sure to check out all the great links on the bottom of the Temecula Main Page to learn more about our City Services, Old Town and some History of this wonderful Southern California City.
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