Area History

Since its early beginning, the Temecula Valley has always been a place where the combination of mild climate and beautiful rolling hills have attracted human settlement.

The name Temecula comes from the Luiseño Indian word "Temecunga" - "temet" meaning "sun" and "-ngna" which means "place of". The Spanish interpreted and spelled the word as "Temecula". Over the years, the meaning of "Temecula" has been translated into several different versions of this interpretation, including the most popular, which is "Where the sun breaks through the mist".

The hillsides were the home of the Temecula Indians, the first residents of the area. Ancestors of the Temecula Indians were in this area as early as 900 A.D. The native people from here to the coast who shared the same language and culture became commonly known as the Luiseños, because many of their villages were once under the influence of Mission San Luis Rey.

The first known white man to set foot in this area was a Franciscan padre, Father Juan Norberto de Santiago, who trudged into the valley in October of 1797. Santiago was on an expedition out of Mission San Juan Capistrano seeking a site for a new mission. With his exploring party of seven soldiers, he trekked to the shore of what is now Lake Elsinore, then traveled southward through the Temecula Valley and on to the ocean. During his years in California, Juan Santiago logged much information regarding the Temecula Valley area. He established a rancho at Mission San Luis Rey, and in 1810 returned to Mexico.

Little is known about Temecula during the early 1800's because so many records were destroyed in the fire that followed the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

In 1904 Walter L. Vail, who had come to the United States with his parents from Nova Scotia, migrated to California and with various partners began buying vast acreages in Southern California. Vail was already a cattle rancher on a grand scale before he started buying ranch land in the Temecula Valley in 1905, buying large tracts beginning with 38,000 acres of Temecula and Pauba Ranchos, along with the northern half of the Little Temecula Ranch. Vail was run over and killed by a street car in Los Angeles in 1906; his son, Mahlon Vail, took over the family ranch.

In 1914, financed by Mahlon Vail and local ranchers, the First National Bank of Temecula opened on Front Street.

In 1915, the first paved, two-lane county road was built through Temecula.

By 1947, the Vail Ranch contained just over 87,500 acres. For years the Vail family had dreamed of building a dam to catch the Temecula Creek water which ran its course to the Pacific Ocean. In 1948, at a cost of more than $1 million, the dam was completed and created Vail Lake.

Through the mid-1960's the economy of the Temecula Valley centered around the Vail Ranch; the cattle business and agriculture were the stimuli for most business ventures. During that period, the clientele of the Swing Inn, the Long Branch Saloon and the Stables Bar seemed to be confined to ranchers, cowboys, and Indians. While the Old West lifestyle continued here, the outside world was evolving dramatically.

On December 4, 1964, the Vail Ranch was sold to Kaiser Development Company and launched the transformation of the Temecula Valley. A later purchase by the group brought the total acreage to 97,500 a spread of land two and a half times the size of the city and county of San Francisco.

The last years of the 1960's and early 70's witnessed the beginnings of dramatic change in the Temecula Valley. Engineers, contractors, heavy-equipment operators and real estate agents quickly edged out the cowboys and Indians as the main customers at the local establishments. Pickup trucks towing horse trailers, trucks hauling cattle and tractors rigged with farm implements were replaced by cement mixers, lumber trucks and industrial grading equipment. Sales activity switched from cattle, hay and grain to subdivided real estate acreage.

The Kaiser Land Development Company marketed the valley's attractions actively. Soon, the area became known as Rancho California. Many land sales were accomplished by means of limited partnership syndications, which helped to spread awareness of the area.

One side effect of this high-profile development was a second tier real estate boom in land suitable for avocado groves and grape vineyards on the east side of the valley. The value of plantable land skyrocketed.

The late '70s brought changes to some of the original Old West sites. The Long Branch Saloon was converted into a meeting house, while the Stables Bar became the site for retail stores. Although the Swing Inn remains, new restaurants began to open.

The I-15 corridor between Los Angeles County and San Diego was completed in the early 1980's and the subdivision land boom began. When Rancho California incorporated in December, 1989, the citizens voted to officially name their city "Temecula".

Since then, Temecula has grown into a city of nearly 100,000 people and become a thriving and vibrant economy in and of itself, no longer considered a bedroom community for LA, San Diego and Orange County commuters. Temecula is centrally located in ideal surroundings, not far from sunbathing on the beach, skiing in the mountains, exploring the deserts, or a wealth of recreation opportunities to enjoy. With a population over 97,000 it is one of the fastest growing cities in California, located 85 miles southeast from Los Angeles, 42 miles south of Riverside, and 60 miles north of San Diego.

Great pride is taken in the quality of life Temecula has provided to all who live and work here. The city boasts a strong economic environment and strong housing market with good levels of appreciation and an active market. A perfect climate; sunny days with ocean-swept breezes from over the hills in the summer; cool and clear days in the fall; and chilly winters make it possible to enjoy the four seasons on the west coast.

With a highly rated educational system, an abundance of parks and recreational facilities, a strong sense of public safety, a growing cultural environment, and a community that truly cares, Temecula is a wonderful place to raise a family, work, or visit.