History of Santa Monica, California in Timeline
Santa Monica, California, is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, renowned for its beaches, pleasant climate, and thriving hospitality sector. Its 2020 population was 93,076. The city boasts a diverse economy and serves as headquarters for numerous prominent companies across various industries, including media and entertainment giants like Skydance Media, Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Universal Music Group, Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Studios, Illumination and The Recording Academy.
5 hours ago : Santa Monica to Vote on Homeless Emergency Re-Ratification and Human Services Grants Program
Santa Monica is considering re-ratifying its homeless emergency declaration and seeking input on a $10 million human services grants program to address homelessness.
1909: Santa Monica Pier Built
The Santa Monica Pier, home to the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome, was built in 1909.
1912: Majestic Theatre Opening
In 1912, the Majestic, Santa Monica's oldest movie theater, opened.
1918: GeoCities Headquarters
In 1918, GeoCities was headquartered on the third floor of 1918 Main Street in Santa Monica.
1922: Douglas Aircraft Company Plant Built
In 1922, Donald Wills Douglas Sr. built a plant at Clover Field (Santa Monica Airport) for the Douglas Aircraft Company.
September 23, 1924: Return of Douglas-built Planes
On September 23, 1924, two Douglas-built planes returned to Clover Field after an aerial circumnavigation attempt, covering 27,553 miles in 175 days, greeted by a crowd of 200,000.
1929: Spite Marriage film location
In 1929, Buster Keaton's "Spite Marriage" showed much of 2nd Street in Santa Monica.
1929: Santa Monica College founded
In 1929, Santa Monica College, a community college, was founded.
1933: Great Depression Impact
In 1933, the Great Depression severely impacted Santa Monica, with citywide employment reported at just 1,000.
1935: They Shoot Horses, Don't They? novel setting
In 1935, Horace McCoy's novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" is set at a dance marathon held in a ballroom on the Santa Monica Pier.
1943: Douglas Employment Peak
In 1943, Douglas's business grew due to World War II, employing as many as 44,000 people.
1944: The Glass Menagerie premiere
In 1944, Tennessee Williams, while living in a hotel on Ocean Avenue, wrote the play "The Glass Menagerie", which premiered that year.
March 1, 1945: Lowest Temperature Recorded
On March 1, 1945, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Santa Monica was 33 °F (1 °C).
1945: RAND Corporation Project
In 1945, the RAND Corporation began as a project of the Douglas Company.
May 14, 1948: RAND Corporation Spun Off
On May 14, 1948, the RAND Corporation spun off from the Douglas Company into an independent think tank.
March 21, 1952: Lowest Temperature Recorded
On March 21, 1952, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Santa Monica was again recorded at 33 °F (1 °C).
1953: Passenger service discontinued
In 1953, passenger service was discontinued on the Santa Monica Air Line, part of the Pacific Electric Railway.
January 1954: Snowiest Month on Record
January 1954 was one of the snowiest months on record for Santa Monica, with trace amounts of snowfall.
1954: "The Mattress by the Tomato Patch" short story
In 1954, Tennessee Williams' short story "The Mattress by the Tomato Patch" is set near Santa Monica Beach.
March 1955: Snowiest Month on Record
March 1955 was one of the snowiest months on record for Santa Monica, with trace amounts of snowfall.
1958: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Completion
In 1958, the completion of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium led to the elimination of Belmar, the first African American community in the city.
1963: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World film location
In 1963, the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" included several scenes shot in Santa Monica, including those along the California Incline.
November 1, 1966: Hottest Temperature Recorded
On November 1, 1966, Santa Monica recorded its hottest temperature ever at 100 °F (38 °C).
1966: Santa Monica Freeway Completion
In 1966, the Santa Monica Freeway decimated the Pico neighborhood, a leading African American enclave on the Westside.
1977: Three's Company television series
From 1977 to 1984, the television series "Three's Company" was set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.
1982: Rocky III filming location
In 1982, the film "Rocky III" showed Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed training on Santa Monica Beach.
1984: 1984 Summer Olympics Marathon
During the 1984 Summer Olympics, the men's and women's marathon ran through parts of Santa Monica.
1984: Three's Company television series
From 1977 to 1984, the television series "Three's Company" was set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.
1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure bike theft
In 1985, in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure", the theft of Pee-wee's bike occurs on the Third Street Promenade.
1985: Fletch filming location
In 1985, the film "Fletch" showed significant exterior shots of Santa Monica.
1987: Someone to Love film location
In 1987, Henry Jaglom's indie film "Someone to Love", the last film in which Orson Welles appeared, took place in Santa Monica's Mayfair Theatre.
March 11, 1988: Diesel-powered freight deliveries discontinued
On March 11, 1988, diesel-powered freight deliveries to warehouses along the Santa Monica Air Line route were discontinued.
1988: Heathers filming location
In 1988, "Heathers" used Santa Monica's John Adams Middle School for many exterior shots.
1989: Driest Year on Record
In 1989, Santa Monica experienced its driest year on record, with a total of 4.04 inches (103 mm) of rainfall.
1992: Sustainable City Plan Proposed
In 1992, Santa Monica first proposed its Sustainable City Plan.
1993: Demolition Man Santa Monica settings
In 1993, Sylvester Stallone's "Demolition Man" included Santa Monica settings.
1994: Sustainability Plan Adopted
In 1994, Santa Monica was one of the first cities in the nation to formally adopt a comprehensive sustainability plan.
1994: Northridge Earthquake
Since the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the Majestic has been closed.
January 1995: Wettest Month on Record
January 1995 was the wettest month on record in Santa Monica, with a total of 17.82 inches (453 mm) of rainfall.
1995: Species, Get Shorty filming location
In 1995, the films "Species" and "Get Shorty" showed significant exterior shots of Santa Monica.
December 1996: GeoCities Headquarters
In December 1996, GeoCities was headquartered on the third floor of 1918 Main Street in Santa Monica.
1996: Pacific Blue television series
From 1996 to 2000, the television series "Pacific Blue" was set in Santa Monica.
1996: The Truth About Cats & Dogs film setting
In 1996, "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" was set entirely in Santa Monica, particularly the Palisades Park area.
October 1998: Gang-Related Killings
In October 1998, Omar Sevilla, allegedly a Culver City 13 gang member, was killed in Santa Monica. In response, Juan Martin Campos, a Santa Monica city employee, was also shot and killed.
1998: Wettest Year on Record
In 1998, Santa Monica experienced its wettest year on record, with a total of 25.4 inches (650 mm) of rainfall.
1998: Double Homicide at Westside Clothing Store
In 1998, there was a double homicide at the Westside Clothing store on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, where gang members killed Anthony and Michael Juarez.
2000: Census Data
As of the census of 2000, Santa Monica had a population of 84,084 people, 44,497 households, and 16,775 families.
2000: Minimal Hate Crime Levels
By 2000, Santa Monica's hate crime levels were minimal.
2000: Pacific Blue television series
From 1996 to 2000, the television series "Pacific Blue" was set in Santa Monica.
February 2001: Lowest Maximum Temperature
In February 2001, Santa Monica experienced its lowest maximum temperature of 51 °F (11 °C) on 4 dates.
2001: Anti-Islamic Hate Crime Spike
In 2001, Santa Monica experienced a spike in anti-Islamic hate crimes after the September 11 attacks.
2001: Dogtown and Z-Boys documentary release
In 2001, the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" was released, focusing on the skateboarding culture of Santa Monica's Ocean Park neighborhood in the 1970s.
2001: Ocean's Eleven filming location
In 2001, the film "Ocean's Eleven" showed significant exterior shots of Santa Monica.
2002: Hate Crime Levels Return to Minimal
By 2002, hate crime levels in Santa Monica returned to their minimal 2000 levels.
2005: Lords of Dogtown film release
In 2005, the dramatic film "Lords of Dogtown" was released, about the influential skateboarding culture of Santa Monica's Ocean Park neighborhood in the 1970s.
March 10, 2006: Lowest Maximum Temperature
On March 10, 2006, Santa Monica experienced its lowest maximum temperature of 51 °F (11 °C).
2006: Crime Statistics
In 2006, crime in Santa Monica affected 4.41% of the population, slightly lower than the national average crime rate that year of 4.48%.
October 24, 2007: Highest Minimum Temperature
On October 24, 2007, the highest minimum temperature recorded in Santa Monica was 72 °F (22 °C).
2007: Private Practice television series
From 2007 to 2013, the television series "Private Practice" was set in Santa Monica.
2007: Hate Crime Incident
In 2007, Santa Monica reported only one hate crime incident.
2007: Police crackdown on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides
In 2007, local police cracked down on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides that had become controversial, putting a damper on the tradition.
2008: Police crackdown on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides
In 2008, local police continued to crack down on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides.
2009: Median Household Income Estimate
According to a 2009 estimate, the median income for a household in Santa Monica was $71,095, and the median income for a family was $109,410.
2009: 17 Again filming location
In 2009, "17 Again" was shot at Samohi in Santa Monica.
2009: Purchase of first ZeroTruck all-electric medium-duty truck
In 2009, Santa Monica purchased the first ZeroTruck all-electric medium-duty truck, which included a Scelzi utility body, Isuzu N series chassis, and UQM PowerPhase 100 advanced electric motor.
2009: Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Bronze)
In 2009, Santa Monica received the Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Bronze) by the League of American Bicyclists.
2009: Santa Monica Airport in film 2012
In 2009, in the film "2012" Santa Monica Airport was featured, where a magnitude 10.9 earthquake destroys the airport and the surrounding area as a group of survivors escapes in a personal plane.
2009: Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan Development
Since 2009, Santa Monica has been developing the Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan.
2010: Median Household Income According to 2010 Census
According to the 2010 United States Census, Santa Monica had a median household income of $73,649, with 11.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2010: Santa Monica Place Reopening
In the fall of 2010, Santa Monica Place reopened as a modern shopping, entertainment, and dining complex with more outdoor space, featuring Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.
2010: 2010 United States Census
The 2010 United States census reported Santa Monica had a population of 89,736.
September 2011: Expo Line extension construction begins
In September 2011, design and construction started on the 6.6-mile extension of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica.
2012: Santa Monica in film 2012
In 2012, Santa Monica was featured in Roland Emmerich's disaster film "2012", where the Santa Monica Pier and the whole city sink into the Pacific Ocean.
2013: Solid Waste Diversion Rate
As of 2013, 77% of all solid waste produced citywide in Santa Monica was diverted from landfills.
2013: Private Practice television series
From 2007 to 2013, the television series "Private Practice" was set in Santa Monica.
2013: Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Silver)
In 2013, Santa Monica received the Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Silver) by the League of American Bicyclists.
November 2015: Bicycle sharing system launched
In November 2015, Santa Monica launched a bicycle sharing system.
May 20, 2016: Expo Line extension service begins
On May 20, 2016, service began on the 6.6-mile extension of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica.
2016: Dune and Beach Restoration Projects Begin
Starting in 2016, local environmental groups began dune and beach restoration projects in Santa Monica.
2017: Median Household Income Data Collection
Between 2017 and 2021, data was collected regarding median income.
2017: Ishihara Park opens
In 2017, Ishihara Park opened to the public in Santa Monica, serving as a buffer between the Los Angeles Metro Rail and the surrounding residential area.
August 2018: Permits issued for dockless scooter-sharing systems
In August 2018, Santa Monica issued permits to Bird, Lime, Lyft, and Jump Bikes to operate dockless scooter-sharing systems in the city.
February 2019: Switched Over To Clean Power Alliance
In February 2019, Santa Monica switched over to electricity from the Clean Power Alliance, with a citywide default of 100% renewably sourced energy.
2020: 2020 Census Population
As of the 2020 census, Santa Monica had a population of 93,076, with a population density of 11,067.3 people per square mile.
2020: Energy Independence Achieved
By 2020, Santa Monica achieved complete energy independence, exceeding California's renewable energy goal.
2020: Water Independence Goal
By 2020, Santa Monica set a goal of attaining 100% water independence as part of its Sustainable Water Master Plan.
2021: Median Household Income Data Collection
Between 2017 and 2021, data was collected regarding median income. In 2021 the median household income was $99,847.
2022: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city were...
2022: Homeless Population
In 2022, there were 826 homeless individuals in Santa Monica.
April 2023: Micro-mobility transportation providers licensed
As of April 2023, Lyft, Spin, Veo, and Wheels are licensed to provide micro-mobility transportation in Santa Monica.
2023: City Ratings score
In 2023, Santa Monica scored near the 90th percentile in the PeopleForBikes City Ratings, measuring the quality of the bike network.
2030: Zero Waste Goal
By 2030, Santa Monica aims to divert at least 95% of all waste away from landfills through recycling and composting.
2030: Bike Action Plan Goal
By 2030, the city aims to attain 14 to 35% bicycle transportation mode share through the Bike Action Plan.
2030: Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Target
Santa Monica's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan aims for an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.
2050: Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Target
Santa Monica's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan aims to reach community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.
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