History of Santa Monica, California in Timeline

Santa Monica, California, is a coastal city in Los Angeles County with a population of approximately 93,000. Known for its favorable climate, attractive beaches, and robust hospitality sector, it serves as a popular resort destination. The city boasts a diverse economy and is home to the headquarters of numerous prominent entertainment and media companies, including Skydance Media, Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Universal Music Group, Lionsgate Studios and The Recording Academy.

1909: Santa Monica Pier Built

In 1909, the Santa Monica Pier was built, and is also where the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome is located.

1912: Opening of the Majestic Movie Theater

In 1912, the Majestic, Santa Monica's oldest movie theater (also known as the Mayfair Theatre), opened.

1915: Charlie Chaplin Films By The Sea

In 1915, Charlie Chaplin filmed his comedy short film "By The Sea" in Palisades Park in Santa Monica.

1918: GeoCities Headquarters

In December 1996, 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 Planes from Aerial Circumnavigation

On September 23, 1924, two Douglas-built planes returned to Clover Field after an aerial circumnavigation of the world, covering 27,553 miles in 175 days, greeted by a crowd of 200,000.

1929: Buster Keaton's Spite Marriage

In 1929, Buster Keaton's film "Spite Marriage" showcased much of 2nd Street in Santa Monica.

1929: Santa Monica College Founded

In 1929, Santa Monica College, a community college, was founded. It now occupies 35 acres and enrolls 30,000 students annually.

1933: Great Depression Impact on Santa Monica

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

In 1935, Horace McCoy's novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" was set at a dance marathon held in a ballroom on the Santa Monica Pier.

1943: Douglas Company Employment During World War II

In 1943, Douglas's business grew significantly due to World War II, employing as many as 44,000 people.

1944: The Glass Menagerie Premieres

In 1944, Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass Menagerie" premiered, written while he lived in a hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

March 1, 1945: Lowest Temperature Recorded

On March 1, 1945, Santa Monica recorded its lowest temperature at 33 °F (1 °C).

1945: The RAND Corporation Origin

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 to become an independent think tank.

March 21, 1952: Lowest Temperature Recorded

On March 21, 1952, Santa Monica recorded its lowest temperature again at 33 °F (1 °C).

1953: Passenger Service Discontinued

In 1953, passenger service on the Santa Monica Air Line was discontinued.

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" was set near Santa Monica Beach, mentioning the clock on The Broadway Building.

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: Completion of Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

In 1958, the completion of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium led to the elimination of Belmar, the city's first African American community.

1963: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Filmed in Santa Monica

In 1963, several scenes from the comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" were shot in Santa Monica, including those along the California Incline.

November 1, 1966: Hottest Temperature Reported

On November 1, 1966, Santa Monica recorded its highest temperature at 100 °F (38 °C).

1966: Santa Monica Freeway Completion

In 1966, the Santa Monica Freeway's completion decimated the Pico neighborhood, a leading African American enclave.

1977: Three's Company TV Series

In 1977, the television series "Three's Company" began airing, set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.

1982: Rocky III Filmed on Santa Monica Beach

In 1982, Sylvester Stallone's film "Rocky III" featured scenes of Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed training on Santa Monica Beach.

1984: Marathon at Summer Olympics

In 1984, the men's and women's marathon ran through parts of Santa Monica during the Summer Olympics.

1984: Three's Company TV Series End Date

In 1984, the television series "Three's Company" ended, which was set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.

1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure Filmed on Third Street Promenade

In 1985, the theft of Pee-wee's bike in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" occurs on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

1987: Someone to Love Filmed in Mayfair Theatre

In 1987, Henry Jaglom's indie film "Someone to Love", the last film featuring Orson Welles, took place in Santa Monica's Mayfair Theatre.

March 11, 1988: Diesel Freight Deliveries Discontinued

On March 11, 1988, diesel-powered freight deliveries to warehouses along the former Santa Monica Air Line route were discontinued.

1988: Heathers Filmed at John Adams Middle School

In 1988, the film "Heathers" used Santa Monica's John Adams Middle School for many exterior shots.

1989: Driest Year on Record

1989 was the driest year on record for Santa Monica, with 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 Includes Santa Monica Settings

In 1993, Sylvester Stallone's "Demolition Man" included settings in Santa Monica.

1994: Comprehensive Sustainability Plan Adopted

In 1994, Santa Monica formally adopted a comprehensive sustainability plan, setting waste reduction and water conservation policies.

1994: Closure of the Majestic Movie Theater

The Majestic movie theater has been closed since the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

January 1995: Wettest Month on Record

January 1995 was the wettest month on record for Santa Monica, with 17.82 inches (453 mm) of rainfall.

1995: Species and Get Shorty Show Santa Monica

In 1995, the films "Species" and "Get Shorty" showcased 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: The Truth About Cats & Dogs Set in Santa Monica

In 1996, the film "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" was set entirely in Santa Monica, particularly the Palisades Park area.

1996: Pacific Blue TV Series

In 1996, the television series "Pacific Blue" began airing, set in Santa Monica.

October 1998: Omar Sevilla Killing

In October 1998, Omar Sevilla, allegedly a Culver City 13 gang member, was killed. This event preceded other retaliatory killings.

1998: Wettest Year on Record

1998 was the wettest year on record for Santa Monica, with 25.4 inches (650 mm) of rainfall.

1998: Double Homicide at Westside Clothing Store

In 1998, there was a double homicide in the Westside Clothing store on Lincoln Boulevard, with Culver City gang members killing Anthony and Michael Juarez.

2000: Census of Population

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 2002, hate crime levels in Santa Monica returned to their minimal 2000 levels after a spike in 2001.

2000: Pacific Blue TV Series End Date

In 2000, the television series "Pacific Blue" ended, which was set in Santa Monica.

February 2001: Lowest Maximum Temperature Recorded

On several dates in February 2001, Santa Monica recorded its lowest maximum temperature at 51 °F (11 °C).

2001: Spike of Anti-Islamic Hate Crime

In 2001, Santa Monica experienced a spike of anti-Islamic hate crime after the September 11 attacks.

2001: Dogtown and Z-Boys Documentary

In 2001, the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" explored the influential skateboarding culture of Santa Monica's Ocean Park neighborhood in the 1970s.

2001: Ocean's Eleven Shows Santa Monica

In 2001, the film "Ocean's Eleven" included significant exterior shots of Santa Monica.

2002: Minimal Hate Crime Levels

By 2002, hate crime levels in Santa Monica returned to their minimal 2000 levels after a spike in 2001.

2005: Lords of Dogtown Film Release

In 2005, the dramatic film "Lords of Dogtown," related to the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys", was released, focusing on the skateboarding culture in Santa Monica's Ocean Park.

March 10, 2006: Lowest Maximum Temperature Recorded

On March 10, 2006, Santa Monica recorded its lowest maximum temperature at 51 °F (11 °C).

2006: Crime Rate in Santa Monica

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 Recorded

On October 24, 2007, Santa Monica recorded its highest minimum temperature at 72 °F (22 °C).

2007: Hate Crime Incident

In 2007, hate crime in Santa Monica was minimal, with only one reported incident.

2007: Police Crack Down on Critical Mass Rides

In 2007, local police began cracking down on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides that had become controversial.

2007: Private Practice TV Series

In 2007, the television series "Private Practice" began airing, set in Santa Monica.

2008: Continued Crackdown on Critical Mass Rides

In 2008, local police continued their crackdown on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides, further impacting the tradition.

2009: 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: 2012 Film Release

In 2009, Roland Emmerich's disaster film "2012" was released, featuring the destruction of Santa Monica Airport and the city sinking into the Pacific Ocean.

2009: Purchase of First ZeroTruck

In 2009, Santa Monica purchased the first ZeroTruck all-electric medium-duty truck, equipped with a Scelzi utility body, based on the Isuzu N series chassis and featuring a 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: 17 Again Filmed at Samohi

In 2009, the film "17 Again" was shot at Samohi.

2009: Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan Development

Since 2009, Santa Monica has been developing the Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan to divert waste from landfills.

2010: Median Household Income

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

After redevelopment, Santa Monica Place reopened in the fall of 2010 as a modern shopping, entertainment, and dining complex.

2010: United States Census Population

The 2010 United States Census reported Santa Monica had a population of 89,736, with a population density of 10,662.6 inhabitants per square mile.

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 Featured in 2012

In 2012, the disaster film "2012" featured Santa Monica (and in particular the Santa Monica Airport) being destroyed by an earthquake.

2013: Solid Waste Diversion Rate

As of 2013, 77% of all solid waste produced citywide in Santa Monica was diverted from landfills.

2013: Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Silver)

In 2013, Santa Monica received the Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Silver) by the League of American Bicyclists.

2013: Private Practice TV Series End Date

In 2013, the television series "Private Practice" ended, which was set in Santa Monica.

November 2015: Bicycle Sharing System Launched

In November 2015, Santa Monica launched a bicycle sharing system as part of its bike action plan.

May 20, 2016: Expo Line Extension Opens

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

Between 2017 and 2021, the median household income in Santa Monica was $99,847 (2021 dollars).

2017: Ishihara Park Opens

In 2017, Ishihara Park opened to the public, serving as a buffer between the Los Angeles Metro Rail and the surrounding residential community.

August 2018: Permits Issued for 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 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: Santa Monica Population

In 2020, the U.S. census recorded Santa Monica's population as 93,076.

2020: Energy Independence Goal

Santa Monica had a goal of achieving complete energy independence by 2020.

2020: United States Census Population

The 2020 United States census reported Santa Monica had a population of 93,076, corresponding to a density of 11,067.3 people per square mile.

2021: Median Household Income

Between 2017 and 2021, the median household income in Santa Monica was $99,847 (2021 dollars).

2022: City Financial Report

According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

2022: Homeless Population Count

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 of cities surveyed in the PeopleForBikes City Ratings.

2028: Santa Monica to host Olympics events

In 2028, Santa Monica is set to host several events for the Summer Olympics, including the marathon for athletics, the triathlon, and road cycling.

2030: Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan Goal

By 2030, Santa Monica's Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan set a goal of diverting at least 95% of all waste away from landfills, toward recycling and composting.

2030: Bicycle Transportation Mode Share Goal

By 2030, the city implemented a Bike Action Plan with a goal of attaining 14 to 35% bicycle transportation mode share.

2030: Climate Action Plan Goal

The Santa Monica City Council adopted a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2019 aimed at achieving an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.

2050: Climate Action Plan Goal

The Santa Monica City Council adopted a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2019 aimed at reaching community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.