History of Santa Monica, California in Timeline
Santa Monica is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, known for its beaches, pleasant climate, and thriving hospitality sector. Its population was recorded as 93,076 in the 2020 U.S. Census. A popular resort destination, Santa Monica also boasts a diverse economy and serves as the headquarters for several prominent companies including Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Universal Music Group, Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Studios, Illumination, and The Recording Academy.
1912: Majestic Theater Opened
Santa Monica's oldest movie theater, the Majestic (also known as the Mayfair Theatre), opened in 1912.
1918: Address of 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 World Circumnavigation Attempt
On September 23, 1924, two Douglas-built planes returned to Clover Field after an attempt to circumnavigate the world, covering 27,553 miles in 175 days, and were greeted by a crowd of 200,000 people.
1929: Buster Keaton's Spite Marriage
In 1929, Buster Keaton's "Spite Marriage" was filmed, showing much of 2nd Street in Santa Monica.
1933: Great Depression Impact on Santa Monica
In 1933, Santa Monica was deeply affected by the Great Depression, with citywide employment reported at just 1,000.
1943: Douglas Company Employment During World War II
In 1943, during World War II, Douglas's business expanded significantly, employing as many as 44,000 people.
1944: The Glass Menagerie Premieres
In 1944, Tennessee Williams, while living in a hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and working at MGM Studios, wrote the play "The Glass Menagerie", which premiered that year.
March 1, 1945: Lowest Temperature Recorded
On March 1, 1945, Santa Monica recorded its lowest temperature ever at 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 into an independent think tank.
March 21, 1952: Lowest Temperature Recorded (tied)
On March 21, 1952, Santa Monica tied its record for the lowest temperature ever at 33 °F (1 °C).
1953: Passenger Service Discontinued on Santa Monica Air Line
In 1953, passenger service was discontinued on the Santa Monica Air Line, which was part of the Pacific Electric Railway.
January 1954: Snowiest Month
January 1954 was one of the snowiest months on record in 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 (tied)
March 1955 was one of the snowiest months on record in 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 Filmed in Santa Monica
In 1963, scenes for 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 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 completion of the Santa Monica Freeway decimated the Pico neighborhood, a leading African American enclave.
1977: Three's Company TV Series (1977-1984)
From 1977 to 1984, the television series "Three's Company" was set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.
1982: Rocky III Training Scenes Filmed on Santa Monica Beach
In 1982, the Sylvester Stallone film "Rocky III" featured scenes of Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed training on Santa Monica Beach.
1984: Three's Company TV Series (1977-1984)
From 1977 to 1984, the television series "Three's Company" was set in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica.
1984: Summer Olympics Marathon
In 1984, the men's and women's marathon ran through parts of Santa Monica during the Summer Olympics.
1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure Bike Theft on Third Street Promenade
In 1985, the theft of Pee-wee's bike in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" occurred on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
1987: Someone to Love Film Set in Mayfair Theatre
In 1987, Henry Jaglom's indie film "Someone to Love", the last film featuring Orson Welles, was set 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 Santa Monica Air Line route were discontinued.
1988: Heathers Filmed at John Adams Middle School
In 1988, "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 in Santa Monica, 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 Includes Santa Monica Settings
In 1993, Sylvester Stallone's "Demolition Man" included scenes set in Santa Monica.
1994: Sustainable City Plan Adopted
In 1994, Santa Monica was one of the first cities to formally adopt a comprehensive sustainability plan.
1994: Majestic Theater Closed
The Majestic (Mayfair) Theater has been closed since the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
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 and Get Shorty Film Locations
In 1995, the movies Species and Get Shorty used Santa Monica for significant exterior shots.
December 1996: GeoCities Headquarters Location
In December 1996, GeoCities was headquartered on the third floor of 1918 Main Street in Santa Monica.
1996: Pacific Blue TV Series (1996-2000)
From 1996 to 2000, the television series "Pacific Blue" was set in Santa Monica.
1996: The Truth About Cats & Dogs Set in Santa Monica
In 1996, "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" was set entirely in Santa Monica, particularly the Palisades Park area, and features a radio station that resembles KCRW at Santa Monica College.
October 1998: Shootings and Retaliation
In October 1998, alleged Culver City 13 gang member Omar Sevilla was killed. A couple of hours later, German tourist Horst Fietze was killed, and several days later, Juan Martin Campos, a Santa Monica city employee, was shot and killed. Police believe this was a retaliatory killing in response to Sevilla's killing. Less than 24 hours later, Javier Cruz was wounded in a drive-by shooting.
1998: Wettest Year on Record
1998 was the wettest year on record in Santa Monica, with a total of 25.4 inches (650 mm) of rainfall.
1998: Double Homicide in Westside Clothing Store
In 1998, there was a double homicide in the Westside Clothing store on Lincoln Boulevard. Culver City gang members killed Anthony and Michael Juarez, police say this was in retaliation for a shooting committed by the Santa Monica 13 gang days before the Juarez brothers were shot down.
2000: Census of 2000 Data
As of the census of 2000, Santa Monica had a population of 84,084 people, 44,497 households, and 16,775 families. The population density was 10,178.7 inhabitants per square mile.
2000: Pacific Blue TV Series (1996-2000)
From 1996 to 2000, the television series "Pacific Blue" was set in Santa Monica.
2000: Minimal Hate Crime Levels
In 2000, hate crime levels in Santa Monica were minimal.
February 2001: Lowest Maximum Temperature
In February 2001, Santa Monica had multiple dates where the lowest maximum temperature was recorded 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: Ocean's Eleven Filmed in Santa Monica
In 2001, the movie "Ocean's Eleven" featured significant exterior shots of Santa Monica.
2002: Hate Crime Levels Returned to Normal
By 2002, hate crime levels in Santa Monica returned to their minimal 2000 levels after a spike in 2001.
March 10, 2006: Lowest Maximum Temperature Recorded
On March 10, 2006, Santa Monica had one of the dates where the lowest maximum temperature was recorded at 51 °F (11 °C).
2006: Crime Rates in 2006
In 2006, crime in Santa Monica affected 4.41% of the population, with property crime affecting 3.74%.
October 24, 2007: Highest Minimum Temperature
On October 24, 2007, the highest minimum temperature of 72 °F (22 °C) was recorded in Santa Monica.
2007: Private Practice TV Series (2007-2013)
From 2007 to 2013, the television series "Private Practice" was set in Santa Monica.
2007: Minimal Hate Crime
In 2007, hate crime was minimal in Santa Monica, with only one reported incident.
2007: Police Crack Down on Critical Mass Rides
In 2007, local police cracked down on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides due to controversy, impacting the tradition.
2008: Continued Crackdown on Critical Mass Rides
In 2008, local police continued to crack down on Santa Monica Critical Mass rides that had become controversial, further impacting the tradition.
2009: Estimated Median Income in 2009
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: Santa Monica Featured in 2012
In 2009, Santa Monica (and the Santa Monica Airport in particular) was featured in Roland Emmerich's disaster film "2012".
2009: Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan Development
In 2009, Santa Monica began developing the Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan.
2009: Santa Monica Purchases First ZeroTruck
In 2009, Santa Monica purchased the first ZeroTruck all-electric medium-duty truck. The vehicle is equipped with a Scelzi utility body, based on the Isuzu N series chassis, and features a UQM PowerPhase 100 advanced electric motor. It was the only US-built electric truck offered for sale in the United States at that time.
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 Shot at Samohi
In 2009, the film "17 Again" was shot at Samohi (Santa Monica High School).
2010: Median Household Income in 2010
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 with more outdoor space.
2010: 2010 United States Census Population
The 2010 United States Census reported Santa Monica had a population of 89,736. The population density was 10,662.6 inhabitants per square mile.
September 2011: Expo Line Extension Construction Begins
In September 2011, design and construction began on the 6.6-mile extension (10.6 km) of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica.
2012: Santa Monica Destroyed in 2012 Movie
In the 2012 film "2012", a magnitude 10.9 earthquake destroys the Santa Monica Airport and surrounding area, with survivors escaping in a plane. The Santa Monica Pier and the whole city sink into the Pacific Ocean.
2013: Waste Diversion Rate
As of 2013, 77% of all solid waste produced citywide in Santa Monica was diverted from landfills.
2013: Private Practice TV Series (2007-2013)
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 (10.6 km) of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica. Santa Monica Metro stations include Downtown Santa Monica, 17th Street/SMC, and 26th Street/Bergamot.
2016: Dune and Beach Restoration Projects
Starting in 2016, local environmental groups began dune and beach restoration projects in Santa Monica.
2017: Median Household Income and Computer Access
Between 2017 and 2021, the median household income was $99,847 in 2021 dollars. 94.8% of households had a computer and 91.0% had broadband internet access.
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: Switch to Clean Power Alliance
In February 2019, Santa Monica switched over to electricity from the Clean Power Alliance, defaulting to 100% renewably sourced energy citywide.
2020: Santa Monica's Population in 2020
In 2020, the U.S. census recorded Santa Monica's population as 93,076.
2020: Energy Independence Goal
Santa Monica aimed to achieve complete energy independence by 2020.
2020: Sustainable Water Master Plan Goal
Santa Monica's Sustainable Water Master Plan set a goal of attaining 100% water independence by 2020.
2020: 2020 United States Census Population
The 2020 United States census reported Santa Monica had a population of 93,076. The density was 11,067.3 people per square mile.
2021: Median Household Income and Computer Access
Between 2017 and 2021, the median household income was $99,847 in 2021 dollars. 94.8% of households had a computer and 91.0% had broadband internet access.
2022: Top Employers
According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city were: [Data not provided].
2022: Homeless Population in Santa Monica
In 2022, there were 826 homeless individuals in Santa Monica.
April 2023: Licensed Micro-Mobility Transportation Providers
As of April 2023, Lyft, Spin, Veo, and Wheels are licensed to provide micro-mobility transportation in Santa Monica.
2023: Santa Monica Scores High in PeopleForBikes City Ratings
In 2023, Santa Monica scored near the 90th percentile of cities surveyed in the PeopleForBikes City Ratings, which measures the quality of a city's bike network.
2030: Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan Goal
By 2030, Santa Monica's Zero Waste Strategic Operations Plan aims to divert at least 95% of all waste from landfills towards recycling and composting.
2030: Bike Action Plan Goal
By 2030, the city implemented a 5-year and 20-year Bike Action Plan with a goal of attaining 14 to 35% bicycle transportation mode share through the installation of enhanced bicycle infrastructure throughout the city.
2030: Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Goal
Santa Monica's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan aims for an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.
2050: Carbon Neutrality Goal
Santa Monica aims to reach community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.
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