San Diego in the 1950s was a city in transition. The decade brought population growth, urban development, and economic shifts. World War II had ended just a few years earlier, leaving a lasting effect on the city. Military bases, shipyards, and aerospace industries thrived. San Diego was growing into a major metropolitan area, with new suburbs, highways, and schools appearing across the region.
The 1950s saw a sharp increase in San Diego’s population. Returning veterans, job seekers, and families moved to the city in search of work and a better life. The warm climate and expanding job market made San Diego an attractive place to settle. By 1950, the population had surpassed 334,000. By the end of the decade, it had grown to nearly half a million.
Central Library construction, San Diego Public Library, 1952Construction, Central Library Building, San Diego Public Library, 1953Man sitting by the water on Mission Bay, January 1959Chula Vista Public Library, 1959San Diego Freeway, 1958.Loyola Marymount University versus Navy (San Diego United States Naval Training Center), 1951
Military Influence and Aerospace Industry
San Diego’s economy relied heavily on the military. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps maintained a strong presence in the city, with bases like Naval Base San Diego and Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) playing a crucial role. Thousands of military personnel were stationed in the area, and defense contracts fueled the local economy.
The aerospace industry also flourished. Companies like Convair (a division of General Dynamics) designed and built aircraft and missiles. The Cold War increased demand for military technology, leading to more jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and research. The Atlas missile program, one of the first intercontinental ballistic missile projects, was developed in San Diego.
University of Southern California versus (Navy) San Diego United States Naval Training Center, 1951San Diego Freeway, 1958San Diego Freeway, 1958
This growth led to suburban expansion. Neighborhoods like Clairemont, Linda Vista, and La Mesa saw a rise in single-family homes. Developers built tract housing to meet demand, offering affordable homes to middle-class families. These new communities often included parks, schools, and shopping centers, creating a new way of life for residents.
Freeway Construction and Urban Development
As the city grew, so did traffic problems. The solution was a new freeway system. Construction began on several major highways, including Interstate 5, which would later run along the coast from San Diego to the Canadian border. The Cabrillo Freeway (now State Route 163) was expanded to connect downtown with Mission Valley. Interstate 8 also began taking shape, providing an east-west route through the city.
These highways changed the way people moved around San Diego. They made it easier to live in the suburbs and work downtown. At the same time, they divided some older neighborhoods, forcing changes in local communities.
San Diego Freeway progress, 1958Rifle match in San Diego, 1958San Diego freeway (aerial views), 1956Sweetwater River, Dry Channel in 1958. The Sweetwater River is 55 miles long, the largest river flowing into San Diego Bay. From its headwaters high in the Cuyamaca Mountains, the river flows generally southwest, first through rugged rural areas but then into the urban areas surrounding its mouth at San Diego Bay. The watershed has a human population of over 300,000 residing in Chula Vista, National City, Bonita and Rancho San Diego.USS Bayfield arrival in San Diego, 1951.Goose girl selection, 1951San Diego Freeway construction, 1958San Diego fair, 1958Girl scouts of Century Park School trip to San Diego Zoo, 1954San Diego County Coastal traffic north of La Jolla before freeway Interstate 5 was built, 1955Spider’s Aircraft Service at Montgomery Field in 1955.San Diego Freeway construction, 1958Baton twirlers at Pepperdine College, 1951San Diego freeway, 1956Hollywood versus San Diego baseball game, 1955.Three views of the former Estudillo Adobe in Old Town, showing the exterior and displays, San Diego, 1950.Legion, San Diego, 1951
Sports and Entertainment
While professional sports were not yet a major part of San Diego’s culture, the city had a strong local sports scene. San Diego State College (now San Diego State University) drew crowds for football and basketball games. The minor league baseball team, the San Diego Padres, played at Lane Field before moving to Westgate Park in Mission Valley in 1958.
Entertainment options were expanding. Drive-in theaters became a favorite pastime for families and teenagers. The Mission Drive-In and Midway Drive-In were among the most popular spots to watch the latest Hollywood films. Local television also grew, with channels like KFMB and KOGO broadcasting news and entertainment to a growing audience.
Hollywood vs San Diego “Baseball”, 1955Aerial view looking north down the San Diego Freeway (US-405) from Wilshire Boulevard, 1950sLegion, San Diego, 1951San Diego tennis star, 1951Western Hemishere Marathon, 1951Aerial view of the Port of San Diego, 1952Marines arrive at San Diego Base (from Korea), 1951Crowd at Mission Beach for the 1952 Rough Water Swim, a contest also referred to as an Open Water Swim, 1952. Rough open-water swimming refers to choppy ocean water that can push a swimmer off course. Open-water swimming refers to smoother water with fewer ocean swells. It is generally available in places like Mission Bay and Glorietta Bay. San Diego has plenty of options for open-water swimming. Aquatic events are held at Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Cove and Shores.San Diego fair, 1958Downtown San Diego, California, 1957.
Tourism and Attractions
San Diego’s tourism industry also grew in the 1950s. Balboa Park, home to museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, remained a popular attraction. The zoo gained national attention with new exhibits and a growing collection of exotic animals. Mission Beach and La Jolla Shores became hotspots for locals and visitors looking to enjoy the coast.
SeaWorld, one of San Diego’s most famous attractions, had not yet opened, but planning was underway. The idea for a marine park was born in the late 1950s, with construction starting soon after.
Kids on way to San Diego Zoo, 1959U.S.S. Hospital ship “Consolidation” returns to San Diego with Korea wounded, 1951San Diego County Administration Building, 1954.Broadway, San Diego, California, 1954.Goose girl selection, 1951
Racial Segregation and Housing Discrimination
Despite its growth, San Diego was not free from racial discrimination. Many neighborhoods had restrictive housing covenants that prevented Black, Latino, and Asian families from buying homes in certain areas. These policies shaped the city’s racial makeup, forcing minorities into specific neighborhoods like Logan Heights and Barrio Logan.
In education, schools were often segregated in practice, even if not by law. Many non-white students attended underfunded schools with fewer resources. Activists began pushing for change, but progress was slow.
USS Bayfield arrival in San Diego, 1951.Broadway at night, San Diego, California, 1954.Aerial view of Veterans Administration showing the Federal Building in Westwood Park, 1950sSan Diego, California, 1950.Campus scene with students in front of San Diego State College, 1950Sportfishing boats, Municipal Yacht Basin, San Diego Harbor, 1958.Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, 1950.U.S. Grant Hotel and plaza, San Diego, California, 1952.Fiesta del Pacifico (San Diego), 1957El Presidio ReU.S. Grant Hotel and plaza, San Diego, California, 1955.Downtown San Diego, California, 1952.San Diego City and County Administration Building, 1950.Santa Fe Station, San Diego, California, 1959.San Diego, California, 1954.San Diego City and County Administration Building, 1955.American Legion convention parade, San Diego, 1951San Diego Harbor, 1950.Business section of San Diego, California, 1954.Broadway in downtown San Diego, 1955.U.S.S. Consolation at San Diego, 1951Children enjoy building sandcastles on a beach in Mission Bay Park, 1951.U.S. Grant Hotel and plaza, San Diego, California, 1939.San Diego, California, 1950.American Legion convention, San Diego, 1951View looking east into Alcazar Garden. The garden’s design is patterned after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, and is known for its ornate fountains, exquisite turquoise blue, yellow and green Moorish tiles and shady pergola. This formal garden, bordered by boxwood hedges, is planted with 7,000 annuals for a vibrant display of color throughout the year and may be rented for wedding ceremonies. The garden has been reconstructed to replicate the 1935 design by San Diego architect Richard Requa.San Diego State College, San Diego, California, 1957.The El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, 1959.Aerial view facing north over the Veteran’s Administration in West Los Angeles at Wilshire Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway, 1950s
Natural Disasters and Challenges
The decade was not without its struggles. In 1953, heavy rainstorms caused major flooding in San Diego. Roads and bridges were washed out, and homes in low-lying areas suffered severe damage. The city responded by improving drainage systems and reinforcing flood control measures in the following years.
In 1957, an earthquake struck near the city, shaking buildings but causing little damage. Though San Diego is not as seismically active as Los Angeles or San Francisco, the event was a reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
Aerial view of San Diego Freeway, 1956.Northeast view of downtown San Diego taken in 1955. Buildings in sight include KFMB Channel 8, the Elliot and Ford Buildings and the Ramona Hotel.San Diego, California, 1950.South Mission Beach taken in 1955 looking South toward Ocean Beach past the Caribbean Motel, which is now Mission Point View condominiums at 2613 Mission Blvd.Newport Avenue business district in Ocean Beach in 1958. The Strand Theatre is in background, an historic single-screen movie house which opened in the 1920’s. In the late 1970’s, the Strand survived with midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday and Saturday nights. It closed in the 1990’s and was converted into a retail store after several failed attempts to preserve it as a theatre. The theatre was designated an historic building by the San Diego Historical Resources Board in December 2002.Legion, San Diego, 1951Legion, San Diego, 1951
Education and Schools
San Diego’s school system expanded rapidly to accommodate the growing population. New schools were built throughout the decade, including Madison High School and Crawford High School. San Diego State College saw record enrollment numbers, reflecting the increased importance of higher education.
Teachers faced challenges, including overcrowded classrooms and limited resources. The 1950s also saw the start of discussions about desegregating schools, though meaningful changes would not come until later decades.
Bookmobile on services at Loma Portal Elementary School, 1952.San Diego Freeway (US-405) north from Wilshire Boulevard, 1950sDents Baseball Team at Lane Field in 1956. A downtown, waterfront ballpark, built at the northeast corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive in 1925, named after Bill Lane. It was the home of the Pacific Coast League’s San Diego Padres from 1936 to 1957. The Padres were formerly known as the Hollywood Stars, and were owned by Bill Lane, who had made his fortune in gold mining. The Padres moved to Mission Valley in 1958 and Lane Field was taken apart and became a parking lot.Legion convention in San Diego with Governor Earl Warren and others, 1951.Lake Hodges Dam in 1952, a multiple-arch dam that sits on the San Dieguito River, located 31 miles north of San Diego and just south of Escondido. It was commissioned by the Volcan Water Company and designed by John S. Eastwood. It was completed in 1918, and purchased by the City of San Diego in 1925. The reservoir serves the San Dieguito Water District and Santa Fe Irrigation District as well as the City. When full, the reservoir has 1,234 surface acres, a maximum water depth of 115 feet and 27 shoreline miles.The Cubby Hole Restaurant on Abbott Street near the lifeguard station in Ocean Beach, with signs advertising hot dogs, Hires root beer, and Sno-Kones. It became a popular snack bar for beachgoers during the 1940’s.Marilyn Monroe surrounded by fans on the beach on the set of “Some Like It Hot” at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, 1958.Group photo of the participants in the 1958 State Yo-Yo Championship, 1958.Golden Hill Women’s Club 1954 hat party.San Diego Mission, 1955.Ink Tennis Trophy Winners: Top row: Franklin Mitchell, Leigh Hay, Maureen Connolly, Doss, 1951. Bottom row: Alberto Hernandez, Denise Bradshaw, Patsy Zellmer, Powell Blakenship. In 1935 Harper Ink, Sr. (1888-1953) started the Harper Ink Memorial Tennis Tournament to support and assist young tennis players financially. Losers were allowed to keep the balls, and the trophies came from Tiffany’s. Harper Ink’s contribution to San Diego tennis renews itself every year with the Ink Tournament which is now played at the Barnes Tennis Center.Aerial view of San Diego Freeway, 1956.USS Consolation at San Diego, 1951.Group photo of the participants in the 1954 State Yo-Yo Championship, 1954. The California State Yo-Yo Championship has a long history of being one of the largest state contests in the country. First made popular in the 1920s, yo-yoing remains a popular pastime. It was first invented in ancient Greece. The San Diego Yo-Yo Club remains active and usually meets on Saturdays in Balboa Park in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. They welcome everyone and suggest items to bring – yo-yos, diabolos, tops, juggling, poi, or any other skill toy.Roll Packing House in Otay Mesa. George F. Roll was a rancher born in Germany who came to the mesa about 1890 with his wife Elizabeth, 5 daughters and 3 sons. In 1913 his son Fritz drilled the first water well on Otay Mesa. In 1948, he drilled a well for irrigating gardens and crops. After Fritz’s well came in, Otay Mesa farmers raised the first irrigated crops of tomatoes and celery. Fritz was a founder of the Otay Water District in the 1950s and was the first to raise garbanzo beans and ship them to Greece, Cuba and New York.
Shopping Centers and Consumer Culture
The 1950s also brought changes to shopping habits. Downtown San Diego remained the commercial hub, with department stores like Marston’s and Walker Scott drawing customers. However, suburban shopping centers were on the rise. In 1958, the College Grove Shopping Center opened, offering a new kind of retail experience with large parking lots and multiple stores in one location. This shift reflected a broader trend toward car-based consumer culture.
First Crew of San Diego Meter Maids, 1953. By the 1920’s, streets meant for horse and buggies were filled with cars. Downtown shop owners complained about workers leaving their cars all day so shoppers were unable to park. To provide infrastructure, the first meters were installed in the 1930’s and by the 1940’s, American cities were generating millions of dollars annually from parking. The meter maid first infiltrated cities in the 1950’s to crack down on illegal parkers.Aerial view of Point Loma, Southwestern Yacht Club (SWYC) and marina, 1950. SWYC is one of the largest, oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in San Diego, California, formed in 1925 by visionary yachtsmen, Dr. Ernest Percy Chartres-Martin and Stanley Hobson. It supports a number of community events including the Special Olympics Sailing Program, the Junior Foundation (providing scholarships for youth sailing programs), the White Sea Bass Release project and other charitable programs.A gardener working in one of the flowerbeds in Alcazar Garden, 1950. The garden’s design is patterned after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, and is known for its ornate fountains, exquisite turquoise blue, yellow and green Moorish tiles and shady pergola. This formal garden, bordered by boxwood hedges, is planted with 7,000 annuals for a vibrant display of color throughout the year and may be rented for wedding ceremonies. The garden has been reconstructed to replicate the 1935 design by San Diego architect Richard Requa.Ryan Aeronautical Company with ‘Spirit Of St Louis Skyway’ sign on the roof in San Diego, 1955.People aquaplaning in San Diego, 1950s.Group photo of the participants in the 1956 State Yo-Yo Championship, 1956. The California State Yo-Yo Championship has a long history of being one of the largest state contests in the country. First made popular in the 1920s, yo-yoing remains a popular pastime. It was first invented in ancient Greece. The San Diego Yo-Yo Club remains active and usually meets on Saturdays in Balboa Park in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. They welcome everyone and suggest items to bring – yo-yos, diabolos, tops, juggling, poi, or any other skill toy.City Hall in San Diego, 1955.San Diego Freeway, Wilshire and Sepulveda interchange, 1956.Harbor Days (San Diego), 1954Tony Curtis rides a bicycle on the set of “Some Like It Hot” at Hotel Del Coronado, 1958.Aerial view of downtown San Diego and San Diego Bay, 1951.Fishing boat, “Benita” on rocks at Point Fermin, San Diego… All aboard got off safely on Coast Guard cutter, 1952Aerial view of downtown San Diego, California showing El Cortez Hotel and Balboa Park, 1950s.San Ysidro Library, 1957
Police and Crime
San Diego in the 1950s was relatively safe compared to other major cities, but crime still existed. Organized crime had a small presence, mainly in illegal gambling operations. The police department expanded its force to keep up with population growth, introducing new patrol cars and crime-fighting techniques.
Juvenile delinquency became a concern. Reports of teenage gangs, vandalism, and petty theft increased. Local authorities and community leaders responded with youth programs and stricter law enforcement policies. Schools also took on a greater role in promoting discipline and good citizenship.
Downtown and Greyhound bus station in San Diego, California, 1950s.The Plaza Bus Transportation Center loading with sailors and pedestrians in San Diego, California, 1950s.
Cultural and Social Changes
The social landscape of San Diego evolved throughout the 1950s. Rock and roll music gained popularity among teenagers, with artists like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry influencing local youth culture. Sock hops and dance halls became gathering places for young people.
The rise of television changed daily life. Families gathered around black-and-white TV sets to watch popular shows like “I Love Lucy” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Local news stations expanded, bringing more coverage of events within the city.
Women’s roles in society were also shifting. While many women worked during World War II, the 1950s saw a return to traditional gender roles, with many leaving jobs to become full-time homemakers. However, some continued working in education, healthcare, and clerical jobs, contributing to the city’s workforce.
Bassoon and Flute Musicians, 1959 San Diego Youth SymphonySan Diego Freeway construction, 1958Miss Dell Anne Seaton (San Diego) contestant in San Diego Fair, 1953Aerial view of the US Navy’s Pacific Reserve Fleet or ‘Mothball Fleet’ in San Diego, 1950.Broadway, San Diego, California, 1950.Broadway, San Diego, California, 1959.Downtown San Diego, 1950.Elevated view of the Santa Fe Depot and a passenger train in San Diego, 1952.Elevated view of the Santa Fe Depot and a passenger train in San Diego, 1952.San Diego Freeway, Wilshire and Sepulveda interchange, 1956.Three trophy winners at the 1952 Mission Beach Rough Water Swim, a contest also referred to as an Open Water Swim, 1952. Rough open-water swimming refers to choppy ocean water that can push a swimmer off course. Open-water swimming refers to smoother water with fewer ocean swells. It is generally available in places like Mission Bay and Glorietta Bay. San Diego has plenty of options for open-water swimming. Aquatic events are held at Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Cove and Shores.USS Bayfield arrival in San Diego, 1951.1959 Youth Symphony String Quartet, 3 violins and a base. The San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) is the 6th oldest continuously operating youth symphony in the United States, and serves students from its home in Balboa Park. Skill levels range from beginner to pre-professional, with participating students ages 8 to 25.Two ballerinas performing in San Diego Junior Theatre’s production of Birthday of the Infanta, in 1956 an 1891 Oscar Wilde fairytale. In 1922 it was adapted by Austrian composer Alexander von Zemlinsky to an opera, Der Zwerg (The Dwarf), with libretto by Georg Klaren. Established in 1948 in Balboa Park, San Diego Junior Theatre is the oldest youth theatre program in the United States, producing shows acted and crewed by children ages 8-18. Birthday of the Infanta was performed in 1956 and 1968.Youth Symphony String Quintet, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello and a base, 1959.Four Youth Symphony musicians in 1959, 3 with wind instruments and 1 with a violin, 1959. The San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) is the 6th oldest continuously operating youth symphony in the United States, and serves students from its home in Balboa Park. Skill levels range from beginner to pre-professional, with participating students ages 8 to 25.Performers in San Diego Junior Theatre’s 1952 production of The Bartered Bride, a comic opera by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana which premiered in Prague in 1866. Set in a small Bohemian village, it tells the story of how true love prevails over the efforts of ambitious parents and a scheming marriage broker. Established in 1948 in Balboa Park, San Diego Junior Theatre is the oldest youth theatre program in the United States, producing shows acted and crewed by children ages 8-18.Vesta Horejs, 1957 Hoover High Symphony
Image Credits: sandiego.gov, Wikimedia, California State Library, US San Diego, USC Libraries
