Temecula Valley HistoryA CHRONOLOGY 1797-1993Compiled by Emily Gerstbacher
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1970 |
Rancho California/Temecula Volunteer Fire Company, formed in 1969, begins service. | |
1970 |
U.S. Census shows 2,769 residents in the Murrieta-Rancho California-Temecula area. | |
1970 |
Riverside County Board of Supervisors authorizes a County Service Area to develop a parks and recreation program for the Rancho California area. | |
1970
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Temecula Town Association incorporates as a non-profit, charitable organization. |  |
1970
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First nine holes of the 250-acre Rancho California Golf resort open to the public. | |
1970
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First commercial Valencia orange crop is harvested in Rancho California. | |
1970
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Dr. Jack W. Campbell opens Rancho California's first medical practice. | |
1970
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First annual Rancho California Caballeros Trail Ride is held. | |
1971 |
Bianchi Leather Products Inc. of Monrovia relocates to Rancho California Industrial Park. | |
1971
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The 1915 Temecula Union School on Moreno Road burns. The second Temecula School next door is saved, moved to Main Street, and converted to commercial use. | |
1972 |
Kaiser Aetna now owns 97,500 acres in the Temecula Valley. Its development plan for Rancho California calls for a core community of 25,000 homes with a population of 70,000. A "buildout" community of 100,000 people is projected for the 1980s. | |
1972
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The Rancho California Wine Growers Association is formed. | |
1972
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A branch of the Riverside County Free Library, partially supported by Kaiser Aetna and the Rancho California Lions Club, opens in the Rancho California Plaza. | |
1973 |
Ely Callaway leaves Burlington Industries in order to devote his time to building the first winery in Rancho California. | |
1973 |
The McMillan Farm Management Company relocates to Rancho California. | |
1973
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Riverside Archaeological Society and the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society begin excavation of a centuries-old Indian village site discovered on a small ranch in the northwest section of Rancho California. | |
1973
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Skinner Reservoir, covering 1,140 acres, is completed. | |
1973
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Linfield Christian High School opens on Pauba Road. | |
1973
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The Murrieta District Justice Court is moved to the former Rancho California administration building near Ynez and Rancho California roads. | |
1974 |
First commercial avocado crop is harvested in Rancho California. | |
1974
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Callaway Vineyard and Winery, on Rancho California Road, is established and the first grape crush takes place. The winery releases its first commercial wines in November, 1975. | |
1975 |
Mount Palomar Winery, on Rancho California Road, is established by John H. Poole. | |
1975 |
The Valley Post is founded by Sam and Kelly Hicks. | |
1975
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The Noon Rotary Club of Temecula is founded and chartered. | |
1976
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Insurance liability forces the closing of the Rancho Airport,established to serve the light aircraft needs of developers and local businesses. | |
1976
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An expanded and updated Rancho Temecula Fire Station is dedicated as a joint project of the California Division of Forestry, the County of Riverside, and Kaiser Aetna. | |
1976
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The 6,000-acre Lake Skinner Regional Park and the Robert A. Skinner Filtration Plant are dedicated. Skinner is a former general manager of the Metropolitan Water District. | |
1977 |
Kaiser, by acquiring the interests of Aetna Life and Casualty Company, forms KACOR Development Company. | |
1977 |
Temeku Art League is founded by Mary Davis. | |
1977
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The Rancho California Water District and the Santa Rosa Ranches Water District are consolidated under the name of Rancho California Water District. | |
1977
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Hope Lutheran Church holds its first worship service in the Lake Village Clubhouse. Before building a sanctuary the congregation will also hold services in the old Long Branch Saloon on Front Street. | |
1977
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Five local service organizations form the Rancho California Community Park Association in order to develop park and recreation facilities. Fifteen acres are donated by KACOR Development Company to build a sports center. | |
1977
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Riverside County Board of Education approves the transfer of 20,000 acres of eastern Rancho California land from the Hemet School District to the Temecula Union School District and the Elsinore Union High School District. | |
1977
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Hillcrest Carden School was in fact founded by Giles & Laurey
Kavanagh, but the original location was on hill overlooking Winchester Road
(the hill is now gone and is covered by houses). The school then moved to Pauba Road (c. 1983) and finally to Santiago Road (c. 1986). Clarified by Todd Kavanagh 10.25.07 |
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1977
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Temecula Historical Society is formed to preserve the turn-of- the-century architecture and atmosphere of Temecula. John Bianchi serves as temporary chairman of the group. | |
1977
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First annual Great Temecula Tractor Race is held. | |
1978 |
Cilurzo Vineyard and Winery is established by Vincenzo and Audrey Cilurzo on Calle Contento off Rancho California Road. | |
1978
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Vail Elementary School opens on Mira Loma Drive. | |
1978
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Rancho California Water District accepts ownership of Vail Lake. | |
1978
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Security Pacific Bank moves from Temecula to the Rancho California Plaza. | |
1979 |
Temecula Community Center opens in the Tin Barn on Pujol Street. | |
1979 |
South Coast Vintners, an association of vintners covering an area from Temecula to the Mexican Border, is formed. It eventually evolves in the Temecula Valley Vintner's Association. | |
1979 |
Dorland Mountain Colony, a ten-acre retreat, opens to artists on a portion of the Dorland homestead. The remainder of the homestead is deeded to the Nature Conservancy. | |
1979
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The Californian and the Valley Post newspapers merge. | |
1979
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KRTM, Valley Public Radio, begins Broadcasting in the Temecula Valley. Founded by Steve Cilurzo, KRTM is a non-commercial, FM station. | |
1979
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Kiwanis Club of Rancho-Temecula-Murrieta is formed, with R.A. "Bob" Gurney as the first president. | |
1979
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Sam Hicks, local historian, lawman, and cowboy, dies. | |
1980 |
Hart Winery, on Avenida Biona off Rancho California Road, is established by Joe Travis Hart and Nancy Hart. | |
1980 |
Filsinger Vineyards and Winery, on De Portola Road, is established by Katharine I. and William C. Filsinger. | |
1980 |
Rancho Music Association forms. The group offers student music scholarships, performs at community events, and recounts Temecula's history through the musical production of "Temeculi, Temecula." | |
1980
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A series of heavy rainstorms causes flooding and washes out roads in the Temecula Valley. | |
1980
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First meetings held by Temecula area Episcopalians. | |
1980
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Rancho-Temecula Area Woman's Club is founded. | |
1980
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U.S. Census shows 10,215 residents in the Murrieta-Rancho California-Temecula area, a 269% increase over 1970. | |
1980
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Butterfield Square, in Old Town Temecula, holds its grand opening. | |
1980
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St. Thomas Episcopal Mission is established in Temecula. | |
1980
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Pioneer native son and rancher Tony Ashman, who has provided a living link to Temecula Valley's past dies at 101. | |
1981 |
Piconi Winery is established on Rancho California Road. | |
1981
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The Rancho-Temecula-Murrieta unit of the California Republican Assembly (CRA) is chartered. | |
1981
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Newport restaurateur Fran Delany purchases the Rancho California Track and Training Center and renames it the Galway Downs. | |
1981
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Butterfield Savings and Loan Association, a locally owned financial institution, opens in the Rancho California Plaza. | |
1981
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New Temecula Post Office opens at Moreno Road and Front Street. | |
1981
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Stater Brothers Market opens in Rancho California in the Winchester Square development. | |
1981
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The second of two arson fires finally destroys the second Temecula School building. | |
1981
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Callaway Vineyard and Winery Company is purchased by Hiram Walker-Gooderman and Worts, Ltd., of Ontario, Canada. | |
1981
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The U.S. Border Patrol open its new station in the Rancho California Industrial Park. | |
1981
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Locally owned Overland Bank is chartered. | |
1981
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An Historic District is formed by the County of Riverside to protect Old Town Temecula after lengthy debate over the size of the district. | |
1981
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The first Balloon Festival, sponsored by Butterfield Savings and Loan, is held at the Great Temecula Tractor Racegrounds. | |
1981
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Safeway Market opens in Rancho California Plaza. | |
1981
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Winchester Square Theaters open. | |
1982
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Ground is broken for Winchester Commerce Center. | |
1982
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Interstate 15 is completed between Corona and Temecula. | |
1982
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The Bianchi Frontier Museum Historical Center, housing memorabilia of the American West, opens to the public. | |
1982
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Rancho News is sold in a bankruptcy sale to industrialist Walter Probst of Palm Desert. | |
1982
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The Elsinore Union High School District Board votes to build a high school in Rancho California on a one-million-dollar site donated by the KACOR Development Company. | |
1982
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Ground is broken for the Temecula Town Hall on Pujol Street. | |
1982
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Construction is completed of the Temecula Sports Park on Rancho Vista Road. | |
1982
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An arson fire destroys the nearly completed Rancho California Professional Center. | |
1982
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Overland Bank opens. | |
1982
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Temecula's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4089 is founded. | |
1983 |
Butterfield Stage Players, a non-profit theater group, is formed. Jeanne Burns serves as first president. For a short time the group is renamed the Overland Players. | |
1983 |
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly Co. which manufactures coronary devices, opens a plant in Temecula. By the late 1980s, it is the largest employer in the Temecula Valley. | |
1983
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Soroptimist International of Rancho Temecula is organized. | |
1983
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The Temecula Creek Building, housing The Californian newspaper, burns in an arson fire. | |
1983
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Temecula Christian School is dedicated. | |
1984 |
French Valley Vineyards, on Briggs Road, is established by Arlene Borel and Leon Borel, a descendent of a pioneer family in the Temecula Valley. | |
1984
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The Nature Conservancy purchases 3,100 acres of the original Santa Rosa Rancho, including the historic adobes in the old ranch area. | |
1984
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Rancho News is sold to the Press-Enterprise Company and is published by the Sun-Tribune. | |
1984
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First Balloon and Wine Festival, evolved from the 1981 Balloon Festival, is sponsored by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. | |
1984
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The Olympic Torch, in route to the Los Angeles Coliseum to mark the opening of the 1984 Olympic Games, is carried through Temecula by two local runners. | |
1984
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The Temecula Community Center, designed to resemble Temecula's old Santa Fe Railroad station, is dedicated by the Temecula Town Association. | |
1984
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International Rectifier Corporation of Los Angeles announces plans to build a 250,000-square-foot plant in the Rancho California Industrial Park which will employ 700 people. | |
1984
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The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms chooses the appellation "Temecula" for all wines grown in the Temecula Valley and on the Santa Rosa Plateau, thereby ending a heated three-year debate among local growers. | |
1985 |
Interstate 15 is completed between Temecula and San Diego, which fuels a housing and apartment boom in the Temecula Valley. | |
1985
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Bianchi Frontier Museum closes. Most artifacts are sold to the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles. Temecula- related artifacts are purchased by local business interests for a future museum in the Temecula Valley. | |
| 1985 | Yolanda Alvarez Morelos reflects in how lucky she was to see some of the Bianchi Frontier Museum artifacts before Mr. Bianchi emptied the building of his possessions and it closed. It was a very amazing collection. Carlos Alvarez bought the museum building and opened the Rancho Army Navy Store. It is one of the few retail businesses today in the Temecula Valley that has a long local history. As of 2010 the business is still owned and operated by the Carlos Alvarez family. The Rancho Army Navy Store is on Jefferson Road in Temecula. |
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1985
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Temecula Valley School, located on Rancho Vista Road near Margarita Road, is dedicated. The new high school is the fourth school in the Elsinore Union High School District. | |
1985
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The Sam Hicks Monument Park Historical Committee opens the Old Town Temecula Museum in Butterfield Square and appoints Tony Tobin as curator. The museum contains local items acquired during the sale of the Bianchi Frontier Museum and other artifacts and photographs from Temecula Valley's pioneer days. | |
1985
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Temecula's new California Highway Patrol and Department of Motor Vehicles offices open. | |
1986 |
Baily Vineyards and Winery, on Pauba Road, is established by Carol and Phil Baily. | |
1986 |
Rancho-Temecula Bible Church moves the old Pujol School building to a new site on Santiago road and begins renovation of the structure as a sanctuary. | |
1986 |
Bedford Properties, Incorporated, of Lafayette, California, purchases Kaiser's Rancho California interests. | |
1986
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Rancho Elementary School opens on La Sierra Way. | |
1986
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Maurice Carrie Vineyard and Winery, on Rancho California Road, is established by G. "Budd" and Maurice C. Van Roekel. | |
1987
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Local land developer Bill Johnson opens Rancho California Country Club after refurbishing an older golf course on the same site. | |
1987
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The consulting firm of Christensen and Wallace of Oceanside, California, issues Analysis of the Feasibility of Incorporation of the Community of Rancho California/Temecula. The report has been commissioned by a group of local businessmen led by Les Adam. It concludes that the 22-square-mile study area with a population of 11,198 would be an economically viable city. | |
1987
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A "Public Incorporation Forum" is presented by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. | |
1988 |
Culbertson Winery, established in 1981 in Fallbrook by John and Martha Culbertson, expands production by opening a new twenty- acre facility in Temecula, on Rancho California Road. | |
1988 |
Rancho Santa Rosa is declared a Riverside County Historical Landmark. | |
1988 |
Construction begins on Rancho California Town Center, a 52-acre, 55-million-dollar shopping center. | |
1988 |
Dairies operating on General Kearny Road close and the land is sold to real estate developers. | |
1988
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The Incorporation Committee holds its first official meeting to consider a municipality whose boundaries would include the entire Temecula Valley. Jimmy Moore is elected chair. The group changes its name to the City Committee during the following month. | |
1988
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Murrieta Citizens for Cityhood, Inc., is formed to oppose the inclusion of Murrieta within the proposed City of Temecula. | |
1988
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Citizens Against Cityhood Inclusion organizes to keep Murrieta Hot Springs unincorporated. | |
1988
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A Study of the Feasibility of Incorporating the Communities of Rancho California, Temecula & Murrieta, financed by Bedford Properties and prepared by Public Affairs Consultants, Inc., of San Diego, is submitted to the City Committee. The report concludes that the 79-square-mile study area would be an economically viable city. | |
1988
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The City Committee submits an incorporation application to the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). | |
1988
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Bedford Properties purchases the Galway Downs Race Course. The race course is closed in December, 1990. | |
1989 |
Bedford Properties closes the Butterfield Country Campground and the Vail Lake marina. | |
1989 |
Callaway Vineyard and Winery is sold to Allied Lyons, PLC, a British firm. | |
1989
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LAFCO staff issues report number 88-70-1, which removes Murrieta and Murrieta Hot Springs from the incorporation boundaries proposed by the City Committee. The proposal for a 35-square-mile city is sent to the full Commission. At the same time, LAFCO staff issues report number 88-72-1, which disapproves a separate Murrieta incorporation proposal. | |
1989
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LAFCO resolution number 24-89 approves the City Committee's incorporation application as amended by LAFCO report number 88- 70-1. | |
1989
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The measure for Temecula cityhood is certified by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors for inclusion on the November 7, 1989, Ballot. It is called "Measure R". | |
1989
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The City Committee sponsors the first of a series of "Town Forums" to discuss the finance and operation of a local municipality. | |
1989
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The Temecula Valley Unified School District is established. The result of a unification election conducted on November 8,1988, the new district is the successor to the kindergarten-through- eighth-grade Temecula Union School District. | |
1989
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Rancho Vista High School, on Rancho Vista Road, opens. | |
1989
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The recently opened Joan Sparkman Elementary School, on Pio Pico Road, is dedicated. | |
1989
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"Grand Finale Election Rally" is held by the City Committee at Sam Hicks Monument Park. | |
1989
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87.6% of Temecula voters approve Measure R and incorporation; they also select the name "Temecula" for the new municipality and elect the first city council. | |
1989
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Incorporation becomes official for the City of Temecula. The first City Council meeting is held at the Temecula Community Center and Ron Parks is designated as mayor. John Mc Tighe & Associates of San Diego issues the City of Temecula Incorporation Implementation Guidebook to direct municipal organization. | |
1990 |
Keyways Vineyard and Winery, on De Portola Road, is established by Carl Key. | |
1990 |
The Nature Conservancy adds an additional 3,850 acres to its Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve. The name is changed to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. Ownership of the Reserve includes the Metropolitan Water Company of Southern California, Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, and the California Department of Fish and Game. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife agreement. | |
1990 |
Rancho Santa Rosa adobes and central ranch area are declared a California Historical Landmark. | |
1990
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Temecula City Hall is opened at 43172 Business Park Drive, in a temporary site leased from the Temecula Valley Unified School District. | |
1990
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Alex and Pat Mestas opened their first McDonald's and the first fast food in Murrieta, the second restaurant in Murrieta! McDonald's of Murrieta is truly the "Ray Kroc type of McDonald's. | |
1990
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French Valley Airport opens. | |
1990
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The first U.S. Census of the City of Temecula counts 27,099 residents. | |
1990
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Temecula Valley Rose Society forms. | |
1990
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David F. Dixon, formerly the City Manager of Moreno Valley, is named Temecula's first city manager. | |
1990
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The Californian becomes a daily newspaper. | |
1990
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The first Temecula Valley Arts Festival is held. | |
1990
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The Temecula Community Center is destroyed by fire. | |
1990
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Margarita Middle School, on Margarita Road, is dedicated after opening the previous September. | |
1991 |
The $13-million Temecula Community Recreation Center plan is approved. | |
1991 |
Santa Margarita Winery, on Madera De Playa Road near Rancho California Road, is established by Margaret and Barrett Bird. | |
1991
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The City of Temecula dedicates its first new public park, Veterans Park, on La Serena Way. | |
1991
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The City of Temecula opens permanent City Hall offices at 43174 Business Park Drive. | |
1991
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The first Temecula Creek Open Golf Tournament is held at the Temecula Creek Golf Course with a purse of $50,000. | |
1991
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Temecula City Council approves the contract to begin preparation of the City's General Plan for future growth. | |
1991
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Temecula Elementary School opens on Moraga Road. | |
1991
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The Butterfield Stage Players open the Temecula Valley Playhouse, a 4,000-square-foot facility on Ynez Road. The theater group officially changes its name to the Temecula Valley Playhouse. | |
1991
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Temecula Post Office, a mew 34,500-square-foot facility on Rancho California and Margarita roads, opens under the direction of Postmaster Mike Ward. The opening date commemorates Temecula's zip code. | |
1991
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Redhawk Elementary School, on Camino San Jose, is dedicated after opening in September. | |
1991
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Nicolas Valley Elementary School, on North General Kearny Road, is dedicated after opening in September. | |
1991
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Temecula Middle School, on Meadows Parkway, is dedicated after opening in September. | |
1992
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An expanded Temecula Community Center reopens on Pujol Street. | |
1992
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The Temecula Police Department moves into the newly completed Southwest County Justice Center on Auld Road. | |
1992
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Temecula City Council approves the contract to prepare the Old Town Specific Plan to guide to the revitalization of Old Town Temecula. | |
1992
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Temecula Library is dedicated. The $3-million, 15,000-square-foot structure has been partially built by the fund raising efforts of local citizens. | |
1992
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A U.S. Border Patrol pursuit leads to the death of four students and a parent near Temecula Valley High School. | |
1992
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French Valley Airport's Aviation Center opens. | |
1992
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The Rainbow Canyon Fire, set by an arsonist,burns three thousand acres of watershed south of Temecula between Rainbow Canyon and Pala roads and causes damage on the Pechanga Indian Reservation. | |
1992
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Ground is broken for the 26,000-square-foot Temecula Community Recreation Center, an indoor facility complementing Temecula's outdoor Sports Park. | |
1993
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Heavy rainstorms and flooding cause $6.4 million in damage in Temecula and Murrieta. | |
1993
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Voorburg, Netherlands, becomes a Sister City to the City of Temecula. | |
1993
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Old Town Temecula Senior Center, located on 6th Street, is dedicated. | |
1993
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"Old Town Temecula Specific Plan," designed to protect historic sites, promote business traffic, and keep alive the western flavor of Temecula's past, is approved by the Municipal Planning Commission. | |
1993
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The City Council approves the first General Plan for the City of Temecula. | |
1993
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Pechanga Indian Reservation announces plans to develop a casino and resort on the 235-acre Kelsey Tract at Via Eduardo off Pala Road. The Kelsey homestead property was deeded to the reservation with the understanding that use of the land would benefit its Native American residents. | |
