There are beautiful rolling hills on east side, while the Santa Lucia Coastal Range is on the west side. The infamous San Andreas Fault is approximately 30 miles to the east.
Historically, the Salinan Indians inhabited the area before the mission era. There really is not much information about this Indian tribe. They currently are not recognized by the government but are currently applying for tribal recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
As stated earlier, Paso Robles is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year (2014), being founded in 1889. Although people had been living in the area, it wasn’t until 1886 when the Southern Pacific Railroad extended its service to Paso Robles opened the path for the town to be truly established. The first railroad station was erected in 1887 at Pine and 8th. On March 11, 1889 the city of Paso Robles was officially incorporated as El Paso de Roblas.
The name was then officially changed to El Paso de Robles on November 29, 1889. At this point, the population was around 800. In 1892 The first school was opened and was located on the current site of Marie Bauer School.
In 1913 electricity reaches Paso Robles and in 1914 Rancho San Ignacio was established and it was the first land purchased for the purpose of vineyards.
Paso Robles, at this time, was really an Almond producing city. By 1920, they had 25,000 acres of land dedicated to almond trees and became known as the “Almond Capital of the World.”
Fairs are almost synonymous with Paso Robles and they here for 80 years. The history of fairs occurring in Paso date back to 1934, when the first county fair was held at the recreational park.
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By 1940 the population of Paso had increased to over 3.000. In 1941 when the army’s Camp Roberts opened, the population soared due to the military presence, the workers and of course the USO. By 1950 the population rose to 4,800 and by 1960 it was 6,800. In 1965 Ronald Reagan rode in the Pioneer Day Parade and announced his candidacy for Governor.
The 1980’s were big for Paso Robles (not to mention the best decade of music ever) This decade allowed the population to exceed 10,000 and the County Fair was officially renamed to the MidState Fair and was extended to last 12 days.
During the 1990’s the population reached over 21,000, the fair celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the Carnegie Library was designated as a historic landmark.
As with everything in California, you are not officially on the map until you are an epicenter of an earthquake. (my college town, Whittier, hit the map with a 6.3 in 1987) On December 23, 2003 at 11:15am the San Simeon Earthquake placed Paso Robles on the map with a 6.5.
By 2010 almost 30,000 people discovered the beauty and character of Paso Robles and decided to call it home. It has changed from the Almond Capital to a phenomenal wine destination. I can’t keep track of how many articles are out there about this wonderful city. In 2013, it was named the wine region of the year and in 2014 Paso Robles was officially classified into 11 AVA’s.
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~Slainte!
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Your blog about Paso Robles has me ready to pack up and “go west”. Sounds like a great place to visit!
It truly is a wonderful place. We fell in love the first time we visited! You should get on a plane and go!!!!
Born and raised here in the 50s/60s, was a beautiful small town full of great people and almond orchards everywhere, population under 7,000. Pioneer Day was so awesome for us kids and the only day us girls were allowed to wear pants to school. High school was a pretty brick building covered in ivy. Everyone knew everyone and and the whole town raised us kids. Very familiar with the fairs, dad was head maintenance man there and spent much time there. Couldn’t ask for a more awesome place for a childhood. Went back for 40th HS reunion was was so underwhelmed. Population over 25,000 and no green lawns or beautiful orchards. Have not been back, know population is now over 30,000. Memories I have are with me always and at times wish I hadn’t went to that reunion. The turkey ranch I grew up on is now a winery, drove out to see it and did see a few things from childhood. Old tree we had nailed a basketball hoop(ring off a wooden barrel) to was still standing, old barn where Bossy lived and the silo(elevator) they build while we lived there is still there. That was about it. House gone and replaced with new one, no turkeys just vineyards and all entrances had locked gates, had to view from afar and take pictures with a zoom. Very sad and emotional visit.
I am so sorry it was a disappointment to return. Paso is such a lovely place filled with amazing people. But yes, it has changed! It has changed a lot since we fell in love and started the winery in 2013. So much more of just everything. I love that you had a homemade basketball hoop and that it is still there. AT least that brought some fond memories back. Where are you now?