The History of Monterey, CAThe city of Monterey is a coastal community situated on Monterey Bay in central California. Although the region was explored by the Spanish as early as 1542, it wasn’t until 1770 that Father Junipero Serra and Gaspar de Portola established a settlement there with the construction of the San Carlos Cathedral. While California was in possession of Spain and Mexico from 1777 to 1849, Monterey served as the state capital. In 1846, the United States claimed California after the victorious Battle of Monterey, and three years later the new state’s constitution was drafted in the city. Due to Monterey’s prominence within the new state of California, the city was home to many of the state’s “firsts,” including the first theater, first public school, first brick house, first printing press and public library. But oddly enough, what Monterey was most famous for was its fishery in Monterey Bay. The city was the site of Cannery Row, a long stretch of sardine canning factories that have since been immortalized by John Steinbeck in his 1946 novel Cannery Row, which takes place in Monterey during the Great Depression years. Much of Monterey’s Cannery Row still survives, although its factories have not functioned since the collapse of the fishery business in the 50’s. Cannery Row attracts many tourists, and the city of Monterey has established several restaurants and shops there to accommodate its visitors. The city also maintains the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium, located along Cannery Row, as a tribute to the region’s dependence on its aquatic ecosystem. In recent years, Monterey has gained a new reputation as “the Language Capital of the World.” The city is home to the Monterey Institute for International Studies, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute, which teaches world languages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The city has gained much recognition for its involvement in military and ambassadorial translation and interpretation all over the world.
© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contributed by:  | More Local Area InformationFrom early explorers and missionaries to present day guests, the Monterey Peninsula has captivated all who have visited. Monterey’s beauty and ric... Read moreMonterey, California’s rich history, natural beauty, culture, and acclaimed educational facilities, make this city a great place to call home. Th... Read moreStill keeping its agricultural roots, San Juan Bautista, California is perfect for people who love nature, history and want to get away from th... Read moreSanta Cruz, California is located in Santa Cruz County and is a diverse community with a variety of distinctive topography. Many unique neighborhood... Read moreGilroy, California is one of the fastest growing cities in the Silicon Valley. This growing community savors the beauty of nature, and encourages th... Read moreSan Martin, California is a town without a home. It's been given its status as a city because of the census, rather than because of actually bein... Read morePaicines, California is located in San Benito County, just south of Santa Clara County and approximately ten miles south of Hollister, California... Read moreMorgan Hill, California is the perfect, safe, place to live for people who want to be near Silicon Valley and be less than a half hour away from th... Read moreWhat makes Los Gatos such a great place to live is its multifaceted appeal. Located at the base of the Sierra Cruz Mountains is only the start of th... Read moreSereno, in English, means Serene and that's the best way to describe this beautiful, affluent community known as Monte Sereno, California. Thi... Read moreSaratoga is one of the most historic, upper-class residential communities in the state of California. Its downtown district pays tribute to thos... Read moreCampbell, California is known for its charming downtown, safe streets, strong sense of community, excellent schools and moderate real estate prices.... Read moreSan Jose, California—with its convenient location, exciting careers, and high quality of life—is truly a wonderful place to be. For those who ar... Read moreThe city of San Jose is located in Northern California, approximately 50 miles south of San Francisco, and 390 miles north of Los Angeles. San Jose... Read moreDespite being ‘only’ the third largest city in California (behind Los Angeles and San Diego, but ahead of its more world-famous neighbor Sa... Read moreSan Jose, California offers residents a popular nightlife, museums, shopping, and even its own football team. Considered the capital of Silico... Read more |
