Southern California may be more well-known for its cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, but we have our share of small towns – charming little communities that make for peaceful escapes from the crowds and traffic. I love small towns, and they are often full of interesting history. Even if you are quite familiar with these small towns in Southern California, you might not know the fascinating and humble beginnings that led to the places we know today.

1. Idyllwild, CA

Don Graham/Flickr
Idyllwild, a peaceful little retreat and gateway to the pristine San Jacinto Wilderness, is known for its tight-knit community, artsy culture, and hiking trails.
Before it was settled, the area was known as Strawberry Valley due to the wild strawberries that grow particularly along what is now called Strawberry Creek, and it was a place for shepherds to bring the flocks to pasture. A family homestead was built in the 1880s, followed by a summer camp, and a road from Hemet in the west, which led to logging, tourism, and community settlement.
Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA, USA
Facebook: Idyllwild Area Historical Society, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Idyllwild Inn was originally built as the Idyllwild Sanatorium in 1901, a center for the treatment of tuberculosis patients. After just a few years, it was converted into the town’s first lodging establishment and still offers visitors cozy options to stay and enjoy the mountain air.

2. Los Olivos, CA

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The tiny and charming town of Los Olivos, one of five towns that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, has earned a reputation for its wine country. Beautiful vineyards and tasting rooms surround the quaint downtown.
However, few people realize that the roots of the town lie in olives. A stagecoach route was established through the area in the mid-to-late 1800s and, shortly thereafter, a young man from New York bought nearly 160 acres of farmland here, built a large two-story house, and planted 5,000 olive trees. The property was named “Rancho de los Olivos.”
Los Olivos, CA, USA
Howard Ignatius/Flickr
When the railroad reached the new town, the developers called it “El Oliver,” which became “El Olivos,” and finally, “Los Olivos.” Even now, the town is one of the state’s premier producers of the finest olives and olive oil.

3. Wrightwood, CA

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If you know Wrightwood, you likely know it as a cozy little ski town, home of Mountain High resort, and the most convenient winter adventure spot outside of Los Angeles.

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What you may not know is that, during the 1800s, before becoming a vacation community, the Wrightwood area drew prospectors looking for precious metals but was soon established as cattle ranches. After the turn of the century, the main ranch was broken up and turned into multiple commercial and residential properties, a community developed, and ski lovers discovered the potential in the slopes above the valley. The rest is, well, you know.
Wrightwood, CA, USA
Jamesb01 (image transferred to Commons by JaumeBG., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

4. Carpinteria, CA

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The seaside town of Carpinteria is now known for its excellent surfing, seal sanctuary, beachfront camping, and cute downtown area with cozy hotels, cafes, coffee houses, and cool brewery. Along the shore in the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve is a clue to the town’s early history.
The Carpinteria Tar Pits, where oil seeps from underground and emerges as asphalt, were useful to the original residents of this coastal town. In 1769, Spanish explorers found a Chumash village and observed the locals building wooden canoes, using the natural asphalt to seal them. The soldiers named the town La Carpinteria, meaning “the carpentry shop.” Mining operations eventually followed and can still be seen offshore.
Carpinteria, CA, USA
Seahawk190, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

5. Temecula, CA

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Today, Temecula is known for its incredible wine country, but the area’s potential for growing grapes really only started to be appreciated in the mid-1970s. The town’s name comes from a Native American word meaning “sun place,” and people have been living in the Temecula Valley as far back as the year 900 C.E. The first Mission was established in Temecula by Spanish missionaries in 1797.
A fire caused by the massive 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed a lot of records from the 1800s, but the area experienced some real Wild West drama complete with Mexican-American conflicts, stagecoach robberies, desperados, murder, and a famous manhunt.
Temecula, CA, USA
Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In 1859, the second post office in the state connected the town with the rest of the country (and world) by mail. The early 1900s brought cattle ranch operations, cowboys, and eventually agriculture, leading to the Temecula we know today.

It’s so interesting to discover the roots of these communities and to see how things change over time. Did you know the stories behind these beloved small towns in Southern California? If you know any other little-known history and trivia facts about our small towns, we would love to hear from you! In the meantime, check out a few more trivia facts you may never have heard before. 

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