Historic Neighborhoods

The College Neighborhoods have a rich development history. 

Origins: Rancho Ex-Mission San Diego

The community now known as the College Neighborhoods was part of a larger area referred to as Rancho Ex-Mission.

This map represents the historical geography of the College Neighborhoods. 

Click here to view a larger version of this map.

While some of these historic names are still in use today, others are not.  In addition, each historic neighborhood contained multiple developments and subdivisions with their own names and histories. 

Click on an historic neighborhood name (below) for more information about each neighborhood:

Fun Facts:

• The current College Neighborhoods area was part of the Mission San Diego de Alcala rancho lands.



• The Spanish Colonial missionaries moved the mission to its current location in 1771. Today’s College Neighborhoods area was generally used for grazing mission livestock.



• In 1846 the last Governor of Mexican California, Pio Pico, granted the Mission “rancho” lands to Santiago Arguello, former commandant of the San Diego Presidio. The general boundaries of which ranged from today’s Mira Mesa (Rancho Penasquitos) on the north to National City (Rancho Nacion) on the south, Interstate 805 on the west (Pueblo Lands), and El Cajon Valley (Rancho El Cajon) to the east.



• After Arguello’s death in 1862, title to much of the property was held up in various law suits until the final partition case closed in 1884.

Visit the San Diego Historical Society website for more information about the College Neighborhoods.

1) ALVARADO ESTATES

Annual Events**:

• general Home Owners Meeting



• election of Directors in March



• a Private Home Tour in spring



• a Gala Community Picnic in the fall



• occasional Picnic/Concerts in the Park.

**Events are limited to members only.

If you have information or pictures that you would like to share about an individual neighborhood area or the larger area, please email us.