La Mesa

La Mesa is about 10 miles (16 km) from the Pacific Ocean, so it has more extreme temperatures than San Diego, which is nearer the coast. The climate is semi-arid, with hot, dry summers and warm winters. Most of the roughly 13 inches (330 mm) of yearly rain falls between November and March.

Summer highs average 78 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit (26 to 33 C). Winter highs average 66 to 77 degrees (19 to 25 C). In the late spring, a marine layer called May gray and June gloom keeps the coast cool and damp, while inland areas such as La Mesa often clear to sunshine within 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km) of the water.

The Kumeyaay, a Yuman-speaking people who farmed, hunted and gathered, lived in this area before European settlement. La Mesa was later part of Rancho El Cajon, a Mexican-era land grant held by the family of Miguel de Pedrorena, and before that it was land used by the Spanish missionaries of Mission San Diego de Alcala.

In 1868, stockman Robert Allison bought 4,000 acres from the heirs of Santiago Arguello, a commander of the San Diego presidio. That land became La Mesa, and the Allison springs were renamed La Mesa Springs. The springs are still remembered in Spring Street, which runs through downtown, and in the spring house at Collier Park.

The town was founded in 1869 and incorporated on February 16, 1912. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census and 61,121 at the 2020 census.

From 1911 to 1912, film pioneer Allan Dwan began his career in La Mesa. He directed more than 150 silent films for Flying A Studios, and many had local place names in their titles. Grossmont Center, the city's main shopping mall, opened in 1961. The city's official flower is the bougainvillea.

Downtown, La Mesa Village runs along La Mesa Boulevard. The village hosts a farmers market on Friday afternoons and evenings, and a summer car show on Thursday evenings. The Walkway of the Stars is a pedestrian park between the Allison Avenue parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard. It honors volunteers and has murals by local artists.

Collier Park holds the preserved spring house. Harry Griffen Park hosts a free summer concert series called Sundays at Six. La Mesa also holds an Oktoberfest and a Flag Day Parade, first held on June 14, 1997. The city's own website lists classes and camps, permits and a calendar of events.

Interstate 8 and State Routes 94 and 125 serve the city. The San Diego Trolley Orange Line has four stations in La Mesa: Spring Street, La Mesa Boulevard, Grossmont Transit Center and Amaya Drive. The Green Line also stops at Grossmont Transit Center and Amaya Drive.

Trains from these stations reach downtown San Diego to the west and El Cajon to the east.

The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District runs most of the city's elementary and middle schools. They include Rolando, La Mesa Dale, Maryland Avenue, Murdock, Murray Manor, Northmont and Lemon Avenue elementary schools, along with Parkway Sports and Health Sciences Academy and La Mesa Arts Academy for grades 6 to 8. Vista La Mesa Academy belongs to the Lemon Grove School District.

The Grossmont Union High School District runs Helix High School. Grossmont High School has an El Cajon street address but also enrolls some La Mesa students. Private schools include Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School, St. Martin's Academy and San Diego Jewish Academy.