Local guidesMid-City & East San DiegoKensington
Kensington
Kensington is a neighborhood inside the City of San Diego, California, bounded by Interstate 15, Interstate 8, Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard.
Where is Kensington, and what is it like?
Kensington is a neighborhood of the City of San Diego, in San Diego County, California. It is not a separate city. Interstate 15 forms the western edge, Interstate 8 the northern edge, Fairmount Avenue the eastern edge and El Cajon Boulevard the southern edge. Normal Heights is to the west and City Heights to the south.
It is a residential area of older houses. Most of the early homes were Craftsman, and many later ones are Spanish Revival.
How did Kensington begin?
The land was owned by two sisters, Abby (Hall) Hitchcock and Mary (Hall) Gleason, who had inherited former Rancho Mission land. A Los Angeles real estate promoter, William Douglas, handled the promotion and early lot sales. A map was filed in April 1910, and lot sales for the Kensington Park subdivision opened on November 25, 1910.
The San Diego Electric Railway extended its Adams Avenue trolley line to the subdivision in time for the opening. The first houses were built in 1910, all in the Craftsman style. The original boundaries were Ward Canyon on the west, which is now State Route 15, County Line Road on the east, which is now 42nd Street, Monroe Avenue on the south and Jefferson Avenue on the north, which is now Alder Drive.
How did Kensington change over time?
In 1913 the sisters sold their interest to a group of former Santa Fe Railway executives led by G. Aubrey Davidson. The group redrew the map and added land to the north for Kensington Manor. Later subdivisions included Kensington Heights and Kensington Park Annex. Together these are now all called Kensington.
Kensington Park was annexed to the City of San Diego in 1952. The name echoes the West London district of Kensington, though its exact origin is disputed. The two sisters were from Natick, Massachusetts.
What are the homes in Kensington like?
Much of Kensington was built out in the late 1920s, when Spanish Revival was the most popular style in San Diego. Architects Cliff May and Richard Requa both designed important homes here, and Requa had a major influence on the neighborhood's look and character.
Kensington and the neighboring Talmadge area are sometimes grouped together, though this is not an official arrangement.
What is the Kensington sign?
Adams Avenue is the neighborhood's business and cultural center. A neon sign reading Kensington stands over the avenue. Residents installed it in 1953, and it is one of two original neon neighborhood signs left in San Diego.
On April 24, 2008, the city's Historical Resources Board unanimously designated the sign historic site number 865. It was taken down for repair and replicated, and it was put back in place in November 2010.
How do people get around, and what schools serve Kensington?
In 1910 streetcar Route 11 of the San Diego Electric Railway served the area over a wooden trestle across Ward Canyon. A second bridge for cars was built beside the first in 1913. Streetcar service ended in 1949, when San Diego's last streetcar lines were abandoned.
Public schooling is run by the San Diego Unified School District. Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School, a kindergarten to fifth grade school, is in Kensington.
Find a local business in Kensington
Kensington is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide. Start with the businesses in Kensington itself, or look across the whole guide by what they do.
Businesses in KensingtonQuestions about Kensington
- Is Kensington a separate city?
- No. Kensington is a neighborhood within the City of San Diego, California. It was annexed to the city in 1952.
- What are the boundaries of Kensington?
- Interstate 15 on the west, Interstate 8 on the north, Fairmount Avenue on the east and El Cajon Boulevard on the south.
- When was Kensington founded?
- A map was filed in April 1910, and lot sales for the Kensington Park subdivision opened on November 25, 1910.
- What style are the houses in Kensington?
- The first houses were Craftsman. Many later homes are Spanish Revival, built out in the late 1920s.
- What is the neon Kensington sign?
- It is a neon sign over Adams Avenue installed by residents in 1953. The Historical Resources Board designated it a historic site in 2008.
- Is there a local business directory for Kensington?
- Yes. Kensington is covered by the Mid-City & East San Diego guide from Local Business America. It lists local businesses in Kensington and the towns around it, and it is free to read.
- How do I list my business in Kensington?
- Open the Mid-City & East San Diego guide and choose Claim your listing. If your business is not there yet, choose List your business. Claiming is free, and a person checks each claim.
- What does a business listing in Kensington cost?
- Every business has a free listing with opening hours, a map and a link to your website. Essentials is $19 a month and adds a photo gallery, an enquiry form and your Google reviews. Premium is $39 a month and adds a boost to the top of your category and a do-follow link to your website.