Solana Beach City Map Poster

About Solana Beach

Solana Beach is located between the communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. The city is known for its ocean-side location, surfing culture, and local art scene. Solana Beach was incorporated on February 17, 1957; prior to that it had been known as "The Esplanade", a small community centered on the intersection of Coast Highway (State Route 101) and Riviera Drive. It began as a real estate development in 1922 which failed to attract many residents because of an inadequate water supply caused by lackadaisical enforcement of water rights by San Diego County officials who were more concerned with promoting growth at Mission Bay than protecting existing properties from encroachment by sand dunes during storms or preventing saltwater intrusion into fresh groundwater supplies.[6] In 1925 Albert E. Brown (1882–1951), father-in-law to John D. Spreckels' son John D., Jr., purchased 2200 acres along the coast just north including present day Solana Beach.