Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo claims California
Sir Frances Drake lands on the California Coast, it is not certain if the site is Ana Nuevo or Point Reyes
Gaspar de Portola Expedition, led by Father Junipero Serra, explores upper California & discovers SF Bay.
Before the arrival of the Spanish in 1769, the Ramaytush Ohlone totaled approximately 1500 and lived in the area of the San Francisco Bay south to Monterey
Mexico earns independence from Spain, seeing California's adoption into Mexican statehood.
Mexico grants Jose Antonio Sanchez, a noted soldier and Indian fighter, 15,000 acres of land from Millbrae to Colma in 1853. Jose Antonio Sanchez, maintained his casa grande in what will become Millbrae, until he dies in 1843. At his death, it is divided equally among his 10 sons and daughters.
Mexico cedes territories to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, entering California into American statehood.
Chinese immigrants begin arriving in California, seeking opportunities through the Gold Rush and building of the transcontinental railroad.
The Twelve Mile Farm was built in 1850
1,500 acres of the Rancho Buri Buri is sold by Isidro Sanchez to Aldred Edmonson.
German butcher & businessman, Charles Lux, purchases part of Rancho Buri Buri to fatten cattle preceding slaughter. This is the beginning of Baden (later a subdivision of SSF).
German immigrants to California, Charles Lux and Henry Miller formed a partnership which at its height, owns an estimated million head of cattle and 1.8 million acres of land.
Peter Iler of Omaha, Nebraska was commissioned by Gustavus F. Swift to choose a location for a town and meat packing plant in California.
The South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company was incorporated.
Merriam Block (presently the northwest corner of Airport Boulevard and Grand Avenue) built.
South San Francisco News, the town's first newspaper, begins publication in March, 1892 and continued publishing until September, 1893.
Incorporation of Western Meat Company, SSF's first major industry. Controlled by the "Beef Trust" Swift, Armour, Cudahy, & Morris. In 1894, Andrew Hynding, later elected as South City's first mayor, is hired by Western Meat company as a clerk.
Steiger Terra Cotta Pottery Works and Baden Brick Company are established in 1894.
Baden School is constructed for $10,000 with 4 classrooms and a broad sidewalk so kids will not lose their boots in the mud getting from the hitching posts to the building. The school has bars on the windows, causing pundits to inquire whether they are to keep intruders out or the kids in.
Baden, now known as South San Francisco, had 671 inhabitants in 1895.
The Enterprise, conceived by Ebenezer Cunningham and William Marting, begins publication and becomes SSF's second newspaper. One week after the Enterprise's first issue, the city's first official census is taken and proclaims 671 people lived in the community.
As of 1896, the Western Meat Company is slaughtering a weekly average of 700 cattle, 4,000 lambs & sheep, and 3,000 pigs. As of 1899, Western Meat Company is packaging 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of meat a day for shipment to US soldiers involved in the Philippines Insurrection (1899-1902).
The Grace Episcopal Church at Grand and Spruce was dedicated.
The South San Francisco Lumber Company was established in 1898.
A group of Chinese immigrants settled in Baden and ran a variety of businesses including a violet farm and shrimp camp near San Bruno Point.
By 1899, the old Charles Lux ranch becomes a popular picnic spot. Spectators come to watch cowboys hired to break wild horses for use as U.S. Cavalry mounts in the Boxer Rebellion in China. The Establishment Lists indicates sixteen saloons for every one church in South San Francisco.
W.P. Fuller Oil & Lead Company relocates to SSF Land & Improvement Company property at Oyster Point after a fire in their San Francisco facility.
In 1902, a Catholic church, later named All Souls Catholic Church, is built at Linden & California. St. Paul's Methodist Church began holding services in Butchers Hall in 1903, and built a church at Grand and Maple in 1906.
The SSF Railroad & Power Co., aka "New Electric Line", begins streetcar operations along Grand Avenue to the waterfront in 1904, providing an easy commute for SSF's largest industries.
The South San Francisco Women's Club was formed in 1905, and the South San Francisco General Hospital, at Grand and Maple Avenues, was established.
The Bank of South San Francisco was incorporated and opened for business in 1905.
Henry Miller orders butcher shops along the earthquake destruction swath to hand out free meats to earthquake victims for a period of 7 days.
SSF is known as a company town, new industries include: Steiger Terra Cotta, Fuller Paint Company, 2 steel mills, a tannery, 2 brickyards, and a lumber company. The SSF Railroad & Power Co. operates a power plant in SSF, and the town has its own telephone service. Southern Pacific has redirected its main line through town. As the population rises to 1,989, the Grand Avenue School (San Bruno School District) opens to accommodate the growing population.
In 1908, Griffa and Sons, a family owned general store, opens on the 100 block of Grand and moves to 240 Grand in 1909. In 1909, Pacific Coast Steel, which later became Bethlehem Steel, and the Sanitary Bakery are established. The population of South San Francisco as of 1910 is 2,500.
Incorporation is granted by the County of San Mateo on September 3, and on September 19, the State of California designates South San Francisco a city of the sixth class under its constitution. Andrew Hynding is elected president of the Board of Trustees and serves one term.
It was reported that four Chinese owned and operated shrimp camps burned down in 1912 along the bay shore of South San Francisco. The origin was unknown and no casualties were reported.
The Society is formed and donors names are paved into the sidewalk at the corner of Linden and California Avenues. A house in SSF rents for $15 per month.
The Shaw-Batcher Steel Company is established in 1913.
The city block bounded by Grand, Walnut, Miller, and Maple Avenues is purchased by the City from the SSF Land & Improvement Co. for its future civic center site.
South San Francisco High School District is organized and classes are temporarily held at the Grand Avenue Elementary School. Rue Randall Clifford becomes the first high school teacher.
Santo Cristo Festa was celebrated in SSF by local Portuguese immigrants as early as 1914. In 1924, there was a Portuguese celebration including a street parade and Mass at All Souls Church.
Metropolitan Hotel opens & houses many early businesses. It has a long association with commercial and community events.
Dr. Harry Plymire converted his home, at the corner of Spruce and Grand Avenues, into a hospital.
The SSF Fire Department acquires a Seagrave pumper, the first motorized fire engine.
Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie granted the City $10,000 and provided the building plans. The Library, on the corner of Grand and Walnut Avenues, was opened in 1916.
The Italian American Citizens Club was established in South San Francisco.
SSF is considered part of the Port of San Francisco; pierheads and bulkhead lines are established by order of the War Department. Shipyard companies such as Pacific Coast Steel & Shaw Batcher Steel Company construct submarines, gunboats, and other wartime vessels for World War I. R.S. Brown, employee of Shaw Batcher Shipyard, won a contest sponsored by a San Francisco newspaper, when he drove 1,150 7/8th inch rivets in a single day. The 1st ship, funded by the government, is launched from Shaw Batcher Shipyard, an 8,800 ton steamer, Isanti, quickly followed by launching a 2nd freighter, the Nantahala.
1916 is a busy year in SSF with All Souls Church being dedicated, the City's first high school, Spruce Avenue High School, opening, the Italian American Citizens Club being founded, and the Reichardt Duck Farm being established on Mission Road.
SSF General Hospital moves to a modern building at Grand and Spruce Avenues while the W.P. Fuller and Company ships about 200 tons of products to SF daily by barge or railroad. Fred J. Lautze opened South City's first automobile dealership to serve the City with a population of 4,411 people.
City Hall, built for $125,000 with plans replicating Philadelphia's Independence Hall, is erected and dedicated. Thousands attended the dedication and parade.
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