Who We Are

The community of Eden Gardens was founded in the early 1920s after the construction of Lake Hodges Dam in 1918. Land developers Ed Fletcher and Eugene Batchelder advertised Eden Gardens to Mexican American families as a place where they could live, raise a family, and meet the agricultural needs of nearby Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, and Encinitas. These families worked in Rancho Santa Fe, picking citrus and peaches, as well as tomatoes in Del Mar and Lima beans in Solana Beach and nearby Encinitas.

Approximately thirty families came to Eden Gardens to work and begin a new life. They came from Bisbee, Arizona; Hanford, CA; Santa Ana, CA; and other areas. Many of the families were related to one another, becoming close neighbors and sometimes even godparents to each other's children. There were also many marriages, as adult children married each other from the neighborhood, thus strengthening the bond of La Colonia families.

Upon arriving at La Colonia de Eden Gardens, there were no homes for the families, so they had to live in tents, which became known as Tent City. The community grew stronger as families helped each other construct homes, places of worship, and businesses. It was through these collaborative efforts that the name of Eden Gardens was expanded to include "La Colonia" (The Colony). A school was also built for the children of the Mexican American families, known as the Americanization School. To the families, it was affectionately referred to as "La Escuelita." However, this school was racially segregated, catering only to Mexican American children, and students were punished if they spoke Spanish on the premises.

Many residents of La Colonia de Eden Gardens proudly served in the armed forces. Unfortunately, some did not return from the war. Today, Solana Beach pays tribute to their memory in the Veteran's Courtyard at La Colonia Community Park, as well as through a photo wall of honor located within the La Colonia Community Hall.