Kensington, San Diego facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kensington, San Diego
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A neon sign hangs over Adams Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Kensington.
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 Kensington, San Diego
Location in San Diego
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  California |
| County |  San Diego |
| City |  San Diego |
Kensington is a friendly neighborhood in San Diego, California. It's known for its unique charm and community feel. You can find Kensington bordered by major roads like Interstate 15 to the west and Interstate 8 to the north. It's part of San Diego City Council District 9. For national representation, Kensington is in California's 53rd congressional district.
Contents
History of Kensington
How Kensington Began
Kensington started in 1910 when a map was officially filed. Two sisters, Abby Hitchcock and Mary Gleason, owned the land. They inherited it from their family. Abby's husband was a real estate agent. He worked with William Douglas, a real estate promoter from Los Angeles. Douglas helped sell the first lots in the area.
Early Development and Growth
Sales for lots in Kensington Park began on November 25, 1910. The owners convinced the San Diego Electric Railway company to extend a trolley line to Kensington. This made it easier for people to get there. The first homes were built in 1910. They were all in the Craftsman style, known for its natural materials and handcrafted look. Kensington Park officially became part of the City of San Diego in 1952.
Around 1913, the Hall sisters sold their land to a group of former Santa Fe Railway Company leaders. This group was led by G. Aubrey Davidson. Davidson expanded the area and created Kensington Manor. Other areas like Kensington Heights and Kensington Park Annex were also developed. Today, all these areas are known together as "Kensington."
Trolleys and Transportation
From 1910, Kensington had trolley service. Route 11 of the San Diego Electric Railway connected the neighborhood to other parts of the city. A wooden bridge crossed Ward Canyon for the trolley line. In 1913, a second bridge was built for cars. The trolley line used special streetcar designs, including some of the first "pay as you enter" cars. Trolley service continued until 1949.
The Name and Community Spirit
The name Kensington sounds like a district in London, England. However, the name might have come from Natick, Massachusetts. The Hall sisters were from there, and many street names in that area are similar to English places. Kensington has always kept its "small town" feel. The community celebrates with annual events. These include a Memorial Day Parade and a Fourth Of July Block Party. Many streets also have their own yearly parties.
The Famous Kensington Sign
A bright neon "Kensington" sign hangs over Adams Avenue. This street is the main hub for businesses and culture in the neighborhood. The sign was installed in 1953 and was one of only two original neon neighborhood signs left in San Diego. In 2008, the sign was recognized as a historic landmark. It needed repairs, but during the process, it was accidentally damaged beyond repair. So, a new sign was made to look exactly like the old one. It was put back up in November 2010.
Architecture and Homes
Many street names in Kensington have English or New England origins. The homes in the area are often in the Spanish Revival style. This was a very popular style in San Diego in the late 1920s. Famous architects like Cliff May and Richard Requa designed important homes here. Requa especially influenced the look and feel of Kensington.
Pop Culture Connections
The Historic Ken Theater
The Ken Theater was a single-screen movie theater on Adams Avenue. It opened in 1946 and closed in 2020. The theater showed art house films, classic movies, foreign films, and popular "midnight movies." These included Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room. In 2014, the theater almost closed, but people loved it so much that it stayed open. It finally closed in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kensington in Movies
In 2024, a movie called A Corpse in Kensington started being made. It's a crowdfunded film set in Kensington. Derrick Acosta, Michael Madsen, and Ryan Bollman are some of the actors in the movie. It was written and directed by Brian Patrick Butler.
Education for Kids
Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School is located in Kensington. It's a school for students from kindergarten to fifth grade. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District.
Images for kids
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A neon sign hangs over Adams Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Kensington.
See also
In Spanish: Kensington (San Diego) para niños
