Founded on Feb. 16, 1912, the City of La Mesa celebrated its 112th birthday this February.
To recognize the date, the city launched a social media campaign to “[encourage] the community to share pictures showing why they love La Mesa or a cherished La Mesa memory that brings a smile on their face,” said City of La Mesa Communications Manager Grecia Aguilar.
Aguilar detailed that some of the sent in photos will be featured in their next City Manager Update newsletter and/or social media.
During its early days, La Mesa was in the movie-making business and had an estimated population of over 700 people according to La Mesa’s historical timeline. As of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau approximated that the population has grown to over 60,000 individuals.
What began as a city in the movie-making business has evolved to La Mesa’s regular seasonal festivities, farmers markets, community events, city parks and locally owned shops throughout the downtown area referred to as “The Village.”
“Given La Mesa’s rich history, we hope the community will feel inclined to share their memories with others through our campaign,” Aguilar said. “[…] social media provides an excellent platform to spread the word. Our aim is to encourage everyone to unite in sharing their treasured memories. La Mesa’s birthday represents a celebration for the entire community and a chance for lifelong residents to reminisce together.”
Mayor Mark Arapostathis expressed that over the past 112 years, La Mesa has “warmly welcomed numerous new residents and businesses, each making a conscious decision to call La Mesa home or establish their businesses here, contributing to our ongoing growth. These changes have brought positivity to both newcomers and lifelong residents alike.”
Relatedly, on Feb. 13, Arapostathis presented his State of the City address in a video message to City Council and the community — which was shared to their social media accounts.
During the eight-minute video, Arapostathis detailed the city’s achievements in 2023. Among the listed accomplishments were the city’s Juneteenth celebration, ongoing construction projects, infrastructure enhancements, park renovations, La Mesa Police Department’s community outreach, social media engagement efforts and much more.
Arapostathis concluded the address by expressing his appreciation for City Staff, stating “Together we have made La Mesa a better place to enjoy, live and thrive. As we look ahead to 2024, let us continue to invest in our community and work together to create a better future for all La Mesans.”
For Councilmember Colin Parent, “Our traditions like Oktoberfest and Flag Day parade celebrate our history, and new events like our Farmer’s Market on La Mesa Boulevard help preserve our continued sense of community.” Parent said that he celebrated the city’s birthday with a visit to the Farmer’s Market.
Councilmember Jack Shu commemorated the day by walking and riding his bike around the city and saying “hi” to those around the community.
“La Mesa is a city which keeps the positive meaning of living in a ‘village’ while moving forward building a more caring and responsible community,” Shu said.
Although much has changed in over a century, Arapostathis remarked that the city’s essence remains unchanged. “[La Mesa’s] people maintain their reputation as the friendliest around. We take great pride in being known as a welcoming destination,” he said.
Additional information about the history of La Mesa can be found at the La Mesa History Center: https://lamesahistory.com/.
Top photo credit: La Mesa History Center
