Purchased by the El Cajon Valley Land Company in 1886, Lakeside began as a small hamlet along the banks of the San Diego River. Home to the only natural lake in San Diego County, Lakeside offered visitors throughout the century a scenic backdrop for boating, fishing, hunting, riding, and hiking. Captured here in over 200 vintage images is the history of this town located just 25 miles east of San Diego. After the San Diego Mission was established in 1769, the Padres explored the backcountry, seeking grazing lands for their livestock. Following the San Diego River upstream they came to a broad valley, which they named El Cajon, "the box." In 1886, 6,600 acres were sold to the El Cajon Land Company for the Lakeside town site and a large inn was built as a resort. Due in large part to the trains coming through Lakeside in 1889, Lakeside had become a thriving community by the turn of the century.
