borrego springs

The first record of a European in Borrego Valley was when Lieutenant Pedro Fages of the San Diego Presidio came in search of deserters in 1772. His pursuit led him northwest through the present town of Borrego Springs and up Coyote Canyon.

This event was related by Kumeyaay Indians to members of the first Anza expedition, who camped at their village in March, 1774. The Spaniards called this village (and spring) just east of the Borrego Sink, San Gregorio. It is the location of the original Borrego Spring.

Juan Bautiste De Anza was seeking an overland route from Sonora, Mexico to Monterey, California. Proceeding west from San Gregorio, Juan and his party of 25 followed Coyote Creek and ascended Coyote Canyon. They camped the following night at the Cahuilla village of Lower Willows,

It was another hundred years before cattlemen began homesteading the Borrego Valley, in about 1875. The first successful well was dug in 1926, which quickly led to irrigation farming. By then, the town contained a post office, a small general store, and a gas station.

The presence of both the Army and the Navy during World War II brought the first paved roads and electricity to Borrego Springs. After the war, developers subdivided the area, attempting to create a resort community by capitalizing on the tourism generated by the state park.

The town Borrego Springs was never incorporated and, therefore, has no mayor or other form of municipal government.


Borrego Springs is in an international dark sky community.

From “darksky.org”: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California, U.S., has long been considered a premier site for stargazing, and today it cements that reputation with the announcement that IDA has designated it as an International Dark Sky Park. Anza-Borrego completely encloses the village of Borrego Springs, California, which achieved International Dark Sky Community status in 2009. Together, the park and village work in tandem to protect dark night skies over the southern California desert.


What is an international Dark Sky Community?

An IDA International Dark Sky Community is a town, city, municipality or other legally organized community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education and citizen support of dark skies.