La Jolla, California

La Jolla, California, is a seaside resort community within the City of San Diego. Pronounced "La-Hoy-Ya", which is possibly Spanish for "The Jewel", it is often referred to as the "Jewel by the Sea." La Jolla borders Pacific Beach to the south and extends north to Torrey Pines State Reserve and Del Mar, California to the north. Along the way it encompasses neighborhoods like Bird Rock, Wind 'N Sea, The Village, La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Farms, and Torrey Pines. Interstate 5 forms La Jolla's man-made border to the east. With its palm-tree lined streets, large estate homes, and mediterranean climate and atmosphere, La Jolla is reminiscent of a southern European village with the flair of Beverly Hills. Much of La Jolla's natural charm stems from the presence of Mount Soledad, the narrow curvy roads that follow its contours, and the hundreds of unique homes that are nestled on its slopes, many boasting spectacular ocean views from its heights. La Jolla's population is 24,440 as of January, 2005 http://cart.sandag.org/profiles/est/zip92037est.pdf.

Origin and pronunciation

The area was known as La Jolla Park at least as early as 1886. The origin of the name is obscure. It is pronounced "Lah HOY-ya", not "Lah Ho-ya" as it should be in Spanish. Some say it is a corruption of ahoy, called out by sailors seeking the attention of people on the shore. The people of La Jolla claim it is a misspelling of La Joya, meaning "The Jewel" in Spanish. Perhaps the most-likely, although least-glamorous, theory is that La Jolla is a corruption of the Indian word "Woholle", meaning "hole in the mountain", referring to the caves in the north-facing cliffs next to La Jolla Cove Park.

Related Topics:
1886 - Spanish

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