Monterey, California

City with a population of 27,810 in 2010. First populated by the Rumsen Ohlone tribe. The Spanish first settled here in 1770 when the Presidio of Monterey was built here by Gaspar de Portola to defend the coast against potential Russian invasion. The Spanish designated it the capital of Las Californias colonies in 1777, and it became the capital of the province of Alta California in 1804. It was made the sole port of entry from the Pacific into California, which spurred its development as a city. It remained the capital of Alta California upon Mexican independence.

During the Mexican-American War the city was captured by American naval forces in the 1846 Battle of Monterey. On its capture, Commodore John Sloat declared California to be American territory and made Monterey the capital of the military administration of the territory. A constitutional convention met here in 1849 that created a provisional state government that met here for nine months until Congress recognized California statehood, at which point the capital was moved to San Jose. The city incorporated in 1889. It developed as a fishing center until the fishing industry collapsed in the 1950s.