26 January 2007
Santa Rosalia, Baha California Sur, Mexico
- population: 1200 (?)
Loa Palmas RV Park
Dear Friends of Barbara and Charlie (B/C) ...
[map] Humphrey again. This email covers the drive down to Santa Rosalia back on the Sea of Cortez, 48 miles. We stayed here one night. 
Given the exhausting 48 mile drive and the one night stand, this is the only picture, taken by Barbara, of Santa Rosalia. A famous church in the region is a pre-fabricated church designed and built in France by Gustav Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) and shipped to the site and assembled in 1897. Why, because the town has a French origin. In the 1880’s a French company, one of the Rothschild’s empire, acquired copper mining rights and built the town of Santa Rosalia around a foundry. They abandoned mining in 1956 and left vacant foundry building and unknown pollution. The tour books and the local people appreciate what the French contributed and don’t berate the company for not cleaning up its mess as would be the case in the US.
Charlie suggests that this might be a spot to summarize the Baja history, geography and population from the Lonely Planet ‘Baja and Los Cabos‘ tour guide:
HISTORY:
8,000 BC Indians first inhabit the peninsula
Significant petroglyphs at amazing heights in caves
(pictures later)
1500 AD
Estimated 48,000 Indians on the peninsula
3 major linguistic groups subdivided in tribes: upper, middle and lower peninsula, some warlike, some practicing pologamy.
‘Rancheria’ settlements, few families to 200 people.
Hunter-gather subsistence living.
Generally naked, sleeping in open, caves or simple
dwelling.
Remote from the Maya and Aztec cultures on mainland.
None survived European colonization.
1532-39
Cortez in 4 expeditions explores peninsula for gold, none found .
1565
For 250 years English and Dutch preyed on Spanish
galleons returning from Philippines.
A Spanish restocking port was created at La Paz.
1687
First Spanish settlement at Loreto, Jesuit mission,
hub for 23 missions built over next 70 years through
out the Baja.
1767
Spanish expel Jesuits from Mexico, Franciscans take over.
1773
Dominicans take over northern missions.
1821
Mexican independence from Spain.
1832
Mission system abolished, turned into local churches.
1846-48
Mexican-American War over Texas boundary.
US troops landed on peninsula and took Mulege, La Pas and San Jose del Cabo.
Mexico seeds California and American Southwest to US.
1853
US offers to buy Baha as part of Gadsden Purchase, denied.
1884-1911
President Diaz encouraged foreign investment in country; parts of northern Baja developed including Ensenada.
1910-20
Mexican Revolution (civil war), Baja on fringe.
1920-33
US prohibition makes Tijuana, Ensenada and Mexicali mecca for booze, gambling and sex; crime followed.
1934-40
President Cardenas instituted reforms including banning casino gambling and cracked down on crime.
Built Sonora-Mexicali railroad to reduce Baja isolation from mainland Mexico.
1945-52
President Aleman built hydroelectric stations, irrigation projects and expanded road system.
Northern half of peninsula becomes state of Baja California.
1948
Bing Crosby, John Wayne, others develop private resort south of La Paz.
1967
First hotel development in Cabo San Lucas
1973
Mexico 1, Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas highway paving completed.
Southern half of peninsula becomes state of Baja California Sur.
1986
International airport opened at San Jose del Cabo, 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas.
2001
President Vicente Fox initiates Baja tourist development program to rival Cancun; great progress is evident.
2000 POPULATION:
Baja California state (upper): 2,911,000
...94% live in Tijuana, Ensenada and Mexicali
Baja California Sur state (lower): 424,000
...La Paz: 196,000
...Los Cabos (San Jose-San Lucas): 150,000
...Loreto: 11,800
2006 GEOGRAPHY:
...Area (size of Illinois): 55,000 sq mi
...Length of peninsula: 775 miles
...Coastline: 3000 + miles
...Highest peak: (Picacho del Diablo) 10,154 feet
...Mexico 1 highway (Tijuana-San Lucas) 1147 miles
2006 ECONOMY :
...GDP per capita US$ 6,260
Next stop: Santispac
… Humphrey, for Charlie and Barbara
