Cambria History

Cambria was originally a portion of the land owned by the Mission San Miguel. The Mission land was transferred to the ownership of Don Julian Estrada, after Mexico declared  independence from Spain in 1821.

Domingo Pujol, a businessman who loaned money to Don Julian Estrada, became the subsequent owner of much of the town. Pujol sold much of the area to speculators who built structures out of rough slabs of wood, and the town which would become Cambria became known as " Slabtown."

Old Cambria

In 1870, the town became known as Cambria. Many think that the name eminates from the town Cambria, Pennsylvania

Early industry included mining, land sales, lumbering, dairying, beef-cattle ranching and grain and orchard farming.

Much of the downtown area was destryed by the Great Fire of 1889

In 1894 the railroad came to Cambria and with it more buyers of land. The Cambia Pines Lodge was built so land buyers would have a suitable hotel.

Tourist traffic to the area increased with the opening of Hearst Castle as a state park in 1958.

Central Cambria, today

Today, Cambria is a popular tourist community offering access to beautiful scenery, the beach, local wineries, shopping, dining, elephant seals, Hearst Castle and other attractions in San Luis Obispo and California's magical central coast. Many descendants of the original settlers still live in this wonderful community.