Del Mar was named by a woman named Ella Loop who lived by the beach with her husband, Theodore. They owned an area there they called Del Mar.They came to the area in 1882. Jacob Taylor began to sell homesites here about the same time, calling his area Casa Del Mar with much interest being generated. He had high hopes for his resort, but it only survived a few years before closing. Soon residential areas began to develop but it wasn't until the 1920's that Del Mar began to thrive. The arrival of electricity at that time worked its magic and development took off at record pace. the resident agreed to incorporate in 1959. They wanted to remain independent rather than become part of the city of San Diego.