Chula Vista

History: Farming and ranching were the mainstays of this area, which was once known as Janal Ranch, a Mexican land grant to José Antonio Estudillo. The Canadian company Cadillac Fairview eventually acquired the land and set the development of the 3,230 acres in motion. The first phase of this massive development broke ground in 1986 and will eventually house 8,900 dwellings and 20,000 residents.

How it got its name: Cadillac Fairview handed over the reins to project developers Ron Lane and David B. Kuhn Jr., who partnered with the J.G. Boswell Co. to form the Eastlake Company. The development name was originally EastLake.

Landmarks: Eastlake does have a lake — a 21.5-acre man-made body of water at Eastlake Shores Beach Club. The nearby Otay Lakes offer more lakeside recreation. The Otay Lakes County Park includes the Upper and Lower Otay Reservoirs. The first lower Otay dam was built in 1897. It burst in 1916, flooding the valley. It was rebuilt two years later.

Notable locals: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman and former Padres player Adrián González is an Eastlake High School alum, although his family lived in Bonita while he attended high school. Brother Edgar also played for the Padres.

Things to do: At the annual Eastlake Craft Fair in October, local crafters, artisans and small businesses gather around the Eastlake Shores lake to sell one-of-a-kind treasures.

Did you know? Eastlake was named San Diego’s best new home community in 2010 by The San Diego Union-Tribune.