Kensington

Located within the metropolitan area of San Diego, California, Kensington’s border is defined by Fairmont Avenue to the east, Interstate 15 to the west, Monroe Street to the south and Interstate 8 to the north. Among its neighboring communities include City Heights to the south and Normal Heights to the west.

In 1910, two sisters—Mary Hall Gleason and Abby Hall Hitchcock—filed a claim to the land. The sisters inherited the ex-Rancho Mission land and the area was later known as the Kensington Park division, until they sold their interest in 1913. The map of the Park was then re-drawn, and the area was developed to feature Kensington Manor. The name of the community resembles a district in London, but its origins are disputed—the Hall sisters were originally from Natick, Massachusetts, where streets bore English place names, so “Kensington” may actually be inspired by the east coast of the U.S.

Today, Kensington retains the close-knit community feel it had after it was founded. Most of its traditional celebrations remain in place, including: