Area description and history - For fans of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the central California coast, this is the warmer, southern version with artistic canyons interspersed with hillsides of homes. The main street, Camino Del Mar, features trendy shops and unique restaurants. Art galleries, fantastic ocean views and winding streets supply a feel of an upscale community with character and charm. Del Mar was named in the late 1800's by Ella Loop. She and husband, Theodore, owned a tent city by the beach which was also called Del Mar, Spanish for "by the sea". Theodore, worked as a contractor and engineer for the California Southern Railroad which arrived in Del Mar in 1882. Theodore Loop next formed a partnership with Jacob Taylor to sell 50 x 140 foot lots. Their marketing created some traffic and interest which helped launch South Coast Land Company's resort with the centerpiece Stratford Inn. Receiving electricity from San Diego Gas and Electric in the late 1920s, residential areas began taking shape and the area experienced its boom. In 1959 Del Mar residents decided to incorporate as a city with a five-member City Council rather than become part of the City of San Diego.