La Mesa lies directly to the east of the City of San Diego.  The area was part of the Mission San Diego de Alcala and then, in 1821, was granted as a rancho to Santiago Arguello. Robert Allison bought 4,000 acres from Arguello in 1868. His ranch and rest stop were known as Allison Springs. The area boomed along with the rest of San Diego in the 1880s when water and rail transportation became available. 

La Mesa has worked hard to maintain its friendly neighborhoods and its position as a major retail area serving East County. The city is currently working to rehabilitate aging commercial areas into strong mixed use developments.