Rosarito

{{Infobox settlement |name = Rosarito |settlement_type = [[List of cities in Mexico|City]] |official_name = |nickname = |motto = A Horizon of Possibilities | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Cristo del Sagrado Corazon (51432194755) (cropped).jpg | photo1b = Coastline in Rosarito, Baja California.jpg | photo2a = Rosarito Beach Hotel and Pier (cropped).jpg | photo2b = Rosarito Pier (cropped).jpg | spacing = 2 | position = center | color_border = white | color = white | size = 280 | foot_montage = Top: [[Christ of the Sacred Heart|Cristo del Sagrado Corazón statue]] (left) and Rosarito's [[Pacific Coast of Mexico|Pacific Coast]]; bottom: Rosarito Beach Hotel (left) and the ''[[Wharf|Muelle]]'' de Rosarito (right). }} |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_shield = Escudo de Playas de Rosarito.svg |image_map = Playas de Rosarito en Baja California.svg |mapsize = 200px |map_caption = Location of Rosarito in Baja California |pushpin_map = Mexico |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Rosarito in Mexico |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Mexico.svg|border|20px]] Mexico |subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of Mexico|State]] |subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Baja California}} [[Baja California]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Municipality]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Playas de Rosarito Municipality|Playas de Rosarito]] |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |established_title = Municipality established |established_date = June 29, 1995 |established_title2 = |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 35.71 |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2020 census |population_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/en/mexico/bajacalifornia/playas_de_rosarito/020050001__playas_de_rosarito/ Citypopulation.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418064907/http://www.citypopulation.de/en/mexico/bajacalifornia/playas_de_rosarito/020050001__playas_de_rosarito/ |date=2023-04-18 }} Population of Rosarito</ref> |population_total = 100660 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |timezone = [[Time in Mexico|Zona Noroeste]] |utc_offset = −08:00 |timezone_DST = [[Daylight saving time in Mexico|DST]] |utc_offset_DST = −07:00 |coordinates = {{coord|32|20|32|N|117|3|22|W|region:MX-BCN_type:city(65,300)|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = 14 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = 661 |website = {{URL|rosarito.gob.mx}} |footnotes = Sources: {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110613183420/http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ INEGI], [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajacalifornia/municipios/02005a.htm Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México] | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-wikidata = yes }}

'''<span lang="es-mx" dir="ltr">Rosarito</span>''' is a coastal city in [[Playas de Rosarito Municipality]], Baja California, on the [[Pacific Coast of Mexico]]. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278.<ref name=SEDESOL>{{cite web|title=Playas de Rosarito|url=http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/catloc/LocdeMun.aspx?tipo=clave&campo=loc&ent=02&mun=005|work=Catálogo de Localidades|publisher=[[Secretaría de Desarrollo Social]] (SEDESOL)|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084638/http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/catloc/LocdeMun.aspx?tipo=clave&campo=loc&ent=02&mun=005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Located {{convert|10|mi}} south of the [[US–Mexico border]], Rosarito is a part of the greater [[San Diego–Tijuana]] region and one of the westernmost cities in [[Mexico]]. Rosarito is a major [[tourism in Mexico|tourist]] destination, known for its beaches, resorts, and events like the [[Baja Beach Fest]].

==History== [[File:Palacio municipal Playas de Rosarito (cropped).png|thumb|left|The ''Casa Municipal'' (Municipal Hall) of [[Playas de Rosarito Municipality]].]] Evidence of the presence of [[Paleo-Indians]] in the region has been dated as early as 2,000 BC. By 1,000 BC, a group emerged that is recognizable as the [[Yuman]] ancestors of the [[Kumeyaay]], who continued to inhabit the northern portion of the [[Baja California Peninsula]] at the time of European contact. The Kumeyaay referred to the area now known as Rosarito as ''Wa-cuatay'', which translates to "big houses" in the [[Kumeyaay language]].

===Spanish era=== After conquering the [[Aztec Empire]], [[Hernán Cortés]] sent expeditions to explore what he believed to be the [[Island of California]]. In 1533, mutineer [[Fortún Ximénez]] was the first European to land in Baja California, at [[La Paz, Baja California Sur]]. In September 1542, [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] passed through the Rosarito area on his way from [[Ensenada, Baja California|Ensenada]] to [[San Diego Bay]]. The year of 1697 saw the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in Baja California in a [[Jesuit]] mission at [[Loreto, Baja California Sur|Loreto]]. Rosarito would soon be caught in a power struggle between Jesuits, Dominicans, and Franciscan friars for decades.

In 1773, a frontier was defined separating Nueva ("new") or Alta ("upper") California, under the jurisdiction of the [[Franciscans]], from Antigua ("old") or Baja ("lower") California, which was entrusted to the [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]]. In 1788, [[Luis de Sales]], a Dominican priest, redrew the boundary, extending Baja California to the Rosarito [[Arroyo (watercourse)|Arroyo]], known at the time as the Barrabas Arroyo. [[File:Baja California (20606130133).jpg|thumb|left|Lifeguard station and beach houses in Rosarito]] Because [[Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera|Mission San Miguel]], {{convert|13|km|abbr=on}} to the south, was frequently flooded by the Río Guadalupe, Dominican missionary Tomás de Ahumada sought another site on higher ground for at El Descanso. Additional advantages of the northerly location were good grazing and plentiful arable land. In 1817, Ahumada founded the [[Misión El Descanso]] or Misión San Miguel la Nueva among the Kumeyaay people {{convert|22|km|abbr=on}} to the south of the present-day Rosarito.

===Rancho era=== The property of [[Rancho El Rosario]], granted by [[José María de Echeandía]] in 1827 to Don [[José Manuel Machado]], one of the first soldiers stationed at the [[Presidio of San Diego]], was the first ranch in the modern-day Rosarito region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/1969/january/part4-2/|author=Rosemary Masterson|title=The Machado-Silvas Family|publisher=The Journal of San Diego History, SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY|date=Winter 1969|volume=15|issue=1|editor=Rita Larkin|access-date=2018-03-05|archive-date=2018-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202649/https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/1969/january/part4-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 11 league rancho was bounded on the north by [[Rancho Tía Juana]], on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the south by public lands.

In 1830, Father [[Félix Caballero]] constructed an [[adobe]] church here and managed both missions from El Descanso, but in 1834, it ceased to function as a mission. At the time it had a population of just 254, including those from Mission San Miguel. By 1853 the mission was deserted. Ruins of Misión El Descanso remain within the community of El Descanso.

José Manuel Machado's son, Don Joaquín Machado, applied for title to the land as Rancho Rosarito to [[President of Mexico|President]] [[Porfirio Díaz]]. On May 14, 1885, Machado received his title and registered it in Ensenada, then the capital city of the Northern District of Baja California Territory. May 14 is now recognized and celebrated as Rosarito's Foundation Day by the Historical Society of Rosarito.

===Modern era=== [[File:Baja Tank ship 16451432420 afa83d8152.jpg|thumb|left|[[Baja Studios]] is the world's largest water stage and filming set, used in films such as ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''.]] On December 1, 1995, Rosarito was converted from a suburb of [[Tijuana]] to an independent city.

Playas de Rosarito lies on the coast of the [[Pacific Ocean]] on the North Baja California Peninsula. The city is positioned between the foothills of the [[Peninsular Ranges]] and the ocean. It maintains a relatively uniform topography and displays few variances in terrain.

Urbanization in 1950 marked the beginning of Rosarito's contemporary-era development as planning and construction of streets and city blocks took place. As land sales soared, coupled with the construction of small restaurants, some shops and two hotels, the city began to take shape its present-day appearance. In the 1960s, Playas de Rosarito entered the commercial and industrial era with the constructions of a large thermoelectric power plant and the later installations of [[Pemex]], the state-owned petroleum company.

The city maintains luxury resorts that take the form of [[skyscrapers]] on its coast. The majority of these buildings are located on Boulevard Benito Juárez, also the city's main Boulevard. Residential and commercial highrises continue to go up along the coast, towards both Tijuana and Ensenada.

==Geography== ===Climate=== [[File:Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Hotels along the [[Pacific Coast of Mexico|Pacific Coast]].]] Rosarito has a [[semi-arid climate]] with Mediterranean-like precipitation patterns ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSh/BSk''). The climate is strongly influenced by the cold [[California Current]] and, as a result, temperatures are mild throughout the year with average temperatures ranging between {{convert|14.3|and|20.9|C|F}}.

The average annual precipitation is {{convert|261|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}, most of it being concentrated in the winter months. The wettest month is March with {{convert|57|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} while the driest month is July. It has cool winters with an average temperature of {{convert|14.3|C|F}} in February and March, and warm summers with an average temperature of {{convert|20.9|C|F}} in August.

On December 16, 2008, the city center was flooded by heavy rains.

{{Weather box |location = Rosarito |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 33.5 |Feb record high C = 32.5 |Mar record high C = 31.5 |Apr record high C = 31.0 |May record high C = 34.5 |Jun record high C = 40.0 |Jul record high C = 32.0 |Aug record high C = 34.0 |Sep record high C = 41.5 |Oct record high C = 38.0 |Nov record high C = 36.5 |Dec record high C = 31.5 |year record high C = 41.5 |Jan high C = 19.1 |Feb high C = 19.0 |Mar high C = 18.6 |Apr high C = 19.7 |May high C = 20.6 |Jun high C = 21.8 |Jul high C = 23.2 |Aug high C = 24.9 |Sep high C = 24.2 |Oct high C = 23.3 |Nov high C = 21.3 |Dec high C = 19.6 |year high C = 21.3 |Jan mean C = 14.5 |Feb mean C = 14.3 |Mar mean C = 14.3 |Apr mean C = 15.3 |May mean C = 16.6 |Jun mean C = 18.1 |Jul mean C = 19.5 |Aug mean C = 20.9 |Sep mean C = 20.1 |Oct mean C = 19.0 |Nov mean C = 16.6 |Dec mean C = 14.9 |year mean C = 17.0 |Jan low C = 9.8 |Feb low C = 9.6 |Mar low C = 9.9 |Apr low C = 11.0 |May low C = 12.6 |Jun low C = 14.4 |Jul low C = 15.9 |Aug low C = 16.9 |Sep low C = 16.0 |Oct low C = 14.6 |Nov low C = 11.9 |Dec low C = 10.3 |year low C = 12.7 |Jan record low C = 2.0 |Feb record low C = 2.0 |Mar record low C = 1.0 |Apr record low C = 2.0 |May record low C = 7.0 |Jun record low C = 10.0 |Jul record low C = 10.0 |Aug record low C = 10.0 |Sep record low C = 9.0 |Oct record low C = 6.0 |Nov record low C = 0.0 |Dec record low C = 1.5 |year record low C = 0.0 |Jan precipitation mm = 50.5 |Feb precipitation mm = 52.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 56.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 17.3 |May precipitation mm = 7.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 1.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 0.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 2.2 |Sep precipitation mm = 6.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 9.6 |Nov precipitation mm = 27.1 |Dec precipitation mm = 30.3 |year precipitation mm = 260.7 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 5.5 |Feb precipitation days = 5.7 |Mar precipitation days = 6.9 |Apr precipitation days = 3.3 |May precipitation days = 2.0 |Jun precipitation days = 0.6 |Jul precipitation days = 0.0 |Aug precipitation days = 0.5 |Sep precipitation days = 1.2 |Oct precipitation days = 2.0 |Nov precipitation days = 3.6 |Dec precipitation days = 4.1 |year precipitation days = 35.4 |source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional<ref name=SMN>{{cite web |url=http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL02017.TXT |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413161442/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL02017.TXT |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |title=NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1951-2010 |publisher=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional |language=es |access-date=March 23, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=extremas>{{cite web |url=http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Max-Extr/00002/00002017.TXT |title=Extreme Temperatures and Precipitation for Playa Rosarito 1969-1988 |publisher=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional |language=es |access-date=March 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205126/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Max-Extr/00002/00002017.TXT |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> |date = March 2013 }}

==Culture== [[File:Baja Beach Fest 2019.jpg|thumb|left|[[Baja Beach Fest]] is a major [[reggaetón]] music festival, featuring artists like [[Bad Bunny]] and [[J Balvin]].]] Rosarito has historically been centered on tourism. It began with the Ortiz family's establishment of Rene's (Bar, Restaurant, Trailer Park and Motel) in 1925. Rene served his town holding the position Delegado (Mayor) more than any other politician in Rosarito. Rene, a prominent businessman, helped create Rosarito from a ranch to a town which later became a city. When Rene was not able to serve his people any longer he chose as his successor Hugo Torres Chabert, a friend and owner of Hotel Rosarito.

[[File:Baja California (21071874921).jpg|thumb|right|Restaurants on a beach.]] While Prohibition was the law of the land, many U.S. residents began to cross the border into Mexico, where drinking was still legal. Tijuana seemed to attract a more [[speakeasy]]-oriented clientele, and Rosarito became a haven for the more well-heeled and Hollywood set. Rosarito was visited by Hollywood film stars such as [[Orson Welles]] and [[Dolores del Río]] who were attracted by hunting (deer, quail and rabbit) and fishing (lobster, abalone). While [[Rita Hayworth]] was married to [[Prince Aly Khan]], son of [[Aga Khan III]], the two would visit the Rosarito Beach Hotel, take over an entire floor, and bring their own staff, including a personal chef. Other Hollywood visitors included [[Mickey Rooney]], [[Ava Gardner]], [[Spencer Tracy]] and [[Katharine Hepburn]]. [[File:Rosarito Beach Hotel.jpg|thumb|right|Rosarito is one of [[Baja California]]'s most popular tourist destinations.]] A descendant of Maria Luisa Chabert Uriarte, the young wife of Manuel P. Barbachano the founder of Rosarito Beach Hotel, her nephew Hugo Torres Chabert led the drive to incorporate the city in 1995, and was appointed to a three-year term as Mayor. In 2007, Torres Chabert ran for election and was overwhelmingly elected to a new three-year term. The subject of rising crime rates and police corruption were major issues in the campaign. Torres Chabert, as owner of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, was deeply concerned about the safety of tourists, and pledged strong action to deal with both issues. In early 2008, both federal and state police were ordered into the city (along with neighboring Tijuana) to reinforce the city's efforts.

Rosarito was the source of rocks for the [[Pet Rock]] collectible of the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gary-ross-dahl-20150401-story.html|title=Gary Dahl dies at 78; creator of Pet Rock, 1970s pop culture icon|first=Elaine|last=Woo|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2 April 2015|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426182941/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gary-ross-dahl-20150401-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 1996, [[James Cameron]]'s production team moved to the newly built [[Baja Studios|Fox Baja Studios]] in Rosarito, where a full scale RMS ''[[RMS Titanic|Titanic]]'' had been constructed for the [[Titanic (1997 film)|1997 film]], in which [[20th Century Fox|Fox]] acquired {{convert|40|acres}} of waterfront south of Rosarito.<ref name="heart">{{cite book | author = Ed W. Marsh | title = James Cameron's Titanic | publisher = Boxtree | year = 1998 | location = London | pages = 3–29}}</ref> Some scenes for the movie [[Deep Blue Sea (1999 film)|Deep Blue Sea]] were also filmed here too, in the same studio as Titanic.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2016/07/28/deep-blue-sea/|title = A Look Back: 'Deep Blue Sea' 17 Years Later|date = 28 July 2016|access-date = 3 September 2021|archive-date = 3 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210903030919/https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2016/07/28/deep-blue-sea/|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Transportation== [[File:Baja California (20653423953).jpg|thumb|left|[[Mexican Federal Highway 1|Highway 1]] and [[Mexican Federal Highway 1D|Highway 1D]] connect Rosarito to the rest of Baja California along the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coastline.]] [[Mexican Federal Highway 1]] and [[Mexican Federal Highway 1D|tollway 1D]] connect Rosarito with western and Downtown Tijuana to the north and Ensenada to the south.

The [[Corredor Tijuana-Rosarito 2000]] freeway connects Rosarito with the [[Mesa de Otay]] area of northeast Tijuana and the [[Otay Mesa Port of Entry]] to the United States.

==Education== Rosarito hosts a branch of the [[Autonomous University of Baja California]], offering [[bachelor's degree]] in Administration and Public Accounting, Social Sciences and Humanities, Commerce and International Relations, Communication, Journalism, Education and Pedagogy, Engineering and Technology, Psychology, and Social Sciences of Behavior.

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commonscat}} {{wikivoyage|Rosarito Beach}} *[https://rosarito.travel/en/ Visit Rosarito]

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[[Category:Rosarito]] [[Category:Cities in Playas de Rosarito Municipality]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Mexico]] [[Category:Seaside resorts in Baja California]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Baja California]] [[Category:Beaches of Baja California]] [[Category:1995 establishments in Mexico]]