Penasquitos, or “PQ” as it’s often referred to, translates to “little cliffs” in Spanish and is named for the first Mexican land grant awarded in the region, the Rancho Santa Maria de los Penasquitos, in 1823, to Captain Francisco Maria Ruiz. He built an adobe house that is the oldest known residence in San Diego.
In the mid-19th century, the U.S. Army used the area as a route to transport supplies from the Port of San Diego to Yuma, Ariz. It also served as a way station on the wagon route to Warner’s Ranch from San Diego.