From the City of Del Mar's Website: In 1882, the Southern California Railroad began its new route from San Diego to San Bernardino. A man by the name of Theodore Loop, who worked for the railroad, instantly fell in love with what he called - the most attractive place on the entire coast. He and his wife, Ella, built a tent city on the beach, which Ella called Del Mar after a popular poem titled, The Fight on Paseo Del Mar.
Today, Del Mar remains one of the most beautiful destinations along the Western Coastline. The City is comprised of two square miles of coastal land and has a population around 4,500.
http://www.delmar.ca.us/Visitors/