Asset

Date of ingest: 22 April 2026

Description: The book titled “Libro de Ordenanzas: Del año 1850” (Book of Ordinances: From the Year 1850) was translated from English to Spanish by Atkins S. Wright. San Diego establishes itself as the bench of San Diego County and conceded as a City Charter by the legislature of California in 1850 with the first election held on June 16, 1850. Joshua H. Bean was elected as San Diego's first Mayor. Atkins S. Wright was chosen as a councilman and served on the first Common Council for a single term, he also held the role of City Translator and Interpreter. In 1850, San Diego’s population was about 650 people. Spanish was the main language spoken by the established Mexican community, but after California became a state, many American settlers arrived and English quickly became the dominant language in trade and government. The translated ordinance book serves as a valuable resource for residents whose first language is not English, enabling them to better understand City’s policies and regulations.