History

Borders Are Imaginary Lines

The existing border between the United States and Mexico began in 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which also ended the war between the two nations. One of the provisions of the treaty was to establish the new border by a joint U.S./Mexico Boundary Commission. Both commissions surveyed the initial border at what is today, Border Field. A straight line was later drawn across California/Baja disregarding topographical features. This line begins at Friendship Park in Border Field and moves east-northeast crossing the Tijuana River and continuing to the Colorado River.

Some of the other borderline possibilities that could have been explored include a true horizontal line parallel with latitude lines and the obvious land features and formations such as the Tijuana River and the mountains east of Otay Mesa.