Original Source: The Tribune
Reporter: David Middlecamp
Date: March 7, 2026
Without the economic and educational powerhouse of Cal Poly, SLO life would be literally slow — closer to the rural cow-town it was in 1901 when the university was founded. How small was San Luis Obispo?
In 1900, the U.S. Census said the city had 3,021 residents. In 2025, more than twice that number received diplomas in the Spring Commencement, with 6,821 degrees conferred. And that’s not counting fall graduation. And it almost didn’t happen.
Years of failure preceded the founding and funding and at several times, the school was on life support with draconian budget cuts in Sacramento. Now the school is so successful that within the last decade Humboldt rebranded as the third state polytechnic and Maritime Academy became the fourth.
Cal Poly is celebrating 125th anniversary of Governor Henry Gage signing legislation establishing Cal Poly on March 8, 1901.