The community of Brookings was originally established in 1913 by John E. Brookings, cousin to Robert S. Brookings of the Brookings Institute when he moved his lumber business from the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. One of the first things John Brookings did when he relocated was to hire renowned architect, Bernard Maybeck, to lay out the street design for the core area of the City.
Since its incorporation in 1951, the City of Brookings has grown in population and area; it is now the largest city in Curry County. Much of the City’s population growth since the 1980s, when Brookings was “discovered” as a great place to live, has been from retirees moving to the area to enjoy the mild climate, beautiful coastline, and many scenic and recreational amenities.