Self-Storage History

Welcome to Magellan Storage in Costa Mesa

The self storage industry might seem like it’s a newer industry, but it has actually been around in some sort of form since the late 1800’s. There were mentions of self storage in movies during the 1930’s.  During the 1950’s, self storage was mostly “mom and pop” operations, with smaller facilities and virtually no competition in the marketplace. Today, storage companies range from small one facility self storage operations to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) with hundreds of facilities have state-of-the-art facilities across the country. According to the Self Storage Association (SSA),  there are close to 60,000 self storage facilities worldwide. In the United States alone, there are over 48,000 self storage facilities that cover 2.3 billion square feet of rentable storage space. That size represents an area more than three times the size of the island of Manhattan! According to the SSA 2013 survey and study, 9% of the American public is currently renting a self storage unit.

Where can self storage trace its roots? Actually as far back as 2,000 years ago in ancient China! Remains were found by archeologists revealing that the Chinese stored belongings in clay pots in an underground storage pit.  These pits would be guarded and monitored to make sure no one but the owner could remove their pot and belongings. Many years later, British banking institutions entered the self storage industry, although it was still a very different concept from today’s industry. Banks would store valuables for clients going overseas for extended periods of time. As these bank vaults became overcrowded with belongings, another option became necessary.  In the 1850s, the first warehouse specifically designed to hold personal and household items was built.

The concept of self storage didn’t arrive in the United States until 1891, when brothers Martin and John Bekins found Bekin Van Lines in Omaha, Nebraska.  In 1903, they were the first company to use motor trucks instead of horse-drawn carriages, and in 1906 they built the first concrete and steel warehouse for storage.  It wasn’t until around the 1960s that the self storage industry became truly successful in the United States and it has continued to flourish through ups and downs in the economy ever since. The first facility to use garage-style doors was built in Texas in 1964. After the mid 1960’s the self storage concept quickly swept across the country to the west coast and Canada. Today, the self storage industry is growing in emerging markets in China and South America!

The rates for renting a self storage unit have obviously changed over the years, but it is still a very affordable way to store personal and business items. In the 1960s, self storage unit rental rates went for around 15 cents per square foot per month. By 1985, the rate went up to 60 cents per square foot per month. In the late 1990s, rates were an average of one dollar per square foot, and today, rental rates are anywhere from $1.50 to $4 per square foot depending on the market.

The self storage industry has come a long way from clay pots stored in ancient China.  Today, many facilities offer state-of-the-art security services, computerized gate entry, climate controlled units and many other amenities. Magellan Storage  is your self storage destination in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Stop by any of our 6 storage facilities to see how our storage professionals can help you with your personal storage to business storage needs.