San Diego

San Diego is a big and important city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, close to the border with Mexico. It is one of the biggest cities in the United States and the second biggest in California. The city has nice, mild weather, beautiful beaches, and many parks.

Historically, San Diego was home to the Kumeyaay people. It is called the "Birthplace of California" because it was the first place Europeans visited and settled on the West Coast of the United States. In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain. Later, in 1769, the Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá were founded, marking the first European settlement in California.

Today, San Diego has a strong economy. There are many jobs in the military, tourism, international trade, research, and manufacturing. The city has several universities, including UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and the University of San Diego. San Diego is also a major center for wireless, electronics, healthcare, and biotechnology development. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest international land border crossing in the world outside of Asia, and San Diego International Airport is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States.

Name

San Diego's name comes from 1602. A Spanish explorer named Sebastián Vizcaíno named the area "San Diego de Alcalá" to honor Saint Didacus of Alcalá.

Before the Spanish arrived, the local Kumeyaay people called the area Kosa'aay, which means "drying out place" in their language. After San Diego was established, the Kumeyaay called the town Tepacul Watai, meaning "Stacked Big". In another nearby area called the North County region, Luiseño speakers referred to the place as Pushuyi.

History

See also: History of San Diego

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of San Diego.

Pre-colonial period

The area now called San Diego has been home to people for at least 9,000 years. The Kumeyaay people lived in villages, including one called Kosa'aay. This village had about thirty to forty families living in special pyramid-shaped houses and had a fresh water spring nearby.

Spanish period

The first European to visit the area was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. He claimed the bay for Spain and named it "San Miguel." Later, Sebastián Vizcaíno named the area after a Spanish saint called San Diego.

In 1769, Spanish settlers arrived and built a fort called the Presidio of San Diego. They also built a mission called Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The mission became a big community for local people.

Mexican period

In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain, and San Diego became part of Mexico. The town grew, but it lost some status because its population got smaller. Mexican leaders gave land to people, which helped create farms around the area.

American period

In 1850, California became a state, and San Diego became an important city. The city moved closer to the water to make trade easier. In the early 1900s, San Diego hosted big fairs that helped make the city famous.

During World War II, San Diego became very important for the military, and many people moved there for jobs. After the war, the city grew even more and became known for science, tourism, and technology.

Geography

See also: List of beaches in San Diego, California and Parks in San Diego

San Diego is a city with many natural features. It has deep canyons, hills, and flat areas called mesas. The San Diego River runs through the city and splits it into two parts. There are tall points like Cowles Mountain, the highest spot in the city.

Climate

Main article: Climate of San Diego

San Diego has mild weather with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Most rain falls between December and March. The weather can change over short distances because of hills, mountains, and canyons. Near the coast, there is often a cloudy and cool time called “June gloom,” while areas farther inland can be much warmer.

Ecology

See also: California coastal sage and chaparral

San Diego has many different plants and animals, including areas near the coast, canyons, and mountains. The city has large nature areas to protect these places. San Diego is known for having many bird species, more than any other region in the country.

San Diego has had wildfires in the past. In 2003, a large wildfire burned many homes and made schools close for a week because of poor air.

Neighborhoods

Main article: List of communities and neighborhoods of San Diego

San Diego has many neighborhoods, with more than 100 areas. Some well-known neighborhoods are Downtown, Balboa Park, Mission Valley, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Point Loma. The city has 52 Community Planning Areas, and each area can have several neighborhoods.

• Selection of neighborhoods in San Diego

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  La Jolla

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  North Park

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  Point Loma

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  East Village

<a href="/wiki/Gaslamp_Quarter">Gaslamp Quarter</a>

<a href="/wiki/Hillcrest,_San_Diego">Hillcrest</a>

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  Linda Vista

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  Columbia

<a href="/wiki/Normal_Heights,_San_Diego">Normal Heights</a>

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  Rancho Bernardo

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  Marina district

Cityscape

Main article: List of tallest buildings in San Diego

San Diego’s downtown area grew around the bayfront in the late 1860s. The tallest building in San Diego is One America Plaza, which is 500 feet tall. Because of rules from the Federal Aviation Administration to protect the nearby airport, no buildings in downtown can be taller than 500 feet. There are new tall buildings being built, including some that are over 400 feet tall.

Demographics

Further information: Demographics of San Diego County, California and Hispanics and Latinos in San Diego

2020

2010

In 2010, San Diego had over 1.3 million people. The nearby area had almost 3 million people, making it the third-largest urban area in California, after Los Angeles and San Francisco.

People in San Diego were mostly White, with many also from Asian backgrounds such as Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Many were also Hispanic or Latino, mainly of Mexican heritage.

Efforts to help people without stable homes have helped improve things recently.

In 2000, many families in San Diego had children under 18. About half of all households were made up of married couples.

San Diego is known for being welcoming to the LGBT community.

Religion

A study found that about half of San Diego’s residents considered themselves Christians, with many following Protestant or Roman Catholic traditions. Around 40% of people said they had no specific religious affiliation. Small groups followed other religions such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Foreign-born population

Most people in San Diego who were born outside the U.S. came from Mexico, the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

Economy

Main article: Economy of San Diego

San Diego has many important jobs and industries. The biggest parts of its economy are defense/military, tourism, international trade, and research/manufacturing. In 2018, the average household in San Diego made about $79,646 each year, and homes were worth around $654,700. Most families owned two cars.

Top employers

See also: List of companies headquartered in San Diego

San Diego has many big companies that give people jobs. These companies help keep the city’s economy strong.

Defense and military

San Diego’s location by the ocean helps it have a big role in the military. The city has a large naval fleet, with many ships and thousands of people working in jobs related to the military. Many jobs in the area are linked to the military, and many businesses depend on this work.

Tourism

Tourism is very important to San Diego because of its nice weather, beaches, and many places to visit like Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and SeaWorld San Diego. The city’s history from Spain and Mexico can be seen in places like Mission San Diego de Alcalá. San Diego is also known for its craft beers, with many tours and a big beer event each year.

International trade

San Diego’s port and its place near the United States–Mexico border make trading goods very important. The city has two border crossings with Mexico, including the busiest one in the world. The Port of San Diego is one of the busiest ports on the West Coast, handling many goods from around the world.

Companies

San Diego is home to many technology companies, especially those that make wireless devices. Qualcomm, a big company in this field, started here. The city also has many companies that work with medicines and life sciences, helped by schools like the University of California, San Diego.

Real estate

Homes in San Diego cost a lot. Prices went down after 2005 but are still very high. In 2023, the average home cost about $910,000, which is one of the highest in the United States. Because homes are so expensive, many people have moved to nearby areas to live but still work in San Diego.

Government

Local government

See also: Mayor of San Diego, San Diego City Council, and Government of San Diego County

The city is led by a mayor and nine council members. In 2006, the way the city was run changed after a vote in 2004. The mayor is now the main leader, and the council makes the rules. The city handles things like police, streets, water, and planning.

San Diego has a special status but follows some state rules. The mayor, council members, and city attorney serve for four years and can only serve two times. Most people in the city choose leaders from one of the two big groups, though one group has more members now.

State and federal representation

In the California State Senate, San Diego County includes the 38th, 39th and 40th districts, represented by Catherine Blakespear, Akilah Weber Pierson, and Brian Jones, respectively.

In the California State Assembly, parts of the city of San Diego are in the 77th, 78th, 79th, and 80th districts, represented by Tasha Boerner, Chris Ward, LaShae Sharp-Collins, and David Alvarez, respectively.

In the United States House of Representatives, San Diego County includes parts or all of California's 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st, and 52nd congressional districts, represented by Darrell Issa, Mike Levin, Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, and Juan Vargas respectively.

Crime

Main article: Crime in San Diego

Like many big cities, San Diego has seen changes in safety over the years. In the early 1990s, the city had more serious problems, but it got better later. By 2004, it had one of the lowest crime rates among big U.S. cities. In recent years, violent crimes have gone down, though some property crimes have gone up a little. The city works hard to keep everyone safe.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Main article: Primary and secondary schools in San Diego

Public schools in San Diego are managed by different school districts. The largest is the San Diego Unified School District, which is the second largest in California. It has many types of schools, from elementary to high schools, plus special schools and charter schools.

Some schools belong to districts just outside the city. There are also private schools available.

Colleges and universities

San Diego has many colleges and universities. Many people in the city have college degrees — more than in the whole United States.

The largest university is the University of California, San Diego. It is part of the University of California system and does a lot of important research.

Other well-known schools include San Diego State University and several community colleges. There are also private universities, such as the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University.

Libraries

The city has a public library system with many branches. The main library is downtown, and there is a new one in Skyline Hills. There are also libraries at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego, among others.

Culture

Main article: Culture of San Diego

See also: City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture

San Diego's culture mixes American and Mexican traditions. This is because the city is near the border with Mexico and has many people from Mexican backgrounds. The city also has a strong link to the U.S. military, which adds to its unique culture. You can find many Greek and Mediterranean restaurants here.

Balboa Park is a special place with many museums, such as the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Natural History Museum, and the San Diego Zoo. There are also museums about photographs, air and space travel, and more. The Columbia district downtown has historic ships and an aircraft carrier on display.

San Diego has many places for music and theater, like the San Diego Symphony and the Old Globe Theatre. The city has been a popular place to film movies and TV shows for over 100 years.

San Diego is a friendly community for everyone, including its LGBTQIA+ residents. The Hillcrest neighborhood is known for its welcoming atmosphere and has many places for people to gather. The city holds a Pride Parade and Festival each year in July.

Sports

Main article: Sports in San Diego

San Diego is a great city for sports! It has many teams that play in top leagues. The San Diego Padres play baseball in Major League Baseball, and the San Diego FC and San Diego Wave FC play soccer in Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League. The city is also home to college teams like the San Diego State Aztecs.

San Diego has had many famous teams in the past, like the San Diego Chargers football team and the San Diego Rockets and San Diego Clippers basketball teams. Today, the San Diego Clippers basketball team and the San Diego Gulls hockey team play in nearby areas. In 2028, San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium will be used for Olympic soccer matches.

Media

See also: Media in San Diego and List of media set in San Diego

San Diego has many places where you can read news or watch TV. You can find the daily newspaper called The San Diego Union-Tribune, and other smaller papers like San Diego CityBeat and San Diego Reader. There are also online news sites such as Times of San Diego and Voice of San Diego. San Diego is also where the national TV channel One America News Network (OANN) is based.

San Diego's first TV station, KFMB, started broadcasting in 1949. More stations joined later, and today there are many different channels to watch. The city also has many radio stations in both English and Spanish.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in San Diego and Streets and highways of San Diego

San Diego has many roads for cars, and most people use them to travel. Important roads include Interstate 5, which goes south to Tijuana and north to Los Angeles; Interstate 8, which heads east; Interstate 15, which goes northeast; and Interstate 805, which splits from I-5 near the Mexican border and joins again later.

The city has many bike paths, and the nice weather makes biking a good choice. However, the hilly land and long distances make biking less common for everyday trips.

San Diego has a good public bus system, a light rail train called the San Diego Trolley, and other train services like Coaster and Pacific Surfliner. There are also buses called Rapid and smaller neighborhood buses called jitneys. Two train stations serve the city in Old Town and downtown.

The city has two big airports. San Diego International Airport is very busy, and there is also an airport in Tijuana, Mexico, that is easy to reach from San Diego.

Utilities

The city gets most of its water from places far away. Electricity and gas come from a company that serves many people in the area.

Street lights

In the past, San Diego used street lights that made very bright light up high. This bothered scientists at a famous observatory nearby. The city changed its rules to help protect the sky for them.

Later, the city planned to change most street lights to new, energy-saving ones that use less power and cost less to keep working.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from San Diego

San Diego has been home to many famous people. Some well-known people grew up there or lived there for a time. This list includes artists, athletes, and other public figures who have ties to the city.

Sister cities

San Diego has friends in other countries. These are called sister cities. Some of San Diego's sister cities are:

• Alcalá de Henares in Spain, since 1982
• Campinas in Brazil, since 1995
• Cavite City in the Philippines, since 1969
• Edinburgh in Scotland, since 1977
• Jeonju in South Korea, since 1983
• León in Mexico, since 1969
• Marseille in France, since 2025
• Panama City in Panama, since 2015
• Perth in Australia, since 1986
• Taichung in Taiwan, since 1983
• Tema in Ghana, since 1976
• Tijuana in Mexico, since 1993
• Vladivostok in Russia, since 1991
• Warsaw in Poland, since 1996
• Yantai in China, since 1985
• Yokohama in Japan, since 1957