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San Diego

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San Diego is a large city on the Pacific coast of Southern California.

SurfPacificBeach
SurfPacificBeach

It sits right next to the border between the United States and Mexico. The city is the second largest in California with over 1.4 million people.

Sdmarina
Sdmarina

Many more people live in the surrounding metropolitan area, which has over 3.3 million residents. The weather is mild and sunny, often called a Mediterranean climate. Visitors enjoy the many beautiful beaches and green parks found throughout the region.

Torrey Pines cliffs
Torrey Pines cliffs

The history of this land began long before modern cities existed. The Kumeyaay people lived in this area for thousands of years.

Kumeyaay (cropped)
Kumeyaay (cropped)

They lived in villages like Kosa'aay, which sat near what is now Old Town. These families lived in homes shaped like pyramids. They used a freshwater spring from the hills to help them live.

Old Town, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (11) (cropped)
Old Town, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (11) (cropped)

Later, Spanish explorers arrived and changed the area. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the bay for Spain in 1542.

The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse)
The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse)

European settlement grew much larger in the year 1769.

Mission San Diego, c. 1820
Mission San Diego, c. 1820

Spanish groups arrived by both land and sea to build settlements. They built the Presidio, which was a fort on a hill. They also founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

Casa de Estudillo courtyard 04
Casa de Estudillo courtyard 04

This mission was the first of its kind in California. In 1821, the area became part of the Mexican Empire. Eventually, the United States gained control of California in 1848 after a war.

Battle of San Pasqual by William H Meyers c1846
Battle of San Pasqual by William H Meyers c1846

Today, San Diego is a very important place for many different jobs. The United States Navy has a long and strong connection to the city.

It is also a major center for science, like healthcare and biotechnology. Many people work in tourism, manufacturing, and international trade.

Cruise Ships Visit Port of San Diego 005 (cropped)
Cruise Ships Visit Port of San Diego 005 (cropped)

The city is home to famous schools like UC San Diego.

Hsi Fang Temple interior San Diego
Hsi Fang Temple interior San Diego

These universities help make the area a center for research.

San Diego is also a very busy place for travel and movement. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is a huge border crossing.

It is the busiest land border crossing in the world outside of Asia. The San Diego International Airport is also very busy.

OneAmericaPlazaSDSept10
OneAmericaPlazaSDSept10

It is the busiest airport in the country with only one runway. The city is part of a massive region shared with Tijuana.

San Diego with Tijuana by Sentinel-2, 2020-03-09
San Diego with Tijuana by Sentinel-2, 2020-03-09

Together, these places hold about five million people.

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🖼️ Images & Media (51)
File:Kumeyaay (cropped).jpg
Kumeyaay (cropped).jpg
The landing of Cabrillo on California...
File:Mission San Diego, c. 1820.jpg
Mission San Diego, c. 1820.jpg
File:José_María_Estudillo.jpg
José_María_Estudillo.jpg
File:Casa de Estudillo courtyard 04.jpg
Casa de Estudillo courtyard 04.jpg
File:Battle of San Pasqual by William H Meyers c1846.jpg
Battle of San Pasqual by William H Meyers...
File:San Diego California Looking East Across the Bay by Alfred Mathews 1873.jpg
San Diego California Looking East Across...
File:View of the US Grant with the main fountain at the entrance (cropped).jpg
View of the US Grant with the main...
File:Guide Book of the Panama California Exposition (cropped).jpg
Guide Book of the Panama California...
File:Corner of San Diego's Fifth Street and F Street, looking north, ca.1903 (CHS-9776).jpg
Corner of San Diego's Fifth Street and F...
File:Sdmarina.JPG
Sdmarina.JPG
File:San Diego with Tijuana by Sentinel-2, 2020-03-09.jpg
San Diego with Tijuana by Sentinel-2,...

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