San Diego

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

It sits directly adjacent to the international border between the United States and Mexico. The city is the second-most populous in California, with over 1.4 million residents.

The larger San Diego metropolitan area is even bigger. It contains more than 3.3 million people. This makes it the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The region is known for its mild Mediterranean climate.

Visitors often come for the extensive beaches and many green parks.

The history of this region began thousands of years ago with the Kumeyaay people.

They established villages scattered across the land. One such village was Kosa'aay, located near present-day Old Town.

This village consisted of thirty to forty families. They lived in pyramid-shaped housing structures. These families relied on a freshwater spring from the nearby hillsides. The Kumeyaay called the town Tepacul Watai, which means "Stacked Big" in their language. Some speakers in the North County region called the area Pushuyi.

European contact changed the area through several distinct periods. In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed his flagship, the San Salvador, into the bay.

He claimed the area for the Spanish Empire and named it "San Miguel." Later, in 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and Mission Bay.

He renamed the area "San Diego de Alcalá" to honor Saint Didacus of Alcalá. This name has remained a part of the city's identity for centuries.

Permanent European colonization began in 1769 with several Spanish expeditions.

Some groups arrived by sea, while others traveled overland from the south. In May 1769, Gaspar de Portolá established the Presidio of San Diego. This was a fort built on a hill near the San Diego River.

In July 1769, Franciscan friars founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá. This mission was the first Spanish mission in California. By 1797, the mission had over 1,400 neophytes living in its vicinity. Both the Presidio and the Mission are now National Historic Landmarks.

Political control of San Diego shifted during the 19th century. In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain. Consequently, San Diego became part of the Mexican Empire. The Mexican government later secularized the mission in 1834. In 1846, the United States went to war with Mexico.

This conflict included battles like the Battle of San Pasqual in the San Pasqual Valley. Following the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848. This treaty ceded California to the United States. San Diego was then admitted as part of the 31st state in 1850.

Today, the economy of San Diego is driven by several large sectors. Military and defense-related activities are major contributors. The city also has a long association with the United States Navy.

Other important sectors include tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. The city has also emerged as a center for biotechnology, healthcare, and wireless electronics. Higher education plays a vital role in this development. Several universities are located here, including UC San Diego and San Diego State University.

These institutions support the region's focus on research.

San Diego is a critical hub for international movement and travel. It is part of the San Diego–Tijuana transborder metropolitan area.

This massive region holds an estimated five million people as of 2022. The San Ysidro Port of Entry serves as the primary border crossing. It is the fourth-busiest land border crossing in the world.

Additionally, the San Diego International Airport is very significant. It is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States. These connections make the city a vital part of the global economy.