Welcome to San Diego, CA

The city of San Diego is located along the Pacific Coastline of Southern California, with its southernmost limits at the United States-Mexico border. Although the region was explored and mapped by the Spanish as early as the mid-16th century, San Diego was not permanently settled until the late 18th century, when Gaspar de Portola and Franciscan Father Junipero Serra established the Presidio of San Diego and Mission San Diego de Alcala. In the next 50 years, San Diego passed through the hands of Spain, to Mexico, and finally to the United States. The culmination of the Mexican-American War and the California Gold Rush brought many residents to San Diego, and by 1850, it was incorporated as a city and designated the seat of San Diego County. After the turn of the 19th century, San Diego’s population grew with the hosting of the Panama-California Exposition in 1915, which celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal, and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935, which showcased the city’s finest elements. Much of the features in San Diego’s Balboa Park were established in preparation for these World’s Fairs. The Navy Coaling Station that was built in San Diego in 1907 brought a significant military presence to the area, which supported the city’s economy until after the Cold War, when military cuts forced the city to expand its industry.

Today there is still a huge military presence in San Diego; the city is home to 16 U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Marine Corps facilities. But San Diego’s economy is largely supported by biotechnology/biosciences, computer sciences, manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, and tourism. San Diego is the second largest city in California with nearly 1.3 million residents. One of the city’s biggest attractions is the region’s natural beauty and idyllic climate; San Diego has 70 miles of gorgeous beaches and with temperatures that rarely go below 50 and above 90, there are plenty of days to enjoy them. San Diego—bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Anza-Borrego Desert, and the Laguna Mountains—is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering water sports and recreation, hiking, cycling, and golf. San Diego is also a very family-friendly city with fun attractions for adults and kids alike, such as the San Diego Zoo, Sea World San Diego, and LEGOLAND California. And Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the U.S., has museums, art galleries, and award-winning theatres—all within a beautiful garden setting.

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