San Diego County, California

County of San Diego
—  County  —
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Metro area	San Diego metropolitan area
Incorporated	1850
County seat	San Diego
Largest city	San Diego
Area
- Total	4,526 sq mi (11,722.3 km2)
- Land	4,200 sq mi (10,878 km2)
- Water	326 sq mi (844.3 km2)
Population (2010 Est.)	3,222,466
- Density	712/sq mi (274.9/km2)
Time zone	Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Website	sdcounty.ca.gov

San Diego County is a county located near the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of the U.S. state of California. It is the southwesternmost county in the contiguous 48 states. The population in 2000 was 2,813,835. A July 2008 estimate placed the population at 3,001,072 people, making it the third most-populous county in California, just behind its northern neighbor Orange County.^[1] The population in 2009 was estimated at 3,208,466,^[2] making it the fifth most-populous county in the United States. The county seat and largest city is San Diego.

The county contains the American metropolitan statistical area San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos. In addition, San Diego County is part of the San Diego – Tijuana metropolitan area, an area with over 5 million people and the largest bi-national metropolitan area shared between the United States and Mexico. San Diego County is also part of the Southern California Border Region, also referred to as San Diego-Imperial, the smallest but most economically diverse region in the state.^[3]

San Diego County lies just north of the Mexican border, sharing a border with Tijuana. It lies south of Orange County and Riverside County and west of Imperial County. It is home to miles of beaches, a mild Mediterranean to semi-arid climate,^[4] and 16 military facilities hosting the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps.

History

The area which is now San Diego County has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years by Kumeyaay (also called Diegueño), Luiseño, Cupeño and Cahuilla Indians.^[5]

European settlement in what is now San Diego County began with the founding of the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, by the Spanish, in 1769. The county was part of Alta California under the Viceroyalty of New Spain until the Mexican revolution. From 1821 until 1848 the area was part of Mexico.

San Diego County became part of the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, ending the U.S.-Mexican War. This treaty designated the new border as terminating at a point on the Pacific Ocean coast which would result in the border passing one Spanish league south of the southernmost portion of San Diego Bay, thus ensuring that the United States received the natural harbor.

San Diego County was one of the original counties of California, and was created at the time of statehood in 1850.^[6] It was named after San Diego Bay, which had been rechristened in 1602 by Sebastián Vizcaíno in honor of the Franciscan St. Didacus of Alcalá, known in Spanish as San Diego de Alcalá de Henares, and whose name was borne by Vizcaíno's flagship.

As originally created in 1850 San Diego County was quite large and included most of southeastern California south and east of Los Angeles County. As such it included major parts of what are now Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial counties.^[6]

The later part of the 19th century witnessed numerous realignments of county boundaries. The most recent changes were the creation of Riverside County, in 1893,^[7] and Imperial County, in 1907.^[8]

Geography

"East County" communities in red. In dark red are the cities of Santee and El Cajon which mark the western edge of East County. Unincorporated communities are in light red, including Lakeside and Alpine. Alpine marks the eastern edge of East County.

"North County" communities. Coastal cities are in dark blue, unincorporated coastal communities are in light blue. Inland cities are in dark yellow, unincorporated inland communities are in light yellow.
*this map does not include neighborhoods of San Diego that are regognized as being part of North County (ex. La Jolla, Sorrento Valley, Rancho Bernardo)
*Areas in white that are in this general region would be considered part of North County, only cities and unincorporated communities are colored on this map.

"South Bay Communities" of San Diego County. The cities of National City, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach are in dark orange. The unincorporated community of Bonita is in light orange. San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, neighborhoods of the city of San Diego, are in pink.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,526 sq mi (11,721 km²). 4,200 sq mi (10,878 km²) of which are land and 326 sq mi (843 km²) (7.20%) of which are water.

San Diego County has a varied topography. On its western side is 70 miles (110 km) of coastline. Most of San Diego between the coast and the Laguna Mountains consists of hills, mesas, and canyons. Snow-capped (in winter) mountains rise to the northeast, with the Sonoran Desert to the far east. Cleveland National Forest is spread across the central portion of the county, while Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occupies most of the northeast.

North San Diego County is known locally as "North County"; the exact geographic definitions of "North County" vary, but it includes the northern suburbs and sometimes certain northern neighborhoods of the city of San Diego.

The eastern suburbs are collectively known as "East County", though most still lie in the western third of the county. The southern suburbs and southern detached portion of the city of San Diego, extending to the Mexican border, are collectively referred to as "South Bay".

Largest cities in San Diego County by population

• 1. San Diego 1,387,000
• 2. Chula Vista 244,000
• 3. Oceanside 182,000
• 4. Escondido 151,000
• 5. Carlsbad 109,000
• 6. Vista 99,000
• 7. El Cajon 97,000
• 8. San Marcos 89,000
• 9. Encinitas 62,000
• 10. National City 62,000

Cities and towns in San Diego County

Incorporated cities

Many of the cities seen from the sky as part of the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area.

• Carlsbad
• Chula Vista
• Coronado
• Del Mar
• El Cajon
• Encinitas (Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Olivenhain)
• Escondido
• Imperial Beach
• La Mesa
• Lemon Grove
• National City
• Oceanside (San Luis Rey)
• Poway
• San Diego
• San Marcos
• Santee
• Solana Beach
• Vista

Unincorporated communities

San Ysidro

Urban communities of San Diego County

In San Diego County, many of the urban cities and communities are located on the south side of Interstate 8.

Indian reservations

San Diego County has 18 federally-recognized Indian reservations, more than any other county in the United States.^[9] Although they are typical in size to other Indian reservations in California (many of which are termed "Rancherías"), they are relatively tiny by national standards, and all together total 200.2 square miles (518.5 km²) of area.

Adjacent counties and municipios

San Diego

Orange

Riverside

Imperial

Tijuana,

Baja California,

Mexico

Tecate,

Baja California,

Mexico

Pacific

Ocean

Counties adjacent to San Diego County, California

National protected areas

• Cabrillo National Monument
• Cleveland National Forest (part)
• San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes several individual wildlife refuge areas:^[10]
  • San Diego Bay South Bay
  • San Diego Bay Sweetwater Marsh
  • Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
  • Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (located in Orange County)
  • San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
  • Vernal Pools

State parks and protected areas

• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (portions are also in Imperial and Riverside counties)
• Torrey Pines State Reserve
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
• Palomar Mountain State Park
• San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
• Border Field State Park
• Tijuana River Natural Estuarine Research Reserve
• San Onofre State Beach
• Moonlight State Beach
• Carlsbad State Beach
• South Carlsbad State Beach
• Leucadia State Beach
• San Elijo State Beach
• Cardiff State Beach
• Torrey Pines State Beach
• Silver Strand State Beach

Mountains

• Cuyamaca Mountains
• In-Ko-Pah Mountains
• Jacumba Mountains
• Laguna Mountains
• Palomar Mountain
• Peninsular Ranges
• San Ysidro Mountains
• Volcan Mountains

There are 236 mountain summits and peaks in San Diego County^[11] including:

• Black Mountain
• Cuyamaca Peak (second highest point in San Diego County)
• Cowles Mountain (highest point in the city of San Diego)
• Mount Helix
• Hot Springs Mountain (highest point in San Diego County)
• Mount Soledad
• Stonewall Mountain

Lakes

Rivers

• San Diego River
• San Luis Rey River
• San Dieguito River
• Sweetwater River (California)
• Otay River
• Tijuana River

Transportation infrastructure

Major highways

Airports

• Lindbergh Field, (SAN) a.k.a. San Diego International Airport
• Montgomery Field, (MYF)
• McClellan-Palomar Airport, (CLD or CRQ) a.k.a. Palomar Airport, Carlsbad Airport
• Gillespie Field, (SEE) located in El Cajon
• Agua Caliente Airport
• Borrego Valley Airport
• Fallbrook Airport
• Jacumba Airport
• Lake Wohlford (private, tiny)
• Oceanside Municipal Airport
• Ocotillo Airport
• Pauma Valley (private)
• Ramona Airport, (RNM)
• Brown Field, (SDM) (former East Field, NAAS Otay Mesa, and NAAS Brown Field)
• Carlsbad Airport

Military facilities

Navy

• Naval Air Station North Island
• Naval Base San Diego
• Naval Base Point Loma
• Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SPAWAR)
• Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
• Bob Wilson Naval Hospital (formerly Naval Medical Center San Diego, also known as Balboa Naval Hospital)

Marines

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

Coast Guard

• Coast Guard Air Station San Diego

Sites of interest

• Mount Laguna Observatory - owned and primarily operated by San Diego State University (SDSU)
• Palomar Observatory - owned and primarily operated by California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• The Ramona Valley wine-producing region is located 28 miles (45 km) northeast of San Diego
• The San Diego Wild Animal Park, 35 miles (56 km) north of the San Diego Zoo and east of Escondido
• SeaWorld of San Diego is located on Mission Bay.
• Mission Bay Recreation Area, including Fiesta Island, is a sheltered bay popular for watersports and known for the annual Over the line tournament.
• Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of California's 21 Spanish missions, is located in the city. It is an operating Roman Catholic parish and also is open for historical interest tours during the week. It is located near the interchange of Interstates 8 and 15.
• Balboa Park, with several museums and other cultural locations, is located adjacent to Downtown San Diego. This large park extends from 6th Avenue to 28th Street west to east, and through the entire area occupied on the west and east sides by west-east streets alphabetically named after trees. (Ash, Beech, Cedar, etc. to Redwood, Spruce, Thorn, Upas).
• San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, has the most species of any zoo in the world. One of the few zoos in the United States to offer pandas, the San Diego Zoo also is one of the world's leaders in animal conservation, constantly finding ways to help save species and breed others in captivity, as well as release animals back into the wild.
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is located at the western end of Mission Valley, north of Downtown San Diego. It preserves and recreates the original settlement of San Diego during its pueblo, Alta California, and early American periods, through 1872.
• Presidio Park, located on a bluff directly above Old Town, is a city historic park on the site of the San Diego Presidio, the first European settlement in California.
• Cabrillo National Monument is located at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula. It has historical exhibits about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and World War II as well as the Old Point Loma Lighthouse which is open to the public. It offers striking views of the harbor and ocean, natural areas for hiking and bird watching, and tide pools.
• San Diego Bay contains the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier restored as a floating museum, and the eight floating museum ships of the San Diego Maritime Museum. Harbor cruises, sailing, and sport fishing are also available.
• Legoland California is a Lego theme park in Carlsbad. It is the only Legoland outside of Europe.
• Alta Vista Gardens is a Botanical Garden in Vista dedicated to bringing together 'People, Nature & Art'

Politics

San Diego County has historically been a Republican stronghold: 2008 was the first time in decades that a Democratic presidential nominee won a majority of the county's votes (though in 1992 Bill Clinton won a plurality). The city of San Diego itself is more Democratic than the county's average (though fairly moderate for a large city) and has voted for Democrats Clinton, Gore, Kerry, and Obama in the last five presidential elections respectively. The city of San Diego, as well as Coronado and Imperial Beach, is part of the 53rd congressional district which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index (CPVI) of D +12. San Diego's northern and eastern suburbs tend to be very conservative. Northern suburbs including Carlsbad are part of the 50th district with a CPVI of R +5. In the 2004 presidential election, San Diego, Encinitas, National City, Del Mar, and some other areas voted for John Kerry; San Marcos, Escondido, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Coronado, Santee, Poway, El Cajon, and Vista overwhelmingly backed George W. Bush. Chula Vista, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Solana Beach, and Imperial Beach are considered swing areas of the county – Chula Vista and Imperial Beach narrowly backed Al Gore in 2000 but narrowly voted for Bush in 2004, while Solana Beach switched from Bush in 2000 to Kerry in 2004. La Mesa narrowly voted for Bush both times, and Lemon Grove narrowly went Democratic both times. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win a majority of votes in San Diego County since World War II. Obama captured Chula Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad.

One unique feature of the political scene is the use of Golden Hall, a convention facility next to City Hall, as a central elections center. The County Registrar of Voters rents the hall to distribute election results. Supporters and political observers are invited to watch the results come in, candidates give their victory and concession speeches and host parties for campaign volunteers and donors at the site, and television stations broadcast from the floor of the convention center. Golden Hall was scheduled to be closed in 2004, but was reused again for the November 2005 special election. The atmosphere on the evening of election day is often comparable to the voting portion of a political party national convention.^[12]

In the House of Representatives, all of California's 50th, 52nd, and 53rd districts and parts of the 49th and 51st districts are in the county. By district, the seats are held by Republican Darrell Issa, Republican Brian Bilbray, Democrat Bob Filner, Republican Duncan D. Hunter, and Democrat Susan Davis.

On Nov. 4, 2008 San Diego County voted 53.8 % for Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, thus restoring Proposition 22 which was overturned by a ruling from the California Supreme Court. However the city of San Diego, along with Del Mar, Encinitas, and Solana Beach, voted against Proposition 8.^[13]

In the State Assembly, parts of the 66th and 73rd districts, and all of the 74th–79th districts are in the county. Districts 76 and 79 are held by Democrats, Lori Saldaña and Mary Salas respectively; the others are held by Republicans; by district they are Kevin Jeffries, Mimi Walters, Martin Garrick, George A. Plescia, Joel Anderson, and Shirley Horton.

In the State Senate, all of the 39th district and parts of the 36th, 38th, and 40th districts are in the county and are held by Republicans Dennis Hollingsworth and Mark Wyland, and Democrats Christine Kehoe and Denise Moreno Ducheny.

Demographics

As of 2006, there were 2,941,454 people, 1,067,846 households, and 663,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 670 people per square mile (259/km²). There were 1,118,410 housing units at an average density of 248 per square mile (96/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.5% White American, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 10.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 29.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 67.0% spoke English, 21.9% Spanish, 3.1% Tagalog and 1.2% Vietnamese as their first language.

In 2000 there were 994,677 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,067, and the median income for a family was $53,438. Males had a median income of $36,952 versus $30,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,926. About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Current estimates

According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of San Diego County in 2005 was $64,273 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $52,192.

Crime statistics

Crime statistics for 2005 (Reported by the sheriff's office or police)^[15]

• Murders: 105
• Rapes: 86
• Robberies: 270
• Assaults: 1220
• Burglaries: 2469
• Thefts: 4626
• Auto thefts: 2084

See also

• California Least Tern
• List of school districts in San Diego County, California
• Public Transportation in San Diego County, California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County, California

References

External links

• Official Travel Resource for the San Diego Region
• County of San Diego Official Website
• San Diego Geographic Information Source Website
• San Diego County Water Authority Map
• California State Association of Counties (CSAC)

Municipalities and communities of San Diego County, California County seat: San Diego Cities Carlsbad | Chula Vista | Coronado | Del Mar | El Cajon | Encinitas | Escondido | Imperial Beach | La Mesa | Lemon Grove | National City | Oceanside | Poway | San Diego | San Marcos | Santee | Solana Beach | Vista CDPs Alpine | Bonita | Bonsall | Borrego Springs | Bostonia | Camp Pendleton North | Camp Pendleton South | Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | Crest | Fairbanks Ranch | Fallbrook | Granite Hills | Harbison Canyon | Hidden Meadows | Jamul | Julian | La Presa | Lake San Marcos | Lakeside | Pine Valley | Rainbow | Ramona | Rancho San Diego | Rancho Santa Fe | San Diego Country Estates | Spring Valley | Valley Center | Winter Gardens Unincorporated communities 4S Ranch | Banner | Boulevard | Campo | De Luz | De Luz Heights | Descanso | Dulzura | Guatay | Hellhole Palms | Jacumba | Jesmond Dene | Lincoln Acres | Mount Laguna | Ocotillo Wells | Olivenhain | Pala | Pauma Valley | Potrero | Ranchita | San Luis Rey | Santa Ysabel | Tecate | Warner Springs

San Diego metropolitan area Counties San Diego Global city 1.2 million San Diego Large cities Chula Vista • Oceanside • Escondido • Carlsbad Cities and towns 25k-100k El Cajon • Encinitas • Fallbrook • Imperial Beach • La Mesa • La Presa • National City • Poway • San Marcos • Santee • Spring Valley • Vista Bodies of water Mission Bay • San Diego Bay • San Diego River • San Luis Rey River • Santa Margarita River • Sweetwater River • Tijuana River Regions North County • Inland • South Bay • East County • San Diego Bay Area

San Diego-Imperial Counties San Diego • Imperial Global City 1.2 million San Diego Major Cities 100k-200k Chula Vista • Oceanside • Escondido • Carlsbad Cities and towns 25k-100k El Cajon • El Centro • Encinitas • Calexico • Fallbrook • Imperial Beach • La Mesa • La Presa • National City • Poway • San Marcos • Santee • Spring Valley • Vista Cities and towns under 25k Alpine • Bombay Beach • Bonita • Bostonia • Brawley • Casa de Oro-Mount Helix • Calipatria • Coronado • Desert Shores • Heber • Holtville • Imperial • Lakeside • Lemon Grove • Niland • Ocotillo • Palo Verde • Ramona • Rancho San Diego • Salton City • Salton Sea Beach • Seeley • Solana Beach • Westmorland • Winter Gardens • Winterhaven Bodies of water Alamo River • Colorado River • Mission Bay • New River • Salton Sea • San Diego Bay • San Diego River • San Luis Rey River • Santa Margarita River • Sweetwater River • Tijuana River Landforms Colorado Desert • Chocolate Mountains • Algodones Dunes Regions North County • Inland • South Bay • East County • San Diego Bay Area • Imperial Valley

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