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"San Diego" redirects here. For other uses, see San Diego (disambiguation).

San Diego, California

Flag Seal
Nickname: "America's Finest City"
Official website: http://www.sandiego.gov/
Location
Location of San Diego within San Diego County
Government
County	San Diego
Mayor	Jerry Sanders
Geographical characteristics
Area
Total	372.0 mi² / 963.6 km²
Land	324.3 mi² / 840.0 km²
Water	47.7 mi² / 123.5 km²
Population
Total (2005)	1,305,736
Metro area	3,051,280
Density	1,456.4/km²
Coordinates	32°42?54? N 117°09?45? W
Elevation	12.8 m
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
City Officials Mayor Jerry Sanders City Attorney Michael Aguirre City Council District One Scott Peters, Council President District Two Kevin Faulconer District Three Toni Atkins District Four Tony Young District Five Brian Maienschein District Six Donna Frye District Seven Jim Madaffer District Eight Ben Hueso Other City Symbols City Flower: Carnation City Urban Tree: Jacaranda City Native Tree: Torrey Pine

San Diego (pop. 1,305,736 as of 2005 [1]) is a coastal Southern California city located in the southwestern corner of the continental United States. It is the second largest city in California and the seventh largest in the United States. It lies just north of the Mexican border, and is a home for Navy and Marine Corps bases, many miles of beaches, and a mild marine climate. The annual mean temperature is 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit. San Diego's economy centers on tourism, trade, agriculture, ship-building, the military, biotechnology, computer science and electronics.

The University of California, San Diego and nearby research institutes on Torrey Mesa provide a base for technological innovation and start-up companies in the area. The city draws tourists with beaches and bays, Balboa Park with its many museums, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, San Diego Wild Animal Park (in Escondido, north of the city) and Old Town, the site of of the original Spanish settlement.

Downtown San Diego is located on San Diego Bay. Coronado Island and Point Loma separate the bay from the ocean. Ocean Beach is on the west side of Point Loma. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach lie between the ocean and Mission Bay, a man-made aquatic park. La Jolla, an ?ffluent community, lies north of Pacific Beach. Mount Soledad in La Jolla offers views from northern San Diego County to Mexico.

Mountains rise to the east of the city, and beyond the mountains are desert areas. Cleveland National Forest is a half-hour drive from downtown San Diego. Numerous farms are found in the valleys northeast of the city. The city of San Diego itself has deep canyons separating its mesas, preventing the kind of continuous development seen in Los Angeles to the north.

Military bases in or near San Diego include U.S. Navy ports, Marine Corps bases, and Coast Guard stations. San Diego is the home port of the largest naval fleet in the world, including two Navy supercarriers (the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan) five amphibious assault ships, several Los Angeles-class submarines, and many smaller ships.

One of the Marine Corps' two Recruit Depots is located here. San Diego is also known as the "birthplace of naval aviation," although Pensacola, Florida makes a rival claim.

Four Navy vessels have been named USS San Diego in honor of the city.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 2.1 Current estimates 2.2 Communities and neighborhoods 3 Economy 3.1 Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Communications 4 Weather 5 Crime 6 Education 6.1 High Schools 6.2 Colleges and Universities 6.3 Accredited Law Schools 7 Culture 7.1 Cuisine 7.2 Events 7.3 Shopping malls 7.4 Sites of interest 7.5 Sports 7.6 Media 7.7 San Diego in popular culture 8 Transportation 8.1 Public mass transportation 8.2 Cycling 8.3 Air 8.4 Sea 9 Military institutions 10 Sister cities 11 Notable residents 12 References 13 External links

History

Main article: History of San Diego, California

The area has long been inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. The first European to visit the region was Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who claimed the region for Spain in 1542. But the actual name of the city was coined by Sebastian Vizcaino when he was mapping the coastline of Alta California for the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1602. San Diego was named after San Diego Bay, which was christened 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

In 1769, the Presidio of San Diego (military post), which overlooks Old Town, was established almost at the same time as the Mission San Diego de Alcala by the Franciscan friars led by Junípero Serra. By 1797 the mission had become the largest in California, (over 1,400 natives were associated with it), but its fortunes declined in the 1830s when it lost its township status.

With the end of the Mexican-American War and the gold rush of 1848, San Diego was designated the seat of the newly-established San Diego County and was incorporated as a city in 1885. In the years before World War I, the anti-capitalist labor union IWW had a major impact on labor struggles in San Diego. ([2]).

Significant U.S. Naval presence began in 1907 with the establishment of the Navy Coaling Station, which gave further impetus to the development of the town. San Diego hosted two World's Fairs, the Panama-California Exposition in 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935.

After World War II, the military played an increasing role in the local economy. But at the end of the Cold War the local economy experienced a downturn due to cutbacks in the local defense and aerospace industry. San Diego leaders sought to diversify the city's economy, and San Diego has since become a major center of the emerging biotech industry. It is also home to telecommunications giant Qualcomm.

A series of scandals has rocked the city in recent years. With mounting pressure due to underfunding of pensions for city employees that began prior to his administration, Mayor Dick Murphy, in April 2005, announced his intention to resign by mid-July. A few days after his resignation two city councilmembers, Ralph Inzunza and deputy mayor Michael Zucchet -- who was to take Murphy's place -- were convicted of taking bribes in a scheme to get the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs repealed. Both subsequently resigned. The judge set aside (overturned) the guilty verdict in the case of Michael Zucchet.

On November 28, 2005, U.S. Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned over a bribery scandal. Cunningham represented California's 50th congressional district, which mostly lies outside (north) of the city of San Diego proper. He is currently serving a one-hundred month sentence in prison.

Downtown San Diego has been enjoying an urban renewal since the 1980s, beginning with the opening of Horton Plaza, the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the construction of the San Diego Convention Center. The Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), San Diego's downtown redevelopment agency, has transformed what was a largely abandoned downtown into a glittering showcase of waterfront skyscrapers, live-work loft developments, five-star hotels and a slew of cafes, restaurants and shops.

The North Embarcadero is slated to have parks in addition to a waterfront promenade. And Balboa Park will be linked to downtown with a view corridor. The recent boom in the construction of condos and skyscrapers has brought with it a gentrification frenzy, and some people are concerned that speculators have played too big a role in the condo market downtown. In the meantime, the city is committed to a "smart growth" development scheme that would increase density along transit corridors in older neighborhoods (the "City of Villages" planning concept.) Some neighborhoods are resisting this planning approach. But "mixed-use" development has had its successes, especially the award-winning Uptown Shopping Center in Hillcrest.

The latest accomplishment of CCDC has been the recent inauguration of PETCO Park. The once-industrial East Village adjacent to the new ballpark is now the new frontier in San Diego's downtown urban renewal.

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,223,400 people, 450,691 households, and 271,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,456.4/km² (3,771.9/mi²). There were 469,689 housing units at an average density of 559.1/km² (1,448.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.18% White, 9.86% African American, 1.62% Native American, 13.65% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 12.39% from other races, and 4.83% from two or more races. 25.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The city's Asian ethnicities breakdown accordingly: Filipino (6.1%), Vietnamese (2.2%), Chinese (1.9%), Other Asian (1.5%), Japanese (0.8%), Korean (0.6%), Asian Indian (0.6%).

There were 450,691 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,733, and the median income for a family was $53,060. Males had a median income of $36,984 versus $31,076 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,609. 14.6% of the population and 10.6% of families were below the poverty line. 20.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Current estimates

According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of San Diego in 2005 was $62,085 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $50,415.

Communities and neighborhoods

Further information: San Diego County, California

Northern: Bay Ho, Bay Park, Carmel Valley, Clairemont Mesa, Del Mar Heights, La Jolla, La Jolla Village, Mission Beach, North City, North Clairemont, Pacific Beach, Torrey Pines, University City

Northeastern: Carmel Mountain, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Sabre Springs, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley

Eastern: Allied Gardens, Birdland, Del Cerro, Grantville, Kearny Mesa, Lake Murray, San Carlos, Serra Mesa, Tierrasanta

Western: Hillcrest, La Playa, Linda Vista, Loma Portal, Midtown, Midway District, Mission Bay Park, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Morena, North Park, Ocean Beach, Old Town, Point Loma Heights, Roseville-Fleetridge, Sunset Cliffs, University Heights, Wooded Area

Central: Balboa Park, Barrio Logan, Core-Columbia, Cortez, Gaslamp Quarter, Golden Hill, Grant Hill, , Harborview, Horton Plaza, Little Italy, Logan Heights, Marina, Memorial, Park West, Sherman Heights, South Park, Stockton

Mid-City: City Heights, College Area, Darnall, El Cerrito, Gateway, Kensington, Normal Heights, Oak Park, Rolando, Talmadge, Webster

Southeastern: Alta Vista, Bay Terrace, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Jamacha-Lomita, Lincoln Park, Mountain View, Mt. Hope, Shelltown, Skyline, Southcrest, Valencia Park

Southern: Egger Highlands, Nestor, Ocean Crest, Otay Mesa, Palm City, San Ysidro, Tijuana River Valley

Economy

Tagged one of si? centers of innovation, San Diego has strengthened its economy. The unemployment rate has been low, and San Diego business entrepreneurs and civic leaders are said to be building one of the great technology regions of the twenty-first century.

In 1976, Price Club, now Costco, launched a new concept in retail distribution, the warehouse club with its first location on Morena Boulevard.

San Diego's leaders made a commitment in the 1980s to diversify the economy and encourage the growth of high technology companies. They were motivated by the desire to move away from the boom or bust cycles that dependence on two core industries (tourism and national defense) created. No one could have predicted the success and speed with which the region would develop key technology industries. Thanks to cross fertilization of venture capital, entrepreneurs and a growing research community, San Diego's core technology sectors have become leading centers for biotechnology, communications and software development.

Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Communications

In June 2004 San Diego was ranked the No. 1 biotech cluster in the U.S. by the Milken Institute. The honor was bestowed for the region’s climate of innovation and success in bringing products to market, establishing new companies, and creating jobs. Recently, Biosite Inc.’s Triage® Cardio ProfilER and Biogen IDEC’s Zevalin™ have joined Agouron (now Pfizer) Pharmaceuticals' Viracept®, Ligand Pharmaceuticals' Targretin®, and Biogen IDEC’s Rituxan® as successful products developed in San Diego. Corporate giants Merck, Pfizer, Dow, Novartis and others have developed key partnerships with local biotech pioneers, fostering growth while providing companies with the financial freedom to develop innovative new products.

Much of the credit for San Diego's revitalized economy goes to the University of California, San Diego, which is world-class in its academic quality and home to many Nobel Prize winners and members of the National Academy of Sciences. UCSD shares its Torrey Pines location with the world renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the Salk Institute, the Scripps Research Institute, and the Burnham Research Institute.

Together with UCSD's Medical Center, these outstanding reseach institutions have created a critical mass of technological innovation, providing the seedbed for start-up companies in biotech, software development, wireless communications, pharmaceutical development and medical equipment manufacturing.

San Diego's biotechnology community is the third largest in the country. San Diego's communications industry is one of the fastest growing in the country and has earned San Diego the title of wireless communications capital of the world.

The economy of San Diego is also influenced by its port, which includes the only major shipbuilding yard on West Coast, as well as the naval base.

Weather

San Diego enjoys mild, sunny weather throughout the year. Average monthly temperatures range from about 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit) in January to 22 degrees Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) in July, although late summer and early autumn are typically the hottest times of the year. Snow and ice do not occur in the wintertime. "May grey and June gloom", a local saying, refers to the way in which San Diego sometimes has trouble shaking off the fog that comes in during those months. Temperatures soar to very high readings only on rare occasions, chiefly when easterly winds bring hot, dry air from the inland deserts (these winds are called "Santa Anas"). The average annual precipitation is less than 300 millimeters (12 inches), resulting in a borderline arid climate. Rainfall is strongly concentrated in the cooler half of the year, particularly the months December through March. The summer months are virtually rainless. Rainfall is highly variable from year to year and from month to month, and San Diego is subject to both droughts and floods. Thunderstorms and hurricanes are very rare.

Crime

San Diego has had a declining crime rate since the early 1990s. In 1991 the number of murders was 167, in 2005 the number of murders was only 98. San Diego is now the "sixth-safest U.S. city among those with populations of 500,000 or greater."^[2]

Education

High Schools

Colleges and Universities

• San Diego State University, (SDSU) (California State University)
• University of California, San Diego, UCSD (University of California)
• University of San Diego, USD (Alliant International University, AIU (Formerly United States International University-USIU)
• NewSchool of Architecture & Design
• Point Loma Nazarene University, PLNU (Nazarene)
• National University
• Pacific Oaks College
• San Diego Community College District, (San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College)

Accredited Law Schools

• California Western School of Law - California Western School of Law Website
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law - Thomas Jefferson School of Law Website
• University of San Diego School of Law - University of San Diego School of Law Website

Culture

San Diego has a strong Mexican influence due to its proximity to the international border between the United States and Mexico. In addition, San Diego has other significant immigrant communities. Older immigrant groups include those from Sicily and Portugal, which settled in Little Italy and Point Loma respectively. Newer immigrants have arrived from former Soviet Republics (notably Ukraine, Russia and Caucasia), Greece, the Philippines, South East Asia, China, India, the Pacific Islands, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Brazil, the Horn of Africa and South Africa.

Cuisine

Owing to its privileged position on the Pacific Ocean and its warm Mediterranean-like climate, San Diego enjoys an abundance of quality produce and dining. The renowned Chino Farms in nearby Rancho Santa Fe provides fresh organic produce both to local restaurants and to restaurants in San Francisco and other cities. There is also a wine growing industry in San Pasqual Valley and Temecula.

Given its ethnic and cultural mix, it is not surprising that San Diego has a wide range of cuisines. One can find Mexican, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek, Latin, German, Indian, Central and East Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander food throughout the city. In addition, there are numerous seafood restaurants and steakhouses. The city's long history and close proximity to Mexico has endowed the area with an extensive variety of Mexican restaurants. Regional homemade specialties, border fare and haute cuisine are all readily available.

San Diego's warm, dry climate and access to the ocean have also made it a center for fishing and for the growing of fruit and vegetables. Long a center of the tuna industry, San Diego benefits from an abundant supply of seafood.

Many of the most popular restaurants can be found in the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, La Jolla, Hillcrest and Old Town.

Local specialties include:

• Mexican (carne asada, rolled tacos, burritos, fish tacos, enchiladas, and ceviche)
• Woodfired, California-style pizza
• Salads made from fresh, local produce (including Caesar, Greek, Mixed, and Caprese Salads)
• Southern Italian pastas, panini, and pizzas
• Shish kebab, shashlyk, and Gyros
• Southeast Asian specialties of all kinds.
• Locally produced, artisan bread
• Local Wines (San Pasqual Valley, Rancho Bernardo)
• Locally produced (from the mountains near Julian) hard and sweet apple cider
• Various fruits and vegetables (including avocados, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, eggplant, oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, grapefruit, grapes, apples, pomegranates, persimmons, and melons)

Several chain restaurants made their start in San Diego. These include Jack in the Box, Pat & Oscar's, Souplantation (March 1978), Rubio's (1980s), and Anthony's Fish Grotto (1950s). Rubio's fish tacos were also featured at the 1996 Republican National Convention which was held in San Diego.

Events

• Comic-Con
• Holiday Bowl
• Poinsettia Bowl
• Street Scene San Diego

Shopping malls

• Fashion Valley
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Mission Valley
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Horton Plaza
• College Grove
• Westfield Shoppingtown, University Towne Centre
• The Shops at Las Americas (also a U.S.-Mexico Port of Entry walkway and Duty-Free centre)
• The San Diego Factory Outlet

Sites of interest

San Diego is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. Among the many attractions are its beaches, climate, and deserts. Noted San Diego tourist attractions include:

• Balboa Park *
• Berkeley, ferryboat*
• Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Black's Beach nude beach
• Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma
• Chicano Park
• Gaslamp Quarter
• La Casa de Estudillo *
• La Jolla
• Legoland Carlsbad
• Little Italy (see also Little Italy in other cities around the world including in U.S. cities)
• MCAS Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Miramar Airshow
• Mission Bay Park
• Mission Beach Roller Coaster at Belmont Park
• Mission San Diego de Alcala *
• Mount Soledad
• Old Globe Theatre
• Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park*
• Old Town
• Pacific Beach
• Petco Park
• Point Loma
• Presidio of San Diego*
• Qualcomm Stadium
• San Diego Aerospace Museum
• San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
• San Diego Wild Animal Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Seaport Village
• SeaWorld
• Star of India, barque sailing ship *
• Torrey Pines Golf Course
• Torrey Pines State Reserve
• USS Midway (CV-41), aircraft carrier museum

(* An asterisk designates National Historic Landmarks)

San Diego is about two hours south of Los Angeles, California and north adjacent to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Sports

Club	Sport	League	Stadium	Logo
San Diego Padres	Baseball	MLB	PETCO Park
San Diego Chargers	American Football	AFL 1961-1969, NFL 1970-Present	Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego Fusion	Soccer	NPSL	Helix High School
San Diego Gauchos	Soccer	USL	Southwestern College
San Diego Gulls	Hockey	ECHL	iPayOne Center
San Diego Riptide	Arena football	Arena Football League 2	iPayOne Center
San Diego Surf Dawgs	Baseball	Golden Baseball League	Tony Gwynn Stadium
So Cal Scorpions	American Football	WPFL	Edward's Stadium
San Diego Siege	Basketball	National Women's Basketball League	Harry West Gym

San Diego has several sports venues. Jack Murphy Field at Qualcomm Stadium hosts and soccer games. Three Super Bowls have been held there. Baseball can be seen at Petco Park and Tony Gwynn Stadium. iPayOne Center, formerly the San Diego Sports Arena, hosts hockey, arena football, and basketball, which is also hosted at Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl. Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego hosts basketball and volleyball games.

SDSU Aztecs (MWC) and the USD Toreros (WCC) are NCAA Division I teams. The UCSD Tritons (CCAA) are members of the NCAA Division II while the PLNU Sea Lions (GSAC) are members of the NAIA.

San Diego at one point had a NBA basketball team, the San Diego Clippers (now known as the Los Angeles Clippers), between the years of 1978-1984. The Clippers initially played for Buffalo, then moved to San Diego, and finally relocated to Los Angeles.

Media

San Diego is served by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Another newspaper with high readership in the region is the North County Times, which serves San Diego's North County area.

San Diego's television stations?include XETV 6 (FOX), KFMB 8 (CBS), KGTV 10 (ABC), KPBS 15 (PBS), KBNT 17 (Univision), XHAS 33 (Telemundo), KNSD 39 (NBC), XHUPN 49 (UPN), KUSI 51 (Independent), and KSWB 69 (WB).

San Diego in popular culture

• The film still regarded by many critics as the best of all time, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, was partially filmed in and around Balboa Park. Some of the buildings were undergoing renovations, and while vacant, the interiors were used to represent Kane's expansive residence. The San Diego Zoo, fully contained within the park to this day, represented Kane's private menagerie.

• San Diego is the primary setting and filming location for the 1986 movie Top Gun about the real-life TOPGUN program. At the time the movie was made, the TOPGUN program was based at the former Naval Air Station Miramar, which is currently the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego. The bar featured in the movie's piano scene, Kansas City BBQ, is on the corner of Kettner Boulevard and West Harbor Drive (near the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel) and contains memorabilia from the film.

• Other military films and TV series have used the San Diego Naval and Marine bases, aircraft carriers, and other facilities for their projects over the past 50 years or so.

• San Diego and Los Angeles are part of the futuristic utopian megacity San Angeles in the 1993?/a> movie Demolition Man.

• In the comic book series Aquaman, half of San Diego was plunged into the Pacific Ocean by an earthquake. A large number of survivors who were unwittingly mutated into water-breathers due to related illegal genetic experimentation have formed a community known as "Sub Diego" in the remains of the submerged portion of the city.

• The fictional city of Neptune, California (as portrayed in the hit television show Veronica Mars) is said to be a suburb of San Diego. The entire series is filmed in San Diego. Interior shots are filmed at Stu Seagall Productions, while many exterior shots have been filmed in the San Diego suburbs of La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe. The real Oceanside High School is used as Neptune High School, and San Diego State University has been used as Hearst College.

• San Diego of the 1970s is the setting for the 2004 comedy film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy starring Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy. The Burgundy character is partially inspired by former San Diego television news personalities. The climatic final scenes take place at the San Diego Zoo.

• In Jurassic Park II, a T-Rex rampaged through the city. The city was used as the setting of the second half of the film, where a new theme park was to be built (inspired by the actual San Diego Wild Animal Park). Many of the II scenes were filmed in downtown, the harbor, and ports.

• The season two finale of television series Quantum Leap, "M.I.A", was based around San Diego's Naval Base.

• Writer/Director Cameron Crowe attended University of San Diego High School and San Diego City College. He later went "undercover" at Clairemont High School as a student to observe the students, who were the basis for his book and screenplay Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The semi-autobiographical Almost Famous, which Crowe also directed and for which won the Oscar for Original Screenplay, shows numerous shots of San Diego, where main cha?acter William Miller grew up. Many of the concert scenes were filmed at the San Diego Sports Arena, the building used as a stand-in for other cities' venues as well.

• In a 2002 episode of Without A Trace, several agents head to San Diego to investigate the disappearance of a businessman. Several subsequent episodes were filmed with San Diego as the named locale, or as the actual filming location standing in for another city.

• The double-Oscar winning film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was partially filmed using real ships and replicas in San Diego Harbor and sailing off the coast. The film made its World Premiere party in San Diego, with the film screening on deck of one of the ships, and with the film's star Russell Crowe in attendance.

• Season 14 (2004) of The Real World was set in San Diego. The residents lived in Point Loma, and their nightlife escapades took place primarily in Pacific Beach.

• San Diego is home to the hit Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh.

• San Diego is the setting for the 1980s detective series Simon and Simon.

• Much of the movie Bring It On was filmed in various locations in San Diego, including several high schools and San Diego State University.

• Scenes from the Academy Award-winning movie Traffic were filmed in San Diego. Most of the film takes place in and around San Diego and the bordering city of Tijuana, Mexico.

• WWE Wrestler Rey Mysterio represents his hometown of San Diego by calling his finishing move 619, the area code of San Diego.

Transportation

Public mass transportation

San Diego has trolley (tram), bus [3], Coaster [4], and Amtrak service. They primarily serve the downtown and uptown areas. The Amtrak and Coaster trains currently only run along the coastline. A planned trolley extension along the 5 Freeway will link up to the UTC/UCSD areas. Newly expanded Trolley routes and a new underground stop at San Diego State University opened in 2005, with more Coaster train stops and services to be added in 2006 and 2007.

The bus is available along almost all major routes within the city proper, although buses tend to be concentrated downtown and around various transit centers. Typical wait times vary from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the location and route. Trollies arrive every 5 to 15 minutes (depending on time of day), with lines extending from Old Town all the way south to the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, and west-east from Old Town, traversing Mission Valley all the way to neighboring El Cajon and Santee. Ferries are also available every half hour crossing San Diego Bay to Coronado.

Cycling

San Diego's roadway system provides an extensive network of routes for travel by bicycle. The dry and mild climate of San Diego makes cycling a convenient and pleasant year-round option although the city's hilly terrain and canyons somewhat restrict practical use -- a vast majority of cycling related activities are recreational.

These factors and the great distances brought about by the city's growth during the era of California car culture, while recreational cycling is enjoyable, cycling for utilitarian purposes in San Diego is generally limited. Older and denser neighborhoods around the downtown core tend to be friendlier to utility cycling. This is partly because of the grid street patterns now absent in newer developments farther from the urban core, where suburban style arterial roads are much more common.

The city has several segregated bike paths, particularly in newer developments although the majority of road facilities specifically for bicycles are painted on regular roadways.

Many San Diego cyclists belong to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition which upholds the rights and interests of cyclists throughout the county.

Air

San Diego International Airport, also known as Lindbergh International Airport or Lindbergh Field, is the primary commercial airport serving San Diego. It is the busiest single-runway airport in the nation, serving over 16 million passengers every year, and is located on San Diego Bay just a mile or two from downtown. Other airports include Brown Field Airport (Brown Field) and Montgomery Field Municipal Airport (Montgomery Field).

Sea

The Port of San Diego manages the maritime operations of San Diego harbor and the airport. Each year, more and more cruise lines (Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Crystal, etc.) arrive and depart at San Diego's cruise ship terminal at the foot of Broadway downtown. Cruises go to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and the Caribbean via the Panama Canal. San Diego's port also manages a significant cargo operation which includes imports from South America, vehicle imports from Germany, Japan and Mexico, and other trade operations.

San Diego is home to General Dynamics' National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), the largest and only shipyard on the West Coast of the United States. It is capable of building and repairing large ocean-going vessels. The yard constructs commercial cargo ships and auxiliary vessels for the U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command, which it has served since 1960.

Military institutions

• Naval Air Station North Island
• Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (Both NAS North Island and NAB Coronado are consolidated into one base known as Naval Base Coronado)
• Naval Station San Diego (Naval Station also has the nickname of Naval Station 32nd Street, due in part to its location at 32nd Street and Harbor Drive in San Diego)
• Naval Base Point Loma - Submariners
• US Marine Corps Recruit Depot
• US Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar MCAS Miramar
• US Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
?li>SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command)
• Fort Rosecrans Military Reservation

Sister cities

San Diego has fifteen sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• Alcalá de Henares (Spain)
• Campinas (Brazil)
• Cavite City (Philippines)
• Edinburgh (Scotland, United Kingdom)
• Jalalabad (Afghanistan)
• Jeonju (South Korea)
• León (Mexico)
• Perth (Australia)
• Taichung City (Taiwan)
• Tema (Ghana)
• Tijuana (Mexico)
• Vladivostok (Russia).
• Warsaw (Poland)
• Yantai (China)
• Yokohama (Japan)

Notable residents

• Annette Bening, actress
• Mayim Bialik, actress
• Bob Burnquist, professional skateboarder
• Nick Cannon, actor
• Billy Casper, golfer, sixth on the all time list of golfers with most PGA Tour wins.
• Steve Cherundolo, pro soccer star, defender for USA and Hannover 96
• Derrike Cope, NASCAR driver
• Cameron Crowe, Oscar-winning screenwriter Almost Famous, director, producer
• Tom Delonge, singer/lead guitar player in Blink-182, Angels and Airwaves and Boxcar Racer.
• Cameron Diaz, actress
• Robert Duvall, actor
• Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
• Julie Foudy, pro soccer star for USA and WUSA San Diego Spirit
• Brad Gerlach, professional surfer
• Rob Halford, lead-singer of the heavy metal band Judas Priest
• Tony Hawk, world's most famous skateboarder, recently retired.
• Frankie Hejduk, MLS and USA defender, veteran of 2 World Cups (1998, 2002)
• Mark Hoppus, s?nger/bassist in Blink-182 and Plus-44.
• Jewel Kilcher, singer known mainly by her first name
• Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald's corporation.
• Fabio Lanzoni, model best known as spokesperson for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
• Bobby Lee, MadTV actor, comedian.
• Mario López, actor (who portrayed San Diegan Greg Louganis in his film biography)
• Louis XIV, alternative rock band
• Harold Lloyd, silent film star
• Greg Louganis, Olympic and world champion diver
• Rob Machado, professional surfer
• Kathy Najimy, actress
• Ellen Ochoa, astronaut
• Rey Mysterio, Hispanic-American WWE wrestler and current World Heavyweight Champion.
• Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Hispanic-American WWE wrestler.
• Dave Roberts World Series champion and current outfielder for San Diego Padres.
• RuPaul, drag performer, singer, actor
• Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine
• Junior Seau, former NFL linebacker
• Jeremy Stenberg, motorcross pro, world-record holder for backflip distance.
• Frederick W. Sturckow, astronaut
• Juli Veee, pro soccer star of USA, NASL and MISL indoor champion San Diego Sockers teams.
• Danny Way, professional skateboarder who jumped over the Great Wall of China.
• Pete Wilson, former Assemblyman, Mayor of San Diego, United States Senator from California, and Governor of California
• Marvell Wynne II, Number 1 pick in 2006 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, defender for New York Red Bulls

References

1. ^ USS SAN DIEGO. San Diego Navy Historical Association. URL accessed on 2006-05-03.
2. ^ Tony Manolatos and Kristina Davis. "County crows at glowing crime report", The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2006-04-14. URL accessed on 2006-04-29.

1. ? | County of San Diego

1. ? | Infoplease - Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population

1. ? | CityTown Info- San Diego

1. ? | City of San Diego City of Villages Program General Outline

1. ? | Awards won by the developers of the Uptown District in Hillcrest.

External links

• Census Bureau Fact Sheet
• San Diego Visitors Bureau - Hotels and Visitor Information
• City of San Diego Official Website
• City of San Diego TV - live video
• Where to go and what to see in San Diego
• Where to run in San Diego
• San Diego History
• Movie of the San Diego Exposition, 1915
• Virtual San Diego
• Port of San Diego
• San Diego International Airport
• Biotech in San Diego
• San Diego photos, maps, and links
• Urban Empire: San Diego's Urban Lifestyle website
• Commuters communicate and collaborate, car pool and information

Coordinates: 32.779541° N -117.146344° E

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
  • Satellite image from Google Maps or Windows Live Local

San_Diego travel guide from Wikitravel

County of San Diego, California

Cities Population over 100,000 : San Diego (County seat), Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido Population 50,000 – 100,000: Carlsbad, El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, San Marcos, Santee, Vista Population under 50,000: Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Poway, Solana Beach Unincorporated communities Alpine, Aviara, Bonita, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Bostonia, Camp Pendleton North, Camp Pendleton South, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, 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 Colleges and Universities Colleges & Universities: California State University, San Marcos, Point Loma Nazarene University, National University San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, University of San Diego Two-Year and Community Colleges: MiraCosta College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College State Parks Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Onofre State Park, Torrey Pines State Park

	State of California California Topics | Economy | Government | History | Californians
Capital	Sacramento
Regions	Antelope Valley | Big Sur | Central Valley | Central Coast | Channel Islands | Coachella Valley | Conejo Valley | Death Valley | Eastern California | Emerald Triangle | Gold Country | Greater Los Angeles | Imperial Valley | Inland Empire | Mojave | Northern California | North San Diego County | Owens Valley | Pomona Valley | The Peninsula | Redwood Empire | Sacramento Valley | San Fernando Valley | San Francisco Bay Area | San Gabriel Valley | Santa Clara Valley | Santa Clarita Valley | San Joaquin Valley | Shasta Cascade | Sierra Nevada | Silicon Valley | Southern California | Wine Country
Metropolitan areas	Bakersfield | Chico | Fresno | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale | Modesto | Napa | Oakland-Fremont-Hayward | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Sacramento-Roseville | Salinas | San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos | San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine | Santa Barbara-Santa Maria | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Stockton | Vallejo-Fairfield | Visalia-Porterville | Yuba City
Note: Cities with over 400,000 in population are in bold
Counties	Alameda | Alpine | Amador | Butte | Calaveras | Colusa | Contra Costa | Del Norte | El Dorado | Fresno | Glenn | Humboldt | Imperial | Inyo | Kern | Kings | Lake | Lassen | Los Angeles | Madera | Marin | Mariposa | Mendocino | Merced | Modoc | Mono | Monterey | Napa | Nevada | Orange | Placer | Plumas | Riverside | Sacramento | < a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Benito_County%2C_California" title="San Benito County, California">San Benito | San Bernardino | San Diego | San Francisco | San Joaquin | San Luis Obispo | San Mateo | Santa Barbara | Santa Clara | Santa Cruz | Shasta | Sierra | Siskiyou | Solano | Sonoma | Stanislaus | Sutter | Tehama | Trinity | Tulare | Tuolumne | Ventura | Yolo | Yuba
Note: Counties with over 1 million in population are in bold

50 Largest cities of the United States by population

New York • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Philadelphia • Phoenix • San Diego • San Antonio • Dallas • San Jose • Detroit • Indianapolis • Jacksonville • San Francisco • Columbus • Austin • Memphis • Baltimore • Fort Worth • Charlotte • El Paso • Milwaukee • Seattle • Boston • Denver • Louisville • Washington • Nashville • Las Vegas • Portland • Oklahoma City • Tucson • Albuquerque • Long Beach • New Orleans • Cleveland • Fresno • Sacramento • Virginia Beach • Kansas City • Mesa • Atlanta • Omaha • Oakland • Tulsa • Miami • Honolulu • Minneapolis • Colorado Springs • Arlington