View source for San Diego

{{Pp-move}}
{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{About|the city in California}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage. -->
| name               = San Diego <!--Do not add state, per Infobox:settlement.-->
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | border             = infobox
  | perrow             = 1/2/3/2
  | total_width        = 280
  | caption_align      = center
  | image1             = San Diego skyline 18 (cropped).jpg
  | alt1               = Downtown San Diego skyline
  | caption1           = [[Downtown San Diego]] skyline
  | image2             = La Jolla Shores view (cropped).jpg
  | alt2               = La Jolla Shores
  | caption2           = [[La Jolla]]
  | image3             = Mission San Diego (cropped2).jpg
  | alt3               = Mission San Diego de Alcalá
  | caption3           = [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]]
  | image4             = Balboa Park6 (cropped3).jpg
  | alt4               = California Tower at Balboa Park
  | caption4           = [[California Quadrangle|California Tower]] at [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]]
  | image5             = Cortez Hill, San Diego, CA 92101, USA - panoramio (5).jpg
  | alt5               = El Cortez
  | caption5           = [[El Cortez (San Diego)|El Cortez]]
  | image6             = Balboa Theatre, San Diego 01 (cropped2).jpg
  | alt6               = Balboa Theatre
  | caption6           = [[Balboa Theatre]]
 }}
| image_flag         = Flag of San Diego, California.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of San Diego, California.svg
| flag_size          = 120px
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of San Diego, California.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| nicknames          = "America's Finest City",<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-25-vw-21243-story.html | title=WHO DECIDED . . . ? : . . . To name San Diego 'America's Finest City'? | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=December 26, 1984 }}</ref> "Birthplace of California", "City in Motion"<ref>{{Cite web|title=California City Nicknames List|url=http://www.seecalifornia.com/california/city-nicknames.html|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=www.seecalifornia.com}}</ref><!--see discussion page regarding "the 619"-->
| motto              = {{langnf|la|Semper Vigilans|Always Vigilant}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Official City of San Diego Seal |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/factshistory/seal |website=The City of San Diego |publisher=City of San Diego |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
| image_map          = San Diego County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas San Diego Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of San Diego in [[San Diego County, California]]
| pushpin_map        = California#USA#North America
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = San Diego
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within California##Location within the United States
<!-- Location ------------->
| coordinates        = {{coord|32|42|54|N|117|09|45|W|region:US-CA_city(1,400,000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_name2  = [[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]
<!-- History -------------->
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = {{start date and age|1769|7|16}}
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = March 27, 1850<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format=Word
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date=August 25, 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014
}}</ref>
<!-- Government ----------->
| named_for          = [[Didacus of Alcalá|Saint Didacus of Alcalá]]
<!-- Images and maps ------>
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor-council]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://docs.sandiego.gov/citycharter/Article%20XV.pdf
| title = City of San Diego City Charter, Article XV
| publisher = City of San Diego
| access-date = November 5, 2014}}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[San Diego City Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of San Diego|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Todd Gloria]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title1      = [[San Diego City Attorney|City Attorney]]
| leader_name1       = [[Heather Ferbert]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/
 |title=Office of the City Attorney
 |date=November 6, 2015
|publisher=The City of San Diego
 |access-date=December 14, 2016}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| total_type         = Total
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 964.57
| area_total_sq_mi   = 372.42
| area_land_km2      = 844.04
| area_land_sq_mi    = 325.88
| area_water_km2     = 120.53
| area_water_sq_mi   = 46.54
| area_water_percent = 12.50
<!-- Elevation ------------>
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="usgs">{{Cite GNIS|2411782|City of San Diego|access-date= October 16, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_min_ft   = 0
| elevation_min_point = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| elevation_max_point = [[Cowles Mountain]]
<!-- Population ----------->
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="city data">{{cite web |url= http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/San-Diego-Geography-and-Climate.html |title= San Diego: Geography and Climate |work= city-data.com |access-date= October 16, 2014}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1386932
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocitycalifornia/PST045222|title=QuickFacts: San Diego city, California|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref>
| population_est     = 1,404,452
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="h138">{{cite web | title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Diego city, California | website=Census Bureau QuickFacts | date=2024-07-01 | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocitycalifornia/LFE041223 | access-date=2025-05-15}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 4255.96
| population_density_km2 = 1643.25
| population_urban   = 3070300 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|15th]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1,756.9
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 4,550.5
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html|title=List of 2020 Census Urban Areas|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref>
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="2020Pop">{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>
| population_metro   = 3298799 (US: [[List of metropolitan statistical areas|18th]])
| population_rank    = [[List of North American cities by population|20th]] in North America<br />[[List of United States cities by population|8th]] in the United States<br />[[List of largest cities in California by population|2nd]] in California
| population_demonym = San Diegan
<!-- GDP ----------->
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="bea.gov">{{cite web |url = https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41740|title = Total Gross Domestic Product for San Diego-Carlsbad, CA (MSA)|website = U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = San Diego (MSA)
| demographics2_info1 = $295.6 billion (2022)
<!-- Time zones ----------->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s<ref>{{cite web
 | url = https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action
 | title = ZIP Code(tm) Lookup
 | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]]
 | access-date = November 19, 2014}}</ref>
| postal_code        = 92101–92124, 92126–92132, 92134–92140, 92142–92143, 92145, 92147, 92149–92150, 92152–92155, 92158–92161, 92163, 92165–92179, 92182, 92186–92187, 92191–92193, 92195–92199
| area_code          = [[Area codes 619 and 858|619/858]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| leader_title2      = [[San Diego City Council|City Council]]<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/
 | title = City Council Offices
 | publisher = City of San Diego
 | access-date = December 10, 2014}}</ref>
| leader_name2       = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = 
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • [[Joe LaCava]]<br />D-District 1
 |2           = • [[Jennifer Campbell (politician)|Jennifer Campbell]]<br />D-District 2
 |3           = • [[Stephen Whitburn]]<br />D-District 3
 |4           = • [[Henry L. Foster III]]<br />D-District 4
 |5           = • [[Marni von Wilpert]]<br />D-District 5
 |6           = • [[Kent Lee (politician)|Kent Lee]]<br />D-District 6
 |7           = • [[Raul Campillo]]<br />D-District 7
 |8           = • [[Vivian Moreno]]<br />D-District 8
 |9           = • [[Sean Elo-Rivera]]<br />D-District 9}}
| leader_title3      = [[California State Assembly|State Assembly Members]]
| leader_name3       = {{Collapsible list
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |list_style = text-align:left;
 |1 = • [[Carl DeMaio]]<br />R-75th District
 |2 = • [[Darshana Patel]]<br />D-76th District
 |3 = • [[Tasha Boerner]]<br />D-77th District
 |4 = • [[Chris Ward (American politician)|Chris Ward]]<br />D-78th District
 |5 = • [[LaShae Sharp-Collins]]<br />D-79th District
 |6 = • [[David Alvarez (politician)|David Alvarez]]<br />D-80th District}}
| leader_title4      = [[California State Senate|State Senators]]
| leader_name4       = {{Collapsible list
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |list_style = text-align:left;
 |1 = • [[Steve Padilla]]<br />D-18th District
 |2 = • [[Catherine Blakespear]]<br />D-38th District
 |3 = • [[Akilah Weber]]<br />D-39th District
 |4 = • [[Brian Jones (politician)|Brian Jones]]<br />R-40th District}}
<!-- Area ----------------->
| elevation_max_ft   = 1591
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = −08:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −07:00
<!-- Codes ---------------->
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|66000}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1661377}}, {{GNIS 4|2411782}}
<!-- Other ---------------->
| website            = {{URL|https://www.sandiego.gov}}
| native_name        = 
| highways           = {{jct|state=CA|I|5}}
}}

'''San Diego''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|æ|n|_|d|i|ˈ|eɪ|ɡ|oʊ|audio=En-us-san diego.ogg}} {{respell|SAN|_|dee|AY|goh}}, {{IPA|es|san ˈdjeɣo|lang}}) is a city on the [[Pacific coast]] of [[Southern California]], adjacent to the [[Mexico–United States border]]. It is the [[List of United States cities by population|eighth-most populous city in the U.S.]] and [[List of largest cities in California by population|second-most populous city in California]] with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego metropolitan area with over 3.3 million residents is the [[Metropolitan statistical area|18th-largest metropolitan area]] in the nation. San Diego is the [[county seat]] of [[San Diego County]].<ref name="County QuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocountycalifornia/PST045222|title=QuickFacts: San Diego County, California|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref> It is known for its mild [[Mediterranean climate]], extensive [[List of beaches in San Diego County|beaches]] and [[List of parks in San Diego|parks]], long association with the [[United States Navy]], and recent emergence as a [[wireless]], [[electronics]], [[List of hospitals in San Diego|healthcare]], and [[biotechnology]] development center.

Historically home to the [[Kumeyaay]] people, San Diego has been referred to as the ''Birthplace of California'', as it was the first site visited and settled by Europeans on what is now the [[West Coast of the United States]].<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrew|first=Clarence Alan|url=https://archive.org/details/citysandiegoand00socigoog|title=City of San Diego and San Diego County: the birthplace of California|publisher=American Historical Society|year=1922|access-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> In 1542, [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] claimed the area for [[Spain]], forming the basis for the settlement of [[Alta California]], 200 years later. The [[Presidio of San Diego|Presidio]] and [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]], founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California. In 1821, San Diego became part of the newly declared [[First Mexican Empire|Mexican Empire]]. California was [[Mexican Cession|ceded to the U.S.]] in 1848 following the [[Mexican–American War]] and was [[California Statehood Act|admitted as the 31st state]] in 1850.

The largest sectors of the [[economy of San Diego]] include military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, research, and manufacturing. The city is home to several universities, including [[University of California, San Diego|UC San Diego]], [[San Diego State University]], and the [[University of San Diego]]. San Diego is the economic center of the [[San Diego–Tijuana]] region, the second-most populous [[transborder agglomeration|transborder metropolitan area]] in the Western Hemisphere, home to an estimated five million people as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayling |first=Marko |date=December 30, 2022 |title=San Diego and Tijuana: a vanishing border? |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/san-diego-and-tijuana-a-vanishing-border/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=Mexico News Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> The primary border crossing between San Diego and [[Tijuana]], the [[San Ysidro Port of Entry]], is the busiest international land border crossing in the world outside of Asia ([[Border checkpoint#Busiest checkpoints in the world|fourth-busiest]] overall). [[San Diego International Airport]] (SAN) is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 20, 2017|title=San Diego Int'l Airport will dig up the runway every night for a year|first1=Jeanette|last1=Steele|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sd-fi-airport-runway-digging-project-20171120-story.html|access-date=January 26, 2021|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Name==

San Diego's name can be traced back to the 17th century when Spanish explorer [[Sebastián Vizcaíno]] bestowed it upon the area in 1602. He named the bay and the surrounding area "San Diego de Alcalá" in honor of [[Didacus of Alcalá|Saint Didacus of Alcalá]].<ref name=":4" />

Prior to the Spanish establishment of San Diego, the [[Kumeyaay]] town was called [[Kosa'aay]], meaning "drying out place" in the [[Kumeyaay language]].<ref name=":1" /> After the establishment of San Diego, the Kumeyaay called town and city ''Tepacul Watai'', meaning "Stacked Big".<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego in Kumiai - English-Kumiai Dictionary {{!}} Glosbe |url=https://glosbe.com/en/dih/San%20Diego |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=glosbe.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Luiseño language|Luiseño]] speakers in the [[North County (San Diego area)|North County region]] called it ''Pushuyi''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pushuyi in Spanish - Luiseno-Spanish Dictionary {{!}} Glosbe |url=https://glosbe.com/lui/es/Pushuyi |access-date=November 14, 2022 |website=glosbe.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|History of San Diego}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of San Diego}}

===Pre-colonial period===
[[File:Kumeyaay (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Full length portrait of a man in his thirties wearing a long robe, woman and child visible behind him and dog to his left|The [[Kumeyaay people|Kumeyaay]], referred to by the Spanish as ''Diegueños'', have inhabited the area for thousands of years.]]

What has been referred to as the [[San Dieguito complex]] was established in the area at least 9,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Catalysts to complexity: late Holocene societies of the California coast |date=2002 |publisher=Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA |isbn=978-1-938770-67-8 |location=Los Angeles |pages=30 |oclc=745176510}}</ref> The [[Kumeyaay]] may have culturally evolved from this complex or migrated into the area around 1000 C.E.<ref>{{Cite book |last=High |first=Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w48Ivy4JCQ8C |title=San Diego Bay: A Story of Exploitation and Restoration |date=2007 |publisher=California Sea Grant College Program |isbn=978-1-888691-17-7 |language=en |quote=The Kumeyaay could have derived from the San Dieguito or they may have arrived from the desert around 1000 C.E.}}</ref> Archaeologist [[Malcolm Jennings Rogers|Malcolm Rogers]] hypothesized that the early cultures of San Diego were separate from the Kumeyaay, but this claim is disputed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Loveless |first1=R. |title=Ethical approaches to human remains: a global challenge in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology |last2=Linton |first2=B. |date=2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |others=Kirsty Squires, David Errickson, Nicholas Márquez-Grant |isbn=978-3-030-32926-6 |edition= |location=Cham, Switzerland |pages=419–420 |chapter=Culturally Sensitive and Scientifically Sound |oclc=1135205590 |quote=He created a sequence of cultural periods... the San Dieguito Complex and La Jolla Complex... suggested that... [they were] mutually exclusive and not associated with the ancestral populations of the contemporary Kumeyaay. The problem with Rogers' hypothesis is that it did not account for cultural evolution... Rogers' theories were, and continue to be, a popular paradigm... At the end of his career, Rogers re-evaluated his original conclusions regarding the cultural groups he had established...}}</ref> Rogers later reevaluated his claims, yet they were influential in shaping historical tellings of early San Diego history.<ref name=":3" />

The Kumeyaay established villages scattered across the region, including the village of [[Kosa'aay]] which was the Kumeyaay village that the future settlement of San Diego would stem from in today's [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Mogilner|first=Geoffrey|title=Cosoy: Birthplace of New California|url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2016/april/cosoy-birthplace-new-california/|access-date=August 27, 2020|website=San Diego History Center {{!}} San Diego, CA {{!}} Our City, Our Story|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Kosa'aay (Cosoy) History|url=http://www.cosoy.org/History.html|access-date=August 27, 2020|website=www.cosoy.org|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305235655/http://cosoy.org/History.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The village of Kosa'aay was made up of thirty to forty families living in pyramid-shaped housing structures and was supported by a freshwater spring from the hillsides.<ref name=":1" />

===Spanish period===
[[File:The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse).tif|thumb|left|Portuguese explorer [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] landing in [[San Diego Bay]] in 1542, claiming California for the [[Spanish Empire]]]]
The first European to visit the region was explorer [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]]. Sailing his flagship ''San Salvador'' from [[Barra de Navidad|Navidad]], New Spain, Cabrillo claimed the bay for the [[Spanish Empire]] in 1542, and named the site "San Miguel".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/cabrillo/cabrillo.htm |title=San Diego Historical Society |publisher=Sandiegohistory.org |access-date=March 12, 2011 |archive-date=May 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505173316/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/cabrillo/cabrillo.htm }}</ref> In November 1602, [[Sebastián Vizcaíno]] surveyed the harbor and what are now [[Mission Bay, San Diego, California|Mission Bay]] and [[Point Loma]] and named the area for the Catholic [[Didacus of Alcalá|Saint Didacus]], a [[Spaniard]] more commonly known as ''San Diego de Alcalá''.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |last=Mills |first=James |title=San Diego...Where California Began |url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/67october/began.htm |date=October 1967 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614235048/https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/67october/began.htm |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |journal=Journal of San Diego History |volume=13 |number=4 |access-date=February 17, 2017}}</ref>

The permanent [[European colonization of the Americas|European colonization]] of both California and San Diego began in 1769 with the arrival of four contingents of Spaniards from New Spain and the [[Baja California]] peninsula. Two seaborne parties reached San Diego Bay: the ''San Carlos'', under Vicente Vila and including as notable members the engineer and cartographer [[Miguel Costansó]] and the soldier and future governor [[Pedro Fages]], and the ''San Antonio'', under [[Juan José Pérez Hernández|Juan Pérez]]. An initial overland expedition to San Diego from the south was led by the soldier [[Fernando Rivera y Moncada|Fernando Rivera]] and included the [[Franciscan]] missionary, explorer, and chronicler [[Juan Crespí]], followed by a second party led by the designated governor [[Gaspar de Portolá]] and including the mission president [[Junípero Serra]].<ref>Pourade, Richard F. 1960. ''The History of San Diego: The Explorers''. Union-Tribune Publishing Company, San Diego.</ref>
[[File:Mission San Diego, c. 1820.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]] was founded in 1769 by [[Saint Junípero Serra]], making it the oldest of the [[Spanish missions in California]].]]
In May 1769, Portolà established the [[Presidio of San Diego]] on a hill near the [[San Diego River]] above the Kumeyaay village of Cosoy,<ref name=":1" /> which would later become incorporated into the Spanish settlement,<ref name=":2" /> making it the first settlement by Europeans in what is now the state of California. In July of the same year, [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]] was founded by Franciscan friars under Serra.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ide|first=Arthur Frederick|date=Fall 1976|title=San Diego: The Saint and the City|journal=Journal of San Diego History|volume=22|issue=4|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/76fall/saint.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm |title=San Diego Historical Society:Timeline of San Diego history |publisher=Sandiegohistory.org |access-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224204925/https://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm }}</ref> The mission became a site for a Kumeyaay revolt in 1775, which forced the mission to relocate {{Convert | 6 | mi | 0 | spell = in}} up the San Diego River.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carrico|first=Richard|title=Sociopolitical Aspects of the 1775 Revolt at Mission San Diego de Alcala|url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1997/july/missionrevolt/|access-date=August 27, 2020|website=San Diego History Center {{!}} San Diego, CA {{!}} Our City, Our Story|language=en-US}}</ref> By 1797, the mission boasted the largest native population in Alta California, with over 1,400 neophytes living in and around the mission proper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.missionscalifornia.com/keyfacts/san-diego-de-alcala.html |title=Keyfacts |publisher=missionscalifornia.com |access-date=July 1, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610233845/http://www.missionscalifornia.com/keyfacts/san-diego-de-alcala.html |archive-date=June 10, 2010 }}</ref> Mission San Diego was the southern anchor in Alta California of the historic mission trail [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]]. Both the Presidio and the Mission are [[National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County, California|National Historic Landmarks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.missionsandiego.com/ |title=Mission San Diego |publisher=Mission San Diego |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=May 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517170346/http://missionsandiego.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceID=130&resourceType=Site |title=National Park Service, National Historical Landmarks Program: San Diego Presidio |publisher=Tps.cr.nps.gov |date=October 10, 1960 |access-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721183215/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceID=130&resourceType=Site |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref>

===Mexican period===
[[File:José_María_Estudillo.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[José María Estudillo]] served as commandant of the [[Presidio of San Diego]] and founded the [[Estudillo family of California|Estudillo family]], a powerful clan of [[Californio]]s.]]
In 1821, Mexico [[Mexican War of Independence|won its independence from Spain]], and San Diego became part of the Mexican territory of [[Alta California]]. In 1822, Mexico began its attempt to extend its authority over the coastal territory of Alta California. The fort on Presidio Hill was gradually abandoned, while the town of San Diego grew up on the level land below Presidio Hill. The Mission was [[Mexican secularization act of 1833|secularized by the Mexican government in 1834]], and most of the Mission lands were granted to former soldiers. The 432 [[Vecino|residents]] of the town petitioned the governor to form a [[Cabildo (council)|pueblo]], and [[Juan María Osuna]] was elected the first ''[[alcalde]]'' ("municipal magistrate"). Beyond the town, Mexican [[land grant]]s expanded the number of [[Ranchos of California|California ranchos]] that modestly added to the local economy.

However, San Diego had been losing population throughout the 1830s, due to increasing tension between the settlers and the indigenous [[Kumeyaay]] and in 1838 the town lost its pueblo status because its size dropped to an estimated 100 to 150 residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224204925/https://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm|archive-date=December 24, 2015|title=Timeline of San Diego History {{!}} San Diego History Center|date=December 24, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> The [[Ranchos of California|ranchos]] in the San Diego region faced Kumeyaay raids in the late 1830s and the town itself faced raids in the 1840s.<ref>Connolly, Mike. [https://www.kumeyaay.com/kumeyaay-the-mexican-period.html "Kumeyaay – The Mexican Period"]. ''kumeyaay.com''.</ref>

Americans gained an increased awareness of California, and its commercial possibilities, from the writings of two countrymen involved in the often officially forbidden, to foreigners, but economically significant hide and tallow trade, where San Diego was a major port and the only one with an adequate harbor: [[William Shaler]]'s "Journal of a Voyage Between China and the North-Western Coast of America, Made in 1804" and [[Richard Henry Dana Jr.|Richard Henry Dana]]'s more substantial and convincing account, of his 1834–36 voyage, ''[[Two Years Before the Mast]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bean |first=Walton |title=California: An Interpretive History |date=1973 |edition=Second |location=New York |publisher=McGraw-Hill, Inc. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/californiainterp00bean/page/74 74–76] |isbn=978-0-07-004224-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/californiainterp00bean/page/74 }}</ref>
[[File:Casa de Estudillo courtyard 04.jpg|thumb|left|[[Casa de Estudillo]], built 1827, is one of San Diego's oldest buildings and served as inspiration for [[Helen Hunt Jackson]]'s 1884 novel ''[[Ramona]]''.]]
In 1846, the United States went to war against Mexico and sent a naval and land [[Conquest of California|expedition to conquer Alta California]]. At first, they had an easy time of it, capturing the major ports including San Diego, but the Californios in southern Alta California struck back. Following the successful revolt in [[Los Angeles]], the American garrison at San Diego was driven out without firing a shot in early October 1846. Mexican partisans held San Diego for three weeks until October 24, 1846, when the Americans recaptured it. For the next several months the Americans were blockaded inside the pueblo. Skirmishes occurred daily and snipers shot into the town every night. The Californios drove cattle away from the pueblo hoping to starve the Americans and their Californio supporters out. On December 1, the American garrison learned that the dragoons of General [[Stephen W. Kearney]] were at [[Warner's Ranch]]. Commodore [[Robert F. Stockton]] sent a mounted force of fifty under Captain [[Archibald Gillespie]] to march north to meet him. Their joint command of 150 men, returning to San Diego, encountered about 93 Californios under [[Andrés Pico]]. 
[[File:Battle of San Pasqual by William H Meyers c1846.jpg|thumb|right|The 1846 [[Battle of San Pasqual]] was a decisive battle between American and [[Californio]] forces.]]
In the ensuing [[Battle of San Pasqual]], fought in the [[San Pasqual Valley]] which is now part of the city of San Diego, the Americans suffered their worst losses in the campaign. Subsequently, a column led by Lieutenant Gray arrived from San Diego, rescuing Kearny's command.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2003/january/war-2/|first=Richard|last=Griswold del Castillo|title=The U.S.-Mexican War in San Diego, 1846–1847 |work=San Diego Historical Society Quarterly |date=Winter 2003|volume=49|issue=1}}</ref> Stockton and Kearny went on to recover Los Angeles and force the capitulation of Alta California with the "[[Treaty of Cahuenga]]" on January 13, 1847. As a result of the [[Mexican–American War]] of 1846–48, the territory of Alta California, including San Diego, was ceded to the United States by Mexico, under the terms of the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] in 1848. The Mexican negotiators of that treaty tried to retain San Diego as part of Mexico, but the Americans insisted that San Diego was "for every commercial purpose of nearly equal importance to us with that of San Francisco", and the Mexican–American border was eventually established to be one league south of the southernmost point of [[San Diego Bay]].<ref>{{harvnb|Griswold de Castillo|1990|page=39}}</ref>

===American period===
[[File:San Diego California Looking East Across the Bay by Alfred Mathews 1873.jpg|thumb|left|View of [[San Diego Bay]] in 1873 following the [[conquest of California|U.S. conquest of California]]]]
The state of California was admitted to the [[United States]] in 1850. That same year San Diego was designated the seat of the newly established County of San Diego and was incorporated as a city. [[Joshua H. Bean]], the last alcalde of San Diego, was elected the first mayor. Two years later the city was bankrupt;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/history.shtml|title=A History of San Diego Government|work=Office of the City Clerk|publisher=City of San Diego|access-date=May 27, 2014|archive-date=May 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505220356/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/history.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> the California legislature revoked the city's charter and placed it under control of a board of trustees, where it remained until 1889. A city charter was reestablished in 1889, and today's city charter was adopted in 1931.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/legisdocs/charter.shtml |title=City of San Diego website |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011124524/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/legisdocs/charter.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The original town of San Diego was located at the foot of Presidio Hill, in the area which is now [[Old Town San Diego State Historic Park]]. The location was not ideal, being several miles away from navigable water at its port at [[La Playa, San Diego|La Playa]]. In 1850, [[William Heath Davis]] promoted a new development by the bay shore called "New San Diego", several miles south of the original settlement; however, for several decades the new development consisted only of a pier, a few houses and an [[San Diego Barracks|Army depot]] for the support of [[Fort Yuma]]. After 1854, the fort became supplied by sea and by [[Steamboats of the Colorado River|steamboats on the Colorado River]] and the depot fell into disuse. From 1857 to 1860, San Diego became the western terminus of the [[San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line]], the earliest overland [[stagecoach]] and mail operation from the [[Eastern United States]] to California, coming from [[Texas]] through [[New Mexico Territory]] in less than 30 days.<ref name = "Pierce">Basil C. Pearce, [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/1969/april/jackass/ "The Jackass Mail—San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line"], ''San Diego Historical Society Quarterly'', Spring 1969, Volume 15, Number 2</ref>
[[File:View of the US Grant with the main fountain at the entrance (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Oval, black and white shoulder-height portrait of a man in his forties or fifties, slightly balding wearing a suit|[[Horton Plaza and Broadway Fountain|Horton Plaza]] honors [[Alonzo Horton]], who helped develop [[Downtown San Diego|Downtown]].]]
In the late 1860s, [[Alonzo Horton]] promoted a move to the bayside area, which he called "New Town" and which became [[downtown San Diego]]. Horton promoted the area heavily, and people and businesses began to relocate to New Town because its location on [[San Diego Bay]] was convenient to shipping. New Town soon eclipsed the original settlement, known to this day as [[Old Town, San Diego, California|Old Town]], and became the economic and governmental heart of the city.<ref name=Cornerstone>{{harvnb|Engstrand|2005|page=80}}</ref> Still, San Diego remained a relative backwater town until the arrival of a railroad connection in 1878.

In 1912, San Diego was the site of a [[San Diego free speech fight|free speech fight]] between the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] and the city government who passed an ordinance forbidding the [[freedom of speech]] along an area of "Soapbox Row" that led to civil disobedience, [[vigilantism]], [[police violence]], the abduction of [[Emma Goldman]]'s husband [[Ben Reitman]] and [[San Diego free speech fight|multiple riots]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Matthew T.|date=February 8, 2012|title=100 years ago, San Diego banned free speech|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-100-years-ago-san-diego-banned-free-speech-2012feb08-story.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dotinga|first=Randy|date=March 15, 2011|title=When San Diego Had Its Own Big Labor Clash|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/when-san-diego-had-its-own-big-labor-clash/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Voice of San Diego|language=en-US}}</ref> San Diego's proximity to Tijuana during the [[Mexican Revolution]] made this one of the most significant [[free speech fights]] during the [[Wobbly]] era.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Waller|first=Tom|date=April 2, 1992|title=The Wobblies and San Diego's shame {{!}} San Diego Reader|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1992/apr/02/battle-soapbox-row/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=San Diego Reader|language=en}}</ref>

In 1916, the neighborhood of [[Stingaree, San Diego|Stingaree]], the original home of San Diego's first [[Chinatown]] and "Soapbox Row", was demolished by anti-[[vice]] campaigners to make way for the [[Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego|Gaslamp Quarter]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Shady Ladies in the "Stingaree District" When The Red Lights Went Out in San Diego|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/74spring/stingaree.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024201814/http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/74spring/stingaree.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2005|access-date=March 8, 2011|publisher=San Diego History Center}}</ref>

[[File:Guide Book of the Panama California Exposition (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Hand drawn illustration of Balboa Park|[[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]] was built for the [[Panama–California Exposition|Panama-California Exposition of 1915]].]]
In the early part of the 20th century, San Diego hosted the [[World's Fair]] twice: the [[Panama–California Exposition]] in 1915 and the [[California Pacific International Exposition]] in 1935. Both expositions were held in [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]], and many of the Spanish/Baroque-style buildings that were built for those expositions remain to this day as central features of the park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050501/news_1m1balboa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318030233/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050501/news_1m1balboa.html|archive-date=March 18, 2015|title=Balboa Park future is full of repair jobs |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=March 18, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> The menagerie of exotic animals featured at the 1915 exposition provided the basis for the [[San Diego Zoo]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/78summer/zoo.htm |author1=Marjorie Betts Shaw |title=The San Diego Zoological Garden: A Foundation to Build on |journal=Journal of San Diego History |volume =24| issue =  3, Summer 1978 |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref> During the 1950s there was a citywide festival called [[Fiesta del Pacifico]] highlighting the area's Spanish and Mexican past.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/dream/dreamchapter5.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120140/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/dream/dreamchapter5.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=CHAPTER 5: A Fiesta – Re-living the Days of the Dons {{!}} San Diego History Center|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref>

The southern portion of the [[Point Loma, San Diego|Point Loma]] peninsula was set aside for military purposes as early as 1852. Over the next several decades the [[United States Army|Army]] set up a series of coastal artillery batteries and named the area [[Fort Rosecrans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/FtRosecrans.html|title=Historic California Posts: Fort Rosecrans|work=California State Military Museum|access-date=November 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714022628/http://www.militarymuseum.org/FtRosecrans.html|archive-date=July 14, 2007}}</ref> Significant U.S. Navy presence began in 1901 with the establishment of the Navy Coaling Station in Point Loma, and expanded greatly during the 1920s.<ref>[http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/local/kearny/page00d.html University of San Diego: Military Bases in San Diego] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411224332/http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/local/kearny/page00d.html |date=April 11, 2007 }}</ref> By 1930, the city was host to [[Naval Base San Diego]], [[Naval Training Center San Diego]], [[San Diego Naval Hospital]], [[Camp Matthews]], and [[Camp Kearny]] (now [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]]). The city was also an early center for aviation: as early as World War I, San Diego was proclaiming itself "The Air Capital of the West".<ref name = "Shepherd">{{cite journal|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/94winter/eagle.htm |author1=Gerald A. Shepherd |title=When the Lone Eagle returned to San Diego |journal=Journal of San Diego History |volume= 40| issue = s. 1 and 2, Winter 1992 |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref> The city was home to important airplane developers and manufacturers like Ryan Airlines (later [[Ryan Aeronautical]]), founded in 1925, and [[Consolidated Aircraft]] (later [[Convair]]), founded in 1923.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consolidated Aircraft/Convair Online Exhibition|url=http://sandiegoairandspace.org/exhibits/consolidated_aircraft_exhibit/|publisher=San Diego Air & Space Museum|access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> [[Charles A. Lindbergh]]'s plane, the ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'', was built in San Diego in 1927 by Ryan Airlines.<ref name = "Shepherd" />
[[File:Corner of San Diego's Fifth Street and F Street, looking north, ca.1903 (CHS-9776).jpg|thumb|right|[[Downtown San Diego]], {{Circa|1903}}]]
During [[World War II]], San Diego became a major hub of military and defense activity, due to the presence of so many military installations and defense manufacturers. The city's population grew rapidly during and after World War II, more than doubling between 1930 (147,995) and 1950 (333,865).<ref name="RM 54">Moffatt, Riley.  ''Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990''. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 54.</ref> During the final months of the war, the Japanese had a plan to target multiple U.S. cities for [[biological attack]], starting with San Diego. The plan was called "[[Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night]]" and called for [[kamikaze]] planes filled with fleas infected with plague (''[[Yersinia pestis]]'') to crash into civilian population centers in the city, hoping to spread plague in the city and effectively kill tens of thousands of civilians. The plan was scheduled to launch on September 22, 1945, but was not carried out because [[Japanese surrender|Japan surrendered]] five weeks earlier.<ref>Naomi Baumslag, ''Murderous Medicine: Nazi Doctors, Human Experimentation, and Typhus'', 2005, p.207</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/25/135638924/where-to-find-the-worlds-most-wicked-bugs| author=Amy Stewart| title=Where To Find The World's Most 'Wicked Bugs': Fleas| publisher=National Public Radio| date=April 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2001/06/05/commentary/world-commentary/the-trial-of-unit-731/| author=Russell Working| title=The trial of Unit 731| newspaper=The Japan Times| date=June 5, 2001}}</ref>

After World War II, the military continued to play a major role in the local economy, but post–[[Cold War]] cutbacks took a heavy toll on the local defense and aerospace industries. The resulting downturn led San Diego leaders to seek to diversify the city's economy by focusing on research and science, as well as tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milkeninstitute.org/publications/publications.taf?function=detail&ID=312&cat=resrep |title=Milken Institute |publisher=Milken Institute |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>

In the early 1960s, [[Tom Hom]] would become the first Asian American member of the San Diego City Council.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 2017 |title=Renowned Visionary Tom Hom Honored At The Gaslamp Quarter's 150th Anniversary Gala! |url=https://www.gaslamp.org/2017/11/renowned-visionary-tom-hom-honored-gaslamp-quarters-150th-anniversary-gala/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117071107/https://www.gaslamp.org/2017/11/renowned-visionary-tom-hom-honored-gaslamp-quarters-150th-anniversary-gala/ |archive-date=2017-11-17 |access-date=16 May 2018 |website=gaslamp.org |publisher=Gaslamp Quarter Association}}<br />{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWAaAQAAIAAJ |title=Chinese America, History and Perspectives |publisher=Chinese Historical Society of America |year=1998 |isbn=9781885864055 |page=70}}</ref> He would be succeeded by [[Leon Williams (politician)|Leon Williams]], the first Black member of the city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/05/leon-williams-who-shaped-san-diego-and-paved-way-for-black-leaders-dies-at-102/|title=Leon Williams, who shaped San Diego and paved way for Black leaders, dies at 102|last=Fox|first=Maura|publisher=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=March 5, 2025|access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Sdmarina.JPG|thumb|left|Starting in the 1980s, many areas of Downtown, such as the [[Marina, San Diego|Marina District]], underwent [[Urban renewal|redevelopment]].]]
From the start of the 20th century through the 1970s, the American [[tuna]] fishing fleet and tuna canning industry were based in San Diego, "the tuna capital of the world".<ref name="gala">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/press/MOH2012|title=San Diego History Center Honors San Diego's Tuna Fishing Industry at Annual Gala|work=San Diego History Center|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> San Diego's first tuna cannery was founded in 1911, and by the mid-1930s the canneries employed more than 1,000 people. A large fishing fleet supported the canneries, mostly staffed by immigrant fishermen from [[Japan]], and later from the [[Azores]] and [[Italy]] whose influence is still felt in neighborhoods like [[Little Italy, San Diego|Little Italy]] and [[Point Loma, San Diego|Point Loma]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Journal of San Diego History|author1=Felando, August  |author2=Medina, Harold |name-list-style=amp |title=The Origins of California's High-Seas Tuna Fleet|pages=5–8, 18|volume=58|date=Winter–Spring 2012|issue=1 & 2|issn=0022-4383}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-19-re-guide19-story.html|title=It's the old country, with new condos|last=Lechowitzky|first=Irene|date=November 19, 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> Due to rising costs and foreign competition, the last of the canneries closed in the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.4sd.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/jun/20/1ez20history182544-san-diego-once-was-tuna-capital/?ap|title=San Diego once was 'Tuna Capital of World'|last=Crawford|first=Richard|date=June 20, 2009|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=September 1, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Downtown San Diego was in decline in the 1960s and 1970s, but experienced some urban renewal since the early 1980s, including the opening of [[Westfield Horton Plaza|Horton Plaza]], the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the construction of the [[San Diego Convention Center]]; [[Petco Park]] opened in 2004.<ref name="Erie">{{cite journal|last=Erie|first=Steven P.|author2=Kogan, Vladimir |author3=MacKenzi, Scott A.|title=Redevelopment, San Diego Style: The Limits of Public–Private Partnerships|journal=Urban Affairs Review|date=May 2010 |volume=45|issue=5|pages=644–678|doi=10.1177/1078087409359760|s2cid=154024558|issn = 1078-0874}}</ref> Outside of downtown, San Diego annexed large swaths of land and for suburban expansion to the north and control of the [[San Ysidro Port of Entry]].

As the [[Cold War]] ended, the military shrank and so did defense spending. San Diego has since become a center of the emerging biotech industry and is home to telecommunications giant [[Qualcomm]]. San Diego had also grown in the tourism industry with the popularity of attractions such as the [[San Diego Zoo]], [[SeaWorld San Diego]], and [[Legoland California]] in [[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About San Diego, California |url=https://www.sandiego.org/articles/about-san-diego-ca.aspx#:~:text=San%20Diego%20is%20renowned%20for,San%20Diego%20and%20LEGOLAND%20California. |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.sandiego.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{See also|List of beaches in San Diego, California|Parks in San Diego}}
[[File:San Diego with Tijuana by Sentinel-2, 2020-03-09.jpg|thumb|upright|Satellite view of the [[San Diego–Tijuana]] area, a [[transborder agglomeration]] straddling the [[Mexico–United States border]] in [[the Californias]]]]

According to SDSU professor emeritus Monte Marshall, [[San Diego Bay]] is "the surface expression of a north-south-trending, nested [[graben]]". The [[Rose Canyon Fault|Rose Canyon]] and [[Point Loma Formation|Point Loma]] [[Fault (geology)|fault zones]] are part of the [[San Andreas Fault]] system. About {{convert|40|mi|km}} east of the bay are the [[Laguna Mountains]] in the [[Peninsular Ranges]], which are part of the [[American Cordillera]].<ref name=Marshall>{{cite web|title=The Geology and Tectonic Setting of San Diego Bay, and That of the Peninsular Ranges and Salton Trough, Southern California|author=Marshall, Monte|publisher=Phil Farquharson |url=http://aese2006.geology-guy.com/sd_geology_marshall.htm|access-date=July 13, 2012}}</ref>

The city lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its [[mesa]]s, creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canyon Enhancement Planning Guide|url=http://www.sdcanyonlands.org/images/pdfs/CEP/CEPGuideMaterials/canyon_enhancement_planning_guide_1of2.pdf|publisher=San Diego Canyonlands|access-date=July 20, 2012|page=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620091231/http://www.sdcanyonlands.org/images/pdfs/CEP/CEPGuideMaterials/canyon_enhancement_planning_guide_1of2.pdf|archive-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref> Traditionally, San Diegans have built their homes and businesses on the mesas, while leaving the urban canyons relatively wild.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqZUHkIaSXYC&q=san+diego+canyons+neighborhoods&pg=PT129 |author=Schad, Jerry |title=Afoot and Afield in San Diego|publisher=Wilderness Press, Berkeley, Calif. |page= 111 |access-date=May 4, 2011|isbn=9780899975153 |date=March 12, 2010 }}</ref> Thus, the canyons give parts of the city a segmented feel, creating gaps between otherwise proximate neighborhoods and contributing to a low-density, car-centered environment. The [[San Diego River]] runs through the middle of San Diego from east to west, creating a river valley that serves to divide the city into northern and southern segments. Several reservoirs and [[Mission Trails Regional Park]] also lie between and separate developed areas of the city.
[[File:Torrey Pines cliffs.jpg|thumb|left|[[Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve]]]]
Notable peaks within the city limits include [[Cowles Mountain]], the highest point in the city at {{convert|1591|ft|m}};<ref name="city data"/> [[Black Mountain Open Space Park|Black Mountain]] at {{convert|1558|ft|m}}; and [[Mount Soledad]] at {{convert|824|ft|m}}. The [[Cuyamaca Mountains]] and Laguna 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 and southeast of the city.

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of San Diego}}
{{climate chart
| San Diego
|50.3|66.4|1.98
|51.8|66.2|2.20
|54.5|67.0|1.46
|57.1|68.8|0.65
|60.0|69.5|0.28
|62.6|71.7|0.05
|66.1|75.3|0.08
|67.5|77.3|0.01
|66.2|77.2|0.12
|61.5|74.6|0.50
|54.8|70.7|0.79
|49.8|66.0|1.67
|float     = left
|clear     = left
|units     = imperial
|source    = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/|title = NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access}}</ref>
}}

Under the [[Köppen–Geiger climate classification system]], the San Diego area has been variously categorized as having either a [[hot semi-arid climate]] (''[[hot semi-arid climate|BSh]]'' in the original classification<ref>{{cite journal|author=M. Kottek|author2=J. Grieser|author3=C. Beck|author4=B. Rudolf|author5=F. Rubel|title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated|journal=Meteorol. Z.|volume=15|issue=3|pages=259–263|url=https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/files/40083/metz_Vol_15_No_3_p259-263_World_Map_of_the_Koppen_Geiger_climate_classification_updated_55034.pdf|doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130|bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K|access-date=July 9, 2013|year=2006|url-access=|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224195637/https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/40083/file/metz_Vol_15_No_3_p259-263_World_Map_of_the_Koppen_Geiger_climate_classification_updated_55034.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''BSkn'' in modified Köppen classification with the n denoting summer fog)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/atlas/pdf/Clim_12b_web.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331081841/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/atlas/pdf/Clim_12b_web.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2010|title=Atlas of the Biodiversity of California|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> or a [[hot-summer Mediterranean climate]]<ref>Francisco Pugnaire and Fernando Valladares eds. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fqc-_Zv3jIMC&dq=%22san+diego%22+%22mediterranean%22+koppen&pg=PA287 Functional Plant Ecology]. 2d ed. 2007. p.287.</ref> (''Csa'').<ref>Michael Allaby, Martyn Bramwell, Jamie Stokes, eds. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iHPbFExmzoQC&dq=%22san+diego%22+%22mediterranean%22+koppen&pg=PA182 Weather and Climate: An Illustrated Guide to Science]. 2006. p.182.</ref> San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round,<ref>Michalski, Greg et al. [http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~reh/papers/pubs/non_Honrath/michalski03_GL017015.pdf First Measurements and Modeling of ∆<sup>17</sup>O in atmospheric nitrate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724021112/http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~reh/papers/pubs/non_Honrath/michalski03_GL017015.pdf |date=July 24, 2013 }}. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 30, No. 16. p.3. 2003.</ref> with an average of 201 days above {{convert|70|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and low rainfall ({{convert|9|-|13|in|mm|disp=x| [|]}} annually).<!--<ref name = "NOAA">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/climate/san-san-month.htm |title=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency: San Diego climate by month |publisher=Wrh.noaa.gov |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref>-->

The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in [[microclimate]]s. In San Diego, this is mostly because of the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/[[June Gloom|June gloom]]" period, a thick "[[marine layer]]" cloud cover keeps the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but yields to bright cloudless sunshine approximately {{convert|5|–|10|mi|km|0}} inland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/gloom.html |title=UCSD |publisher=Meteora.ucsd.edu |date=May 14, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613050427/http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/gloom.html |archive-date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref> Sometimes the June gloom lasts into July, causing cloudy skies over most of San Diego for the entire day.<ref name=weather1>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USca0982|title=Monthly Averages for San Diego, CA|access-date=April 22, 2009|publisher=[[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502201247/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USCA0982|archive-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name=weather_el_cajon>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/92020|title=Monthly Averages for El Cajon, CA|access-date=April 22, 2009|publisher=[[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604055354/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/92020|archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas experience much more significant temperature variations than coastal areas, where the ocean serves as a moderating influence. Thus, for example, downtown San Diego averages January lows of {{convert|50|F|C}} and August highs of {{convert|78|F|C}}. The city of [[El Cajon, California|El Cajon]], just {{convert|12|mi|km}} inland from downtown San Diego, averages January lows of {{convert|42|F|C}} and August highs of {{convert|88|F|C}}.

The average surface temperature of the water at Scripps Pier in the [[California Current]] has increased by almost {{convert|3|F-change}} since 1950, according to scientists at [[Scripps Institution of Oceanography]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Lee, Mike|title=Is global warming changing California Current?|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/18/taking-stock-california-current/|date=June 18, 2011|work=U-T (San Diego Union Tribune)|access-date=June 20, 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the mean minimum is now above {{convert|40|F|C}}, putting San Diego in [[hardiness zone]] 11, with the last freeze having occurred many decades ago.

[[File:SurfPacificBeach.jpg|thumb|Surfers at [[Pacific Beach, San Diego|Pacific Beach]]]]

Annual rainfall along the coast averages {{convert|10.65|in|mm}} and the median is {{convert|9.6|in|mm}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=''San Diego's average rainfall set to lower level'' |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/16/san-diegos-average-rainfall-set-lower-level/ |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> The months of December through March supply most of the rain, with February the only month averaging {{convert|2|in|mm}} or more. The months of May through September tend to be almost completely dry. Although there are few wet days per month during the rainy period, rainfall can be heavy when it does fall. Rainfall is usually greater in the higher elevations of San Diego; some of the higher areas can receive {{convert|11|-|15|in|mm}} per year. Variability from year to year can be dramatic: in the wettest years of 1883/1884 and 1940/1941, more than {{convert|24|in|mm|-1}} fell, whilst in the driest years there was as little as {{convert|3.2|in|mm|-1}}. The wettest month on record is December 1921 with {{convert|9.21|in|mm|0}}.

Snow in the city is rare, having been observed only six times in the century and a half that records have been kept.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rowe |first=Peter |url=http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071213-9999-1n13snowday.html |title=The day it snowed in San Diego |work=San Diego Union Tribune |date=December 13, 2007 |access-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810074613/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071213-9999-1n13snowday.html |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }}</ref> On February 21, 2019, snow fell and accumulated in residential areas of the city, but none fell in the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm brings major snowfall to East County communities |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/weather/south-moving-storm-douses-county-with-rain-snow/ |website=Fox 5 |date=February 21, 2019 |publisher=Fox 5 Digital Team |access-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511120229/https://fox5sandiego.com/weather/south-moving-storm-douses-county-with-rain-snow/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{San Diego weatherbox}}
{{notelist}}

===Ecology===
{{see also|California coastal sage and chaparral}}
[[File:Cabrillo Monument 04.JPG|thumb|left|View of [[Coronado, California|Coronado]] from [[Cabrillo National Monument]]]]
Like much of [[Southern California]], the majority of San Diego's current area was originally occupied on the west by [[coastal sage scrub]] and on the east by [[chaparral]], plant communities made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs.<ref>Pryde, Philip R. 2014. "The Nature of the County: San Diego's Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife". In: ''San Diego: An Introduction to the Region'', by Philip R. Pryde, pp. 29–45. 5th ed. Sunbelt Publications, San Diego.</ref> The steep and varied topography and proximity to the ocean create a number of different habitats within the city limits, including [[tidal marsh]] and [[canyons]]. The chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats in low elevations along the coast are prone to [[wildfire]], and the rates of fire increased in the 20th century, due primarily to fires starting near the borders of urban and wild areas.<ref name="FireVegetation">{{cite journal|last1=Wells|first1=Michael L.|first2=John F. |last2=O'Leary |first3=Janet |last3=Franklin |first4=Joel |last4=Michaelsen |first5=David E. |last5=McKinsey|title=Variations in a regional fire regime related to vegetation type in San Diego County, California (USA)|journal=Landscape Ecology|volume= 19|issue= 2|pages=139–152|date=November 2, 2004| doi = 10.1023/B:LAND.0000021713.81489.a7|bibcode=2004LaEco..19..139W |s2cid=40769609|id=1572-9761}}</ref>

San Diego's broad city limits encompass a number of large nature preserves, including [[Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve]], [[Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve]], and [[Mission Trails Regional Park]]. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and a coastal strip continuing to the north constitute one of only two locations where the rare species of Torrey Pine, ''[[Torrey pine|Pinus torreyana]]'', is found.<ref name="TorreyPine">{{cite web|last1=Strömberg |first1=Nicklas |first2=Michael |last2=Hogan |title=Torrey Pine: Pinus torreyana |publisher=GlobalTwitcher |date=November 29, 2008 |url=http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec.asp?thingid=62498 |access-date=April 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116150148/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec.asp?thingid=62498 |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> 
Due to the steep topography that prevents or discourages building, along with some efforts for preservation, there are also a large number of canyons within the city limits that serve as nature preserves, including [[Switzer Canyon]], Tecolote Canyon Natural Park,<ref name="TecoloteCanyon">{{cite web | url=http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/osp/tecolote/ | title=Tecolote Canyon Natural Park & Nature Center | publisher=The City of San Diego | access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> and Marian Bear Memorial Park in [[San Clemente Canyon]],<ref name="MarianBear">{{cite web | url=http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/osp/marianbear/index.shtml | title=Marian Bear Memorial Park | publisher=The City of San Diego | access-date=April 22, 2009 | archive-date=May 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505224949/http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/osp/marianbear/index.shtml | url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as a number of small parks and preserves.
[[File:Cowles Mtn. from Lake Murray - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cowles Mountain]] from [[Lake Murray (California)|Lake Murray]]]]
[[File:Old Town, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (11) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Serra Museum at [[Presidio Park]]]]
San Diego County has one of the highest counts of animal and plant species that appear on the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species|endangered list]] of counties in the United States.<ref name="legacy.utsandiego.com">{{Cite web|url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/politics/20070328-9999-1n28esa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021134521/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/politics/20070328-9999-1n28esa.html|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Politics – White House seeks limits to species act|date=October 21, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> Because of its diversity of habitat and its position on the [[Pacific Flyway]], San Diego County has recorded 492 different bird species, more than any other region in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/research/birdatlas_draft/index.html|title=San Diego County Bird Atlas Project|work=San Diego Natural History Museum|access-date=June 20, 2014}}</ref> San Diego always scores high in the number of bird species observed in the annual [[Christmas Bird Count]], sponsored by the [[Audubon Society]], and it is known as one of the "birdiest" areas in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Corpus Christi Recognized as Birdiest City |url=http://www.corpuschristidaily.com/article_detail_new.cfm?id=1353 |newspaper=Corpus Christi Daily |date=December 2004 |access-date=April 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025155936/http://www.corpuschristidaily.com/article_detail_new.cfm?id=1353 |archive-date=October 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/36229005/Corpus-Christi-Remains-'Birdiest-City-in-America |title=Corpus Christi remains 'birdiest city in America' |date=June 25, 2008 |publisher=Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau |access-date=April 13, 2011}}</ref>

San Diego and its backcountry suffer from periodic wildfires. In October 2003, San Diego was the site of the [[Cedar Fire (2003)|Cedar Fire]], at that time the largest wildfire in California over the past century.<ref name="CedarLargeFire">{{cite journal|last=Goldstein|first=Bruce Evan|title=The Futility of Reason: Incommensurable Differences Between Sustainability Narratives in the Aftermath of the 2003 San Diego Cedar Fire|journal=Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning|volume=9|issue=3 & 4|pages=227–244|date=September 2007|doi=10.1080/15239080701622766|bibcode=2007JEPP....9..227E |s2cid=216142119}}</ref> The fire burned {{convert|280000|acres|km2}}, killed 15 people, and destroyed more than 2,200 homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/cdf/incidents/Cedar%20Fire_120/incident_info.html |title=CalFire website |publisher=Fire.ca.gov |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711214728/http://www.fire.ca.gov/cdf/incidents/Cedar%20Fire_120/incident_info.html }}</ref> In addition to damage caused by the fire, smoke resulted in a significant increase in emergency room visits; the poor air quality caused San Diego County schools to close for a week.<ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Viswanathan |first1 = S.| first2 = L. |last2=Eria |first3=N. |last3=Diunugala |first4=J. |last4=Johnson |first5=C. |last5=McClean| title = An Analysis of Effects of San Diego Wildfire on Ambient Air Quality| journal = Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association| volume = 56| issue = 1| pages = 56–67| date = January 2006| url = http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=6707765&q=wildfire+%22san+diego+%22&uid=&setcookie=yes| access-date = December 15, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081227170026/http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=6707765&q=wildfire+%22san+diego+%22&uid=&setcookie=yes| archive-date = December 27, 2008| doi = 10.1080/10473289.2006.10464439| pmid = 16499147| bibcode=2006JAWMA..56...56V | s2cid = 27215815| doi-access = free}}</ref> The [[October 2007 California wildfires]] destroyed some areas, particularly within [[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]], as well as the nearby communities of [[Rancho Santa Fe, California|Rancho Santa Fe]] and [[Ramona, California|Ramona]].<ref name="legacy.utsandiego.com"/>

===Neighborhoods===
{{Main|List of communities and neighborhoods of San Diego}}
The City of San Diego recognizes 52 individual areas as Community Planning Areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/index.shtml |title=City of San Diego Community Planning Areas |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506014002/http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/index.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Within a given planning area there may be several distinct neighborhoods. Altogether the city contains more than 100 identified [[Neighborhoods of San Diego, California|neighborhoods]].

[[Downtown San Diego]] is located on [[San Diego Bay]]. [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]] encompasses several mesas and canyons to the northeast, surrounded by older, dense urban communities including [[Hillcrest, San Diego|Hillcrest]] and [[North Park, San Diego|North Park]]. To the east and southeast lie [[City Heights, San Diego|City Heights]], the [[College Area]], and [[Southeast San Diego]]. To the north lies [[Mission Valley]] and [[Interstate 8]]. The communities north of the valley and freeway, and south of [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]], include [[Clairemont, San Diego|Clairemont]], [[Kearny Mesa]], [[Tierrasanta]], and [[Navajo, San Diego|Navajo]]. Stretching north from Miramar are the northern suburbs of [[Mira Mesa]], [[Scripps Ranch]], [[Rancho Peñasquitos]], and [[Rancho Bernardo]]. The far northeast portion of the city encompasses [[Lake Hodges]] and the [[San Pasqual Valley]], which holds an agricultural preserve. [[Carmel Valley, San Diego|Carmel Valley]] and [[Del Mar Heights, San Diego|Del Mar Heights]] occupy the northwest corner of the city. To their south are [[Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve]] and the business center of the [[Golden Triangle, San Diego|Golden Triangle]]. Further south are the beach and coastal communities of [[La Jolla]], [[Pacific Beach, San Diego|Pacific Beach]], [[Mission Beach, San Diego|Mission Beach]], and [[Ocean Beach, San Diego|Ocean Beach]]. [[Point Loma]] occupies the peninsula across San Diego Bay from downtown. The communities of [[South San Diego]] (an [[Exclave]]), such as [[San Ysidro, San Diego|San Ysidro]] and [[Otay Mesa]], are located next to the [[Mexico–United States border]], and are physically separated from the rest of the city by the cities of [[National City, California|National City]] and [[Chula Vista]]. A narrow strip of land at the bottom of San Diego Bay connects these southern neighborhoods with the rest of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/nonprofits/how-san-ysidro-became-part-of-the-city-of-san-diego/|title=How San Ysidro Became Part of the City of San Diego|date=May 8, 2019|website=Voice of San Diego|language=en-US|access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="100" caption="Selection of [[List of communities and neighborhoods of San Diego|neighborhoods in San Diego]]">
File:La Jolla Shores photo D Ramey Logan (cropped).jpg|[[La Jolla]]
File:North Park, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (11) (cropped).jpg|[[North Park, San Diego|North Park]]
File:La Playa, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (10) (cropped).jpg|[[Point Loma, San Diego|Point Loma]]
File:East Village, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (24).jpg|[[East Village, San Diego|East Village]]
File:Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego-1.jpg|[[Gaslamp Quarter]]
File:Guild Theater, San Diego.jpg|[[Hillcrest, San Diego|Hillcrest]]
File:University of San Diego (cropped).jpg|[[Linda Vista, San Diego|Linda Vista]]
File:San Diego - California - Yacht Harbor with Hotels (cropped).jpg|[[Columbia, San Diego|Columbia]]
File:Normal Height's sign, Adams Avenue.jpg|[[Normal Heights, San Diego|Normal Heights]]
File:Rancho Bernardo View (cropped).jpg|[[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]]
File:Marina, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (35) (cropped).jpg|[[Marina, San Diego|Marina district]]
</gallery>
For the most part, San Diego neighborhood boundaries tend to be understood by its residents based on geographical boundaries like canyons and street patterns.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1538-4632.1990.tb00213.x|title=Residents' Spatial Knowledge of Neighborhood Continuity and Form', Geographical Analysis|author=Aitken, Stuart |author2=Prosser, Rudy|date=September 3, 2010|volume=22|issue=4|journal=Geographical Analysis|pages=301–325|doi-access=free}}</ref> The city recognized the importance of its neighborhoods when it organized its 2008 General Plan around the concept of a "City of Villages".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/18/city-sandag-win-planning-awards/ |title=City, SANDAG win planning awards| author=Roger Showley |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref>

===Cityscape===
{{main|List of tallest buildings in San Diego}}
[[File:US Navy 110604-N-NS602-574 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, along with community leaders from the greater San Diego area come together to commemora (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of central San Diego]]
San Diego was originally centered on the [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town]] district, but by the late 1860s the focus had shifted to the bayfront, in the belief that this new location would increase trade. As the "New Town" – present-day Downtown – waterfront location quickly developed, it eclipsed Old Town as the center of San Diego.<ref name=Cornerstone />

The first skyscraper over {{convert|300|ft|m}} in San Diego was the [[El Cortez (San Diego)|El Cortez Hotel]], built in 1927; it was the tallest building in the city until 1963.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Diego Timeline Diagram |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=120&searchname=timeline |publisher=Skyscraper Source Media |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> As time went on, multiple buildings claimed the title of San Diego's tallest skyscraper, including the [[530 B Street]] and [[Symphony Towers]]. Currently the tallest building in San Diego is [[One America Plaza]], standing {{Convert|500|feet}} tall, which was completed in 1991.<ref name="EmpOneAmer">{{cite web|title=One America Plaza|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118065/one-america-plaza-san-diego-ca-usa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223133323/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118065/one-america-plaza-san-diego-ca-usa|archive-date=February 23, 2015|publisher=Emporis.com|url-status=usurped|access-date=May 16, 2009}}</ref> The downtown skyline contains no [[supertall]] buildings due to a regulation put in place by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) in the 1970s, which set a {{convert|500|ft|m|0}} limit on the height of buildings within a {{Convert|1|mi|adj=on|spell=in}} radius of [[San Diego International Airport]].<ref name="500feetAirport">{{cite web|title=Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for San Diego International Airport|url=http://www.san.org/documents/aluc/SDIA_ALUCP.pdf|publisher=San Diego County Regional Airport Authority|pages=51–52|date=October 4, 2004|access-date=May 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630100212/http://www.san.org/documents/aluc/SDIA_ALUCP.pdf|archive-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> An iconic description of the skyline includes its skyscrapers being compared to the tools of a toolbox.<ref name="SkyGrowsUp">{{Cite news|last=Bergman|first=Heather|title=San Diego's skyline grows up: residential towers filling some of the missing 'tools' as office projects are nearing completion|url=http://theheritagegroup.com/wp-content/press/062705.php|work=[[San Diego Business Journal]]|date=June 27, 2005|access-date=August 28, 2012|publisher=The Heritage Group|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204070303/http://theheritagegroup.com/wp-content/press/062705.php|archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref>

There are [[List of tallest buildings in San Diego|several new high-rises under construction]], including two that exceed 400 feet (122 m) in height.

==Demographics==
{{further|Demographics of San Diego County, California|Hispanics and Latinos in San Diego}}
{{US Census population
| 1850 = 500
| 1860 = 731
| 1870 = 2300
| 1880 = 2637
| 1890 = 16159
| 1900 = 17700
| 1910 = 39578
| 1920 = 74361
| 1930 = 147995
| 1940 = 203341
| 1950 = 334387
| 1960 = 573224
| 1970 = 696769
| 1980 = 875538
| 1990 = 1110549
| 2000 = 1223400
| 2010 = 1307402
| 2020 = 1386932
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 1404452
| estref = <ref name="h138">{{cite web | title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Diego city, California | website=Census Bureau QuickFacts | date=2024-07-01 | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocitycalifornia/LFE041223 | access-date=2025-05-15}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = Population History of Western<br />U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990<ref name="RM 54"/><br />U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 27, 2015|author-link=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> <br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts"/>
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible mw-collapsed" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Historical racial composition !! 2020<ref name="2020census">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0666000 |title=2020 Racial and Ethnic Statistics |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 21, 2022 }}</ref>!! 2010<ref name="Census SD quickfacts" /> !! 1990<ref name="USCensusRace2012">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Campbell |last2=Jung |first2=Kay |title=Historical Census Statistics On Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For Large Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>!! 1970<ref name="USCensusRace2012" /> !! 1940<ref name="USCensusRace2012" />
|-
| [[White Americans|White]] (non-Hispanic) || 40.7% || 45.1% ||  58.7% ||  78.9%{{efn|name="fifteen"|From 15% sample}} || n/a
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race) || 29.7% || 28.8% || 20.7% || 10.7%{{efn|name="fifteen"}} || n/a
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] (non-Hispanic) || 17.6% || 15.9% || 11.8% || 2.2% || 1.0%

|-
| [[African American|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic) || 6.6% || 6.7% || 9.4% ||  7.6% || 2.0%
|}
{{notelist}}

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''San Diego, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – San Diego city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0666000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Diego city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0666000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Diego city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0666000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|603,892
|589,702
|style='background: #ffffe6; |565,128
|49.36%
|45.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40.75%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|92,830
|82,497
|style='background: #ffffe6; |77,542
|7.59%
|6.31%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.59%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|4,267
|3,545
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,200
|0.35%
|0.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|164,895
|204,347
|style='background: #ffffe6; |243,428
|13.48%
|15.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.55%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|5,311
|5,178
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,887
|0.43%
|0.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|3,065
|3,293
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,208
|0.25%
|0.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.59%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|38,388
|42,820
|style='background: #ffffe6; |73,243
|3.14%
|3.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.28%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|310,752
|376,020
|style='background: #ffffe6; |411,286
|25.40%
|28.76%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |29.65%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,223,400'''
|'''1,307,402'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,386,932'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
The city had a population of 1,307,402 according to the 2010 census, distributed over a land area of {{convert|372.1|sqmi|km2|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/data-drive/article_0b4c5ece-49cd-11e0-be00-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Census: 1,307,402 Live in San Diego |date=March 8, 2011 |website=Voice of San Diego |access-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121228082005/http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/data-drive/article_0b4c5ece-49cd-11e0-be00-001cc4c002e0.html |archive-date=December 28, 2012 }}</ref> The urban area of San Diego had a total population of 2,956,746, making it the [[List of urbanized areas in California (by population)|third-largest]] in the state, after those of [[Los Angeles metropolitan area|Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco metropolitan area|San Francisco]].

The 2010 population represented an increase of just under 7% from the 1,223,400 people reported in 2000.<ref name="Census SD quickfacts">{{cite web
 |title=San Diego (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
 |publisher=US Census Bureau
 |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0666000.html
 |access-date=February 14, 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802190059/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0666000.html
 |archive-date=August 2, 2012
}}</ref> The population density was {{Convert|3771.9|PD/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of San Diego was 58.9% [[White American|White]], 6.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 15.9% [[Asian American|Asian]] (5.9% [[Filipino American|Filipino]], 2.7% [[Chinese American|Chinese]], 2.5% [[Vietnamese American|Vietnamese]], 1.3% [[Indian American|Indian]], 1.0% [[Korean American|Korean]], 0.7% [[Japanese American|Japanese]], 0.4% [[Laotian American|Laotian]], 0.3% [[Cambodian American|Cambodian]], 0.1% [[Thai American|Thai]]). 0.5% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]] (0.2% [[Guamanian]], 0.1% [[Samoan American|Samoan]], 0.1% [[Native Hawaiian]]), 12.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.1% from two or more races. 28.8% of the population was [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] (of any race);<ref name="Census SD quickfacts" /><ref name="census2010">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/ca|title=San Diego, CA Census Profile|date=March 8, 2011|access-date=March 12, 2011|work=USA Today|archive-date=March 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311130413/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/CA}}</ref> 24.9% of the total population was of  [[Mexican American|Mexican]] heritage, 1.4% [[Spanish American|Spanish]] and 0.6% [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]]. The median age of Hispanic residents was 27.5 years, compared to 35.1 years overall and 41.6 years among non-Hispanic whites; Hispanic San Diegans were the largest group under the age of 18, while non-Hispanic whites constituted 63.1% of population 55 and older.
[[File:Race and ethnicity 2010- San Diego (5560483270).png|thumb|left|Map of racial distribution in San Diego, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|Non-Hispanic White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}}]]
{{As of|2019|1}}, the San Diego City and County had the fifth-largest [[Homelessness in the United States|homeless]] population among major cities in the United States, with 8,102 people experiencing homelessness.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 AHAR: Part 1 - PIT Estimates of Homelessness in the U.S. - HUD Exchange |url=https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5948/2019-ahar-part-1-pit-estimates-of-homelessness-in-the-us/ |website=www.hudexchange.info |publisher=[[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]] |date=January 2020}}</ref> In the city of San Diego, 4,887 individuals were experiencing homelessness according to the 2020 count.<ref>{{cite web |title=Homelessness on City of San Diego Streets Drops by 12 Percent in Annual Count |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/news/releases/homelessness-city-san-diego-streets-drops-12-percent-annual-count |website=City of San Diego Official Website |date=April 28, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102002444/https://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/news/releases/homelessness-city-san-diego-streets-drops-12-percent-annual-count }}</ref> A December 11, 2023, article in ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' by Blake Nelson reports a notable decline in the homeless population in downtown San Diego, specifically in the urban core. According to data from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the number of individuals living outside or in vehicles has reached a two-year low, standing at approximately 1,200 as of last month. The decrease is attributed to the implementation of the city's camping ban and the concerted efforts to establish new shelters. While enforcement has led to relatively few individuals being punished, the threat of legal consequences appears to have played a role in the reduction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Blake |date=December 12, 2023 |title=The homeless population downtown just hit a two-year low. The result is a mixed bag. |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/homelessness/story/2023-12-11/the-homeless-population-downtown-just-hit-a-two-year-low-thats-good-and-bad-news |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2000 there were 451,126 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. Households made up of individuals account for 28.0%, 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.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2000, 24.0% of San Diego residents were under 18, and 10.5% were 65 and over.<ref name="Census SD quickfacts"/> {{As of|2011}} the median age was 35.6; more than a quarter of residents were under age 20 and 11% were over age 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/population.shtml|title=Population|date=March 1, 2011|work=City of San Diego|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302215417/http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/population.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Millennials]] (ages 26 through 42) constitute 27.1% of San Diego's population, the second-highest percentage in a major U.S. city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sdbj.com/news/2016/mar/03/san-diego-has-nations-second-largest-millennial-po/|title=San Diego Has Nation's Second-Largest Millennial Population|last=Lipkin|first=Michael|date=March 3, 2016|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> The San Diego County regional planning agency, SANDAG, provides tables and graphs breaking down the city population into five-year age groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:jmr6Ynim0y4J:profilewarehouse.sandag.org/profiles/est/city14est.pdf+city+san+diego+population+age&hl=en&gl=us |title=SANDAG document |access-date=July 1, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Barrio Logan, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (8) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Barrio Logan]] is a [[Chicano]] cultural hub and [[ethnic enclave]].]]
In 2000, the [[median household income|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 $35,199.<ref name="2000SDCensus">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US0666000&_geoContext=01000US|title=San Diego city, California|year=2000|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212052515/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US0666000&_geoContext=01000US|archive-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> According to ''[[Forbes]]'' in 2005, San Diego was the fifth wealthiest U.S. city,<ref name="ForbesRichestCities">{{cite news|last=Clemence|first=Sara|title=Richest Cities in the U.S.|work=Forbes |date=October 28, 2005|url=https://www.forbes.com/2005/10/27/richest-cities-US-cx_sc_1028home_ls.html|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> but about 10.6% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="2000SDCensus" /> As of January 1, 2008, estimates by the [[San Diego Association of Governments]] revealed that the household median income for San Diego rose to $66,715, up from $45,733 in 2000.<ref name="sandag">{{cite web|url=http://profilewarehouse.sandag.org/profiles/est/city14est.pdf|title=Population and Housing Estimates|publisher=SANDAG: Profile Warehouse|year=2008|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=June 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614144150/http://profilewarehouse.sandag.org/profiles/est/city14est.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

San Diego was named the ninth-most [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT]]-friendly city in the U.S. in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|author=Divya - NerdWallet.com |url=http://www.sdgln.com/social/2013/05/30/nerdwallet-names-most-gay-friendly-cities-sandiego |title=NerdWallet names America's most gay-friendly cities &#124; San Diego Gay and Lesbian News |publisher=Sdgln.com |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> The city also has the [[Top US Gay Populations|seventh-highest population]] of gay residents in the U.S. Additionally in 2013, [[San Diego State University#LGBT-Friendly campus|San Diego State University]] (SDSU), one of the city's prominent universities, was named one of the top LGBT-friendly campuses in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campuspride.org/tag/san-diego-state-university/ |title=San Diego State University &#124; Campus Pride &#124; The leading national organization for LGBT student leaders and campus groups |publisher=Campus Pride |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

===Religion===

According to a 2014 study by the [[Pew Research Center]], 68% of the population of the city identified themselves as [[Christians]], with 32% professing adherence to various [[Protestant]] churches and 32% professing [[Roman Catholic]] beliefs.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles/ Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles], Pew Research Center</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/ |title=America's Changing Religious Landscape |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]: Religion & Public Life |date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> while 27% claim [[Irreligion|no religious affiliation]]. The same study found that followers of other religions (including [[Judaism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Islam]], and [[Hinduism]]) collectively made up about 5% of the population.

===Foreign-born population===
The majority of San Diego's foreign-born population were born in Mexico, the [[Philippines]], China and [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://go.sandiegouniontribune.com/immigrants|title=Our immigrant story|website=go.sandiegouniontribune.com}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of San Diego}}
[[File:FA18CHornetOverSanDiegoNov08.jpg|thumb|right|An [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet]] flying over San Diego. The city serves as a major hub for the [[defense industry]] and [[U.S. military]].]]
[[File:OneAmericaPlazaSDSept10.jpg|thumb|right|[[One America Plaza]] is the [[List of tallest buildings in San Diego|tallest building in San Diego]].]]
The largest sectors of San Diego's economy are [[Defense industry|defense/military]], [[tourism]], [[international trade]], and [[Research and development|research]]/[[manufacturing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/economy.shtml |title=City of San Diego website: Economic Development |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506001856/http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/economy.shtml |archive-date=May 6, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="TribuneEconomySectors">{{cite news|last=Powell|first=Ronald W.|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20071017-9999-1b17tourism.html|title=Tourism district OK'd by council|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=October 17, 2007|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> 
San Diego recorded a [[median household income]] of $79,646 in 2018, an increase of 3.89% from $76,662 in 2017.<ref name="datausa">[https://datausa.io/profile/geo/san-diego-ca/ San Diego] ''DataUSA''</ref> The median property value in San Diego in 2018 was $654,700,<ref name="datausa" /> and the average home has two cars per household.<ref name="datausa" />

===Top employers===
{{See also|List of companies headquartered in San Diego}}

According to the city's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref name="acfr">[https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/acfr-2024.pdf City of San Diego, California Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Year ended June 30, 2021], page 297</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Employer
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}} of Employees
|-
|[[Naval Base San Diego]]
|40,472
|-
|[[University of California, San Diego]]
|39,688
|-
|[[Sharp HealthCare]]
|20,139
|-
|[[Government of San Diego County, California|County of San Diego]]
|18,936
|-
|[[San Diego Unified School District]]
|17,226
|-
|[[Scripps Health]]
|14,732
|-
|City of San Diego
|13,408
|-
|[[Qualcomm]]
|10,124
|-
|[[Kaiser Permanente]]
|7,687
|-
|[[Northrop Grumman]]
|6,639
|}

===Defense and military===
[[File:An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter flies over San Diego. (24546100368) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|View of [[Naval Base San Diego]]]]
The economy of San Diego is influenced by [[Port of San Diego|its deepwater port]], which includes the only major submarine and shipbuilding yards on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Full steam ahead for Nassco shipyard in San Diego |author=Ronald D. White |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-jul-03-la-fi-made-in-california-shipyard-20110703-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=July 3, 2011 |access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> Several major national [[defense contractor]]s were started and are headquartered in San Diego, including [[General Atomics]], [[Cubic Corporation|Cubic]], and [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company|NASSCO]].<ref>{{cite news |title=S.D. companies dominate defense industry rankings |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/11/8-san-diego-defense-contractors-get-high-ranking/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=August 11, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsandiego.com/resources/CPW12/2-SanDiego.pdf |title=San Diego |work=San Diego Convention Center Corporation |publisher=City of San Diego |access-date=September 1, 2012 |quote=Several major defense contractors are also headquartered in San Diego, including General Atomics, Cubic and NASSCO. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505182218/http://www.visitsandiego.com/resources/CPW12/2-SanDiego.pdf |archive-date=May 5, 2012 }}</ref>

San Diego hosts the largest naval fleet in the world:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sccoos.ucsd.edu/docs/FY11-16_IOOS_Proposal_web.pdf |title=Submitted in response to Federal Funding Opportunity: FY 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) |author=Eric Terrill |author2=Julia Thomas, Anne Footer |work=Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System |publisher=[[University of California, San Diego]] |access-date=April 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826191339/http://sccoos.ucsd.edu/docs/FY11-16_IOOS_Proposal_web.pdf |archive-date=August 26, 2011 }}</ref> In 2008 it was home to 53 ships, over 120 tenant commands, and more than 35,000 sailors, marines, [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] civilian employees and contractors.<ref name=Navy.mil /> About 5 percent of all civilian jobs in the county are military-related, and 15,000 businesses in San Diego County rely on Department of Defense contracts.<ref name=Navy.mil>{{cite web|title=Naval Base San Diego Thanks Navy League for Support|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38356|publisher=U.S. Department of the Navy|access-date=April 7, 2011|archive-date=June 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624020835/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38356}}</ref>
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 100813-D-7203C-008 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego|Marine Corps Recruit Depot]]]]
Military bases in San Diego include [[US Navy]] facilities, [[USMC|Marine Corps]] bases, and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] stations.
The city is "home to the majority of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's surface combatants, all of the Navy's West Coast amphibious ships and a variety of Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command vessels".<ref name=Navy.mil /><ref>{{cite news |title=San Diego companies lead state in '11 defense contracts |author=Tierney Plumb |url=http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20120824czf |newspaper=San Diego Daily Transcript |date=August 24, 2012 |access-date=September 1, 2012 |quote=San Diego houses the largest concentration of military in the world; it is the homeport to more than 60 percent of the ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and more than one-third of the combat power of the U.S. Marine Corps. }}</ref>

The military infrastructure in San Diego is still growing and developing, with numerous military personnel stationed there, numbers of which are expected to rise. This plays a significant role in the city's economy, {{As of|2020|lc=y}}, it provides roughly 25% of the GDP and provides 23% of the total jobs in San Diego.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2019-10-10/u-s-military-economic-footprint-in-san-diego-is-growing-new-report-says|title=U.S. military economic footprint in San Diego is growing, new report says|date=October 10, 2019|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/navbase_san_diego/|title=Welcome to Naval Base San Diego|website=Cnic.navy.mil|access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdmac.org/media/uploads/meir-web.pdf|title=2020 San Diego Military Economic Impact Report|website=Sdmac.org|access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312012524/https://www.sdmac.org/media/uploads/meir-web.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (224).jpg|thumb|left|[[Casa de Balboa]] at [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]] is home to the [[San Diego History Center]].]]
Tourism is a major industry owing to the city's climate, [[Beaches in San Diego, California|beaches]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Calvert|first=Kyla|title=Arizona Visitors Still Flocking To San Diego Beaches|publisher=KPBS|location=San Diego, CA|date=July 15, 2010|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jul/15/arizone-visitors-still-flocking-san-diego-beaches/|access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref> and tourist attractions such as [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]], [[Belmont Park (San Diego)|Belmont Park]], [[San Diego Zoo]], [[San Diego Zoo Safari Park]], and [[SeaWorld San Diego]]. San Diego's Spanish and Mexican heritage is reflected in many historic sites across the city, such as [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]] and [[Old Town San Diego State Historic Park]]. Also, the [[Beer in San Diego County, California|local craft brewing industry]] attracts an increasing number of visitors<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/travel/san-diegos-thriving-craft-beer-scene.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=Beyond San Diego's Surf and Sun: Suds|last=Dickerman|first=Sara|date=May 25, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref> for "beer tours" and the annual San Diego Beer Week in November;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thefullpint.com/beer-news/san-diego-kicks-off-first-ever-beer-week/|title=San Diego Kicks Off First-Ever Beer Week|date=August 17, 2009|work=The Full Pint|access-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref> San Diego has been called "America's Craft Beer Capital".<ref>{{cite book|last=Glassman|first=Bruce|title=San Diego's Top Brewers: Inside America's Craft Beer Capital|publisher=Chef's Press|isbn=978-0981622231|date=March 30, 2014}}</ref>

San Diego County hosted more than 32&nbsp;million visitors in 2012; collectively they spent an estimated $8&nbsp;billion. The visitor industry provides employment for more than 160,000 people.<ref name="sandiego.org">{{cite web|title=San Diego Tourism Industry Research|year=2012|url=http://www.sandiego.org/shared/file.download.php?id=394|publisher=San Diego Tourism Authority|access-date=July 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221093643/https://www.sandiego.org/shared/file.download.php?id=394|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>

San Diego's cruise ship industry used to be the second-largest in California. Numerous cruise lines operate out of San Diego. However, cruise ship business has been in decline since 2008, when the Port hosted over 250 ship calls and more than 900,000 passengers. By 2016–2017, the number of ship calls had fallen to 90.<ref name="MexicanRivieraLikelyEnd">{{cite news | url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-top-ports-20170809-story. | title=Is San Diego cruise business making a comeback? | newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune | author=Lori Weisberg | date=August 10, 2017 | access-date=December 21, 2017 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=Artix Kreiger 2 |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Local sightseeing cruises are offered in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, as well as whale-watching cruises to observe the migration of [[gray whale]]s, peaking in mid-January.<ref name="InTheCitySanDiego.com">{{cite web|title=Whale Watching in San Diego |date=2011–2012 |url=http://www.inthecitysandiego.com/whale-watching-in-san-diego.html |publisher=InTheCity-SanDiego Tourism |access-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207005402/http://www.inthecitysandiego.com/whale-watching-in-san-diego.html |archive-date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref> [[Sport fishing]] is another popular tourist attraction; San Diego is home to southern California's biggest sport fishing fleet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/03/sport-fishing-san-diego/|title=The big hook-up: Sportfishing's superb season|last=Sisson|first=Paul|date=September 3, 2015|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919130049/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/sep/03/sport-fishing-san-diego/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===International trade===
[[File:Cruise Ships Visit Port of San Diego 005 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Port of San Diego]] is the third-busiest port in [[California]].]]
San Diego's commercial port and its location on the [[United States–Mexico border]] make international trade an important factor in the city's economy. The city is authorized by the United States government to operate as a [[foreign-trade zone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/trade/tradezone.shtml |title=City of San Diego:Foreign Trade Zone |access-date=April 28, 2011 |archive-date=May 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502060753/http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/trade/tradezone.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The city shares a {{convert|15|mi|km|adj=on}} border with Mexico that includes two border crossings. San Diego hosts the busiest international border crossing in the world, in the San Ysidro neighborhood at the [[San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Expansion Project|San Ysidro Port of Entry]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Number of border crossings stabilizes |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/11/number-of-border-crossings-stabilizes/ |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> A second, primarily commercial border crossing operates in the [[Otay Mesa, San Diego|Otay Mesa]] area; it is the largest commercial crossing on the California–[[Baja California]] border and handles the third-highest volume of trucks and dollar value of trade among all United States-Mexico land crossings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sandiegohealth.org/sandag/publicationid_853_1782.pdf |title=SANDAG: Otay Mesa Port of Entry Southbound Truck Route Improvements |publisher=sandiegohealth.org |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:San Ysidro Border Traffic (8653120372) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[San Ysidro Port of Entry]] is the [[Border checkpoint#Busiest checkpoints in the world|4th-busiest border crossing in the world]].]]
The [[Port of San Diego]] is the third-busiest port in California and one of the busiest on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. One of the Port of San Diego's two [[cargo]] facilities is located in [[downtown San Diego]] at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. This terminal has facilities for [[Shipping container|containers]], [[bulk cargo]], and [[refrigerated]] and frozen storage, so that it can handle the import and export of many commodities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portofsandiego.org/maritime/tenth-avenue-terminal.html |title=Port of San Diego:10th Avenue Marine Terminal |access-date=April 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505013601/http://www.portofsandiego.org/maritime/tenth-avenue-terminal.html |archive-date=May 5, 2011 }}</ref> In 2009 the Port of San Diego handled 1,137,054 short tons of total trade; foreign trade accounted for 956,637 short tons while domestic trade amounted to 180,417 short tons.<ref>{{cite news |title=National ranking of California ports by cargo volume |url=http://www.sddt.com/news/article.cfm?SourceCode=20110321czc |newspaper=San Diego Daily Transcript |date=March 21, 2011 |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref>

Historically tuna fishing and canning was one of San Diego's major industries,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/tuna|title=Tuna! Celebrating San Diego's Famous Fishing Industry|work=San Diego History Center|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> although the American tuna fishing fleet is no longer based in San Diego. Seafood company [[Bumble Bee Foods]] is headquartered in San Diego, as was [[Chicken of the Sea]] until 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bumble Bee may buzz downtown: The tuna company considers high-profile move from Kearny Mesa |author=Roger Showley |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/29/bumblebee-downtown-headquarters/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=January 29, 2013 |access-date=February 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724070322/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/29/bumblebee-downtown-headquarters/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chicken of the Sea Moves North American HQ from S.D. to El Segundo |url=https://www.sdbj.com/news/2018/may/03/chicken-sea-moves-north-american-hq-sd-el-segundo/ |newspaper=San Diego Business Journal |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>

===Companies===
[[File:AT&TBuildingSanDiegoApr09.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[AT&T Building (San Diego)|AT&T Building]]]]
San Diego hosts several major producers of wireless cellular technology. [[Qualcomm]] was founded and is headquartered in San Diego, and is one of the largest private-sector employers in San Diego.<ref name="SDLargeEmployers">{{cite news|title=City Of San Diego Largest Employers|publisher=San Diego Daily Transcript|url=http://www.sddt.com/Databases/BusinessListings/ListCompanies.cfm?BusinessCategory_ID=140|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> Other wireless industry manufacturers headquartered here include [[Nokia]], [[LG Electronics]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Glazer, Joyce |title=San Diego-based LG Mobile Phones donated $250,000 to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation |date=October 6, 2008 |publisher=Entrepreneur Media |url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/188738547.html |access-date=March 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20130724024941/http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/188738547.html |archive-date=July 24, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=March 2016|reason=failed bot fix, 8/27/15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Kyocera International]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Desjardins, Doug |date=January 11, 2010 |title=Kyocera International to Get New Leader |url=http://www.sdbj.com/news/2010/jan/11/kyocera-international-get-new-leader/ |newspaper=San Diego Business Journal |access-date=March 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20110727002955/http://www.sdbj.com/news/2010/jan/11/kyocera-international-get-new-leader/ |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=March 2016|reason=failed bot fix, 8/27/15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Cricket Communications]] and Novatel Wireless.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novatelwireless.com/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=contact&id=3&Itemid=93 |title=Novatel website: Corporate headquarters |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417014154/http://www.novatelwireless.com/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=contact&id=3&Itemid=93 }}</ref> San Diego also has the U.S. headquarters for the Slovakian security company [[ESET]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Allen, Mike|title=ESET Polishes the Apple, Now Protects Macs|url=http://www.sdbj.com/news/2010/sep/20/eset-polishes-apple-now-protects-macs/|date=September 20, 2010|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=March 20, 2011}}</ref> San Diego has been designated as an iHub Innovation Center for potential collaboration between wireless and the life sciences.<ref>{{cite news|title=iHub San Diego |url=http://www.business.ca.gov/Portals/0/AdditionalResources/Reports/iHub%20Writeups-San%20Diego.pdf |publisher=California Governor's Office of Economic Development |access-date=April 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718230807/http://www.business.ca.gov/Portals/0/AdditionalResources/Reports/iHub%20Writeups-San%20Diego.pdf |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref>

The [[University of California, San Diego]] and other research institutions have helped to fuel the growth of [[biotechnology]].<ref name="UCSDIsrael">{{cite news|last=Doyle|first=Monica|title=UCSD Extension Awarded A $150,000 Grant For Biotechnology Collaboration With Israel|publisher=UCSD News|date=February 5, 2004|url=http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/awards/US_Israel.asp|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> In 2013, San Diego had the second-largest biotech cluster in the United States, below [[Greater Boston]] and above the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Report: San Diego 2nd in life sciences |author=Bradley J. Fikes |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/12/san-diego-rises-to-second-place/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=February 12, 2013 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724070319/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/12/san-diego-rises-to-second-place/ }}</ref> There are more than 400 biotechnology companies in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sdbn.org/directory/ |title=SDBN.org |publisher=SDBN.org |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715092207/http://sdbn.org/directory/ |archive-date=July 15, 2012 }}</ref> In particular, the [[La Jolla, San Diego, California|La Jolla]] and nearby [[Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California|Sorrento Valley]] areas are home to offices and research facilities for numerous biotechnology companies.<ref name="Walcott">{{cite journal|last=Walcott|first=Susan M.|title=Analyzing an Innovative Environment: San Diego as a Bioscience Beachhead|journal=Economic Development Quarterly|date=May 2002|volume=16|issue=2|pages=99–114|doi=10.1177/0891242402016002001|s2cid=154435216|url=http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/S_Walcott_Analyzing_2002.pdf}}</ref> Major biotechnology companies like [[Illumina (company)|Illumina]] and [[Neurocrine Biosciences]] are headquartered in San Diego, while many other biotech and pharmaceutical companies have offices or research facilities in San Diego. San Diego is also home to more than 140 [[contract research organization]]s (CROs) that provide contract services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.<ref>Bigelow, Bruce V. [http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2010/01/27/san-diegos-life-sciences-cros-the-map-of-clinical-research-organizations/?single_page=true "San Diego's Life Sciences CROs—The Map of Clinical Research Organizations"], "Xconomy", San Diego, January 27, 2010.</ref>

===Real estate===
[[File:Village of La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, USA - panoramio (48).jpg|thumb|left|[[La Jolla]] is a highly valued [[real estate]] market in San Diego.]]
San Diego has high real estate prices. San Diego home prices peaked in 2005, and then declined along with the national trend. As of December 2010, prices were down 36 percent from the peak,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=134725AB44C9BD10&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111032600040931826&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no |last=Freeman, Mike |title=Housing Prices Fall Again, Index Says |work=San Diego Union Tribune |date=December 29, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref> [[median home price|median price of homes]] having declined by more than $200,000 between 2005 and 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=12FA5631673E3420&p_docnum=6&s_dlid=DL0111032600114313695&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no |last=Showley, Roger |title=Realty Revival |work=San Diego Union Tribune |date=May 9, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref> As of May 2015, the median price of a house was $520,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/05/08/median-price-of-home-hits-520k-in-san-diego/ |title=Median price of home hits $520K in San Diego |work=FOX5 San Diego |date=May 8, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127070949/http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/05/08/median-price-of-home-hits-520k-in-san-diego/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2018 the median home price was $558,000. The San Diego metropolitan area had one of the worst housing affordability rankings of all metropolitan areas in the United States in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/00554-new-survey-improving-housing-affordability-%E2%80%93-but-still-a-way-go|title=New Survey: Improving Housing Affordability – But Still a Way to Go|author=Cox, Wendell|date=January 28, 2009|publisher=NewGeography|access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref> The San Diego Housing Market experienced a decline in the median sold price of existing single-family homes between December 2022 and January 2023, with a 2.9% decrease from $850,000 to $824,950.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/san-diego-real-estate-market/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20C.A.R.,decrease%20from%20%24850%2C000%20to%20%24824%2C950|title=The San Diego Real Estate Market is Slowing|date=February 22, 2023}}</ref> As of 2023, the majority of homes (nearly 60%) in San Diego are listed above $1 million, with the city's median home price at $910,000, ranking it fourth highest among the 30 largest U.S. cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego/san-diego-among-cities-where-majority-of-homes-cost-over-1m-study/ |last=Coakley | first= Amber |title=San Diego among cities where majority of homes cost over $1M: study |work=fox5sandiego.com |date=July 12, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713230110/https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego/san-diego-among-cities-where-majority-of-homes-cost-over-1m-study/ |archive-date=July 13, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/paradise-at-a-price/nearly-60-of-homes-for-sell-in-san-diego-are-over-1m/509-0061dbb2-7a93-47a8-9d07-85122bfe2794 |last=De La Fe | first= Rocio |title=Report: Nearly 60% of homes for sale in San Diego are over $1 million |work=cbs8.com |date=July 13, 2023 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714115033/https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/paradise-at-a-price/nearly-60-of-homes-for-sell-in-san-diego-are-over-1m/509-0061dbb2-7a93-47a8-9d07-85122bfe2794 |archive-date=July 14, 2023}}</ref>

Consequently, San Diego has experienced negative net migration since 2004. A significant number of people have moved to adjacent [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]], commuting daily to jobs in San Diego, while others are leaving the area altogether and moving to more affordable regions.<ref name="SDGreenerPastures">{{cite news|last=Weisberg|first=Lori|title=Greener pastures outside of county?|work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=March 22, 2007|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20070322/news_1n22census.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814101856/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20070322/news_1n22census.html|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref>

==Government==
===Local government===
{{See also|Mayor of San Diego|San Diego City Council|Government of San Diego County, California|label 3=Government of San Diego County}}
[[File:Cabrillo Bridge Reenactment 150509-M-PG109-006 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Todd Gloria]] is the current [[mayor of San Diego]].]]
The city is governed by a mayor and a seventh-member city council. In 2006, its government changed from a [[council–manager government]] to a [[Mayor–council government|strong mayor government]], as decided by a citywide vote in 2004. The mayor is in effect the chief executive officer of the city, while the council is the legislative body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/mayortransition/index.shtml |title=San Diego City website |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720073815/http://www.sandiego.gov/mayortransition/index.shtml |archive-date=July 20, 2010 }}</ref> The City of San Diego is responsible for [[San Diego Police Department|police]], public safety, streets, water and sewer service, planning and zoning, and similar services within its borders. San Diego is a [[sanctuary city]],<ref>{{cite news |title=A close look at 'sanctuary cities' |author=Grant Martin |url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/04/10/20110410sanctuary-cities-united-states.html |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=April 10, 2011 |access-date=January 13, 2013 |quote=These communities – called "sanctuary cities" by both critics and defenders – are home to many of the estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and include Austin, New York City, San Diego and Minneapolis.}}</ref> however, San Diego County is a participant of the [[Secure Communities and administrative immigration policies|Secure Communities]] program.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheriff asks to opt out of federal immigration program |author=John Coté |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2010/05/18/sheriff-asks-to-opt-out-of-federal-immigration-program/ |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 18, 2010 |access-date=January 13, 2013 |quote=The program is already in place for numerous counties in California that have sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Alameda. |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511184943/http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2010/05/18/sheriff-asks-to-opt-out-of-federal-immigration-program/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Secure Communities' Program Comes Under Fire |author=Ruxandra Guidi |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jun/20/secure-communities-program-comes-under-fire/ |newspaper=KPBS |access-date=January 13, 2013}}</ref> {{As of|2011}}, the city had one employee for every 137 residents, with a payroll greater than $733&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosiak |first=Luke |date=July 22, 2013 |title=EXography: 19 U.S. cities have proportionately bigger workforces than bankrupted Detroit |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/exography-19-u.s.-cities-have-proportionately-bigger-workforces-than-bankrupted-detroit/article/2533338 |newspaper=Washington Examiner |location=District of Columbia |access-date=May 16, 2015 |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524193951/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/exography-19-u.s.-cities-have-proportionately-bigger-workforces-than-bankrupted-detroit/article/2533338 }}</ref>

The members of the city council are each elected from single-member districts within the city. The mayor and city attorney are elected directly by the voters of the entire city. The mayor, city attorney, and council members are elected to four-year terms, with a two-term limit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/elections/city/details.shtml |title=San Diego City website |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=May 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506171405/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/elections/city/details.shtml }}</ref> Elections are held on a non-partisan basis per California state law; nevertheless, most officeholders do identify themselves as either Democrats or Republicans. In 2007, registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by about 7 to 6 in the city,<ref name="RegDEMREP">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/pdf/voterstats.pdf|title=Voter Registration in the City of San Diego|publisher=San Diego Office of the City Clerk|date=August 1, 2007|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=March 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325032145/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/pdf/voterstats.pdf}}</ref> and Democrats currently ({{As of|2022|lc=y}}) hold an 8–1 majority in the city council. The current mayor, [[Todd Gloria]], is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].
[[File:San Diego City and Administration Building.jpg|thumb|left|[[San Diego County Administration Center|County Administration Center]], seat of [[Government of San Diego County, California|San Diego County Government]]]]
San Diego is part of [[San Diego County]], and includes all or part of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th supervisorial districts of the [[Government of San Diego County, California#Board of Supervisors|San Diego County Board of Supervisors]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng/Ehandoutmap.shtml |title=Registrar of voters: Maps of individual supervisorial districts |publisher=County of San Diego |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Other county officers elected in part by city residents include the [[San Diego County Sheriff|Sheriff]], [[San Diego County District Attorney|District Attorney]], Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, and Treasurer/Tax Collector.

Areas of the city immediately adjacent to [[San Diego Bay]] ("[[tidelands]]") are administered by the [[Port of San Diego]], a quasi-governmental agency which owns all the property in the tidelands and is responsible for its land use planning, policing, and similar functions. San Diego is a member of the regional planning agency [[San Diego Association of Governments]] (SANDAG). Public schools within the city are managed and funded by independent school districts (see [[#Education|below]]).

After narrowly supporting [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1964, San Diego provided majorities to all six Republican presidential candidates from 1968 to 1988. However, in more recent decades, San Diego has trended in favor of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidates for president. [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1988 is the last Republican candidate to carry San Diego in a presidential election.

===State and federal representation===
[[File:San Diego, 2016 - 301.jpg|thumb|upright|San Diego Hall of Justice in 2016]]
In the [[California State Senate]], San Diego County encompasses the [[California's 38th State Senate district|38th]], [[California's 39th State Senate district|39th]] and [[California's 40th State Senate district|40th]] districts,<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_sd_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |title        = Communities of Interest – City
 |publisher    = California Citizens Redistricting Commission
 |access-date   = September 27, 2014
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023054153/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_sd_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |archive-date = October 23, 2015
}}</ref> represented by {{Representative|casd|38|fmt=sleader}}, {{Representative|casd|39|fmt=sleader}}, and {{Representative|casd|40|fmt=sleader}}, respectively.

In the [[California State Assembly]], lying partially within the city of San Diego are the [[California's 77th State Assembly district|77th]], [[California's 78th State Assembly district|78th]], [[California's 79th State Assembly district|79th]], and [[California's 80th State Assembly district|80th]] districts,<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_ad_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |title        = Communities of Interest&nbsp;— City
 |publisher    = California Citizens Redistricting Commission
 |access-date   = September 28, 2014
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023054757/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_ad_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |archive-date = October 23, 2015
}}</ref> represented by {{Representative|caad|77|fmt=sleader}}, {{Representative|caad|78|fmt=sleader}}, {{Representative|caad|79|fmt=sleader}}, and {{Representative|caad|80|fmt=sleader}}, respectively.

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], San Diego County includes parts or all of California's [[California's 48th congressional district|48th]], [[California's 49th congressional district|49th]], [[California's 50th congressional district|50th]], [[California's 51st congressional district|51st]], and [[California's 52nd congressional district|52nd]] congressional districts,<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_cd_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |title        = Communities of Interest – City
 |publisher    = California Citizens Redistricting Commission
 |access-date   = September 27, 2014
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130930184128/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_cd_finaldraft_splits.zip
 |archive-date = September 30, 2013
}}</ref> represented by {{Representative|cacd|48|fmt=usleader}}, {{Representative|cacd|49|fmt=usleader}}, {{Representative|cacd|50|fmt=usleader}}, {{Representative|cacd|51|fmt=usleader}}, and {{Representative|cacd|52|fmt=usleader}} respectively.

===Scandals===
[[File:Jacob Weinberger U.S. Courthouse, San Diego, CA Jun 03 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[Jacob Weinberger United States Courthouse|Weinberger U.S. Courthouse]]]]
San Diego was the site of the 1912 [[San Diego free speech fight]], in which the city restricted speech, vigilantes brutalized and tortured anarchists, and the [[San Diego Police Department]] killed a member of the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW).

In 1916, [[Rainmaking|rainmaker]] [[Charles Hatfield]] was blamed for $4&nbsp;million in damages and accused of causing San Diego's worst [[Floods in the United States: 1901–2000#Southern California floods - January 1916|flood]], during which about 20 [[Japanese American]] farmers died.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jenkins, Garry|title=The Wizard of Sun City: The Strange True Story of Charles Hatfield, the Rainmaker Who Drowned a City's Dreams|year=2005|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press via Amazon Look Inside|page=Front flap|isbn=978-1-56025-675-5}}</ref>

Then-mayor [[Roger Hedgecock]] was forced to resign his post in 1985, after he was found guilty of one count of [[Conspiracy (criminal)|conspiracy]] and 12 counts of [[perjury]], related to the alleged failure to report all [[Campaign finance|campaign contributions]].<ref name=Horstman>{{cite news|author=Horstman, Barry|title=Man About Town: San Diego's Ex-Mayor Roger Hedgecock Hasn't Let His Felony Conviction Get Him Down. But This Week, the Past May Catch Up With Him.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-06-tm-27105-story.html|date=December 6, 1987|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Abrahamson">{{cite news|author=Abrahamson, Alan|title=Bailiff's Bias in Hedgecock Trial Disclosed|date=February 2, 1992|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-02-mn-1802-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> After a series of appeals, the 12 perjury counts were dismissed in 1990 based on claims of [[juror misconduct]]; the remaining conspiracy count was reduced to a [[misdemeanor]] and then dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hedgecock has clean slate; judge erases felony record |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11782F5483FF36EF&p_docnum=4&s_dlid=DL0111060115504727581&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=January 1, 1991 |access-date=June 1, 2011}}</ref>

A 2002 scheme to underfund pensions for city employees led to the [[San Diego pension scandal]]. This resulted in the resignation of newly re-elected Mayor [[Dick Murphy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_24/b3937087.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050606234800/http://businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_24/b3937087.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2005 |title=San Diego's Widening Pension Woes |date= June 13, 2005 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> and the criminal indictment of six pension board members.<ref>Strumpf, Daniel (June 15, 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219224628/http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=3244 <!--http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=3244-->San Diego's Pension Scandal for Dummies], San Diego City Beat via Internet Archive. Retrieved April 3, 2011.</ref> Those charges were finally dismissed by a federal judge in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hall |first=Matthew T. |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/08/five-cleared-in-pension-case/ |title=Five cleared in San Diego pension case |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=April 8, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:San Diego, 2016 - 302 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse|Carter-Keep U.S. Courthouse]]]]
On November 28, 2005, U.S. Congressman [[Duke Cunningham|Randy "Duke" Cunningham]] resigned after being convicted on federal [[bribery]] charges. He had represented [[United States House of Representatives, California District 50|California's 50th congressional district]], which includes much of the northern portion of the city of San Diego. In 2006, Cunningham was sentenced to a 100-month prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010501858.html|title=Cunningham Moving to Arizona Prison |date=January 5, 2007|access-date=February 3, 2010}}</ref>

In 2005 two city council members, [[Ralph Inzunza]] and Deputy Mayor [[Michael Zucchet]], were convicted of [[extortion]], [[wire fraud]], and [[Conspiracy (criminal)|conspiracy to commit wire fraud]] for taking campaign contributions from a [[strip club]] owner and his associates, allegedly in exchange for trying to repeal the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Greg |last2=Thornton |first2=Kelly |title=Councilmen Guilty |name-list-style=amp |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10B7E53625734BA8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111040622315622760&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=July 19, 2005 |access-date=April 6, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033803/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10B7E53625734BA8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111040622315622760&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no }}</ref> Both subsequently resigned. Inzunza was sentenced to 21 months in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Ralph-Inzunza-Prison-Atwater-137790888.html|title=Ralph Inzunza Goes to Prison (Soon)|date=January 20, 2012|work=NBC San Diego|access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> In 2009, a judge acquitted Zucchet on seven out of the nine counts against him, and granted his petition for a new trial on the other two charges;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/09/01/05-50902.pdf |title=Appeals Court opinion, Sept.&nbsp;1, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> the remaining charges were eventually dropped.<ref>{{cite news |title=''Seven Years Later, Zucchet Cleared'' |author=Greg Moran |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=132E15958E125350&p_docnum=3&s_dlid=DL0111040622192220299&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref>

In July 2013, three former supporters of Mayor [[Bob Filner]] asked him to resign because of allegations of repeated [[sexual harassment]].<ref>[http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jul/11/filner-backers-news-conference-resign/?#article-copy Filner apologizes, gets professional help], ''San Diego Union Tribune'', July 11, 2013</ref> Over the ensuing six weeks, 18 women came forward to publicly claim that Filner had sexually harassed them,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/21/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-scandal|title=Another sex harassment accusation for San Diego Mayor Bob Filner|last=Lah|first=Kyung|date=August 21, 2013|work=CNN|access-date=August 22, 2013}}</ref> and multiple individuals and groups called for him to resign. Filner agreed to resign effective August 30, 2013, subsequently pleading guilty to one felony count of [[false imprisonment]] and two misdemeanor [[battery (crime)|battery]] charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/us/san-diego-mayor-resigns-in-sexual-harassment-scandal.html|title=San Diego Mayor Resigns in Sexual Harassment Scandal|date=August 23, 2013|work=NY Times|access-date=August 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/15/bob-filner-charged-san-diego-mayor/2987005/|title=Ex-San Diego mayor Bob Filner pleads guilty to 3 charges|date=October 15, 2013|work=USA Today|access-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref>

===Crime===
{{Main|Crime in San Diego}}
[[File:Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (129) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[San Diego Police Department]]]]
Like most major cities, San Diego had a declining crime rate from 1990 to 2000. 1991 would mark the city's deadliest year, registering 179 homicides<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/a1b8a394931f8033249fd2f31f9ec951|title=Once Again, Homicide Records Fall in Many Big Cities With Graphic|publisher=Associated Press|author=Landsberg, Mitchell|date=January 2, 1992|access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref> within city limits (while the [[San Diego County|region]] as a whole peaked at 278 homicides),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1848_17457.pdf|title=Thirty Years of Crime in the San Diego Region: 1984 through 2013|author=Burke, Cynthia|date=April 2014|access-date=January 1, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304163135/https://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1848_17457.pdf}}</ref> capping off an unabated, eight-year climb in murders, rapes, robberies, and assault dating back to 1983. At the time, the city was ranked last among the 10 most populous U.S. cities in homicides per 1,000 population, and ninth in crimes per 1,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-05-mn-681-story.html|title=Violent Crime Is Up Sharply in San Diego|author=Platte, Mark|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 5, 1991|access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> From 1980 to 1994, San Diego surpassed 100 murders ten times before tapering off to 91 homicides in 1995. That number would not exceed 79 for the next 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/crime-actuals1950-2019.pdf|title=San Diego Historical Crime Actuals|date=1950–2020|access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref> Crime in San Diego increased in the early 2000s.<ref name="sdpdcrimeactuals">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/police/pdf/UCR50to2006.pdf|title=SDPD Historical Crime Actuals 1950–2006|publisher=San Diego Police Department|date=April 14, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=March 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325032143/http://www.sandiego.gov/police/pdf/UCR50to2006.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="sdpdcrime1000">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/police/pdf/UCRrates50to2006.pdf|title=SDPD Historical Crime Rates Per 1,000 Population 1950–2006|publisher=San Diego Police Department|date=April 14, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=March 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325032144/http://www.sandiego.gov/police/pdf/UCRrates50to2006.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="sdtribunecrime">{{cite news|last=Manolatos|first=Tony|author2=Kristina Davis|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060414/news_7m14stats.html|title=County crows at glowing crime report|work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=April 14, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> In 2004, San Diego had the sixth lowest crime rate of any U.S. city with over half a million residents.<ref name="sdtribunecrime"/> From 2002 to 2006, the crime rate overall dropped 0.8%, though not evenly by category. While [[violent crime]] decreased 12.4% during this period, [[property crime]] increased 1.1%. Total property crimes per 100,000 people were lower than the national average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crime Report for San Diego, California |url=http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=CA&area=San%20Diego |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615000602/http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=CA&area=San%20Diego |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=March 23, 2011 }}</ref>

According to [[Uniform Crime Report]] statistics compiled by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) in 2010, there were 5,616&nbsp;violent crimes and 30,753&nbsp;property crimes. Of these, the violent crimes consisted of forcible rapes, 73 robberies and 170 aggravated assaults, while 6,387&nbsp;burglaries, 17,977&nbsp;larceny-thefts, 6,389 motor vehicle thefts and 155 acts of arson defined the property offenses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/table-8/10tbl08ca.xls |title=California – Offenses Known to Law Enforcement by State by City, 2010 |publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |year=2010 |access-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, San Diego had the lowest murder rate of the ten largest cities in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first= Kristina |date= February 22, 2014 |title= Murder hits near-record low in county |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/feb/22/murder-statistics-county-police-crime-2013/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |access-date=April 3, 2015 }}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===
{{Main|Primary and secondary schools in San Diego}}
[[File:View across the Quad at The Bishop's School in La Jolla (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[The Bishop's School (La Jolla)|The Bishop's School]] in La Jolla]]
[[State schools|Public schools]] in San Diego are operated by independent [[school district]]s. The majority of the public schools in the city are served by [[San Diego Unified School District]], the second-largest school district in California, which includes 11 K–8 schools, 107 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 13 atypical and alternative schools, 28 high schools, and 45 [[charter school]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego Unified School District – Our District |url=http://www.sandi.net/20451072095932967/site/default.asp |publisher=San Diego Unified School District |access-date=May 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514203636/http://www.sandi.net/20451072095932967/site/default.asp |archive-date=May 14, 2011 }}</ref>

Several adjacent school districts which are headquartered outside the city limits serve some schools within the city; these include [[Poway Unified School District]], [[Del Mar Union School District]], [[San Dieguito Union High School District]], and [[Sweetwater Union High School District]]. In addition, there are a number of private schools in the city.

===Colleges and universities===
[[File:College West, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (36).jpg|thumb|left|[[San Diego State University]]]]
According to education rankings released by the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] in 2017, 44.4% of San Diegans (city, not county) ages 25 and older hold [[bachelor's degree]]s, compared to 30.9% in the United States as a whole. Wallethub ranks San Diego as the 23rd-most educated city in the United States, based on these figures.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocitycalifornia,US,ca/PST045217 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Diego County, California; California."] Census Bureau QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed March 15, 2019.</ref>

The largest university in the area is the [[University of California, San Diego]] (UC San Diego). The university is the southernmost campus of the [[University of California]] system and is the second largest employer in the city. It has the seventh largest research expenditure in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=nsf.gov - Table 20 - NCSES Higher Education Research and Development: Fiscal Year 2018 - US National Science Foundation (NSF)|url=https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/herd/2018/html/herd18-dt-tab020.html|access-date=January 11, 2021|website=ncsesdata.nsf.gov}}</ref>

Other public colleges and universities in the city include [[San Diego State University]] (SDSU) and the [[San Diego Community College District]], which includes [[San Diego City College]], [[San Diego Mesa College]], and [[San Diego Miramar College]].
[[File:University of San Diego (cropped2).jpg|thumb|right|[[University of San Diego]]]]
Private non-profit colleges and universities in the city include the [[University of San Diego]] (USD), [[Point Loma Nazarene University]] (PLNU), [[National University (California)|National University]]'s San Diego campus, [[University of Redlands]]' School of Business San Diego campus, and [[Brandman University]]'s San Diego campus. For-profit institutions include [[Alliant International University]] (AIU), [[Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising]]'s San Diego campus, [[NewSchool of Architecture and Design]], [[Southern States University]] (SSU), [[UEI College]], and [[Woodbury University]] School of Architecture's satellite campus.

There is one medical school in the city, the [[UC San Diego School of Medicine]]. There are three [[American Bar Association|ABA]] accredited law schools in the city, which include [[California Western School of Law]], [[Thomas Jefferson School of Law]], and [[University of San Diego School of Law]]. There is also one law school, [[Western Sierra Law School]], not accredited by the ABA.

===Libraries===
[[File:Geisel Library3.jpg|thumb|left|[[Geisel Library]] at [[UC San Diego]]]]
The city-run [[San Diego Public Library]] system is headquartered downtown and has 36 branches throughout the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/branchlist|title=Branch Listing {{!}} City of San Diego Official Website|website=www.sandiego.gov|access-date=October 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903094446/https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/branchlist|archive-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> The newest location is in Skyline Hills, which broke ground in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/10/07/construction-begins-on-skyline-hills-library/|title=Construction begins on Skyline Hills Library|date=October 8, 2015|website=fox5sandiego.com|access-date=October 8, 2016|archive-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010235021/http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/10/07/construction-begins-on-skyline-hills-library/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The libraries have had reduced operating hours since 2003 due to the city's financial problems. In 2006 the city increased spending on libraries by $2.1&nbsp;million.<ref name="SpareLibPark">{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Matthew T.|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060412/news_1m12preview.html|title=Budget spares libraries, parks|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=April 12, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> A new nine-story Central Library on Park Boulevard at J Street opened on September 30, 2013.<ref>[http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/16/new-main-library-creation-concrete/ "New main library is a creation in concrete"], ''San Diego Union-Tribune'', November 16, 2011</ref>

In addition to the municipal public library system, there are nearly two dozen libraries open to the public run by other governmental agencies, and by schools, colleges, and universities.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego Area Libraries |url=http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/libdirectory/index.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103013223/http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/libdirectory/index.shtml |archive-date=November 3, 2005 |publisher=San Diego State University |access-date=April 24, 2012 }}</ref> Noteworthy are [[Malcolm A. Love Library]] at [[San Diego State University]], and [[Geisel Library]] at the [[University of California, San Diego]].

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of San Diego}}
{{See also|City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture}}
[[File:San Diego Museum of Man 01 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Museum of Us]]]]
The culture of San Diego is influenced heavily by the mixing of [[American culture|American]] and [[Mexican culture]]s, due to the city's position on the [[Mexico–United States border]], its large [[Chicano]] population, and its history as part of [[Hispanic America]] and Mexico. San Diego's longtime association with the [[U.S. military]] also contributes to its culture.

Many popular museums, such as [[the San Diego Museum of Art]], the [[San Diego Natural History Museum]], the [[Museum of Us]], the [[Museum of Photographic Arts]], and the [[San Diego Air & Space Museum]], are located in Balboa Park, which is also the location of the [[San Diego Zoo]]. The [[Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego]] (MCASD) is located in La Jolla and has a branch located at [[Santa Fe Depot (San Diego)|Santa Fe Depot]] downtown.
[[File:San Diego Museum of Art 02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[The San Diego Museum of Art]]]]
The [[Columbia, San Diego, California|Columbia district]] downtown is home to historic ship exhibits belonging to the [[Maritime Museum of San Diego]], headlined by [[Star of India (ship)|''Star of India'']], as well as the unrelated [[USS Midway Museum|USS ''Midway'' Museum]] featuring the {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}} aircraft carrier.

The [[San Diego Symphony]] at [[Symphony Towers]] performs on a regular basis; from 2004 to 2017, its director was [[Jahja Ling]]. The [[San Diego Opera]] at Civic Center Plaza, directed by David Bennett. [[Old Globe Theatre]] at Balboa Park produces about 15 plays and musicals annually. [[La Jolla Playhouse]] at UC San Diego is directed by [[Christopher Ashley]]. Both the Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse have produced the world premieres of plays and musicals that have gone on to win [[Tony Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/about-the-playhouse|title=La Jolla Playhouse|publisher=La Jolla Playhouse|access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> or nominations<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldglobe.org/history/index.aspx|title=Old Globe Theater|date=December 2, 1937|publisher=Oldglobe.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925092240/http://oldglobe.org/history/index.aspx|archive-date=September 25, 2010|access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]. The [[Joan Kroc|Joan B. Kroc]] Theatre at Kroc Center's Performing Arts Center is a 600-seat state-of-the-art theater that hosts music, dance, and theater performances. Hundreds of movies and a dozen TV shows have been [[List of media set in San Diego#Films|filmed in San Diego]], a tradition going back as far as 1898.<ref>{{cite web |title=Journal of San Diego History, vol. 48, no. 2 |url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/2002-2/filming.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710093602/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/2002-2/filming.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2011 |publisher=Sandiegohistory.org}}</ref>

==Sports==
{{main|Sports in San Diego}}
[[File:Petco Park Padres Game.jpg|right|thumb|[[Petco Park]], home of the [[San Diego Padres]] (MLB)]]

Sports in San Diego includes [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional league]] teams, other [[Professional sports leagues in the United States#Other highest-level professional leagues|highest-level professional league]] teams, [[minor league]] teams, and [[college athletics]]. San Diego hosts three teams of major professional leagues, the [[San Diego Padres]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), [[San Diego FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS), and [[San Diego Wave FC]] of [[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL).<ref name="MLS Announcement2">{{cite press release |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to San Diego |date=May 18, 2023 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-to-san-diego-x9222 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=Major League Soccer}}</ref> The city is home to several universities whose teams compete in various [[NCAA Division I]] sports, most notably the [[San Diego State Aztecs]]. The [[Farmers Insurance Open]], a professional golf tournament on the [[PGA Tour]], is played annually at [[Torrey Pines Golf Course]].

San Diego hosted the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[San Diego Chargers]] from 1961 to 2017, when the team relocated to the [[Greater Los Angeles]] area (now the [[Los Angeles Chargers]]). The city also hosted the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA)'s [[San Diego Rockets]] from 1967 to 1971 (now the [[Houston Rockets]]) and [[Los Angeles Clippers#1978–1984: San Diego Clippers|San Diego Clippers]] from 1978 to 1984 (now the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]). San Diego has never hosted a [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) franchise, though it hosted the [[San Diego Mariners]] of the now-defunct [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA) from 1974 to 1977.

Currently, there is no NBA, NFL, or NHL team in the city. San Diego is the largest American city not to have won a championship in a "Big Four"{{Efn|MLB, NFL, NBA, and the NHL are commonly referred to as the "Big Four".}} major professional league. The city does have one major league title to its name: the [[1963 American Football League Championship Game|1963 American Football League (AFL) Championship]] won by the San Diego Chargers, when the AFL was an independent entity prior to the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in 1970. Some San Diego sports fans believe there is [[Sports-related curses#San Diego, California|a curse]] on professional sports in the city.

The [[San Diego Clippers (NBA G League)|San Diego Clippers]] of the [[NBA G League]] have played at [[Frontwave Arena]] since 2024. [[Pechanga Arena]] hosts The [[San Diego Gulls]] of the [[American Hockey League]], and The [[San Diego Seals]] of the [[National Lacrosse League]].

== Media ==
{{See also|Media in San Diego|List of media set in San Diego}}
Published within the city are the daily newspaper, ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' and its online portal of the same name,<ref>{{cite web|author=Hello, Guest |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/03/our-readers-ut-san-diego/ |title=To our readers |publisher=UTSanDiego.com |date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2012}}</ref> and the alternative newsweeklies, ''[[San Diego CityBeat]]'' and the ''[[San Diego Reader]]''. The ''[[Times of San Diego]]'' is a free online newspaper covering news in the metropolitan area. ''[[Voice of San Diego]]'' is a non-profit online news outlet covering government, politics, education, neighborhoods, and the arts. The ''San Diego Daily Transcript'' is a business-oriented online newspaper. San Diego is also the headquarters of the national [[Far-right politics in the United States|far-right]] cable TV channel [[One America News Network]] (OANN).

San Diego led U.S. local markets with 69.6 percent broadband penetration in 2004 according to [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen//NetRatings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego, Phoenix and Detroit Lead Broadband Wired Cities, According to Nielsen//NetRatings|publisher=Nielsen//NetRatings|url=http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_040915.pdf|date=September 15, 2004|access-date=April 25, 2011|archive-date=July 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724162255/http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_040915.pdf}}</ref>

San Diego's first television station was [[KFMB-TV|KFMB]], which began broadcasting on May 16, 1949.<ref name="KFMBTV">{{cite news|last=Stigall|first=Gary|title=KFMB-TV Turns 50|publisher=Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 36 San Diego|date=May 3, 1999|url=http://www.sbe36.org/1999/0509_kfmbtv50.html|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> Since the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) licensed seven television stations in Los Angeles, two [[VHF]] channels were available for San Diego because of its relative proximity to the larger city. In 1952, however, the FCC began licensing [[UHF]] channels, making it possible for cities such as San Diego to acquire more stations. Stations based in Mexico (with [[ITU prefix]]es of XE and XH) also serve the San Diego market. Television stations today include [[XHJK-TDT]] 1 ([[Azteca Uno]]), [[XETV-TDT]] 6 ([[Canal 5 (Mexico)|Canal 5]]/[[Nueve (Mexican TV network)|Nueve]]), [[KFMB-TV|KFMB]] 8 ([[CBS]], with [[The CW]]/[[MyNetworkTV|MNTV]] on DT2), [[KGTV]] 10 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[XHCPDE-TDT|XHCPDE]] 11 ([[Canal Once (Mexico)|Once]]), [[XEWT-TDT|XEWT]] 12 ([[Televisa Regional]]), [[KPBS (TV)|KPBS]] 15 ([[PBS]]), [[KBNT-CD]] 17 ([[Univision]]), [[XHTIT-TDT]] 21 ([[Azteca 7]]), [[XHAS-TDT]] 33 ([[XHILA-TDT|Canal 66]]), [[KDTF-LD]] 36 ([[Unimás]]), [[KNSD]] 39 ([[NBC]]), [[KSKT-CD]] 43 ([[Estrella TV]]), [[XHBJ-TDT]] 45 (Canal 45 PSN), [[KUAN-LD]] 48 ([[Telemundo]]), [[XHDTV-TDT]] 49 ([[Canal 6 (Mexico)|Canal 6]]), [[KUSI]] 51 ([[Independent station|Independent]]), [[XHUAA-TDT]] 57 ([[El Canal de las Estrellas]]), and  [[KSWB-TV]] 69 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]). San Diego has an 80.6 percent cable penetration rate.<ref name="San Diego cable penetration rates">San Diego market in {{cite web|url=http://www.tvb.org/market_profiles|title=Market Profiles|publisher=Television Bureau of Advertising|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807125001/https://www.tvb.org/market_profiles|archive-date=August 7, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011}}<!-- dead link: {{cite news |title=. |publisher=Television Bureau of Advertising |date=July 2009 |url=http://www.tvb.org/rcentral/markettrack/archivebymarket.asp?marketid=168 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023025612/http://tvb.org/rcentral/markettrack/archivebymarket.asp?marketid=168 |archive-date=October 23, 2007 }}--></ref>

<!-- As such, most of the city's stations air on their own cable channel number for each area:
* Channel 6: Cable 6
* Channel 8: Cable 8
* Channel 10: Cable 10
* Channel 12: Cable 12 (Cox Cable Only)
* Channel 15: Cable 11
* Channel 21:
* Channel 27:
* Channel 29:
* Channel 33: Cable 15 (Cox Cable Only)
* Channel 39: Cable 7
* Channel 45:
* Channel 49: Cable 13
* Channel 51: Cable 9
* Channel 57: Canal 22 (Cox Cable Only) 
* Channel 69: Cable 5 -->
[[File:Parade of Lights 2017 15 - 39114099902.jpg|thumb|left|San Diego Parade of Lights]]
Due to the ratio of U.S. and Mexican-licensed stations, San Diego is the largest [[media market]] in the United States that is legally unable to support a [[Duopoly (broadcasting)|television station duopoly]] between two full-power stations under [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] regulations, which disallow duopolies in metropolitan areas with fewer than nine full-power television stations and require that there would be eight unique station owners that remain once a duopoly is formed (there are only seven full-power stations on the California side of the San Diego-Tijuana market).<ref>[http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/1999/nrmm9019.html "FCC revives local television ownership rules"]. ''[[Federal Communications Commission]]''. August 5, 1999.</ref> As a whole, the Mexico side of the San Diego-Tijuana market has two duopolies and one triopoly ([[Entravision Communications]] owns XHDTV-TV, [[Azteca (multimedia company)|Azteca]] owns [[XHJK-TV]] and [[XHTIT-TV]], and [[Televisa|Grupo Televisa]] owns [[XETV-TDT|XETV-TV]], [[XHUAA-TV]] and [[XEWT-TDT|XEWT-TV]]. 

San Diego's television market is limited to only [[San Diego County]]. As a result, San Diego is the largest single-county media market in the United States.

The radio stations in San Diego include nationwide broadcaster [[iHeartMedia]], [[Audacy, Inc.]], Local Media San Diego, and many other smaller stations and networks. Stations include: [[KOGO (AM)|KOGO AM 600]], [[KGB (AM)|KGB AM 760]], [[KCEO|KCEO AM 1000]], [[KCBQ|KCBQ AM 1170]], [[KPRZ|K-Praise]], [[KLSD|KLSD AM 1360]], [[KFSD|KFSD 1450 AM]], [[KPBS-FM]] 89.5, [[KHTS-FM|Channel 933]], [[KMYI|Star 94.1]], [[KBZT|FM 94/9]], [[KSSX|FM News and Talk 95.7]], [[KYDO|Q96]] 96.1, [[KYXY|KyXy]] 96.5, [[Free Radio San Diego]] (AKA [[Pirate Radio]] San Diego) 96.9FM FRSD, [[KWFN]] 97.3, [[KXSN]] 98.1, [[KFBG (FM)|Big-FM 100.7]], 101.5 [[KGB-FM]], [[KLVJ (FM)|KLVJ]] 102.1, [[KSON (FM)|KSON]] 103.7, [[KIOZ|Rock 105.3]], and another ''[[Pirate Radio]]'' station at 106.9FM, as well as a number of local Spanish-language radio stations.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
{{main|Transportation in San Diego|Streets and highways of San Diego}}
[[File:Union Station, San Diego (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Santa Fe Depot (San Diego)|Santa Fe Depot]] is served by [[Amtrak California]] and [[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]] trains.]]
With the automobile being the primary means of transportation for over 80 percent of residents, San Diego is served by a network of freeways and highways. This includes [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate&nbsp;5]], which runs south to [[Tijuana]] and north to Los Angeles; [[Interstate 8]], which runs east to [[Imperial County, California|Imperial County]] and the [[Arizona Sun Corridor]]; Interstate&nbsp;15, which runs northeast through the [[Inland Empire]] to [[Las Vegas]] and [[Salt Lake City]]; and [[Interstate 805]], which splits from I-5 near the Mexican border and rejoins I-5 at [[Sorrento Valley, San Diego|Sorrento Valley]].

Major state highways include [[California State Route 94|SR&nbsp;94]], which connects downtown with I-805, I-15 and [[East County, San Diego|East County]]; [[California State Route 163|SR&nbsp;163]], which connects downtown with the northeast part of the city, intersects I-805 and merges with I-15 at [[Miramar, San Diego|Miramar]]; [[California State Route 52|SR&nbsp;52]], which connects La Jolla with [[East County, San Diego|East County]] through [[Santee, California|Santee]] and [[California State Route 125|SR&nbsp;125]]; [[California State Route 56|SR&nbsp;56]], which connects I-5 with I-15 through [[Carmel Valley, San Diego|Carmel Valley]] and [[Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego|Rancho Peñasquitos]]; [[California State Route 75|SR 75]], which spans [[San Diego Bay]] as the [[San Diego–Coronado Bridge]], and also passes through [[South San Diego]] as Palm Avenue; and [[California State Route 905|SR&nbsp;905]], which connects I-5 and I-805 to the [[Otay Mesa Port of Entry]].
[[File:MTSgreenline-convctr (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[San Diego Trolley]] is operated by the [[San Diego Metropolitan Transit System|S.D. Metropolitan Transit System]].]]
The stretch of SR&nbsp;163 that passes through Balboa Park is San Diego's oldest freeway, dating back to 1948 when it was part of [[U.S. Route 80 in California|US&nbsp;80]] and [[U.S. Route 395 in California|US&nbsp;395]]. It has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways.<ref>{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tG3asbfLcUsC&dq=163+beautiful+diego&pg=PA110 |title=San Diego's Balboa Park |series=Postcard History Series |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-7385-4754-1}}</ref>

San Diego's roadway system provides an extensive network of cycle routes. Its dry and mild climate makes cycling a convenient year-round option; however, the city's hilly terrain and long average trip distances make cycling less practicable. Older and denser neighborhoods around the downtown tend to be oriented to [[utility cycling]]. This is partly because the grid street patterns are now absent in newer developments farther from the urban core, where suburban-style arterial roads are much more common. As a result, the majority of cycling is recreational.
[[File:CBX exterior.jpg|thumb|The [[Cross Border Xpress]], also known as the ''Puerta de [[las Californias]]'', connects San Diego to [[Tijuana International Airport]] in [[Baja California]].]]
San Diego is served by the [[San Diego Trolley]] light rail system,<ref name="SD-Trolley">{{cite web | title=SDMTS – Trolley Information | publisher=San Diego Metropolitan Transit System | url=http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp | year=2013 | access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> by the [[San Diego MTS bus system|MTS bus system]],<ref>{{cite web | title=SDMTS – Bus Routes | publisher=San Diego Metropolitan Transit System | url=http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/BusRoutes.aspx | year=2013 | access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> the bus rapid transit system [[Rapid (San Diego)|Rapid]], private [[Share taxi#United States|jitneys]] in some neighborhoods,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sdmts.com/sites/default/files/attachments/service_evaluation_report.pdf |title=System and Service Evaluation |date=January 2017 |publisher=San Diego Metropolitan Transit System |access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> and by [[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]]<ref name="Coaster">{{cite web | title=COASTER – NCTD | publisher=North County Transit District | url=http://www.gonctd.com/coaster | access-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''<ref name="Surfliner">{{cite web | title=Pacific Surfliner Train – from Los Angeles to San Diego & More – Amtrak | publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation | url=http://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-train | year=2013 | access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> commuter rail; northern [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]] is also served by the [[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]] hybrid rail service.<ref>{{cite web | title=SPRINTER – NCTD | publisher=North County Transit District | url=http://www.gonctd.com/sprinter | access-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> The trolley primarily serves downtown and surrounding urban communities, [[Mission Valley, San Diego, California|Mission Valley]], east county, and coastal south bay. A mid-coast extension of the trolley operates from [[Old Town, San Diego, California|Old Town]] to [[University City, San Diego, California|University City]] and the [[University of California, San Diego]] along [[Interstate 5]] since November 2021. The Amtrak and Coaster trains currently run along the coastline and connect San Diego with Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura via [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] and the Pacific Surfliner. There are two Amtrak stations in San Diego, in [[Old Town Transit Center|Old Town]] and [[Santa Fe Depot (San Diego)|Santa Fe Depot]] downtown. San Diego transit information about public transportation and commuting is available on the Web and by dialing "[[5-1-1|511]]" from any phone in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=511 Overview |url=http://www.511sd.com/About511.aspx |publisher=SANDAG |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724071539/http://www.511sd.com/About511.aspx |archive-date=July 24, 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:San Diego International Airport (KSAN) Terminal 2 (upper deck) - August 2018.jpg|thumb|left|[[San Diego International Airport]]]]
The city has two major commercial airports within or near its city limits. [[San Diego International Airport]] (SAN) is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States.<ref name="FAAresign">{{cite news |last=Downey |first=Dave |title=FAA chief says region right to consider bases |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-faa-chief-says-region-right-to-consider-bases-2006apr25-story.html |date=April 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113160703/http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/04/25/news/top_stories/20_02_594_24_06.txt |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hepburn |first1=Adam |title=San Diego Tourism - HHJ Trial Attorneys |url=https://hhjtrialattorneys.com/san-diego-tourism/ |website=hhjtrialattorneys.com |date=June 19, 2023 |publisher=Hepburn – Hernandez – Jung |access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref> It served over 24 million passengers in 2018 and is dealing with larger numbers every year.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego International Airport: Air Traffic Reports |url=https://www.san.org/News/Air-Traffic-Reports |publisher=San Diego County Regional Airport Authority |access-date=May 26, 2019 }}</ref> [[Tijuana International Airport]] has a terminal within the city limits in the [[Otay Mesa]] district connected to the rest of the airport in [[Tijuana, Mexico]], via the [[Cross Border Xpress]] cross-border footbridge. In addition, the city has two general-aviation airports, [[Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport]] (MYF) and [[Brown Field Municipal Airport]] (SDM).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/airports/ |title=City of San Diego:Airports |publisher=Sandiego.gov |access-date=May 4, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:2012 Festival of Sail 934278934983.jpg|thumb|right|[[San Diego Bay]] Festival of Sail]]
Recent regional transportation projects have sought to mitigate congestion, including improvements to local freeways, expansion of San Diego Airport, and doubling the capacity of the cruise ship terminal. Freeway projects included expansion of Interstates 5 and 805 around "The Merge" where these two freeways meet, as well as expansion of Interstate 15 through North County, which includes new [[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV "managed lanes"]]. A tollway (the southern portion of SR 125, known as the South Bay Expressway) connects SR 54 and Otay Mesa, near the Mexican border. According to an assessment in 2007, 37 percent of city streets were in acceptable condition. However, the proposed budget fell $84.6&nbsp;million short of bringing streets up to an acceptable level.<ref name="37perStreets">{{cite news|first=Matthew|last=Hall|title=City: 37 percent of streets in acceptable driving condition|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=May 2, 2007|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070502-1610-bn02streets.html|access-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref> Expansion at the port has included a second cruise terminal on [[Broadway Pier, San Diego|Broadway Pier]], opened in 2010. Airport projects include the expansion of Terminal Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.san.org/sdcraa/airport_initiatives/adp/default.aspx |title=San Diego International Airport – Airport Development Plan |publisher=San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. |year=2011 |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724072825/http://san.org/sdcraa/airport_initiatives/adp/default.aspx |archive-date=July 24, 2013 }}</ref>

===Utilities===
Water is supplied to residents by the Water Department of the City of San Diego. The city receives most of its water from the [[Metropolitan Water District of Southern California]], which brings water to the region from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, via the state project and the Colorado River, via the Colorado Aqueduct.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MWD {{!}} Securing Our Imported Supplies |url=https://www.mwdh2o.com/securing-our-imported-supplies/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=www.mwdh2o.com}}</ref>

Gas and electric utilities are provided by [[San Diego Gas & Electric]], a division of [[Sempra Energy]].{{explain|date=October 2023}} The company provides energy service to 3.7 million people through 1.5 million electric meters and 900,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Company {{!}} San Diego Gas & Electric |url=https://www.sdge.com/more-information/our-company |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=www.sdge.com }}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

====Street lights====
[[File:Sandiego gaslampquarter (cropped).JPG|thumb|left|Street lights in the [[Gaslamp Quarter]]]]
In the mid-20th century the city had [[mercury vapor]] street lamps. In 1978, the city decided to replace them with more efficient [[sodium vapor]] lamps. This triggered an outcry from [[astronomer]]s at [[Palomar Observatory]] {{convert|60|mi|km|sigfig=1}} north of the city, concerned that the new lamps would increase [[light pollution]] and hinder astronomical observation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/14/us/astronomers-say-street-lights-will-blind-palomar.html|title=Astronomers say street lights will blind Palomar|last=Blakeslee|first=Sandra|date=August 14, 1983|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> The city altered its lighting regulations to limit light pollution within {{convert|30|mi|km|sigfig=1}} of Palomar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/pdf/cpc/agendas/attachments/outdoorlighting.pdf|title=Outdoor lighting regulations|work=City of San Diego|access-date=February 20, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114654/http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/pdf/cpc/agendas/attachments/outdoorlighting.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, the city announced plans to upgrade 80% of its street lighting to new energy-efficient lights that use [[Electrodeless lamp|induction technology]], a modified form of [[fluorescent lamp]] producing a broader spectrum than sodium vapor lamps. The new system is predicted to save $2.2&nbsp;million per year in energy and maintenance.<ref name="install">{{cite news|url=http://www.sdgln.com/news/2011/09/19/san-diego-install-brighter-more-efficient-streetlights|title=San Diego to install brighter, more efficient streetlights|date=September 19, 2011|work=San Diego Gay & Lesbian News|access-date=January 30, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, San Diego announced plans to become the first U.S. city to install cyber-controlled street lighting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailyfusion.net/2014/01/san-diego-to-link-street-lights-to-industrial-internet-26286/|title=San Diego to Link Street Lights to Industrial Internet|work=Daily Fusion|access-date=January 30, 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202175840/http://dailyfusion.net/2014/01/san-diego-to-link-street-lights-to-industrial-internet-26286/|archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from San Diego}}

==Sister cities==
San Diego's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Sister Cities|url=https://www.sandisca.org/sister-cities/|publisher=San Diego International Sister Cities Association|access-date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagdeco|Spain}} [[Alcalá de Henares]], Spain (est. 1982)
* {{flagdeco|Brazil}} [[Campinas]], Brazil (est. 1995)
* {{flagdeco|Philippines}} [[Cavite City]], Philippines (est. 1969)
* {{flagdeco|Scotland}} [[Edinburgh]], Scotland (est. 1977)
* {{flagdeco|Afghanistan}} [[Jalalabad]], Afghanistan (est. 2004)
* {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[Jeonju]], South Korea (est. 1983)
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[León, Guanajuato|León]], Mexico (est. 1969) 
* {{flagdeco|Panama}} [[Panama City]], Panama (est. 2015)
* {{flagdeco|Australia}} [[City of Perth|Perth]], Australia (est. 1986)
* {{flagdeco|Taiwan}} [[Taichung]], Taiwan (est. 1983)
* {{flagdeco|Ghana}} [[Tema]], Ghana (est. 1976)
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Tijuana]], Mexico (est. 1993)
* {{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Vladivostok]], Russia (est. 1991)
* {{flagdeco|Poland}} [[Warsaw]], Poland (est. 1996)
* {{flagdeco|China}} [[Yantai]], China (est. 1985)
* {{flagdeco|Japan}} [[Yokohama]], Japan (est. 1957)
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[USS San Diego|USS ''San Diego'']], 4 ships

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== General sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1rvnQEACAAJ |last=Engstrand |first=Iris Wilson |author-link=Iris Engstrand|title=San Diego: California's Cornerstone |publisher=Sunbelt Publications, Inc. |date=May 30, 2005 |isbn=978-0-932653-72-7 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}
* {{cite book|last=Griswold de Castillo|first=Richard|title=The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: A Legacy of Conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p_T9BS3hHzkC&q=%22San+Diego%22+%22Guadalupe+Hidalgo%22&pg=PA39|year=1990|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-2478-0}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|San Diego|voy=San Diego}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.ccdc.com/ Civic San Diego] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020921040834/http://www.ccdc.com/ |date=September 21, 2002 }} (replaced redevelopment corporations)
* [http://www.sandag.org/ SANDAG, San Diego's Regional Planning Agency]
* [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/0666000 Demographic Fact Sheet] from [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]]
* [http://sandiegohistory.org/ San Diego Historical Society]
* [https://www.sandiegounified.org San Diego Unified School District]
* [https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library San Diego Public Library]
* [http://www.sandiego.org/ San Diego Tourism Authority (formerly the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau)]

{{San Diego}}
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