View source for Mission Valley, San Diego

{{Redirect|Mission Valley}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
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|name=Mission Valley, San Diego
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'''Mission Valley''' is a wide river valley trending east–west in [[San Diego]], California, United States, through which the [[San Diego River]] flows to the Pacific Ocean. For planning purposes the City of San Diego divides it into two neighborhoods: '''Mission Valley East''' and '''Mission Valley West'''.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/ 
 |title=City of San Diego - Neighborhoods Map 
 |publisher= City of San Diego 
 |access-date=2007-01-28 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509171047/http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/ 
 |archive-date=2008-05-09 
}}</ref>

Mission Valley was the site of the first [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish]] settlement in California, established in 1769.<ref>[https://www.sandiegohistory.org/serra_museum.html San Diego Historical Society]</ref> The area currently serves as an important shopping and entertainment center for San Diego. Several condominiums and apartments can also be found in the area.

==History==

[[Image:San-diego-mission-chuch.JPG|right|thumb|Mission San Diego de Alcalá]]
The San Diego River valley was originally called Emat Kuseyaay, which was then named by the Spanish as La Cañada de San Diego. Cañada in Spanish means gully, ravine, or glen. The name was changed to Mission Valley in the 1860s in reference to [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]].<ref name="tips">[http://www.sandiegotraveltips.com/public/485print.cfm San Diego Travel Tips]</ref>

The Mission Valley area was inhabited by [[Kumeyaay]] Indians for more than 10,000 years,<ref>[http://americanindiansource.com/khistories/kumeyaaymill.html AmericanIndianSource.com]</ref> which was home to many Kumeyaay villages such as the villages of Nipaquay (''Nipawai''), Haiir, and [[Cosoy (Kosa'aay)|Cosoy (''Kosa'aay'')]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kumeyaay Sense of the Land and Landscape|url=http://viejasbandofkumeyaay.org/viejas-community/kumeyaay-history/kumeyaay-sense-of-the-land/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians|language=en-US}}</ref>

The first Spanish settlement in present-day California was the [[Presidio of San Diego]] and Mission San Diego de Alcalá, both established in 1769 next to the village of Cosoy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mogliner|first=Geoffrey|title=Cosoy: Birthplace of New California|url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2016/april/cosoy-birthplace-new-california/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=San Diego History Center {{!}} San Diego, CA {{!}} Our City, Our Story|language=en-US}}</ref> The Presidio and Mission were located at the western end of Mission Valley, which is now present-day [[Old Town, San Diego, California|Old Town]], where the valley opens out into the flood plain of the San Diego River. In 1774, the Mission was moved to its present location at the eastern end of Mission Valley because of better access to freshwater for drinking and farming.<ref>[http://www.missionsandiego.com/mission_history.htm Mission San Diego] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020121140/http://www.missionsandiego.com/mission_history.htm |date=2011-10-20 }}</ref>

Until the 1940s, Mission Valley remained largely undeveloped, featuring dairy farms and other agricultural activities; the city of San Diego was largely confined to areas south of the valley. After World War II, the city's expansion began to encroach on the valley.<ref>[https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/95summer/chapter19.htm Journal of San Diego History, Summer 1995]</ref> The last of the valley's dairy farms closed in the early 1960s.<ref name="tips"/>

Another early activity in Mission Valley was quarrying sand and gravel from its walls. A large quarry on the north side of the valley was in operation for most of the 20th century. The quarry ceased operation around 2000 and is now the site of the Civita [[mixed-use development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civitalife.com/ |title=Home |website=civitalife.com}}</ref>

The development of Mission Valley began in 1953 when the first hotel was built in what is now Hotel Circle. In 1958, the city council rezoned {{convert|90|acres|ha}} of the river valley to allow the construction of San Diego's first regional shopping center. The Mission Valley Center (now Westfield Mission Valley) opened in 1961<ref>[http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080622/news_1h22smokes.html San Diego Union Tribune, June 22, 2008]</ref> and was followed by several other large regional shopping malls.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the U.S. 80 freeway (now [[Interstate 8]]) was constructed through Mission Valley, further opening the area up for development.<ref>[http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/i-008_ca.html westcoastroads.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627042238/http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/i-008_ca.html |date=2009-06-27 }}</ref>

[[Westgate Park]], a baseball stadium for the then-minor-league [[San Diego Padres (PCL)|San Diego Padres]], was built in Mission Valley in 1957. In 1967, [[San Diego Stadium]] (later renamed [[Jack Murphy (sportswriter)|Jack Murphy]] Stadium, then [[Qualcomm]] Stadium, then SDCCU Stadium) was opened and the Padres moved there, becoming a major league team the following year. Westgate Park was razed in 1969 and was replaced by the [[Fashion Valley Mall]].<ref>[http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/local/petco.html San Diego Historical Society Padres baseball timeline]</ref> San Diego Stadium was demolished in 2021 and was replaced by [[Snapdragon Stadium]] in 2022.

==Boundaries==
Mission Valley stretches as far west as [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]] and as far east as [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]. The exact boundary between Mission Valley East and West is [[California State Route 163|State Route 163]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/eastern.shtml
 |title       = City of San Diego - Eastern Neighborhoods Map
 |publisher   =  City of San Diego
 |access-date  = 2007-01-28
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080503071928/http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/eastern.shtml
 |archive-date = 2008-05-03
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/western.shtml 
 |title=City of San Diego - Western Neighborhoods Map 
 |publisher= City of San Diego 
 |access-date=2007-01-28 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517020836/http://www.sandiego.gov/neighborhoodmaps/western.shtml 
 |archive-date=2008-05-17 
}}</ref>

==Government==
Mission Valley is located in City Council District 7 and is currently represented by Councilmember Raul Campillo.  For federal representation, it is divided between [[California's 52nd congressional district]], represented by [[Scott Peters (politician)|Scott Peters]], and [[California's 53rd congressional district]], represented by [[Sara Jacobs]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=California Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA#map|access-date=2020-12-22|website=GovTrack.us|language=en}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Mission Valley serves as a path for [[Interstate 8 (California)|Interstate 8]] and is crossed at its mouth by [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]].  Both I-8 and I-5 serve as the major east-west and north-south routes respectively, for [[San Diego, California|San Diego]].  At the Jack Schrade Interchange, [[Interstate 805 (California)|Interstate 805]] crosses Mission Valley and connects with Interstate 8.  [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] and [[California State Route 163|State Route 163]] also cross Mission Valley and connect with Interstate 8.

The [[Green Line (San Diego Trolley)|Green Line]] of the [[San Diego Trolley]] system also runs through Mission Valley. The main hub for buses is located at the [[Fashion Valley Transit Center (MTS Transit Center)|Fashion Valley Transit Center]] and Mall. Other trolley stations in the valley are found at [[Morena/Linda Vista (San Diego Trolley station)|Morena/Linda Vista]], [[Hazard Center (San Diego Trolley station)|Hazard Center]], [[Mission Valley Center (San Diego Trolley station)|Mission Valley Center]], [[Rio Vista (San Diego Trolley station)|Rio Vista]], [[Fenton Parkway (San Diego Trolley station)|Fenton Parkway]], and [[Stadium station (San Diego)|Stadium]].

==Attractions==
[[Image:Westfield Mission Valley.jpg|right|thumb|Westfield Mission Valley, one of several large regional shopping centers in Mission Valley]]
Toward the eastern end of Mission Valley lies Mission San Diego de Alcalá, for which the valley is named. At the southwestern end overlooking the valley is [[Presidio of San Diego|Presidio Park]].  At the foot of Presidio Hill lies [[Old Town San Diego State Historic Park]], the original site of the town of San Diego. All three attractions are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County, California|National Register of Historic Places]].

Three major shopping malls located in Mission Valley are [[Fashion Valley Mall]], Hazard Center Mall, and [[Westfield Mission Valley]]. Many other commercial developments can be found in the region as well, including smaller shopping plazas, auto malls, and vocational schools. The frontage roads parallel to Interstate 8 west of Highway 163 are named Hotel Circle North and Hotel Circle South, for the many hotels and motels located on them. The frontage roads east of Highway 163 are called Camino del Rio North and Camino del Rio South.

Recently built [[Snapdragon Stadium]] is in Mission Valley East near the I-8/I-15 interchange. At the outlet of Mission Valley lie [[SeaWorld San Diego|SeaWorld]], [[Mission Bay, California|Mission Bay]], and other San Diego attractions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|San_Diego/Old Town-Mission Valley|Old Town-Mission Valley}}

{{Neighborhoods of San Diego}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mission Valley, San Diego| ]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in San Diego]]
[[Category:Valleys of San Diego County, California]]
[[Category:Geography of San Diego]]
[[Category:San Diego River]]
[[Category:Edge cities in the San Diego metropolitan area]]