How it all started
Mayor Pete Wilson coined the phrase “America’s Finest City” in 1972. It is, indeed, San Diego. The city is located on San Diego Bay and is the second-largest city in the state of California, with a population of approximately 1.3 million people. The city is divided into two sections of unequal size: one that extends north and east of San Diego Bay, and the other that spreads southeastward from the bay to the Mexican border. People have lived in the area that is now recognized as San Diego for thousands of years, and their influence is felt today.
San Diego’s history is vast and rich; we can trace the first settlements all the way back to prehistoric times. The first native individuals to live in the area were the people of the La Jolla complex, commonly known as the Shell Midden people, who lived between 8000 BCE and 1000 CE. Native American people, The Kumeyaay tribe arrived in the area around 1000 CE and inhabited today’s Old Town.
The first Europeans arrived in the second half of the sixteenth century. The area was discovered by the Spanish in 1542 and named San Miguel before being renamed San Diego in 1602. The Spanish set up a new post on the site in 1769, and Junipero Serra established the first California mission there. It was purchased from Mexico by the United States in 1846, and a new city was founded in 1867. The development of the Santa Fe railroad in 1885 further accelerated the city’s expansion. After the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the city’s economic core of food production (citrus) and fishing was enlarged to also incorporate manufacturing and shipping.
Since the Navy Headquarters was relocated to San Diego Bay in the years leading up to World War II, San Diego was designated as a Navy Town.
San Diego is now known not only as a tourist destination but also as a University – Academia force. Its diverse population, which includes people of European ancestry, Hispanic ancestry, African American ancestry, and Asian ancestry provides a multicultural plethora of cultural scenes and cultural events. America’s Finest City is very well-known for its numerous museums and art galleries. Nature is amazing; from beaches to mountains, national parks to canyons, nature lovers have a variety of choices for recreation.
San Diego’s numerous communities and neighborhoods such as Alta Vista, Balboa Park, La Jolla, Downtown, just to mention a few, offer the finest dining, quality leisure time, fun, and playtime. You are welcome to visit and experience it.
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