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Introduction San Diego, "the Birthplace of California," is a city of many guises. It is not only a major naval base and an important natural harbor, but it is also a top tourist attraction and resort area, a prominent high-technology, aerospace, and aviation production community, and a fertile agricultural area. San Diego's port and its proximity to Mexico give the city an international flavor, and a revitalized downtown area adds to the exciting atmosphere. The mild climate attracts many new residents and industries each year. A nondescript town until the 1940s, San Diego now has more than 1.2 million residents and is California's second largest city. San Diego's phenomenal growth has brought it well-deserved national attention. The city keeps this growth balanced by careful preservation of history and a strong emphasis on art, culture, and recreation.
The City of San Diego is ideally located on the U.S.-Mexico border and on the Pacific Rim. The community was named after San Diego (St. James) de Alcalá. The second largest city in California is the seventh largest city in the nation, but San Diego continues to have a comfortable small town atmosphere.
Geography & ClimateSan Diego is just 20 miles north of Mexico, situated in the rolling hills and mesas that rise from the Pacific shore to join with the Laguna Mountains to the east. Its bay is one of the country's finest natural harbors. The city covers a large area of vastly different terrain: miles of ocean and bay shoreline, densely forested hills, fertile valleys, and mountains, canyons, and desert. The climate varies in a similar manner. On the coast, the temperatures are mild and constant, while in the desert areas, the temperature can fluctuate as much as 30 degrees in one day. San Diego is about 120 miles south of Los Angeles.
The climate in San Diego is tempered by the Pacific Ocean air, keeping the summers cool and the winters warm. Severe weather is rare in the area; snow is almost unknown, and the city averages only three thunderstorms a year. September and October often bring hot eastern winds from the desert, producing what are usually the hottest days of the year.
Area: 324.3 square miles (2000)
Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 1,591 feet above sea level
The latitude of San Diego is 32.715N.
The longitude is -117.156W.
Average Temperatures: January, 55.4° F; August, 72.2° F; annual average, 63.2° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 9.32 inches
Population: 1,255,540 (as on July 2005)
San Diego attractions: San Diego Zoo, the Embarcadero, Sea World