San Diego County, California

San Diego County, California
San Diego County, officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634, making it California's second-most populous county and the fifth-most populous in the United States. Its county seat is San Diego, the second-most populous city in California and the eighth-most populous city in the United States. It is the southwesternmost county in the 48 contiguous United States, and is a border county. It is also home to 18 Native American tribal reservations, the most of any county in the United States.
San Diego County comprises the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is the 17th most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 18th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. San Diego County is also part of the San Diego–Tijuana transborder metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area shared between the United States and Mexico.
San Diego County has more than of coastline. This forms the most densely populated region of the county, which has a mild Mediterranean to semiarid climate and extensive chaparral vegetation, similar to the rest of the western portion of Southern California. Precipitation and temperature extremes increase to the east, with mountains that receive frost and snow in the winter. These lushly forested mountains receive more rainfall than the average in Southern California, while the desert region of the county lies in a rain shadow to the east, which extends into the Desert Southwest region of North America.
There are 16 military installations, of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard in San Diego County. These include Naval Base San Diego, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Naval Air Station North Island, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and Coast Guard Air Station San Diego.
From north to south, San Diego County extends from the southern borders of Orange and Riverside Counties to the Mexico-U.S. border and the Baja California municipalities of Tijuana and Tecate. From west to east, San Diego County stretches from the Pacific Ocean to its boundary with Imperial County, which separated from it in 1907. Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have further strained San Diego County's water security.
History
The area which is now San Diego County has been inhabited for more than 12,000 years by Kumeyaay (also called Diegueno and Ipai/Tipai), Payómkawichum (Luiseño), Kuupangaxwichem (Cupeño), ʔívil̃uqaletem (Cahuilla), and the Acjachemen (Juaneño) Indians and their local predecessors.
In 1542, the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who may have been born in Portugal but sailed under the flag of Castile, claimed San Diego Bay for the Spanish Empire, and he named the site San Miguel. In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what are now Mission Bay and Point Loma and named the area for Saint Didacus, a Spaniard more commonly known as San Diego. European settlement in what is now San Diego County began with the founding of the San Diego Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá by Spanish soldiers and clerics in 1769. This county was part of Alta California under the Viceroyalty of New Spain until the Mexican declaration of independence. From 1821 through 1848 this area was part of Mexico.
San Diego County became part of the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, ending the Mexican–American War. This treaty designated the new border as terminating at a point on the Pacific Ocean coast which would result in the border passing one Spanish league south of the southernmost portion of San Diego Bay, thus ensuring that the United States received all of this natural harbor.
San Diego County was one of the original counties of California, created at the time of California statehood in 1850.
At the time of its establishment in 1850, San Diego County was relatively large, and included all of southernmost California south and east of Los Angeles County. It included areas of what are now Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, as well as all of what are now Riverside and Imperial Counties.
During the later part of the 19th century, there were numerous changes in the boundaries of San Diego County, when various areas were separated to make up the counties mentioned above. The most recent changes were the establishments of Riverside County in 1893 and Imperial County in 1907. Imperial County was also the last county to be established in California, and after this division, San Diego no longer extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Colorado River, and it no longer covered the entire border between California and Mexico.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (7.0%) is water. The county is larger in area than the combined states of Rhode Island and Delaware.
San Diego County has a varied topography. On its western side is more than of coastline. Most of San Diego between the coast and the Laguna Mountains consists of hills, mesas, and small canyons. Snow-capped (in winter) mountains rise to the east, with the Sonoran Desert farther to the east. Cleveland National Forest is spread across the central portion of the county, while the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occupies most of the northeast.
Although the county's western third is primarily urban, the mountains and deserts in the eastern two-thirds are primarily undeveloped backcountry. Most of these backcountry areas are home to a native plant community known as chaparral. San Diego County contains more than of chaparral, twice as much as any other California county.
Periodically the area has been subject to wildfires that force thousands to evacuate. The most recent are the December 2017 Lilac Fire and the May 2014 San Diego County wildfires; before them was the Witch Creek Fire in 2007 and the Cedar Fire in 2003. California defines a fire season in which fires are most likely to occur, usually between late July and late October (which are the driest months of the area). Signs posted in numerous spots of the county provide information on the level of threats from fires based on weather conditions.
Regions
Northern San Diego County is known as North County; the eastern suburbs are collectively known as East County; the rural areas located further east and extending to the Imperial County line are known as the Mountain Empire; and the southern suburbs, extending to the Mexican border, are collectively known as the South Bay or South County, including South San Diego, an exclave of the city of San Diego which has no land connection to the rest of the city.
Climate
Under the Köppen climate classification system, the urban and suburban San Diego area straddles areas of Mediterranean climate (CSa) to the north and semi-arid climate (BSh) to the south and east. As a result, it is often described as "arid Mediterranean" and "semi-arid steppe." Farther east, arid desert conditions prevail. Western San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters with most of the annual precipitation falling between November and March. The city has mild, mostly dry weather, with an average of 201 days above and low rainfall (annually). Summer temperatures are generally warm, with average highs of and lows of . Temperatures exceed only four days a year. Most rainfall occurs from November to April. Winter temperatures are mild, with average high temperatures of and lows of .
The climate in the San Diego area, like much of California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances resulting in microclimates. In San Diego's case this is mainly due to the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick marine layer will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but will yield to bright cloudless sunshine approximately inland. This happens every year in May and June. Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas tend to 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 and August highs of . The city of El Cajon, just northeast of downtown San Diego, averages January lows of and August highs of . Julian, in the mountains, has an average January low of and August high of . Borrego Springs, in the Colorado Desert, has an average January low of and August high of .
Rainfall along the coast averages about of precipitation annually, which occurs mainly during the cooler months of December through April. Though there are few wet days per month during the rainy period, rainfall can be heavy when it does occur. However, the rainfall is greater in the higher elevations of San Diego. Some of the higher areas of San Diego, such as Palomar Mountain and the Laguna Mountains, receive of rain per year, supporting lush forests similar to the Sierra Nevada and California Coast Range. The Colorado Desert portion of the county lies to the east of the mountains, which receives the least amount of precipitation; Borrego Springs, the largest population center in the desert, averages only , with a high evaporation rate.
Adjacent counties and municipalities
National protected areas
Cabrillo National Monument
Cleveland National Forest (part)
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (located in Orange County)
There are seven official wilderness areas in San Diego County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Four of these are integral parts of Cleveland National Forest, whereas three are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Some of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below):
Otay Mountain Wilderness (BLM)
Pine Creek Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest)
Hauser Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest)
Carrizo Gorge Wilderness (BLM)
Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness (BLM)
Agua Tibia Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest) partly in Riverside County
San Mateo Canyon Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest) mostly in Riverside County
State parks and protected areas
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (majority)
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Palomar Mountain State Park
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Border Field State Park
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
San Onofre State Beach
Moonlight State Beach
Carlsbad State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach
Leucadia State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
Cardiff State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach
Mountains
Cuyamaca Mountains
In-Ko-Pah Mountains
Jacumba Mountains
Laguna Mountains
Palomar Mountain
Peninsular Ranges
San Ysidro Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
Volcan Mountains
There are 236 mountain summits and peaks in San Diego County including:
Black Mountain
Cuyamaca Peak (second highest point in San Diego County)
Cowles Mountain (highest point in the city of San Diego)
Mount Helix
Hot Springs Mountain (highest point in San Diego County)
Margarita Peak
Mount Soledad
Stonewall Mountain
El Cajon Mountain
Woodson Mountain (known for Potato Chip Rock)
Bays and lagoons
Buena Vista Lagoon
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
Batiquitos Lagoon
San Elijo Lagoon
Los Peñasquitos Lagoon
Mission Bay
San Diego Bay
Lakes
Lake Cuyamaca
Lake Hodges
Santee Lakes
Sweetwater Reservoir
Upper Otay Reservoir
Lower Otay Reservoir
Lake Wohlford
El Capitan Reservoir
Sutherland Reservoir
Lake Henshaw
Lake Murray
San Vicente Reservoir
Lake Jennings
Barrett Dam
Natural Rock Tanks
Little Laguna Lake
Big Laguna Lake
Big Lake
Twin Lakes
Jean Lake
Lost Lake
Swan Lake
Lake Miramar
Lake Poway
Dixon Lake
Lindo Lake
Rivers
San Diego River
San Luis Rey River
San Dieguito River
Sweetwater River
Otay River
Tijuana River
Tijuana River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area
Santa Margarita River
Environmental risks
More than 1,700 tons of radioactive waste are stored at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which sits in an area where there is a record of past tsunamis.
Demographics
In the 1847 census of San Diego County ordered by Richard Barnes Mason, it found that 2,287 people lived in the county, to include Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and African Americans.
Since at least 2014, San Diego County is the fifth most populous county in the United States. In 2000, only about 3% of San Diego County residents left the county for work while 40,000 people commuted into the metropolitan area.
2020 census
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 can be of any race.
Racial and Ethnic Composition since 1960
Race
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Diego County had a population of 3,095,313. The racial makeup of San Diego County was 1,981,442 (64.0%) White, 158,213 (5.1%) African American, 26,340 (0.9%) Native American, 336,091 (10.9%) Asian (4.7% Filipino, 1.6% Vietnamese, 1.4% Chinese, 3.2% Other Asian), 15,337 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 419,465 (13.6%) from other races, and 158,425 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 991,348 people (32.0%). Including those of mixed race, the total number of residents with Asian ancestry was 407,984.
As of 2009, the racial makeup of the county was 79.4% White American, 5.6% Black or African American, 1% Native American, 10.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 31.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
67.0% spoke only English at home; 21.9% spoke Spanish, 3.1% Tagalog and 1.2% Vietnamese.
Other demographics
As of 2018 Census Bureau estimates, there were 3,343,364 people, 1,067,846 households, and 663,449 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 1,142,245 housing units at an average density of .
In 2000 there were 994,677 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.29.
As of 2000, in the county the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
In 2012, it was estimated that there were 198,000 unauthorized immigrants; the origin of the plurality of them is Mexico.
In 2018, the median household income was $70,824; most people spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. In August of that year, the median home price was $583,000; this is lower than the median home price in Los Angeles, and Orange counties.
Income
According to the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the county was $47,067, and the median income for a family was $53,438. Males had a median income of $36,952 versus $30,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,926. About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Much of the county's high-income residents are concentrated in the northern part of the city of San Diego. The San Diego metropolitan area has two places with both a population of over 50,000 and a per capita income of over $40,000: Carlsbad and Encinitas.
The county's largest continuous high-income urban area is a triangle from a first point on the northern edge of Carlsbad, a second point southeast of Escondido, and a third point on the southern edge of La Jolla. It contains all or most of the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Poway in addition to a substantial portion of northern San Diego.
Homelessness
According to a Point-In-Time count taken for the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless, there were 8,576 homeless individuals on January 6, 2018, a 6% decrease from 2017. 3,586 were sheltered, and 4,990 were not. 4,912 (75.3%) were in the city of San Diego. North County Inland had 1,153 (13.4%), North County Coastal with 822 homeless (9.6%), 602 (7%) were found in South County, and 1,087 (12.7%) in East County.
Religion
According to the Pew Research Center , 68% of adults in the county are Christian, of whom 32% are Catholic. 27% were unaffiliated, and 5% adhered to a Non-Christian faith. According to the University of Southern California, in 2010, the largest faith in the county was Catholicism, followed by Nondenominational Christians, and Mormons.
In 2014, the county had 978 religious organizations, the seventh most out of all US counties.
Immigration data
In 2014 according to Pew Research Center, there are about 170,000 illegal aliens living in the region. San Diego has been a destination for trafficked minors from Mexico and the Philippines. In 2018, the United States Border Patrol caught an average of over a hundred individuals crossing the border illegally each day.
Economy
San Diego County and Imperial County are part of the Southern Border Region, one of nine such regions. As a regional economy, the Southern Border Region is the smallest but most economically diverse region in the state. However, the two counties maintain weak relations and have little in common aside from their common border. The region has a high cost of living. This includes the highest cost of water in the United States. , San Diego County is within the top ten highest cost of rent in the United States; this has led to people moving out of the county.
Agriculture
San Diego County's agriculture industry was worth $1.85 billion in 2013, and is one of the top five egg producing counties in the United States. In 2013, San Diego County also had the most small farms of any county in the United States, and had the 19th largest agricultural economy of any county in the United States. According to the San Diego Farm Bureau, San Diego County is the United States' leading producer of avocados and nursery crops. Until the early 20th century, San Diego County had a thriving wine industry; however the 1916 Charles Hatfield flood was the beginning of the end of the industry which included the destruction of the Daneri winery in Otay Valley. , there are roughly one hundred vineyards and wineries in San Diego County.
By the 20192020 statistical survey, California Department of Food & Agriculture (cdfa) found that the nursery trade dominated the county's agriculture by dollar value. Second place went to avocado production.
Breweries
The county has been called "the Craft Beer Capital of America". Brewing has been one of the fastest-growing business sectors with local breweries ranking among the 50 largest craft brewers in the United States and breweries that are consistently rated among the top breweries in the world.
Cannabis
Commercial operations to grow, test, or sell cannabis are not allowed in the unincorporated areas of the county. Companies must be licensed by the local agency to operate and each city or county may authorize none or only some of these activities. Local governments may not prohibit adults, who are in compliance with state laws, from growing, using, or transporting marijuana for personal use.
Tourism
Tourism plays a large part in the economics of the San Diego metropolitan area. Tourists are drawn to the region for a well rounded experience, everything from shopping to surfing as well as its mild climate. Its numerous tourist destinations include Westfield UTC, Seaport Village, Westfield Mission Valley and Fashion Valley Mall for shopping. SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California as amusement parks. Golf courses such as Torrey Pines Golf Course and Balboa Park Golf Course. Museums such as the Museum of Us, San Diego Museum of Art, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum, USS Midway Museum, and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Historical places such as the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Wildlife refuges, zoos, and aquariums such as the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, San Diego Zoo and San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. Outdoor destinations include the Peninsular Ranges for hiking, biking, mountainboarding and trail riding. Surfing locations include Swami's, Stone Steps Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach, Cardiff State Beach, San Onofre State Beach and the southern portion of Black's Beach.
The region is host to the second largest cruise ship industry in California which generates an estimated $2 million annually from purchases of food, fuel, supplies, and maintenance services. In 2008 the Port of San Diego hosted 252 ship calls and more than 800,000 passengers.
Culture
The culture of San Diego is influenced heavily by American and Mexican cultures due to its position as a border town, its large Hispanic population, and its history as part of Spanish America and Mexico. The area's longtime association with the U.S. military also contributes to its culture. Present-day culture includes many historical and tourist attractions, a thriving musical and theatrical scene, numerous notable special events, a varied cuisine, and a reputation as one of America's premier centers of craft brewing.
Sites of interest
Mount Laguna Observatory, owned and primarily operated by San Diego State University
Palomar Observatory, owned and primarily operated by the California Institute of Technology
The Ramona Valley wine-producing region, located northeast of the city of San Diego
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, formerly known as the San Diego Wild Animal Park, north of the San Diego Zoo and east of Escondido
Sea World of San Diego, on Mission Bay.
Mission Bay Park, including Fiesta Island, a sheltered bay popular for water sports, also known for the annual Over the line tournament.
Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of California's 21 Spanish missions. It is an operating Roman Catholic parish and also is open for historical interest tours during the week. It is located near the interchange of Interstates 8 and 15.
Mission San Luis Rey, founded on June 13, 1798, by Padre Fermín Lasuén. It is the 18th of the Spanish missions established in California. It is an operating Roman Catholic parish and is open every day for historical interest tours. It is located near Route 76 in the Oceanside area.
Balboa Park, with numerous museums and other cultural locations, just north of Downtown San Diego.
San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park
Presidio Park, located on a bluff directly above Old Town, a city historic park on the site of the San Diego Presidio, the first European settlement in California.
San Diego Bay contains the aircraft carrier USS Midway now used as a memorial ship and as a floating museum, and the eight floating museum ships of the San Diego Maritime Museum. Harbor cruises, sailing, and sport fishing are also available
San Diego Botanic Garden, a 37-acre botanic oasis in the coastal community of Encinitas. Features 4 miles of meandering trails, 5,300+ plant species and 29 uniquely themed gardens, including the largest public bamboo collection in North America.
Legoland California, a Lego theme park in Carlsbad
Sesame Place San Diego, a Sesame Street theme park in Chula Vista
Alta Vista Gardens is a Botanical Garden in Vista dedicated to bringing together 'People, Nature & Art'.
Mount Ecclesia is a historic district noted for its singular architecture and the preservation of nature grounds and gardens, offering a unique meditative walking experience. It is located about a mile east of Interstate 5 in the Oceanside area.
San Dieguito County Park
Sports
Highest-level professional teams
The following teams compete at their sport's highest level of domestic competition
Bold indicates major professional league team
Italic indicates semi-pro or professional-level club team (highest competitive level leagues of sports with no fully-professional domestic competition)
Minor league professional teams
The following teams compete below their sport's highest level of domestic competition
College athletics
The San Diego State Aztecs (MW), the San Diego Toreros (WCC), and the UC San Diego Tritons (BWC) are NCAA Division I teams. The Cal State San Marcos Cougars (CCAA) and Point Loma Sea Lions (PacWest) are members of NCAA Division II, while the San Diego Christian Hawks (GSAC) and Saint Katherine Firebirds (CalPac) are members of the NAIA.
Annual sports events
Government
The Government of San Diego County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution, California law, and the Charter of the County of San Diego. Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of county governments such as the Government of San Diego County. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition the County serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas. Some chartered cities such as San Diego and Chula Vista provide municipal services such as police, public safety, libraries, parks and recreation, and zoning. Other cities such as Del Mar and Vista arrange to have the County provide some or all of these services on a contract basis.
The county government is composed of the elected five-member Board of Supervisors, several other elected offices and officers
and numerous county departments and entities under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer such as the Probation Department. In addition, several entities of the government of California have jurisdiction conterminous with San Diego County, such as the San Diego Superior Court.
Under its foundational Charter, the five-member elected San Diego County Board of Supervisors is the county legislature. The board operates in a legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial capacity. As a legislative authority, it can pass ordinances for the unincorporated areas (ordinances that affect the whole county, like posting of restaurant ratings, must be ratified by the individual city). As an executive body, it can tell the county departments what to do, and how to do it. As a quasi-judicial body, the Board is the final venue of appeal in the local planning process.
As of June 2023, the members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors are:
For several decades, ending in 2013, all five supervisors were Republican, white, graduates of San Diego State University, and had been in office since 1995 or earlier. The Board was criticized for this homogeneity, which was made possible because supervisors draw their own district lines and are not subject to term limits. (In 2010 voters put term limits in place, but they only apply going forward, so that each incumbent supervisor can serve an additional two terms before being termed out.) That pattern was broken in 2013 when Slater-Price retired; she was replaced by Democrat Dave Roberts, who won election to the seat in November 2012 and was inaugurated in January 2013.
The San Diego County Code is the codified law of San Diego County in the form of ordinances passed by the Board of Supervisors. The Administrative Code establishes the powers and duties of all officers and the procedures and rules of operation of all departments.
The county motto is "The noblest motive is the public good." County government offices are housed in the historic County Administration Center Building, constructed in 1935–1938 with funding from the Works Progress Administration.
Politics
Voting
With its prominent armed forces presence, San Diego County, historically, has been a Republican stronghold. The Republican presidential nominee carried the county in every presidential election from 1948 through 2004, except in 1992, when Bill Clinton won a plurality. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win a majority of votes in San Diego County since World War II; upon his reelection in 2012, he again won a majority of the county votes. In 2020, San Diego County voted in favor of the Democratic presidential candidate (former Vice President Joe Biden) by a margin of 22.8%, the county's largest margin for a Democratic candidate since 1936.
The City of San Diego, itself, is more Democratic than the County average, and has largely voted Democrat in each presidential election since 1992; certain areas and cities within the county are swing areas, and have split their votes, in post-2000 elections. The county's Republican population gradually increases the further one travels away from the city center; the Republican strongholds are (more or less) concentrated throughout the cities of La Jolla, Coronado, the regions of North County and East County, the eastern backlands and remote mountain communities (including Julian). While these areas have been traditionally Republican, all maintain a considerably varied population of Liberals, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, and others.
One unique feature of the political scene is the use of Golden Hall, a convention facility next to San Diego's City Hall, as "Election Central." The County Registrar of Voters rents the hall to distribute election results. Supporters and political observers gather to watch the results come in; supporters of the various candidates parade around the hall, carrying signs and chanting; candidates give their victory and concession speeches and host parties for campaign volunteers and donors at the site; and television stations broadcast live from the floor of the convention center. The atmosphere at Election Central on the evening of election day has been compared to the voting portion of a political party national convention.
On November 4, 2008, San Diego County voted 53.71% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution, effectively placing a ban on same-sex marriages; this proposition would restore Proposition 22, which was overturned by a ruling from the California Supreme Court. However, the City of San Diego, along with the North County coastal cities of Del Mar, Encinitas, and Solana Beach voted against Proposition 8. La Mesa was a virtual tie for Prop. 8 support, while Carlsbad supported the referendum by only a 2% margin.
Federal and state representation
In the U.S. House of Representatives, San Diego County is split between five congressional districts:
and
.
In the California State Assembly, San Diego County is split between seven legislative districts:
and
.
In the California State Senate, San Diego County is split between four legislative districts:
, and
.
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Cities by population and crime rates
Education
San Diego County contains three public state universities: University of California, San Diego (UCSD); San Diego State University (SDSU); and California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). Major private universities in the county include University of San Diego (USD), Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), Alliant International University (AIU), and National University. It also includes three law schools, USD School of Law, California Western School of Law, and Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Within the county there are 24 public elementary school districts, 6 high school districts, and 12 unified school districts. There are also five community college districts.
Several cities in the county maintain public library systems, including the city of San Diego itself. The San Diego County Library serves all other areas of the county. In 2010 the county library had 33 branches and two bookmobiles; circulated over 10.7 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other material formats; recorded 5.7 million visits to library branches; and hosted 21,132 free programs and events. The San Diego County Library is one of the 25 busiest libraries in the nation as measured by materials circulated.
Community College Districts
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
MiraCosta Community College District
Palomar Community College District
San Diego Community College District
Southwestern Community College District
K-12 schools
School districts
K-12 unified:
Borrego Springs Unified School District
Bonsall Unified School District
Carlsbad Unified School District
Coronado Unified School District
Mountain Empire Unified School District
Oceanside Unified School District
Poway Unified School District
Ramona Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
San Marcos Unified School District
Vista Unified School District
Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
Warner Unified School District
Secondary:
Escondido Union High School District
Fallbrook Union High School District
Grossmont Union High School District
Julian Union High School District
San Dieguito Union High School District
Sweetwater Union High School District
Elementary:
Alpine Union Elementary School District
Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District
Cardiff Elementary School District
Chula Vista Elementary School District
Dehesa Elementary School District
Del Mar Union Elementary School District
Encinitas Union Elementary School District
Escondido Union Elementary School District
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
Jamul-Dulzura Union Elementary School District
Julian Union Elementary School District
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
Lakeside Union Elementary School District
Lemon Grove Elementary School District
National Elementary School District
Rancho Santa Fe Elementary School District
San Pasqual Union Elementary School District
San Ysidro Elementary School District
Santee School District
Solana Beach Elementary School District
South Bay Union School District
Spencer Valley Elementary School District
Vallecitos Elementary School District
Military
San Diego is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Eleventh Naval District and is the Navy's principal location for West Coast and Pacific Ocean operations. Naval Base San Diego, California is principal home to the Pacific Fleet (although the headquarters is located in Pearl Harbor). NAS North Island is located on the north side of Coronado, and is home to Headquarters for Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Force Pacific, the bulk of the Pacific Fleet's helicopter squadrons, and part of the West Coast aircraft carrier fleet.
The Naval Special Warfare Center is the primary training center for SEALs, and is also located on Coronado. The area contains five major naval bases and the U.S. Marines base Camp Pendleton. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base. It is located on the Southern California coast, bordered by Oceanside to the south, San Clemente to the north, and Fallbrook to the east.
U.S. Navy
Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Base Point Loma, which includes the Submarine Base and the Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Training Center
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)
Naval Medical Center San Diego, also known as Bob Wilson Naval Hospital and Balboa Naval Hospital
U.S. Marine Corps
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
U.S. Coast Guard
Coast Guard Air Station San Diego
U.S. Air Force
San Diego Air National Guard Station, which is home to the 147th Combat Communications Squadron.
Media
San Diego County is primarily served by media in San Diego, including TV and radio stations based in the city.
Newspapers
San Diego County is served by many newspapers. The major regional paper is The San Diego Union-Tribune, also known as U-T San Diego or just "The U-T" by locals, is ranked 23rd in the country (by daily circulation) as of March 2013. The Union-Tribune serves both San Diego County and neighboring Imperial County. The former North County Times, based in Escondido and serving portions of Riverside County and North County, was purchased by the Union-Tribune in 2012 and closed down. For about a year after absorbing the North County Times the Union-Tribune published a North County edition, but the regional edition was later abandoned. The Los Angeles Times is also delivered in portions of the county. Many of the area's cities, towns and neighborhoods have their own local newspapers; the Union Tribune bought eight local weeklies in 2013 and is continuing to publish them as independent local newspapers. The San Diego Daily Transcript reports business and legal news. Privately published papers like the Military Press Newspaper and the Navy Dispatch serve the military community both on and off base.
Other media
County Television Network is a public-access television cable channel, offering a "hometown blend of C-SPAN, the Lifetime, History, Travel, and Discovery channels" for the county, and funded by fees paid by cable companies.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 5
Interstate 8
Interstate 15
Interstate 805
State Route 11
State Route 15
State Route 52
State Route 54
State Route 56
State Route 67
State Route 75
State Route 76
State Route 78
State Route 79
State Route 94
State Route 125
State Route 163
State Route 188
State Route 282
State Route 905
Border crossings to Mexico
San Ysidro Port of Entry
Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Otay Mesa East Port of Entry (projected opening 2024)
Tecate Port of Entry
Railroads
(Amtrak) Pacific Surfliner
Coaster
Metrolink
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
Light rail and local transit
San Diego Trolley
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS/MTS)
Sprinter
North County Transit District (NCTD)
The Port of San Diego
Embarcadero (San Diego)
Airports
Carlsbad
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ) a.k.a. Palomar Airport or Carlsbad Airport
El Cajon
Gillespie Field (SEE)
Oceanside
Oceanside Municipal Airport (OKB)
City of San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN) a.k.a. Lindbergh Field
Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF)
Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM) (formerly East Field, NAAS Otay Mesa, and NAAS Brown Field)
Unincorporated San Diego County
Agua Caliente Airport (L54)
Borrego Valley Airport (L08)
Fallbrook Community Airpark (L18)
Jacumba Airport (L78)
Ocotillo Airport (L90)
Ramona Airport (RNM)
Communities
As of the 2020 census, San Diego County includes 18 incorporated cities, 18 Native American Indian reservations, and 39 census-designated places (CDPs).
Cities
Former cities
Census-designated places (CDPs)
The communities of Del Dios, Elfin Forest, Harmony Grove, and Pala were newly-designated as CDPs in the 2020 census.
Some CDPs and unincorporated communities of San Diego County have explored incorporating as cities/towns in the past (California makes no legal distinction between the titles of "city" and "town", allowing communities that incorporate to chose their designation, though no incorporated towns currently exist in San Diego County). Alpine, Bonita, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe and Spring Valley have each been tied to various incorporation studies, organized efforts and discussions in the past. Some of these past efforts have culminated in ballot initiatives. Voters in Fallbrook previously rejected incorporation in 1981 and 1987. Rancho Santa Fe residents also rejected incorporation in 1987. Among the existing cities of San Diego County, some had multiple failed incorporation efforts before ultimately succeeding in becoming a city. Lemon Grove, for example, saw incorporation measures fail in 1955, 1958 and 1964 before a successful incorporation vote in 1977. Other cities have seen incorporation success thanks to mergers of neighboring unincorporated communities. Encinitas, for example, became an incorporated city through a consolidated effort between the then-unincorporated communities of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Encinitas and Olivenhain in 1986. Encinitas and Solana Beach in 1986 are the most recent examples of successful campaigns for incorporation within the County of San Diego.
Alpine
Bonita
Bonsall
Borrego Springs
Bostonia
Boulevard
Campo
Camp Pendleton Mainside
Camp Pendleton South
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
Crest
Del Dios
Descanso
Elfin Forest
Eucalyptus Hills
Fairbanks Ranch
Fallbrook
Granite Hills
Harbison Canyon
Harmony Grove
Hidden Meadows
Jacumba Hot Springs
Jamul
Julian
Lake San Marcos
Lakeside
La Presa
Mount Laguna
Pala
Pine Valley
Potrero
Rainbow
Ramona
Rancho San Diego
Rancho Santa Fe
San Diego Country Estates
Spring Valley
Valley Center
Winter Gardens
Unincorporated communities
4S Ranch
Agua Caliente Springs
Ballena
Bankhead Springs
Banner
Blossom Valley
Buckman Springs
Canyon City
Casa de Oro
Chihuahua Valley
Cuyamaca
De Luz
De Luz Heights
Dehesa
Dulzura
East Otay Mesa
Fernbrook
Flinn Springs
Foster
Guatay
Harrison Park
Jesmond Dene
Jofegan
Kentwood-In-The-Pines
Lake Henshaw
Lincoln Acres
Live Oak Springs
Manzanita
Morena Village
Mount Helix
Oak Grove
Ocotillo Wells
Pala Mesa
Palomar Mountain
Pauma Valley
Pine Hills
Ranchita
Rincon
San Felipe
Santa Ysabel
Shelter Valley
Tecate
Warner Springs
Witch Creek
Wynola
Indian reservations
San Diego County has 18 federally recognized Indian reservations, more than any other county in the United States. Although they are typical in size to other Indian reservations in California (many of which are termed "Rancherías"), they are relatively small by national standards, and all together total of area.
Barona Indian Reservation
Campo Indian Reservation
Capitan Grande Reservation
Ewiiaapaayp Indian Reservation
Inaja and Cosmit Indian Reservation
Jamul Indian Village
La Jolla Indian Reservation
La Posta Indian Reservation
Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
Manzanita Indian Reservation
Mesa Grande Indian Reservation
Pala Indian Reservation
Pauma and Yuima Indian Reservation
Rincon Indian Reservation
San Pasqual Indian Reservation
Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation
Sycuan Indian Reservation
Viejas Indian Reservation
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of San Diego County.
† county seat
See also
List of breweries in San Diego County, California
List of high schools in San Diego County, California
List of media set in San Diego County, California
List of museums in San Diego County, California
List of school districts in San Diego County, California
List of United States counties and county-equivalents
National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County, California
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Notes
References
Further reading
Pryde, Philip R. San Diego: An Introduction to the Region (4th ed. 2004), a historical geography
External links
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) official website
San Diego Tourism Authority
San Diego Geographic Information Source
1850 establishments in California
California counties
Counties in Southern California
Geography of San Diego County, California
Metropolitan areas of California
Populated places established in 1850
San Diego metropolitan area
Majority-minority counties in California