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San Diego County, California

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A view of the San Diego skyline in California.

San Diego County is a place in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, right next to the border with Mexico. It is home to many people, and the main city is also called San Diego.

San Diego County has many special features. It has the most Indian reservations of any county in the United States. It also has important military bases for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The county has beautiful coastline along the Pacific Ocean, with a nice climate. As you move east, the land changes into mountains and deserts.

History

Main article: History of San Diego

The land that is now San Diego County has been home to Native American groups like the Kumeyaay, Luiseño, Cupeño, Cahuilla, and Acjachemen for thousands of years. In 1542, explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed San Diego Bay for Spain. Later, in 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno visited the area and gave it its current name.

European settlers came in 1769 when Spanish soldiers and church workers built the San Diego Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The area was part of Mexico from 1821 to 1848. In 1848, after a war, San Diego County became part of the United States. It was one of California’s original counties when the state joined the United States in 1850. Over time, parts of San Diego County were separated to form new counties. The last of these changes happened in 1907.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,526 square miles (11,720 km2), of which 4,207 square miles (10,900 km2) is land and 319 square miles (830 km2) (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 landscape. On its western side is more than 70 miles (113 km) 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. The Cleveland National Forest is spread across the central portion of the county, while 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 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2) of chaparral, twice as much as any other California county.

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.

Location

San Diego County is bordered on the northwest by Orange County, on the north by Riverside County; on the east by Imperial County; on the south by Mexico; and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Climate

Main article: Climate of San Diego, California

Under the Köppen climate classification system, the urban and suburban San Diego area straddles areas of Mediterranean climate (Csa) to the north and hot 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 70 °F (21 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches (23–33 cm) annually). Summer temperatures are generally warm, with average highs of 70–78 °F (21–26 °C) and lows of 55–66 °F (13–19 °C). Temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) only four days a year. Most rainfall occurs from November to April. Winter temperatures are mild, with average high temperatures of 66–70 °F (19–21 °C) and lows of 50–56 °F (10–13 °C).

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 5–10 miles (8.0–16.1 km) 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 48 °F (9 °C) and August highs of 77 °F (25 °C). The city of El Cajon, just 10 miles (16 km) northeast of downtown San Diego, averages January lows of 42 °F (6 °C) and August highs of 89 °F (32 °C). Julian, in the mountains, has an average January low of 29 °F (−2 °C) and August high of 85 °F (29 °C). Borrego Springs, in the Colorado Desert, has an average January low of 43 °F (6 °C) and August high of 106 °F (41 °C).

Rainfall along the coast averages about 10 inches (25 cm) 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 20–40 inches (51–102 cm) 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 5 inches (13 cm), with a high evaporation rate.

Many of the cities seen from the sky as part of the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area

Adjacent counties and municipalities

National protected areas

There are seven official wilderness areas in San Diego County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 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):

State parks and protected areas

Cleveland National Forest

Mountains

There are 236 mountain summits and peaks in San Diego County including:

Bays and lagoons

Lakes

Beach at Border Field State Park; San Diego is on the right while Tijuana is on the left.

Rivers

Forests

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.

Portions of the Tijuana River has been heavily contaminated with sewage since the 1990's. There has been efforts to expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, such as one designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2025.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of San Diego County, California

San Diego County started with just 2,287 people in 1847, including Native Americans. Today, it is the fifth most populous county in the United States. In 2020, the county had a population of 3,298,634 with a median age of 37.1 years. About 20.9% were under 18 years old, and 15.2% were 65 or older.

The racial makeup was 49.5% White, 4.7% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 12.5% Asian, and 15.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents made up 33.9% of the population. Most people lived in urban areas.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had 1,158,764 households, with 32.2% having children under 18. About 25.8% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 23.2% were made up of individuals. There were 1,228,505 housing units, with 53.5% being owner-occupied.

2010 census

See also: Demographics of Filipino Americans § San Diego County

The 2010 United States census reported a population of 3,095,313. The racial makeup included 64.0% White, 5.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 10.9% Asian, and 13.6% from other races. Hispanic or Latino residents were 32.0% of the population.

2009 estimates

Ethnic origins in San Diego County

In 2009, the racial makeup was 79.4% White, 5.6% Black or African American, 1% Native American, 10.4% Asian, and 10.3% from other races. About 31.3% were Hispanic or Latino. Most people spoke only English at home, while 21.9% spoke Spanish.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 994,677 households, with 33.9% having children under 18. About 50.7% were married couples living together, and 33.3% were non-families. The median age was 33 years.

Other demographic data

In 2012, there were an estimated 198,000 unauthorized immigrants, many from Mexico. In 2018, the median household income was $70,824.

Income

In 2000, the median household income was $47,067. About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line.

Homelessness

In 2018, a count found 8,576 homeless individuals in the county.

Religion

In 2014, a survey found that 68% of adults were Christian, with 32% being Catholic. About 27% were not affiliated with any religion, and 5% followed other faiths.

Immigration data

In 2014, there were about 170,000 undocumented immigrants in the region.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850798—
18604,324441.9%
18704,95114.5%
18808,61874.1%
189034,987306.0%
190035,0900.3%
191061,66575.7%
1920112,24882.0%
1930209,65986.8%
1940289,34838.0%
1950556,80892.4%
19601,033,01185.5%
19701,357,85431.4%
19801,861,84637.1%
19902,498,01634.2%
20002,813,83312.6%
20103,095,31310.0%
20203,298,6346.6%
2025 (est.)3,336,081 Increase1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020
San Diego County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)1,374,6491,633,2811,548,8331,500,0471,422,20573.83%65.38%55.04%48.46%43.11%
Black or African American alone (NH)102,165149,898154,487146,600145,0145.49%6.00%5.49%4.74%4.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)14,61615,05015,25314,09812,8410.79%0.60%0.54%0.46%0.39%
Asian alone (NH)89,861185,144245,297328,058400,5894.83%7.41%8.72%10.60%12.14%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x x 12,16413,50412,9910.43%0.44%0.43%0.44%0.39%
Other race alone (NH)5,3783,8625,8226,71518,1250.29%0.15%0.21%0.22%0.55%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x x 81,01294,943167,240xx2.88%3.07%5.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)275,177510,781750,965991,3481,119,62914.78%20.45%26.69%32.03%33.94%
Total1,861,8462,498,0162,813,8333,095,3133,298,634100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

Economy

San Diego County and Imperial County are part of the Southern Border Region. This area has many different kinds of jobs, but the two counties don’t work together much. Living there is expensive, with high costs for things like water and rent. Many people have moved away because of these high costs.

The county is good at growing food, especially eggs and avocados. It has many small farms and is a top place for growing avocados and plants for gardens. People also enjoy visiting San Diego for its many attractions, like shopping places, amusement parks, museums, and beautiful outdoor spots. The area is also famous for its craft breweries and is a popular spot for tourists. Many cruise ships visit the Port of San Diego, bringing lots of visitors each year.

Culture

See also: Culture of San Diego

San Diego's culture is influenced by American and Mexican traditions. This is because the city is near the border with Mexico, has many people from Hispanic backgrounds, and was once part of Spanish America and Mexico. The U.S. military also helps shape the local culture.

Today, San Diego is known for its historic sites and popular tourist spots. It has a lively music and theater scene, many special events, a variety of foods, and is famous for being one of the best places in America to enjoy local beers.

Sports

See also: Sports in San Diego

San Diego County has many sports teams. It has two major league teams: the San Diego Padres who play baseball in the Major League Baseball, and San Diego FC who play soccer in the Major League Soccer. The county also has many college teams, including the San Diego State Aztecs.

The area has had several famous teams in the past. The San Diego Chargers football team played here from 1961 to 2017 before moving to the Greater Los Angeles area. Other teams that used to play here include the San Diego Rockets and San Diego Clippers basketball teams, and the San Diego Mariners hockey team. Today, San Diego does not have teams in the top football, basketball, or hockey leagues.

Government

Main article: Government of San Diego County, California

See also: San Diego County Water Authority

The government of San Diego County is set up by the Constitution of California, California law, and the Charter of the County of San Diego. It helps provide important services for the whole county, like voting, public safety, health, and taxes. It also looks after areas that are not part of any city.

The county is led by a group of five elected leaders called the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. They make rules, guide the work of the county, and settle some local planning issues.

The county has many departments and leaders who help run these services.

The county has its own set of rules called the San Diego County Code. The main county offices are located in a historic building built between 1935 and 1938.

DistrictSupervisorParty
1Paloma Aguirre (Chair Pro Tem)Democrat
2Joel AndersonRepublican
3Terra Lawson-Remer (Chair)Democrat
4Monica Montgomery Steppe (Vice Chair)Democrat
5Jim DesmondRepublican
OfficeOfficialParty
ClerkJordan MarksRepublican
District AttorneySummer StephanIndependent
SheriffKelly MartinezDemocratic
TreasurerLarry CohenDemocratic

Politics

Main article: Politics of San Diego County

San Diego County has had different political views over time. In the past, it often voted for one party, but now more people support another party. The city of San Diego usually votes for the newer party, while areas farther away often still support the older party.

The county uses a special place called Golden Hall to share election results. People gather there to see the results, cheer for their favorite candidates, and celebrate together. Candidates also give speeches and thank their supporters there.

San Diego County registered voters (2019)
Total population3,338,330
  Registered voters1,747,38352.3%
    Democratic623,92535.7%
    Republican475,14927.2%
    Democratic–Republican spread+148,776+8.5%
    No party preference552,53831.6%
    American Independent55,8003.2%
    Libertarian16,3550.9%
    Other11,4740.7%
    Green6,8870.4%
    Peace and Freedom5,2550.3%

Crime

The following table shows the number of reported incidents and the rate per 1,000 people for different types of offenses.

Cities by population and crime rates

Education

San Diego County has many schools and universities. There are three public state universities: University of California, San Diego, San Diego State University, and California State University, San Marcos. There are also private universities, such as University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University.

The county has many school districts for children from elementary school through high school. There are public libraries, with the San Diego County Library serving many areas. It has many branches and offers books and programs for everyone.

Community College Districts

K-12 schools

School districts

K-12 unified:

Secondary:

Elementary:

Military

San Diego is an important place for the U.S. Navy. It is the main location for the Navy’s activities on the West Coast and in the Pacific Ocean. Naval Base San Diego is home to many ships and sailors, even though the main office is in Pearl Harbor. NAS North Island is where many helicopters and airplane teams are based.

There are also special training places for Navy teams, and five big Navy bases in the area. Camp Pendleton is a major base for the U.S. Marines. It is located along the coast near Oceanside, San Clemente, and Fallbrook.

Media

San Diego County has many TV and radio stations based in the city of San Diego. It is one media market all on its own.

Newspapers

The county has many newspapers. The biggest one is The San Diego Union-Tribune, also called U-T San Diego or "The U-T" by locals. Other papers include The Los Angeles Times, and smaller local papers like the Coronado Eagle and the La Jolla Light. There are also papers for the military community.

Other media

There is a public-access TV channel called County Television Network. It mixes shows like those on C-SPAN, Lifetime, History, Travel, and Discovery channels. It is paid for by fees from cable companies.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in San Diego County

San Diego County has many roads, trains, and airports to help people travel. Some of the big highways include I-5, I-8, I-15 / SR 15, and I-805. There are also smaller roads that connect different parts of the county.

There are special places where people can cross from the United States into Mexico, such as the San Ysidro Port of Entry and the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Trains like the Pacific Surfliner, Coaster, and Metrolink help people travel around the area. Local buses and trolleys, like the San Diego Trolley and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, make it easy to get around the city.

The county also has many airports. The biggest is San Diego International Airport (SAN), but there are smaller airports like McClellan–Palomar Airport (CRQ) in Carlsbad and Gillespie Field (SEE) in El Cajon. Other airports are spread throughout the county, making travel convenient for everyone.

Communities

San Diego County has many places where people live. It includes 18 cities, 18 Indian reservations, and 39 census-designated places (CDPs).

Cities

Census-designated places (CDPs)

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservations

San Diego County has 18 Indian reservations, more than any other county in the United States. These reservations are smaller than many others, but together they cover 200.2 square miles (519 kilometers squared).

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of San Diego County.

† county seat

Former cities

Future and past incorporation efforts

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 becoming cities in the past. Alpine, Bonita, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe and Spring Valley have each had studies and discussions about this. Voters in Fallbrook and Rancho Santa Fe chose not to become cities in past votes. Some cities in San Diego County tried to become cities many times before they succeeded. For example, Lemon Grove tried three times before becoming a city in 1977. Encinitas became a city in 1986 by combining several nearby communities. Encinitas and Solana Beach are the most recent examples of communities becoming cities in San Diego County.

CityDate incorporatedPopulation
(2020 Census)
CarlsbadJuly 16, 1952114,746
Chula VistaNovember 28, 1911275,487
CoronadoDecember 11, 189020,192
Del MarJuly 15, 19593,954
El CajonNov 12, 1912106,215
EncinitasOctober 1, 198662,007
EscondidoOctober 8, 1888151,038
Imperial BeachJuly 18, 195626,137
La MesaFebruary 16, 191261,121
Lemon GroveJuly 1, 197727,627
National CitySeptember 17, 188756,173
OceansideJuly 3, 1888174,068
PowayDecember 1, 198048,841
San Diego (county seat)March 27, 18501,386,932
San MarcosJanuary 28, 196394,833
SanteeDecember 1, 198060,037
Solana BeachJuly 1, 198612,941
VistaJanuary 28, 196398,381
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2020 Census)Population (2010 Census)
1San Diego †City1,386,9321,307,402
2Chula VistaCity275,487243,916
3OceansideCity174,068167,086
4EscondidoCity151,038143,911
5CarlsbadCity114,746105,328
6El CajonCity106,21599,478
7VistaCity98,38193,834
8San MarcosCity94,83383,781
9EncinitasCity62,00759,518
10La MesaCity61,12157,065
11SanteeCity60,03753,413
12National CityCity56,17358,582
13PowayCity48,84147,811
14La PresaCDP35,03334,169
15FallbrookCDP32,26730,534
16Spring ValleyCDP30,99828,205
17Lemon GroveCity27,62725,320
18Imperial BeachCity26,13726,324
19Winter GardensCDP22,38020,631
20Rancho San DiegoCDP21,85821,208
21RamonaCDP21,46820,292
22LakesideCDP21,15220,648
23CoronadoCity20,19218,912
24Casa de Oro-Mount HelixCDP19,57618,762
25BostoniaCDP16,88215,379
26AlpineCDP14,69614,236
27Solana BeachCity12,94112,867
28BonitaCDP12,91712,538
29Camp Pendleton SouthCDP12,46810,616
30San Diego Country EstatesCDP10,39510,109
31Valley CenterCDP10,0879,277
32Camp Pendleton MainsideCDP9,6835,200
33JamulCDP6,1796,163
34Eucalyptus HillsCDP5,5175,313
35Lake San MarcosCDP5,3284,437
36BonsallCDP4,5463,982
37Hidden MeadowsCDP4,4843,485
38Harbison CanyonCDP4,0483,841
39Del MarCity3,9544,161
40Granite HillsCDP3,2673,035
41Rancho Santa FeCDP3,1563,117
42Borrego SpringsCDP3,0733,429
43Fairbanks RanchCDP3,0023,148
44CampoCDP2,9552,684
45CrestCDP2,8282,593
46Harmony GroveCDP2,079N/A
47RainbowCDP1,8841,832
48JulianCDP1,7681,502
49Pine ValleyCDP1,6451,510
50Pala Indian ReservationAIAN1,5411,315
51DescansoCDP1,4991,423
52PalaCDP1,490N/A
53San Pasqual ReservationAIAN1,2701,097
54Rincon ReservationAIAN1,0951,215
55Barona ReservationAIAN756640
56PotreroCDP648656
57Elfin ForestCDP600N/A
58JacumbaCDP540561
59Viejas ReservationAIAN538520
60Campo Indian ReservationAIAN398362
61Del DiosCDP396N/A
62BoulevardCDP359315
63Santa Ysabel ReservationAIAN263330
64Sycuan ReservationAIAN218211
65Pauma and Yuima ReservationAIAN179206
66La Jolla ReservationAIAN145476
67Manzanita ReservationAIAN10178
68Mesa Grande ReservationAIAN8798
69Mount LagunaCDP7457
70La Posta Indian ReservationAIAN5055
71Los Coyotes ReservationAIAN1598
72Ewiiaapaayp ReservationAIAN5N/A
Capitan Grande ReservationAIAN00
Inaja and Cosmit ReservationAIAN00
Jamul Indian VillageAIAN0N/A
CityYear
incorporated
Year
removed
Fate
East San Diego19121923Merged into San Diego
Elsinore (now Lake Elsinore)18881893Riverside County formed
Imperial19041907Imperial County formed
Riverside18831893Riverside County formed
San Jacinto18881893Riverside County formed

Images

Historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, built in 1798.
A scenic mountain view in California's Anza-Borrego Desert
A view of Del Mar Racetrack, showcasing its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California.
A beautiful view of El Capitan mountain from Santee's Sky Ranch.
The official logo of San Diego County, featuring elements of nature and the county administration building, symbolizing community and values.

Related articles

San Diego
Mexico
U.S. state
California
United States Navy
United States Coast Guard

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