| Once upon a time, a little town that we now know as | | | | a city in 1850. |
| San Diego, was inhabited by only the Kumeyaay | | | | The town developed in the next twenty years |
| people. That small town now stands as one of the | | | | especially thanks to the whaling port. The |
| biggest and prosperous cities in the United States. Its | | | | town’s downtown was made of a 1,000-acre |
| population now reaches 1,255,240 people and is proud | | | | plot that was then bought by Alonzo E. Horton in 1867. |
| to be the second largest city in California and the | | | | Alonzo started the town’s development by |
| eighth largest in the United States. Its geographical | | | | laying out streets, building a wharf and a hotel, and then |
| position, on the southern coast of California, makes it | | | | donating land for churches. The town’s |
| the perfect destination for vacationers. There are so | | | | population increased quickly especially after 1870, due |
| many things tourists desire: stunning beaches, fabulous | | | | to the gold strike. In 1885, when Santa Fe Railroad and |
| weather, endless activities and a top convention | | | | a number of eastern investors arrived in the city there |
| destination. The prospering San Diego economy, was | | | | were 40,000 people living in the area. |
| made possible by it’s focus on tourism, trade, | | | | San Diego managed to overcome the economic |
| agriculture, ship-building, the military, biotechnology, | | | | setbacks from economic and business life even |
| computer sciences and electronics. Thanks to this | | | | though there were times when the city registered a |
| economic development the city’s appearance is | | | | regression visible in the number of population that |
| being reflected both on the life style of the people and | | | | dwindled to 17,000 people. The obscurity that lied upon |
| in the design of the buildings. Both tourists and citizens | | | | the town was caused by the more developed cities |
| are welcomed to enjoy the downtown area where | | | | such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. After the |
| they will find attractive gathering places, overhead | | | | World War II, San Diego extended his territory with |
| walkways, parks, historic districts and fantastic | | | | almost 20 miles in each direction and became a military |
| shopping in innovative centers and residential | | | | center, home base for a large number of naval |
| developments. | | | | trainees that were relocated to the city as civilians. So |
| But the town was not always the prosperous city we | | | | did the city begin its growth and development that has |
| all know. Its beginnings are tied to the Portuguese | | | | never ceased. The town’s territory expanded |
| explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who first discovered | | | | after the addition of new distinct communities that |
| San Diego and claimed it for Spain. He discovered the | | | | developed in the nearby canyons and valleys; |
| bay and named it San Miguel and was known under | | | | territories that though incorporated into San Diego |
| this name until 1602. The Spanish explorer Don | | | | retain a separate identity. |
| Sebastian Viscaino, a Spanish Catholic saint, changed | | | | Many of California’s famous fruit and |
| the name into St. Didacus known as "San | | | | vegetables come from the San Diego’s south |
| Diego". He was first celebrated on November 12, | | | | side that has a rich agricultural area. These fruits and |
| 1602 when the Spanish fort and mission complex, the | | | | vegetables are shipped worldwide from San |
| Presidio, was founded. We now know this area as Old | | | | Diego’s port that can be found in the north side |
| Town, which is a favorite tourist destination in San | | | | of the city. This north side is the area where tourists |
| Diego. | | | | will find hotels, spectacular cliff homes, and recreational |
| At that time the town was an important shipping point | | | | amenities. |
| for cattle hide and quarried stone. In order to prove | | | | The city continued its development and was able to |
| how important this shipping point was we can take the | | | | surpass San Francisco as California's second largest |
| city of Boston as an example since it was paved with | | | | city. One of the things that kept the city alive was the |
| stone brought from San Diego. | | | | Centre City Development Corporation which is a |
| After 1822, when Mexico gained its independence | | | | comprehensive group of developers, financial experts, |
| from Spain, San Diego became the capital of Mexican | | | | and civic leaders. San Diego has also been declared |
| California. San Diego was under Mexico’s | | | | as the most efficiently run big city in California and it |
| control for about 24 years until it was passed to the | | | | won’t stand for anything less. |
| United States in 1846.. The town was incorporated as | | | | |