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Baja California ( Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja] ; 'Lower California'), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California (English: Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ), is a state in Mexico . It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California ( Territorio Norte de Baja California ). It has an area of 70,113 km (27,071 sq mi) (3.57% of the land mass of Mexico) and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula , north of the 28th parallel , plus oceanic Guadalupe Island . The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean ; on the east by Sonora , the U.S. state of Arizona , and the Gulf of California ; on the north by the U.S. state of California ; and on the south by Baja California Sur .

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107-512: The state has an estimated population of 3,769,020 as of 2020, significantly higher than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California , and Imperial County, California to its north. Over 75% of the population lives in Mexicali (the state's capital city), Ensenada , or Tijuana (the state's largest city). Other important cities include San Felipe , Rosarito , and Tecate . Baja California

214-496: A Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) investigator, a little under a million people were classified as "poor" in the state, up from 2008 when there were roughly 810,000. Exactly who these people are, whether locals, interstate or international migrants, was not explained. Baja California offers one of the best educational programs in the country, with high rankings in schooling and achievement. The state government provides education and qualification courses to increase

321-517: A National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, though it hosted the San Diego Mariners of the now-defunct World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1977. Currently, there is no NFL, NBA, or NHL team in the county. San Diego is the largest American city not to have won a championship in a "Big Four" major professional league. The city does have one major league title to its name: the 1963 American Football League (AFL) Championship won by

428-452: A rain shadow , creating an extremely arid environment. The Sonoran Desert region of Baja California experiences hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. The Mexicali Valley (which is below sea level) experiences the highest temperatures in Mexico, frequently surpassing 47 °C (116.6 °F) in mid-summer, and exceeding 50 °C (122 °F) on some occasions. Further south along

535-418: A 5.1-magnitude shaker at 4:14 am that was centered near El Centro . As of 6:31   am PDT on 5 April 2010, two people were confirmed dead. Baja California is subdivided into seven municipios (' municipalities '): Ensenada , Mexicali , Tecate , Tijuana , Rosarito , San Quintín and San Felipe . In Baja California, state elections are held every two years (every three years prior to 2019) for

642-572: 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. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, 68% of adults in the county were Christian , of whom 32% were Catholic . 27% were religiously unaffiliated , and 5% adhered to

749-636: A 7.2 M w   (on the moment magnitude scale ) magnitude northwest-trending strike-slip earthquake hit the Mexicali Valley , with its epicenter 26 km (16 mi) southwest of the city of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California . The main shock was felt as far as the Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas , and in Yuma. At least a half-dozen aftershocks with magnitudes between 5.0 and 5.4 were reported, including

856-535: A bank trust property has the option to either remain within the trust or opt out of it and request the title in escritura . Mexico's early history involved foreign invasions and the loss of vast amounts of land; in fear of history being repeated, the Mexican constitution established the concept of the "Restricted Zone". In 1973, in order to bring in more foreign tourist investment, the Bank Trust of Fideicomiso

963-513: A desert climate. Some oases can be found in the desert where few towns are located – for instance, Catavina , San Borja and Santa Gertrudis. Common trees in the high elevations are the Jeffrey pine , sugar pine and pinon pine . Understory species include manzanita . There is a variety of reptiles, including the Western fence lizard , which is at the southern extent of its range. The name of

1070-709: 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. 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

1177-410: 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, 25.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.30% was from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2%

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1284-642: A large Chinese community, as well as many Filipinos who arrived to the state during the eras of Spanish Philippines and American rule (1898–1946) in much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tijuana and Ensenada were major ports of entry for East Asians entering the U.S. ever since the first Asian Americans were present in California. According to the 2020 Census, 1.71% of Baja California's population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican , or of African descent. Since 1960, large numbers of migrants from southern Mexican states have arrived to work in agriculture (especially

1391-537: A major program to develop and modernize Mexico. Baja California encompasses a territory within the Californias region of North America, which exhibits diverse geography for a relatively small area. The Peninsular ranges of the California cordillera run down the geographic center of the state. The most notable ranges of these mountains are the Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir . These ranges are

1498-487: A non-Christian faith. According to the University of Southern California , in 2010, the largest faith in the county was Catholicism, followed by non-denominational Christians , and Mormons . In 2014, the county had 978 religious organizations, the seventh most out of all US counties. In 2014 according to Pew Research Center , there are about 170,000 undocumented immigrants living in the region. San Diego has been

1605-584: A strong focus on tariff-free export oriented manufacturing ( maquiladora ). As of 2005, 284,255 people are employed in the manufacturing sector. There are more than 900 companies operating under the federal Prosec program in Baja California. In 2021, Baja California generated 57,550 new jobs, about 15.2 jobs per 1000 inhabitants, making it the 5th highest in the country and the second highest of any border state behind Nuevo León (86,364 new jobs). The majority of these new jobs were generated in and around

1712-468: A strong maritime economy. The Kiliwa, Paipai, and Kumeyaay in the better-watered northwest were also hunter-gatherers, but that region supported denser populations and a more sedentary lifestyle. The Cocopa and Quechan of northeastern Baja California practiced agriculture in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River . Another group of people was the Guachimis, who came from the north and created much of

1819-468: 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 . Sports in San Diego County includes major professional league teams, other highest-level professional league teams, minor league teams, and college athletics . San Diego County hosts two teams of the major professional leagues,

1926-571: A varied topography. 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

2033-526: 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

2140-500: Is a record of past tsunamis . 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

2247-563: 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. According to a point-in-time count taken for the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, there were 8,576 homeless individuals on January 6, 2018,

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2354-519: Is cited as "P. Consaqua". Alexander von Humboldt used the maps in his work Carte generale ... de la Nouvelle Espagne , (Paris, 1804). The same is the case with Arrowsmith in his book Map of America , published in London in 1805. His diaries, after his death translated and reprinted into many languages, were published during his lifetime by Villa-Señor y Sanchez, Ortega-Balthasar, and Venegas-Buriel . The 1761 copy of his manuscript on California

2461-455: Is common to see snow in the Sierra de Juárez, Sierra de San Pedro Mártir and in the valleys in between the two ranges from December to April. Due to orographic effects, precipitation is much higher in the mountains of northern Baja California than on the western coastal plain or eastern desert plain. Pine, cedar and fir forests are found in the mountains. The east side of the mountains produces

2568-526: Is held in the British Museum . His Carta del P. Fernando Consag de la Compañia de Jesus, Visitador de las Misiones de Californias are kept at: Seven copies of maps are published by Ernest J. Burrus. Consag's name has also been associated with two anonymous accounts of Baja California: Descripción compendiosa de lo descubierto y conocido de la California and Adiciones to the same. Homer Aschmann in 1966 and Damir Zorić in 2000 suggested that Consag

2675-519: Is in this area where a few valleys can be found, such as the Valle de Guadalupe , the major wine-producing area in Mexico. To the east of the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the landscape. In the south, the weather becomes drier and gives way to the Vizcaíno Desert . The state is also home to numerous islands off both of its shores. Baja California is also home to Guadalupe Island ,

2782-556: Is kept at Budapest . From 1727 to 1729 he studied theology at the University of Graz . In 1729, Consag left for Cádiz in Spain , then went to North America , where he was active as a missionary on New Spain 's Baja California Peninsula (today part of Mexico ), from 1732 to the end of his life. His headquarters was at Mission San Ignacio . From 1748 he acted as the superior of the mission and later, in 1758, inspector of all missions in Baja California. Consag spoke various dialects of

2889-475: Is now the cities of Tijuana , Mexicali , and Tecate from Alta California after the treaty and remained under Mexican control. In 1853, soldier of fortune ( mercenary ) William Walker captured La Paz , declaring himself president of the Republic of Baja California . The Mexican government forced his retreat after several months. When liberal army general Porfirio Díaz came to power in 1876, he embarked on

2996-612: Is scheduled for 2024 . During the 2021 Mexican legislative election , six of the eight federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies were won by Morena candidates, with the other two being won by candidates of the Labor and Ecologist Green parties. The next legislative elections are scheduled for 2024 . Although the state is more European in ancestry, it has historically seen sizable East and Southeast Asian immigrant population. Mexicali has

3103-544: Is steadily growing. Baja California has developed a need to be self-sufficient in matters of technological and scientific innovation and to be less dependent on foreign countries. Current businesses demand new production processes as well as technology for the incubation of companies. The number of graduate degrees offered, including PhD programs, is 121. The state has 53 graduate schools. As of 2005, Baja California's economy represents 3.3% of Mexico's gross domestic product , or US$ 21.996 billion. Baja California's economy has

3210-455: Is the 12th-largest state by area in Mexico. Its geography ranges from beaches to forests and deserts. The backbone of the state is the Sierra de Baja California, where Picacho del Diablo , the highest point of the peninsula, is located. This mountain range effectively divides the weather patterns in the state. In the northwest, the weather is semi-dry and Mediterranean . In the narrow center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude. It

3317-481: The 2018 Mexican general election , the presidential vote of Baja California was won by a landslide of almost 44% by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Morena party. Out of the 8 federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies , 5 were won by Morena candidates, 2 were won by Social Encounter Party candidates, and 1 was won by a Labor Party candidate. The next Mexican general election

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3424-453: The County of San Diego , is a county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 3,298,634; it is the second-most populous county in California 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 in the United States. It is

3531-569: The Laguna Mountains and San Jacinto Mountains in southwest California. The lower elevations of the Sierra de Juárez are characterized by chaparral and desert shrub . Guadalupe Island and its surrounding waters, 250 kilometres (160 miles) off the Pacific coast, has been designated the Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve to preserve endangered marine and terrestrial species of animals and plants. The fauna in

3638-854: The National Football League (NFL)'s San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 2017, when the team relocated to the Greater Los Angeles area (now the Los Angeles Chargers ). The county also hosted the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s San Diego Rockets from 1967 to 1971 (now the Houston Rockets ) and San Diego Clippers from 1978 to 1984 (now the Los Angeles Clippers ). San Diego County has never hosted

3745-536: 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,

3852-508: The Port of San Diego hosted 252 ship calls and more than 800,000 passengers. 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,

3959-601: The San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB) and San Diego FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The county is home to several universities whose teams compete in various NCAA Division I sports, most notably the San Diego State Aztecs . The Farmers Insurance Open , a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour , is played annually at Torrey Pines Golf Course . San Diego County hosted

4066-576: 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. 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. Under the Köppen climate classification system,

4173-464: The Tijuana River as a source of water. Much of rural Baja California depends predominantly on wells, a few dams and even oases. Tijuana also purchases water from San Diego County's Otay Water District. Potable water is the largest natural resource issue of the state. Baja California's climate varies from Mediterranean to arid . The Mediterranean climate is found in the northwestern corner of

4280-568: The UNESCO World Heritage -recognized Sierra de Guadalupe cave paintings . Not much is known about them except that they lived in the area between 100   BC and 1300   AD. Europeans reached the present state of Baja California in 1539, when Francisco de Ulloa reconnoitered its east coast on the Gulf of California and explored the peninsula's west coast at least as far north as Cedros Island. Hernando de Alarcón returned to

4387-479: The expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768, the short-lived Franciscan administration (1768–1773) resulted in one new mission at San Fernando Velicatá . More importantly, the 1769 expedition to settle Alta California under Gaspar de Portolà and Junípero Serra resulted in the first overland exploration of the northwestern portion of the state. The Dominicans took over management of the Baja California missions from

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4494-647: The 18th most populous primary statistical area in the United States. San Diego County is also part of the San Diego–Tijuana region, the largest metropolitan area shared between the United States and Mexico. 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 municipalities of Tijuana and Tecate in Baja California . From west to east, San Diego County stretches from

4601-511: The 2019 Baja California state election, Jaime Bonilla Valdez of the Morena -led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 27.58% to become the governor of Baja California. In addition, 21 out of 25 state deputy positions and all 5 municipal mayoral positions were won by candidates aligned with the Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition. During the 2021 Baja California state election, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda of

4708-512: The 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 670 inhabitants per square mile (260/km ). There were 1,142,245 housing units at an average density of 248 per square mile (96/km ). 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

4815-464: 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,

4922-644: The Franciscans in 1773. They established a chain of new missions among the northern Cochimí and western Yumans, first on the coast and subsequently inland, extending from El Rosario (1774) to Descanso (1817), just south of Tijuana below the Palóu Line . In 1804, the Spanish crown divided California into Alta ('Upper') and Baja ('Lower') California at the line separating the Franciscan missions in

5029-466: The Gulf of California, where the western slope becomes wider, forming the Llanos del Berrendo on the border with Baja California Sur. The mountain ranges located in the center and southern part of the state include the Sierra de La Asamblea , Sierra de Calamajué, Sierra de San Luis and the Sierra de San Borja . Temperate winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold California Current make the climate along

5136-524: The Mexicali Valley and nearby Imperial Valley , California, U.S.) and manufacturing. The cities of Ensenada, Tijuana, and Mexicali grew as a result of migrants, primarily those who sought U.S. citizenship. Those temporary residents awaiting their entry into the United States are called flotillas , which is derived from the Spanish word flota , meaning 'fleet'. There is also a sizable immigrant community from Central and South America, and from

5243-684: The Morena-led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 17.49% to become the first female governor of Baja California. Of the state's 25 local deputies, 13 were won by Morena-aligned candidates, followed in a distant second place by candidates of the Solidarity Encounter Party (PES), National Action Party (PAN), and Labor Party (PT) with 3 seats each. All 5 municipal mayoral positions were again won by Morena-aligned candidates. The next state elections are scheduled for 2023 . During

5350-431: The Pacific Ocean to its boundary with Imperial County , which separated from it in 1907. San Diego County has more than 70 miles (113 km) 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

5457-500: The Pacific Ocean to the Colorado River , and it no longer covered the entire border between California and Mexico. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 4,526 square miles (11,720 km ), of which 4,207 square miles (10,900 km ) is land and 319 square miles (830 km ) (7.0%) is water. The county is larger in area than the combined states of Rhode Island and Delaware. San Diego County has

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5564-476: The Pacific coast, the Mediterranean climate transitions into a desert climate, but it is milder and not as hot as along the gulf coast. Transition climates, from Mediterranean to desert, can be found from San Quintín to El Rosario . Further inland and along the Gulf of California, the vegetation is scarce and temperatures are very high during the summer months. The islands in the Gulf of California also have

5671-627: The San Diego Chargers, when the AFL was an independent entity prior to the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. Due to its lackluster record on winning professional championships, and in some cases retaining professional teams, some San Diego sports fans believe there is a curse on professional sports in the city. Ferdinand Kon%C5%A1%C4%8Dak Fernando Consag , known in his native Croatian as Ferdinand Konščak (December 2, 1703 – September 10, 1759),

5778-799: The San Diego Museum of Art , Fleet Science Center , San Diego Natural History Museum , USS Midway Museum , and the San Diego Air & 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 San Diego Zoo , San Diego Zoo Safari Park , Birch Aquarium , and the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park . Outdoor destinations include

5885-540: The Sonoran Desert enters the state from both California and Sonora. Some of the highest temperatures in Mexico are recorded in or nearby the Mexicali Valley. However, with irrigation from the Colorado River, this area has become a true agricultural center . The Cerro Prieto geothermal province is near Mexicali as well (this area is geologically part of a large pull apart basin ); it produces about 80% of

5992-532: The United States and Canada. An estimated 200,000+ American expatriates live in the state, especially in coastal resort towns such as Ensenada, known for affordable homes purchased by retirees who continue to hold U.S. citizenship. San Felipe, Rosarito and Tijuana also have a large American population (second largest in Mexico after Mexico City), particularly for their cheaper housing and proximity to San Diego. Some 60,000 Oaxacans live in Baja California. Some 40% of them lack proper birth certificates. According to

6099-629: The aftermath of the Mexican American War (1846–1848) and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , the United States gained sovereignty over territory previously held first by New Spain and then Mexico, most of which was sparsely settled. Alta California was incorporated into the U.S., and during the California Gold Rush , quickly gained enough population to be admitted to the union as a state. Baja California gains control of where

6206-600: 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

6313-653: The area has been subject to wildfires that force thousands to evacuate. The most recent are the December 2017 Lilac Fire , the May 2014 San Diego County wildfires , 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

6420-566: The borders and coasts of Mexico by way of a trust handled through a Mexican bank (Fideicomiso). This trust assures to the buyer all the rights and privileges of ownership, and it can be sold, inherited, leased, or transferred at any time. Since 1994, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that the Fideicomiso must be to a 50-year term , with the option to petition for a 50-year renewal at any time. Any Mexican citizen buying

6527-430: The cities of Tijuana , Mexicali , Ensenada , Playas de Rosarito , and Tecate . Industries that experienced the highest degree of growth in 2021 include transformative industries , transport and communication , commerce , and construction . As of November 2021, Baja California has the highest employment rate of any state in northern Mexico , with a rate of 96.7%. As of September 2021, Baja California receives

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6634-541: The county provide information on the level of threats from fires based on weather conditions. 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

6741-486: The disputed question of whether Baja California was an island . Although he closely followed the coast and reached the Colorado River , the issue continued to be in dispute for nearly another three decades His second expedition comprised a journey by land across the peninsula to the Pacific coast. The third expedition went up the western side of the peninsula, to around 30 degrees of latitude near Bahía San Luis Gonzaga. During his expeditions, Consag recorded information on

6848-433: 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 . As of October 2016 , there are roughly one hundred vineyards and wineries in San Diego County. By the 2019–2020 statistical survey, California Department of Food & Agriculture (cdfa) found that

6955-410: The east coast and ascended the lower Colorado River in 1540, and Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (or João Rodrigues Cabrilho (in Portuguese) ) completed the reconnaissance of the west coast in 1542. Sebastián Vizcaíno again surveyed the west coast in 1602, but outside visitors during the following century were few. The Jesuits founded a permanent mission colony on the peninsula at Loreto in 1697. During

7062-445: 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. The area which is now San Diego County has been inhabited for more than 12,000 years by the Kumeyaay (also known as 'Iipai-Tiipai or by

7169-437: The electricity consumed in the state and enough additional power to export to California. Laguna Salada , a saline lake below sea level lying between the rugged Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de los Cucapah, is also in the vicinity of Mexicali. The state government has recently been considering plans to revive Laguna Salada. The highest mountain in the Sierra de los Cucapah is Cerro del Centinela or Mount Signal . The Cucapah are

7276-563: The fish genus Bajacalifornia is derived from the Baja California peninsula. In the main wildlife refuges on the peninsula of Baja California, Constitution 1857 National Park and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park , several coniferous species can be found. The most abundant are Jeffrey pine, Pinus ponderosa , Pinus cembroides , Pinus quadrifolia , Pinus monophylla , Juniperus , Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea , Artemisia ludoviciana and Adenostoma sparsifolium . Baja California shares many plant species with

7383-400: The following decades, they gradually extended their sway throughout the present state of Baja California Sur. In 1751–1753, the Croatian Jesuit mission-explorer Ferdinand Konščak made overland explorations northward into the state of Baja California. Jesuit missions were subsequently established among the Cochimí at Santa Gertrudis (1752), San Borja (1762), and Santa María (1767). After

7490-460: The historical Spanish name Diegueño), Luiseño , Cupeño , Cahuilla , and the Acjachemen people 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

7597-427: The islands in the Gulf of California on the Baja California side belong to the municipality of Mexicali. Baja California obtains much of its water from the Colorado River. Historically, the river drained into the Colorado River Delta and then flowed into the Gulf of California, but due to large demands for water in the American Southwest , less water now reaches the Gulf. The Tijuana metropolitan area also relies on

7704-812: The largest population center in the desert, averages only 5 inches (13 cm), with a high evaporation rate. 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): There are 236 mountain summits and peaks in San Diego County including: More than 1,700 tons of radioactive waste are stored at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station , which sits in an area where there

7811-419: 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

7918-471: The local Cochimí language. He directed and oversaw the building of new missions, aqueducts, embankments, drainage channels, and the first silver mines. He died at San Ignacio in 1759. Consag mounted three expeditions (in 1746, 1751 and 1753) systematically exploring previously unknown parts of the peninsula. In June and July 1746 he was sent by sea to the head of the Gulf of California in order to investigate

8025-473: The location of forests reminiscent of Southern California 's San Gabriel Mountains . Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak on the peninsula. Valleys between the mountain ranges are located within a climate zone that is suitable for agriculture. Such valleys include the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros, areas that produce citrus fruits and grapes. The mineral-rich mountain range extends southwards to

8132-466: The median home price was $ 583,000; this is lower than the median home price in Los Angeles, and Orange counties. 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

8239-559: The metropolitan area. ' 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,

8346-559: The north from the Dominican missions in the south. The colonial governors were José Joaquín de Arillaga (1804–1805), Felipe de Goicoechea (1806–1814), and José Darío Argüello (1814 – April 11, 1822). Mexican liberals were concerned that the Roman Catholic Church retained too much power in the post-independence period and sought to undermine it by mandating the secularization of missions in 1833. In

8453-401: 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 km ) of chaparral, twice as much as any other California county. Periodically

8560-536: The northwestern coast pleasant year-round. As a result of the state's location on the California Current, rains from the north barely reach the peninsula, thus leaving southern areas drier. South of the El Rosario River, the state changes from a Mediterranean landscape to a desert one. This desert exhibits diverse succulent species that flourish in part due to the coastal fog . To the east,

8667-525: 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

8774-549: The nursery trade dominated the county's agriculture by dollar value. Second place went to avocado production. 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. Commercial operations to grow, test, or sell cannabis are not allowed in

8881-496: 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

8988-430: The parks include a large number of mammals, primarily mule deer , bighorn sheep , cougars , bobcats , ringtail cats , coyotes , rabbits , squirrels and more than 30 species of bats . The park is also home to many avian species like bald eagles , golden eagles , falcons , woodpeckers , black vultures , crows , and several species of Sittidae and duck . At 3:40:41 pm PDT on Easter Sunday, 4 April 2010,

9095-628: The peninsula – the Cochimí in the south, and several groups belonging to the Yuman language family in the north, including the Kiliwa , Paipai , Kumeyaay , Cocopa , and Quechan . These peoples were diverse in their adaptations to the region. The Cochimí of the peninsula's Central Desert were generalized hunter-gatherers who moved frequently; however, the Cochimí on Cedros Island off the west coast developed

9202-457: The peninsula's unknown topography, natural resources, and native inhabitants. On the basis of the data obtained, Consag made a precise map of Baja California (1748) and a map of the Gulf of California (around 1750). His maps of the regions explored were popular at the time frequently copied and used. Denis Diderot and D'Alembert used some of them within the French encyclopedia, where his name

9309-435: 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

9416-485: The positions of state governor , 25 state deputies of the Congress of Baja California , and 5 municipal mayors. Of the 25 state deputies, 17 are elected by relative majority in each of the electoral districts, while another 8 are elected by proportional representation. The 17 deputies elected by relative majority may be re-elected for up to four consecutive terms, while the other 8 deputies can only serve one term. During

9523-438: The primary indigenous people from the mountains north to Yuma, Arizona . There are numerous islands on the Pacific shore. Guadalupe Island is located in the extreme west of the state's boundaries and is the site of large colonies of sea lions . Cedros Island exists in the southwest of the state's maritime region. The Todos Santos islands and Coronado Islands are located off the coasts of Ensenada and Tijuana, respectively. All of

9630-505: 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,

9737-451: 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 , and Fashion Valley 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 ,

9844-524: The southwesternmost county in the 48 contiguous United States , and is a border county . It is home to 18 Indian reservations , the most of any county in the United States. There are 16 military installations of the U.S. Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard in the county. San Diego County comprises the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area , which is the 17th most populous metropolitan statistical area and

9951-521: The state, where the summers are dry and mild and the winters cool and rainy. This climate is observed in areas from Tijuana to San Quintín and nearby interior valleys. The cold oceanic California Current often creates a low-level marine fog near the coast. The fog occurs along any part of the Pacific coast of the state. The change of altitude towards the Sierra de Baja California creates an alpine climate in this region. Summers are cool, while winters can be cold with below freezing temperatures at night. It

10058-413: 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. As of 2018 , 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. San Diego County's agriculture industry

10165-536: The third highest amount of foreign direct investment of any state in Mexico, constituting about 7.7% of the national total and behind only Nuevo León (7.7%) and Mexico City (16.5%). About 81.4% of Baja California's foreign domestic investment comes from the United States , of which 50.3% comes from the construction of natural gas pipelines and 8.2% comes car and truck manufacturing. The Foreign Investment Law of 1973 allows foreigners to purchase land within

10272-468: 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 . As of 2018,

10379-426: 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 plays a large part in the economics of the San Diego metropolitan area. Tourists are drawn to

10486-791: 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

10593-423: The westernmost point of Mexico. The Coronado Islands , Todos Santos islands , and Cedros Island are also on the Pacific shore. On the Gulf of California, the largest island is Angel de la Guarda Island , separated from the peninsula by the deep and narrow Canal de Ballenas . The first people came to the peninsula at least 11,000 years ago. At that time, two main native groups are thought to have been present on

10700-809: The workforce standards, such as school–enterprise linkage programs which help the development of a labor force according to the needs of the industry. 91.60% of the population from six to fourteen years of age attend elementary school. 61.95% of the population over fifteen years of age attends or has already graduated from high school. Public school is available in all levels from kindergarten to university. The state has 32 universities offering 103 professional degrees. These universities have 19 research and development centers for basic and applied investigation in advanced projects related to biotechnology, physics, oceanography, computer science, digital geothermal technology, astronomy, aerospace, electrical engineering and clean energy, among others. At this educational level, supply

10807-439: Was 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,

10914-636: Was a Croatian Jesuit missionary , explorer and cartographer , who spent most of his life in Mexico , in Baja California . Consag was born in Varaždin , Croatia, and attended primary and secondary school in his native city. At sixteen he finished the expected grades and was admitted to the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Trencsén , Hungary (now Trenčín , Slovakia ), where he stayed for two years. He

11021-672: Was created, thus allowing non-Mexicans to own land without any constitutional amendment necessary. Since the law went into effect, it has undergone many modifications in order to make purchasing land in Mexico a safer investment. Newspapers of Baja California include El Centinela , El informador de Baja California , El Mexicano (edición Tijuana) , El Mexicano Segunda Edición , El Sol de Tijuana , El Vigía , Esto de las Californias , Frontera , La Crónica de Baja California , La Voz de la Frontera , and Semanario Zeta . San Diego County, California San Diego County ( / ˌ s æ n d i ˈ eɪ ɡ oʊ / ), officially

11128-420: 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

11235-466: 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 border to pass through a point one marine league south of the southernmost point of the port of San Diego, ensuring that the United States received all of the natural harbor of San Diego Bay. San Diego County

11342-783: Was then sent to Leoben in Styria to study classics, stylistics, and rhetoric. Later he studied philosophy in Graz, Austria and in 1725–1726 he lectured on the elements of grammar at the Jesuit Academy in Zagreb in Croatia. In 1726–1727 he taught classical studies at a secondary school in Buda in Hungary . In 1728 Consag published a collection of poems titled Nagadia versibus latinus , which

11449-499: 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

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