103-712: The San Diego Film Critics Society ( SDFCS ) is an organization of film reviewers from San Diego –based publications that was founded in 1997. The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) is composed of print, television, radio and digital film critics working in San Diego County. According to the SDFCS, the mission of the society is to provide diverse critical opinion about movies, advance film education and awareness, and recognize excellence in cinema. The society holds several events each year to benefit local student filmmakers and provides provision of financial assistance for
206-462: A 1949 address, CA state senator Herbert Jones suggests this was done as a compromise to make the state's admission more palatable to the South, but other sources make no such claim. With the unexpected death of Taylor on July 9, 1850, Vice President Millard Fillmore became president. Although Fillmore was a northerner and was not a slaveholder, he had strong ties to the South and was much more open to
309-609: A Voyage Between China and the North-Western Coast of America, Made in 1804" and Richard Henry Dana 's more substantial and convincing account, of his 1834–36 voyage, the classic Two Years Before the Mast . In 1846, the United States went to war against Mexico and sent a naval and land expedition to conquer Alta California . At first, they had an easy time of it, capturing the major ports including San Diego, but
412-591: A center of the emerging biotech industry and is home to telecommunications giant Qualcomm . San Diego had also grown in the tourism industry with the popularity of attractions such as the San Diego Zoo , SeaWorld San Diego , and Legoland California in Carlsbad . According to SDSU professor emeritus Monte Marshall, San Diego Bay is "the surface expression of a north-south-trending, nested graben ". The Rose Canyon and Point Loma fault zones are part of
515-774: A compromise that would allow the extension of slavery into the territories. The change of leadership opened the door for the passage of the Compromise of 1850 , crafted by Senator Henry Clay , which allowed the admission of California into the Union without Congress imposing any limitation on the introduction of slavery. However, the Constitution adopted by the California Constitutional Convention in October 1849 in preparation for admission into
618-573: A declaration that Congress took no position on the provisions against slavery contained in the California constitution. The text of An Act For The Admission Of The State Of California Into The Union reads as follows: Preamble Whereas the people of California have presented a constitution and asked admission into the Union, which constitution was submitted to Congress by the president of the United States, by message dated February thirteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty, and which, on due examination,
721-502: A given planning area there may be several distinct neighborhoods. Altogether the city contains more than 100 identified neighborhoods . Downtown San Diego is located on San Diego Bay . Balboa Park encompasses several mesas and canyons to the northeast, surrounded by older, dense urban communities including Hillcrest and North Park . To the east and southeast lie City Heights , the College Area , and Southeast San Diego . To
824-408: A large migration of Americans began, as well as an influx of new immigrants from Europe and Asia seeking to find gold or provide goods and services to those seeking gold. The migration gave rise to the immediate necessity of organizing the territory to provide services such as recording land deeds and claims, providing court services and law enforcement, and organizing local governments. The issue of
927-462: A number of small parks and preserves. San Diego County has one of the highest counts of animal and plant species that appear on the endangered list of counties in the United States. Because of its diversity of habitat and its position on the Pacific Flyway , San Diego County has recorded 492 different bird species, more than any other region in the country. San Diego always scores high in
1030-663: A result of the Mexican–American War of 1846–48, the territory of Alta California, including San Diego, was ceded to the United States by Mexico, under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The Mexican negotiators of that treaty tried to retain San Diego as part of Mexico, but the Americans insisted that San Diego was "for every commercial purpose of nearly equal importance to us with that of San Francisco", and
1133-692: A revolt on June 15, 1846 against Mexican authorities, which became known at the Bear Flag Revolt . They overwhelmed and captured the small Mexican garrison at Sonoma and declared the California Republic (Spanish: La República de California), or Bear Flag Republic, raising the original Bear State flag over the captured garrison. Their control was largely restricted to the area around Sonoma, California and lasted for 25 days. On July 5, 1846, Brevet Captain John C. Frémont assumed control of
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#17327909213381236-584: A river or creek flowed through it, and that they would lead our men to it if they would follow." That river was the San Diego River. Several reservoirs and Mission Trails Regional Park also lie between and separate developed areas of the city. Notable peaks within the city limits include Cowles Mountain , the highest point in the city at 1,591 feet (485 m); Black Mountain at 1,558 feet (475 m); and Mount Soledad at 824 feet (251 m). The Cuyamaca Mountains and Laguna Mountains rise to
1339-490: A toolbox. There are several new high-rises under construction , including two that exceed 400 feet (122 m) in height. The city had a population of 1,307,402 according to the 2010 census, distributed over a land area of 372.1 square miles (963.7 km ). The urban area of San Diego had a total population of 2,956,746, making it the third-largest in the state, after those of Los Angeles and San Francisco . The 2010 population represented an increase of just under 7% from
1442-529: Is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California , immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border . With a population of over 1.3 million residents, it is the eighth-most populous city in the United States and the second-most populous in the state of California , after Los Angeles . San Diego is the seat of San Diego County , which has a population of nearly 3.3 million people. It
1545-549: Is found to be republican in its form of government: Section 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the state of California shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever. Section 2 And be it further enacted, that, until
1648-580: Is known for its mild year-round Mediterranean climate , extensive beaches and parks , long association with the United States Navy , and its recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center. Historically home to the Kumeyaay people, San Diego has been referred to as the Birthplace of California , as it was the first site visited and settled by Europeans on what
1751-546: Is mostly because of 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 " cloud cover keeps the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but yields to bright cloudless sunshine approximately 5–10 miles (8–16 km) inland. Sometimes the June gloom lasts into July, causing cloudy skies over most of San Diego for
1854-558: Is now the West Coast of the United States . Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain , forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later. The Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá , founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California. In 1821, San Diego became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire , which reformed as
1957-478: Is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States. San Diego's name can be traced back to the 16th century when Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno bestowed it upon the area in 1602. He named the bay and the surrounding area "San Diego de Alcalá" in honor of Saint Didacus of Alcalá . Prior to the Spanish establishment of San Diego, the Kumeyaay town was called Kosa'aay , meaning "drying out place" in
2060-577: The 31st United States Congress , the law made California one of only a few states to become a state without first being an organized territory . An Act for the Admission of the State of California into the Union was the formal title given to the Congressional legislation passed by the 31st Congress , and signed by President Millard Fillmore on September 9, 1850, which admitted California as
2163-509: The First Mexican Republic two years later. California was conquered by the U.S. in 1848 following the Mexican–American War and was admitted as the 31st state in 1850. The largest sectors of the economy of San Diego include military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, research, and manufacturing. The city is home to several universities, including UC San Diego , San Diego State University , and
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#17327909213382266-1001: The Gaslamp Quarter . In the early part of the 20th century, San Diego hosted the World's Fair twice: the Panama–California Exposition in 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935. Both expositions were held in Balboa Park , and many of the Spanish/Baroque-style buildings that were built for those expositions remain to this day as central features of the park. The buildings were intended to be temporary structures, but most remained in continuous use until they progressively fell into disrepair. Most were eventually rebuilt, using castings of
2369-575: The Kumeyaay language . After the establishment of San Diego, the Kumeyaay called town and city Tepacul Watai , meaning "Stacked Big". Luiseño speakers in the North County region called it Pushuyi . What has been referred to as the San Dieguito complex was established in the area at least 9,000 years ago. The Kumeyaay may have culturally evolved from this complex or migrated into
2472-443: The Mexico–United States border , and are physically separated from the rest of the city by the cities of National City and Chula Vista . A narrow strip of land at the bottom of San Diego Bay connects these southern neighborhoods with the rest of the city. For the most part, San Diego neighborhood boundaries tend to be understood by its residents based on geographical boundaries like canyons and street patterns. The city recognized
2575-707: The San Andreas Fault system. About 40 miles (64 km) east of the bay are the Laguna Mountains in the Peninsular Ranges , which are part of the American Cordillera . The city lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its mesas , creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography. Traditionally, San Diegans have built their homes and businesses on
2678-683: The San Pasqual Valley , which holds an agricultural preserve. Carmel Valley and Del Mar Heights occupy the northwest corner of the city. To their south are Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and the business center of the Golden Triangle . Further south are the beach and coastal communities of La Jolla , Pacific Beach , Mission Beach , and Ocean Beach . Point Loma occupies the peninsula across San Diego Bay from downtown. The communities of South San Diego (an Exclave ), such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa , are located next to
2781-719: The University of San Diego . San Diego is the economic center of the San Diego–Tijuana region, the second-most populous transborder metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere, home to an estimated five million people as of 2022. The primary border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana , the San Ysidro Port of Entry , is the busiest international land border crossing in the world outside of Asia ( fourth-busiest overall). San Diego International Airport
2884-524: The 1,223,400 people reported in 2000. The population density was 3,771.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,456.3/km ). The racial makeup of San Diego was 58.9% White , 6.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 15.9% Asian (5.9% Filipino , 2.7% Chinese , 2.5% Vietnamese , 1.3% Indian , 1.0% Korean , 0.7% Japanese , 0.4% Laotian , 0.3% Cambodian , 0.1% Thai ). 0.5% Pacific Islander (0.2% Guamanian , 0.1% Samoan , 0.1% Native Hawaiian ), 12.3% from other races , and 5.1% from two or more races. 28.8% of
2987-606: The 31st state to the Union . Per the terms of the Compromise of 1850 , California was admitted as a free state . The Act may informally be referred to as the California Statehood Act or the California Admission Act . The United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846. After receiving word of the declaration of war, a force consisting mostly of American settlers in California staged
3090-607: The Californios in southern Alta California struck back. Following the successful revolt in Los Angeles , the American garrison at San Diego was driven out without firing a shot in early October 1846. Mexican partisans held San Diego for three weeks until October 24, 1846, when the Americans recaptured it. For the next several months the Americans were blockaded inside the pueblo. Skirmishes occurred daily and snipers shot into
3193-704: The Colorado River and the depot fell into disuse. From 1857 to 1860, San Diego became the western terminus of the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line , the earliest overland stagecoach and mail operation from the Eastern United States to California, coming from Texas through New Mexico Territory in less than 30 days. In the late 1860s, Alonzo Horton promoted a move to the bayside area, which he called "New Town" and which became downtown San Diego . Horton promoted
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3296-485: The Mexican–American border was eventually established to be one league south of the southernmost point of San Diego Bay , so as to include the entire bay within the United States. The state of California was admitted to the United States in 1850. That same year San Diego was designated the seat of the newly established County of San Diego and was incorporated as a city. Joshua H. Bean , the last alcalde of San Diego,
3399-530: The Navy Coaling Station in Point Loma, and expanded greatly during the 1920s. By 1930, the city was host to Naval Base San Diego , Naval Training Center San Diego , San Diego Naval Hospital , Camp Matthews , and Camp Kearny (now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar ). The city was also an early center for aviation: as early as World War I, San Diego was proclaiming itself "The Air Capital of
3502-554: The SDFCS Award, the organization presents an annual Career Award, Kyle Counts Award, and Special Award for an outstanding performer from that year. The Kyle Counts Award, named after the late San Diego film critic, recognizes a person or institution who is advancing film awareness, education and entertainment in the county. (2 and more) San Diego San Diego ( / ˌ s æ n d i ˈ eɪ ɡ oʊ / SAN dee- AY -goh , Spanish: [san ˈdjeɣo] )
3605-579: The San Diego City and County had the fifth-largest homeless population among major cities in the United States, with 8,102 people experiencing homelessness. In the city of San Diego, 4,887 individuals were experiencing homelessness according to the 2020 count. A December 11, 2023 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune by Blake Nelson reports a notable decline in the homeless population in downtown San Diego, specifically in
3708-460: The San Diego region would face Kumeyaay raids in the late 1830s and the town itself would face raids in the 1840s. Americans gained an increased awareness of California, and its commercial possibilities, from the writings of two countrymen involved in the often officially forbidden, to foreigners, but economically significant hide and tallow trade, where San Diego was a major port and the only one with an adequate harbor: William Shaler 's "Journal of
3811-653: The South. On January 29, ???? , Senator Clay proposed eight resolutions to end the heated debate over the status of the territories acquired from Mexico. Congress adopted Clay's resolutions, collectively known as the Clay Resolutions , which prepared the way for the passage of the five acts making up the Compromise of 1850. The first resolution concerned the admission of California and reads as follows: Resolved , That California, with suitable boundaries, ought, upon her application to be admitted as one of
3914-545: The Spanish settlement, making it the first settlement by Europeans in what is now the state of California. In July of the same year, Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Franciscan friars under Serra. The mission became a site for a Kumeyaay revolt in 1775, which forced the mission to relocate six miles (10 km) up the San Diego River. By 1797, the mission boasted the largest native population in Alta California, with over 1,400 neophytes living in and around
4017-516: The States of this Union, without the imposition by Congress of any restriction in respect to the exclusion or introduction of slavery within those boundaries. The California Admissions Act was the second act of the Compromise of 1850 to be passed by Congress. The text of the act contained three sections and enacted five main provisions: The final provision in Section Three was intended as
4120-510: The Union by a vote of 48 to 3 and they concurred with the House vote on September 7, 1850. The ad hoc territorial legislature, which would become the first legislature of the State of California after admission, first met on December 15, 1849, at San Jose, California . The first American governor of California was Peter Hardeman Burnett , who was inaugurated as the first civilian governor on December 20, 1849, prior to statehood, and continued in
4223-499: The Union specifically prohibited slavery in the new state. The compromise was offset by concessions to slave states, including the possible extension of slavery into other territories ceded from Mexico and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 , which stripped the free states of much of their legal ability to protect blacks who were suspected of fleeing slavery from kidnapping by slave catchers and forcible removal to
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4326-515: The United States did not act swiftly an independence movement could erupt that might sever California from the United States. A fierce debate raged over the status of California and the other territories ceded to the U.S. by Mexico for most of the 31st Congress . General Zachary Taylor , a hero of but also a staunch opponent of the Mexican War, had become President in March 1849. Although Taylor
4429-518: The West". The city was home to important airplane developers and manufacturers like Ryan Airlines (later Ryan Aeronautical ), founded in 1925, and Consolidated Aircraft (later Convair ), founded in 1923. Charles A. Lindbergh 's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis , was built in San Diego in 1927 by Ryan Airlines. During World War II , San Diego became a major hub of military and defense activity, due to
4532-521: The abduction of Emma Goldman 's husband Ben Reitman and multiple riots . San Diego's proximity to Tijuana during the Mexican Revolution made this one of the most significant free speech fights during the Wobbly era. In 1916, the neighborhood of Stingaree , the original home of San Diego's first Chinatown and "Soapbox Row", was demolished by anti- vice campaigners to make way for
4635-551: The academic pursuits of young filmmakers. The society also supports Film School Confidential, an annual festival held at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, presenting short films directed and produced by local student filmmakers. The events organized by the society often include screenings of excellent studio and independent films at various locations, many times featuring appearances by directors and actors involved in
4738-415: The area around 1000 C.E. Archaeologist Malcolm Rogers hypothesized that the early cultures of San Diego were separate from the Kumeyaay, yet this claim is disputed, with others noting that it does not account for cultural evolution . Rogers later reevaluated his claims, yet they were influential in shaping historical tellings of early San Diego history. The Kumeyaay established villages scattered across
4841-548: The area for the Catholic Saint Didacus , a Spaniard more commonly known as San Diego de Alcalá . On November 12, 1602, the first Christian religious service of record in Alta California was conducted by Friar Antonio de la Ascensión, a member of Vizcaíno's expedition, to celebrate the feast day of San Diego. The permanent European colonization of both California and San Diego began in 1769 with
4944-427: The area heavily, and people and businesses began to relocate to New Town because its location on San Diego Bay was convenient to shipping. New Town soon eclipsed the original settlement, known to this day as Old Town , and became the economic and governmental heart of the city. Still, San Diego remained a relative backwater town until the arrival of a railroad connection in 1878. In 1884–1886, John J. Montgomery made
5047-582: The arrival of four contingents of Spaniards from New Spain and the Baja California peninsula. Two seaborne parties reached San Diego Bay: the San Carlos , under Vicente Vila and including as notable members the engineer and cartographer Miguel Costansó and the soldier and future governor Pedro Fages , and the San Antonio , under Juan Pérez . An initial overland expedition to San Diego from
5150-473: The canneries, mostly staffed by immigrant fishermen from Japan , and later from the Portuguese Azores and Italy whose influence is still felt in neighborhoods like Little Italy and Point Loma . Due to rising costs and foreign competition, the last of the canneries closed in the early 1980s. Downtown San Diego was in decline in the 1960s and 1970s, but experienced some urban renewal since
5253-498: The center of San Diego. The first skyscraper over 300 feet (91 m) in San Diego was the El Cortez Hotel , built in 1927; it was the tallest building in the city until 1963. As time went on, multiple buildings claimed the title of San Diego's tallest skyscraper, including the 530 B Street and Symphony Towers . Currently the tallest building in San Diego is One America Plaza , standing 500 feet (150 m) tall, which
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#17327909213385356-416: The century and a half that records have been kept. In 1949 and 1967, snow remained on the ground for a few hours in higher locations like Point Loma and La Jolla . The other three occasions, in 1882, 1946, and 1987, involved flurries but no accumulation. On February 21, 2019, snow fell and accumulated in residential areas of the city, but none fell in the downtown area. Like much of Southern California ,
5459-403: The city's economy by focusing on research and science, as well as tourism. From the start of the 20th century through the 1970s, the American tuna fishing fleet and tuna canning industry were based in San Diego, "the tuna capital of the world". San Diego's first tuna cannery was founded in 1911, and by the mid-1930s the canneries employed more than 1,000 people. A large fishing fleet supported
5562-477: The city, hoping to spread plague in the city and effectively kill tens of thousands of civilians. The plan was scheduled to launch on September 22, 1945, but was not carried out because Japan surrendered five weeks earlier. After World War II, the military continued to play a major role in the local economy, but post- Cold War cutbacks took a heavy toll on the local defense and aerospace industries. The resulting downturn led San Diego leaders to seek to diversify
5665-428: The coast are prone to wildfire , and the rates of fire increased in the 20th century, due primarily to fires starting near the borders of urban and wild areas. San Diego's broad city limits encompass a number of large nature preserves, including Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve , Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve , and Mission Trails Regional Park . Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and a coastal strip continuing to
5768-717: The coast of the United States on the Pacific and the unexampled rapidity with which the inhabitants of California especially are increasing in numbers have imparted new consequence to our relations with the other countries whose territories border upon that ocean. It is probable that the intercourse between those countries and our possessions in that quarter, particularly with the Republic of Chili, will become extensive and mutually advantageous in proportion as California and Oregon shall increase in population and wealth. … No civil government having been provided by Congress for California,
5871-500: The convention which formed the constitution of that state. Approved, September 9, 1850. With the signing of the Compromise of 1850, California was formally admitted to the Union as the 31st state in the Union on September 9, 1850. The United States House of Representatives approved the bill on September 7, 1850 by a vote of 150 to 56. The United States Senate under the careful leadership of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster had previously voted on January 17, 1850 to admit California into
5974-632: The early 1980s, including the opening of Horton Plaza , the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the construction of the San Diego Convention Center ; Petco Park opened in 2004. Outside of downtown, San Diego annexed large swaths of land and for suburban expansion to the north and control of the San Ysidro Port of Entry . As the Cold War ended, the military shrank and so did defense spending. San Diego has since become
6077-462: The east of the city, and beyond the mountains are desert areas. The Cleveland National Forest is a half-hour drive from downtown San Diego. Numerous farms are found in the valleys northeast and southeast of the city. Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system , the San Diego area has been variously categorized as having either a hot semi-arid climate ( BSh in the original classification and BSkn in modified Köppen classification with
6180-448: The ensuing Battle of San Pasqual , fought in the San Pasqual Valley which is now part of the city of San Diego, the Americans suffered their worst losses in the campaign. Subsequently, a column led by Lieutenant Gray arrived from San Diego, rescuing Kearny's battered and blockaded command. Stockton and Kearny went on to recover Los Angeles and force the capitulation of Alta California with the " Treaty of Cahuenga " on January 13, 1847. As
6283-536: The entire day. Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas 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 50 °F (10 °C) and August highs of 78 °F (26 °C). The city of El Cajon , just 12 miles (19 km) inland from downtown San Diego, averages January lows of 42 °F (6 °C) and August highs of 88 °F (31 °C). The average surface temperature of
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#17327909213386386-419: The expansion or restriction of slavery was a fundamental dispute in the admission of new states to the Union since before the passage of the Missouri Compromise in 1820. The size of the California territory, its natural resources, access to the Pacific, and the speed at which the territory's population was expanding added a special urgency to organizing and admitting California into the Union. Some feared that if
6489-440: The film. Each year, the society votes on the SDFCS Awards, which recognizes the best cinematic efforts of the year. This includes recognition of best film, actor, actress, director, cinematographer and numerous other categories. The voting results are published in film-related media worldwide, culminating in an annual awards banquet. Award nominations and winners are typically announced in the second week of December. In addition to
6592-488: The fire, smoke resulted in a significant increase in emergency room visits due to asthma, respiratory problems, eye irritation, and smoke inhalation; the poor air quality caused San Diego County schools to close for a week. The October 2007 California wildfires destroyed some areas, particularly within Rancho Bernardo , as well as the nearby communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Ramona . The City of San Diego recognizes 52 individual areas as Community Planning Areas. Within
6695-455: The first controlled flights by an American in a heavier-than-air unpowered glider just south of San Diego at Otay Mesa, helping to pioneer a new science of aerodynamics. In 1912, San Diego was the site of a free speech fight between the Industrial Workers of the World and the city government who passed an ordinance forbidding the freedom of speech along an area of "Soapbox Row" that led to civil disobedience, vigilantism , police violence ,
6798-413: The flag of Castile , but possibly born in Portugal . Sailing his flagship San Salvador from Navidad , New Spain, Cabrillo claimed the bay for the Spanish Empire in 1542, and named the site "San Miguel". In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to map the California coast. Arriving on his flagship San Diego , Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what are now Mission Bay and Point Loma and named
6901-424: The higher areas can receive 11–15 inches (280–380 mm) per year. Variability from year to year can be dramatic: in the wettest years of 1883/1884 and 1940/1941, more than 24 inches (610 mm) fell, whilst in the driest years there was as little as 3.2 inches (80 mm). The wettest month on record is December 1921 with 9.21 inches (234 mm). Snow in the city is rare, having been observed only six times in
7004-430: The historic period and presumably earlier as well, the river has shifted its flow back and forth between San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, and its fresh water was the focus of the earliest Spanish explorers. Miguel Costansó , a cartographer, wrote in 1769, "When asked by signs where the watering-place was, the Indians pointed to a grove which could be seen at a considerable distance to the northeast, giving to understand that
7107-410: The importance of its neighborhoods when it organized its 2008 General Plan around the concept of a "City of Villages". San Diego was originally centered on the Old Town district, but by the late 1860s the focus had shifted to the bayfront, in the belief that this new location would increase trade. As the "New Town" – present-day Downtown – waterfront location quickly developed, it eclipsed Old Town as
7210-425: The majority of San Diego's current area was originally occupied on the west by coastal sage scrub and on the east by chaparral , plant communities made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs. The steep and varied topography and proximity to the ocean create a number of different habitats within the city limits, including tidal marsh and canyons . The chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats in low elevations along
7313-425: The median is 9.6 inches (240 mm). The months of December through March supply most of the rain, with February the only month averaging 2 inches (51 mm) or more. The months of May through September tend to be almost completely dry. Although there are few wet days per month during the rainy period, rainfall can be heavy when it does fall. Rainfall is usually greater in the higher elevations of San Diego; some of
7416-413: The mesas, while leaving the urban canyons relatively wild. Thus, the canyons give parts of the city a segmented feel, creating gaps between otherwise proximate neighborhoods and contributing to a low-density, car-centered environment. The San Diego River runs through the middle of San Diego from east to west, creating a river valley that serves to divide the city into northern and southern segments. During
7519-623: The mission proper. Mission San Diego was the southern anchor in Alta California of the historic mission trail El Camino Real . Both the Presidio and the Mission are National Historic Landmarks . In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain , and San Diego became part of the Mexican territory of Alta California . In 1822, Mexico began its attempt to extend its authority over the coastal territory of Alta California. The fort on Presidio Hill
7622-559: The n denoting summer fog) or a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ). San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 70 °F (21 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches [230–330 mm] annually). The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in microclimates . In San Diego, this
7725-404: The navigable waters within the said state shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of said state as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax, impost, or duty therefore: provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as recognizing or rejecting the propositions tendered by the people of California as articles of compact in the ordinance adopted by
7828-520: The north constitute one of only two locations where the rare species of Torrey Pine, Pinus torreyana , is found. Due to the steep topography that prevents or discourages building, along with some efforts for preservation, there are also a large number of canyons within the city limits that serve as nature preserves, including Switzer Canyon , Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, and Marian Bear Memorial Park in San Clemente Canyon , as well as
7931-416: The north lies Mission Valley and Interstate 8 . The communities north of the valley and freeway, and south of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , include Clairemont , Kearny Mesa , Tierrasanta , and Navajo . Stretching north from Miramar are the northern suburbs of Mira Mesa , Scripps Ranch , Rancho Peñasquitos , and Rancho Bernardo . The far northeast portion of the city encompasses Lake Hodges and
8034-635: The number of bird species observed in the annual Christmas Bird Count , sponsored by the Audubon Society , and it is known as one of the "birdiest" areas in the United States. San Diego and its backcountry suffer from periodic wildfires. In October 2003, San Diego was the site of the Cedar Fire , at that time the largest wildfire in California over the past century. The fire burned 280,000 acres (1,100 km ), killed 15 people, and destroyed more than 2,200 homes. In addition to damage caused by
8137-401: The original façades to retain the architectural style. The menagerie of exotic animals featured at the 1915 exposition provided the basis for the San Diego Zoo . During the 1950s there was a citywide festival called Fiesta del Pacifico highlighting the area's Spanish and Mexican past. In the 2010s there was a proposal for a large-scale celebration of the 100th anniversary of Balboa Park, but
8240-437: The people of that Territory, impelled by the necessities of their political condition, recently met in convention for the purpose of forming a constitution and State government, which the latest advices give me reason to suppose has been accomplished; and it is believed they will shortly apply for the admission of California into the Union as a sovereign State. Should such be the case, and should their constitution be conformable to
8343-520: The plans were abandoned when the organization tasked with putting on the celebration went out of business. The southern portion of the Point Loma peninsula was set aside for military purposes as early as 1852. Over the next several decades the Army set up a series of coastal artillery batteries and named the area Fort Rosecrans . Significant U.S. Navy presence began in 1901 with the establishment of
8446-447: The population was Hispanic or Latino (of any race); 24.9% of the total population was of Mexican heritage, 1.4% Spanish and 0.6% Puerto Rican . The median age of Hispanic residents was 27.5 years, compared to 35.1 years overall and 41.6 years among non-Hispanic whites; Hispanic San Diegans were the largest group under the age of 18, while non-Hispanic whites constituted 63.1% of population 55 and older. As of January 2019 ,
8549-538: The position until January 9, 1851. The first two members from California to the United States Senate were San Franciscans John C. Fremont and William M. Gwin , both of whom were members of the Democratic Party and took their oaths of office on September 10, 1850. On September 11, 1850, Edward Gilbert (Democrat) and George W. Wright (Independent) took their oaths of office to become
8652-597: The presence of so many military installations and defense manufacturers. The city's population grew rapidly during and after World War II, more than doubling between 1930 (147,995) and 1950 (333,865). During the final months of the war, the Japanese had a plan to target multiple U.S. cities for biological attack , starting with San Diego. The plan was called " Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night " and called for kamikaze planes filled with fleas infected with plague ( Yersinia pestis ) to crash into civilian population centers in
8755-462: The primary disposal of the public lands within its limits, and shall pass no law and do no act whereby the title of the United States to, and right to dispose of, the same shall be impaired or questioned; and that they shall never lay any tax or assessment of any description whatsoever upon the public domain of the United States, and in no case shall nonresident proprietors, who are citizens of the United States, be taxed higher than residents; and that all
8858-424: The region, including the village of Kosa'aay which was the Kumeyaay village that the future settlement of San Diego would stem from in today's Old Town . The village of Kosa'aay was made up of thirty to forty families living in pyramid-shaped housing structures and was supported by a freshwater spring from the hillsides. The first European to visit the region was explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo , sailing under
8961-433: The representatives in Congress shall be apportioned according to an actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States, the state of California shall be entitled to two representatives in Congress. Section 3 And be it further enacted, that the said state of California is admitted into the Union upon the express condition that the people of said state, through their legislature or otherwise, shall never interfere with
9064-535: The republic's forces and integrated them into his California Battalion. Fremont and his soldiers had not participated in the revolt, though he had given his tacit approval for it. On July 9, 1846, Navy Lieutenant Joseph Warren Revere arrived in Sonoma and replaced the Bear Flag with the flag of the United States, formally declaring the United States possession of California. The Mexican–American War ended with
9167-571: The requisitions of the Constitution of the United States, I recommend their application to the favorable consideration of Congress. The California Constitution was adopted on November 13, 1849, and Taylor submitted a proposition to admit California as a new state to Congress for debate on February 13, 1850. Despite outlawing slavery and applying to the Union as a free state, California had elected one anti-slavery and one pro-slavery senator, John C. Frémont and William Gwin , respectively. In
9270-428: The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. In the treaty, Mexico ceded a large portion of northern Mexico in what is now the southwestern United States. With the acquisition of the large territory , Congress began debating how to organize it. Initially, there was no cause to rush the organization, as the territory was sparsely populated. However, with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill , California,
9373-639: The south was led by the soldier Fernando Rivera and included the Franciscan missionary, explorer, and chronicler Juan Crespí , followed by a second party led by the designated governor Gaspar de Portolà and including the mission president (and now saint) Junípero Serra . In May 1769, Portolà established the Presidio of San Diego on a hill near the San Diego River above the Kumeyaay village of Cosoy, which would later become incorporated into
9476-434: The state’s two Representatives. The Bear flag ended up being officially adopted as California's state flag in 1911. California Admission Day (September 9) is an annual legal holiday in the state, celebrated as a day of observance to commemorate its admission into the Union as the thirty-first state on that date in 1850. The city of Monterey , where the state Constitutional Convention was first held, observes this day as
9579-412: The threat of legal consequences appears to have played a role in the reduction. In 2000 there were 451,126 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. Households made up of individuals account for 28.0%, and 7.4% had someone living alone who
9682-571: The town every night. The Californios drove cattle away from the pueblo hoping to starve the Americans and their Californio supporters out. On December 1, the American garrison learned that the dragoons of General Stephen W. Kearney were at Warner's Ranch . Commodore Robert F. Stockton sent a mounted force of fifty under Captain Archibald Gillespie to march north to meet him. Their joint command of 150 men, returning to San Diego, encountered about 93 Californios under Andrés Pico . In
9785-493: The urban core. According to data from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the number of individuals living outside or in vehicles has reached a two-year low, standing at approximately 1,200 as of last month. The decrease is attributed to the implementation of the city's camping ban and the concerted efforts to establish new shelters. While enforcement has led to relatively few individuals being punished,
9888-460: The vote. Beyond the town, Mexican land grants expanded the number of California ranchos that modestly added to the local economy. (See, List of pre-statehood mayors of San Diego .) However, San Diego had been losing population throughout the 1830s, due to increasing tension between the settlers and the indigenous Kumeyaay and in 1838 the town lost its pueblo status because its size dropped to an estimated 100 to 150 residents. The ranchos in
9991-561: The water at Scripps Pier in the California Current has increased by almost 3 °F (1.7 °C) since 1950, according to scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography . Additionally, the mean minimum is now above 40 °F (4 °C), putting San Diego in hardiness zone 11, with the last freeze having occurred many decades ago. Annual rainfall along the coast averages 10.65 inches (271 mm) and
10094-422: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.30. California Statehood Act The California Statehood Act , officially An Act for the Admission of the State of California into the Union and also known as the California Admission Act , is the federal legislation that admitted California to the United States as the thirty-first state. Passed in 1850 by
10197-436: Was a southern slaveowner, he believed that slavery was economically unfeasible in the acquired territories and therefore opposed the expansion of slavery as pointless and controversial, which became a serious obstacle impeding agreement in Congress on a solution to the territorial issue. In Taylor's 1849 State of the Union message to Congress, he commented extensively on the issue of California, stating in part, The extension of
10300-496: Was completed in 1991. The downtown skyline contains no supertall buildings due to a regulation put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the 1970s, which set a 500 feet (152 m) limit on the height of buildings within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of San Diego International Airport . An iconic description of the skyline includes its skyscrapers being compared to the tools of
10403-448: Was elected the first mayor. Two years later the city was bankrupt; the California legislature revoked the city's charter and placed it under control of a board of trustees, where it remained until 1889. A city charter was reestablished in 1889, and today's city charter was adopted in 1931. The original town of San Diego was located at the foot of Presidio Hill, in the area which is now Old Town San Diego State Historic Park . The location
10506-410: Was gradually abandoned, while the town of San Diego grew up on the level land below Presidio Hill. The Mission was secularized by the Mexican government in 1834 , and most of the Mission lands were granted to former soldiers. The 432 residents of the town petitioned the governor to form a pueblo , and Juan María Osuna was elected the first alcalde ("municipal magistrate"), defeating Pío Pico in
10609-440: Was not ideal, being several miles away from navigable water at its port at La Playa . In 1850, William Heath Davis promoted a new development by the bay shore called "New San Diego", several miles south of the original settlement; however, for several decades the new development consisted only of a pier, a few houses and an Army depot for the support of Fort Yuma . After 1854, the fort became supplied by sea and by steamboats on
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