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