San Diego County, California
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| Official website: http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/ | |||
| Location | |||
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| Government | |||
| Country State | United States California | ||
| Board of Supervisors
District One | Greg Cox | ||
| Formed | 1850 | ||
| County seat | San Diego | ||
| Geographical characteristics | |||
| Area | 11,721 km² | ||
| Land | 10,878 km² | ||
| Water | 843 km² | ||
| Population | {{{population_note}}} | ||
| Total (2005) | 3,051,280 | ||
| Density | 259/km² | ||
| Latitude | {{{latitude}}} | ||
| Longitude | {{{longitude}}} | ||
| Time zone | Pacific (UTC−8) | ||
| Summer (DST) | Pacific (UTC−7) | ||
San Diego County is a county located on the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of the U.S. state of California, along its border with Mexico. With a population of 3,051,280 (as of 2005), it is the third largest county by population in the state. The county seat is the city of San Diego.
The San Diego area is one of the fastest growing areas in the state.
Contents |
History
European settlement in what is now San Diego County began with the founding of the Mission San Diego de Alcala by the Spanish, in 1769.
San Diego County was one of the original counties of California, and was created at the time of statehood in 1850. It was named after San Diego Bay, which had been rechristened in 1602 by Sebastián Vizcaíno in honor of the Franciscan St. Didacus of Alcalá, known in Spanish as San Diego de Alcalá de Henares, and whose name was borne by Vizcaíno's flagship.
Parts of the county were later divided off to create Riverside County, in 1893, and Imperial County, in 1907.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 11,721 km² (4,526 mi²). 10,878 km² (4,200 mi²) of it is land and 843 km² (326 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 7.20% water.
San Diego County has varied topography. On its western side is seventy miles of coastline. Snow-capped mountains rise to the northeast, with the Sonoran Desert to the far east. The Cleveland National Forest lies to the southeast.
North San Diego County is known locally as "North County", and has a culture of its own.
Adjacent Counties
- Imperial County, California - (east)
- Orange County, California - (northwest)
- Riverside County, California - (north)
Sites of interest
Observatories
- Mount Laguna Observatory - owned and operated by San Diego State University (SDSU)
- Palomar Observatory - owned and primarily operated by California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Wine regions
- the Ramona Valley wine-producing region is located 28 miles (45 km) northeast of San Diego
Politics
| Year | GOP | Dems |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 52.5% 596,033 | 46.4% 526,437 |
| 2000 | 49.6% 475,736 | 45.7% 437,666 |
| 1996 | 45.6% 402,876 | 44.1% 389,964 |
| 1992 | 35.7% 352,125 | 37.2% 367,397 |
| 1988 | 60.2% 523,143 | 38.3% 333,264 |
| 1984 | 65.3% 502,344 | 33.4% 257,029 |
| 1980 | 60.8% 435,910 | 27.3% 195,410 |
| 1976 | 55.7% 353,302 | 41.6% 263,654 |
| 1972 | 61.8% 371,627 | 34.3% 206,455 |
| 1968 | 56.3% 261,540 | 36.1% 167,669 |
| 1964 | 50.3% 214,445 | 49.7% 211,808 |
| 1960 | 56.4% 233,045 | 43.3% 171,259 |
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 2,813,833 people, 994,677 households, and 663,449 families residing in the county. The population density is 259/km² (670/mi²). There are 1,040,149 housing units at an average density of 96/km² (248/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 66.52% White, 5.74% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 8.88% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races, and 4.69% from two or more races. 26.69% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 994,677 households out of which 33.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% are married couples living together, 11.60% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% are non-families. 24.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.73 and the average family size is 3.29.
In the county the population is spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $47,067, and the median income for a family is $53,438. Males have a median income of $36,952 versus $30,356 for females. The per capita income for the county is $22,926. 12.40% of the population and 8.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.50% of those under the age of 18 and 6.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Current estimates
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of San Diego County in 2005 was $64,273 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $52,192.
Cities and towns in San Diego County
Incorporated Cities
- Carlsbad (Aviara, La Costa)
- Chula Vista
- Coronado
- Del Mar
- El Cajon
- Encinitas (Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Olivenhain)
- Escondido
- Imperial Beach
- La Mesa
- Lemon Grove
- National City
- Poway
- Oceanside
- San Diego
- San Marcos
- Santee
- Solana Beach
- Vista
Unincorporated Communities
- Agua Caliente Springs
- Alpine
- Barrett
- Blossom Valley
- Bonita
- Bonsall
- Borrego Springs
- Bostonia
- Boulevard
- Camp Pendleton North
- Camp Pendleton South
- Campo
- Canebrake
- Carmel Mountain Ranch
- Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
- Crest
- Cuyamaca
- Dehesa
- De Luz
- Descanso
- Dulzura
- Eucalyptus Hills
- Fairbanks Ranch
- Fallbrook
- Fernbrook
- Flinn Springs
- Granite Hills
- Guatay
- Harbison Canyon
- Hidden Meadows
- Jacumba
- Jamul
- Julian
- La Presa
- Lake Morena
- Lake San Marcos
- Lakeside
- Mount Laguna
- Pine Hills
- Pine Valley
- Portero
- Rainbow
- Ramona
- Rancho San Diego
- Rancho Santa Fe
- San Diego Country Estates
- San Elijo
- Santa Ysabel
- Shelter Valley
- Spring Valley
- Tecate
- Tierra del Sol
- Valley Center
- Vallecitos
- Warner Springs
- Winter Gardens
Airports
- Lindbergh Field, (SAN) a.k.a. San Diego International Airport
- Montgomery Field, (MYF)
- McClellan-Palomar Airport, (CLD or CRQ) a.k.a. Palomar Airport, Carlsbad Airport
- Gillespie Field, (SEE) located in El Cajon
- Agua Caliente Airport
- Borrego Valley Airport
- Fallbrook Airport
- Jacumba Airport
- Lake Wohlford]] (private, tiny)
- Oceanside Municipal Airport
- Ocotillo Airport
- Pauma Valley (private)
- Ramona Airport, (RNM)
See also
External links
- County of San Diego Official Website
- San Diego Events & Activities
- San Diego Geographic Information Source Website
