100-539: State Route 163 ( SR 163 ), or the Cabrillo Freeway , is a state highway in San Diego , California. The 11.088-mile (17.844 km) stretch of the former US 395 freeway runs from downtown San Diego just south of an interchange with Interstate 5 (I-5), extending north through historic Balboa Park and various neighborhoods of San Diego to an interchange with I-15 in the neighborhood of Miramar . The freeway
200-589: 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
300-579: 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
400-413: A destructive rampage throughout San Diego . Driving onto SR 163, the tank was eventually disabled when it became stuck on a traffic barrier , where Nelson was shot and killed by San Diego police . The entire route is in San Diego , San Diego County . San Diego San Diego ( / ˌ s æ n d i ˈ eɪ ɡ oʊ / SAN dee- AY -goh , Spanish: [san ˈdjeɣo] )
500-496: 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
600-414: A height of 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet (0.76 m), and utility poles , leaving some 5100 households without electricity. Nelson inflicted no injuries during his 25-minute rampage. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) learned of the incident at 6:46 p.m. when a detective reported that he was following Nelson. SDPD units headed to intercept the tank, and California State Route 163 (SR 163)
700-455: 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
800-414: A raw deal there". In Clairemont, Nelson was a minor celebrity for his unusual behavior. He spent nighttime hours mowing his lawn and digging for gold in a 20-foot (6.1 m) backyard pit, his property was covered in machine detritus and garbage, and police had visited nine times in 1994–95 "on calls ranging from reports of domestic violence to a complaint that Nelson's van had been stolen." He
900-649: 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
1000-577: 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
1100-444: A successful career in plumbing, eventually starting his own San Diego business in 1991. A patient at Sharp Memorial Hospital in 1990, Nelson later sued the hospital over a fight involving an emergency room security guard. Nelson sued them again in 1992 for malpractice , the same year his mother died there. The lawsuits were consolidated and dismissed in 1993. Nelson's brother would later say that Shawn Nelson "thought he got
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#17328518443181200-490: 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
1300-524: 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
1400-447: Is also designated as a State Scenic Highway . SR 163 begins in downtown San Diego at an at-grade intersection with A Street and 11th Avenue. Shortly after, the freeway has an interchange with I-5 before entering Balboa Park . This 2.5-mile (4.0 km) section of SR 163 is built to parkway standards, featuring a wide, grassy median with trees, four through traffic lanes, and several very sharp curves, also passing under
1500-561: 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
1600-539: 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
1700-532: Is named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo , the first European to navigate the coast of present-day California . The historic section of freeway through Balboa Park south of I-8 was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. Prior to 1964, this was the southernmost section of U.S. Route 395 (US 395), which was truncated to Hesperia when it was replaced by I-15. This section
1800-545: 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
1900-473: 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
2000-540: The Cabrillo Bridge . Shortly after leaving Balboa Park, SR 163 has an interchange with I-8 in Mission Valley . North of this interchange, SR 163 becomes a modern, Interstate-standard , eight-lane freeway. Continuing north, the freeway climbs uphill from Mission Valley to Linda Vista , where it has a partial interchange with I-805 ; traffic northbound on one freeway can only transfer only onto northbound of
2100-465: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. The southernmost portion of the highway, running through Balboa Park, began construction in 1942 and opened in 1948 as part of US 395 ; it
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#17328518443182200-499: 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
2300-958: 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
2400-558: 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
2500-443: 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
2600-674: 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
2700-668: 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
2800-698: 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
2900-524: 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
3000-510: The California Guard was found to be negligent and therefore responsible. The state paid out a total of US$ 149,201 (equivalent to $ 289,855 in 2023): $ 10,000 (equivalent to $ 19,427 in 2023) to Pacific Bell , $ 12,500 (equivalent to $ 24,284 in 2023) to the city of San Diego, $ 40,965.69 (equivalent to $ 79,585 in 2023) to San Diego Gas & Electric , and the rest to individual citizens (mostly for damage to vehicles). In
3100-590: 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
California State Route 163 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3200-675: 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
3300-485: 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,
3400-515: 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
3500-561: 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
3600-441: The San Diego armory were all unloaded. On the evening of May 17, the armory's gates were unsecured because personnel were working late. Nelson was uncontested at 6:30 p.m. when he drove his Chevrolet van onto the property. The shirtless and disheveled man then broke the padlocks on three different tanks before starting an M60A3. Nelson crashed through the armory's gate at approximately 6:45 p.m. Nelson drove
3700-460: 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
3800-538: 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
3900-510: 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
4000-509: 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
4100-415: 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
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4200-531: 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
4300-427: 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
4400-563: 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
4500-465: 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
4600-491: 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
4700-416: 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 ,
4800-403: 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
4900-477: 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
5000-428: 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
5100-647: The disabled tank onto a flatbed truck . The Guard confirmed that vehicles entering the armory grounds were not checked (despite heightened security after the recent Oklahoma City bombing ). Major Ed Gale told the media that Nelson apparently broke an exterior lock on the tank to gain access, and that it was the first tank theft at the armory. By the next day, the batteries had been removed from 28 more National Guard tanks in Southern California , and San Diego Mayor Susan Golding had written to California Governor Pete Wilson , demanding an investigation into
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#17328518443185200-609: 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
5300-517: 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
5400-448: 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
5500-536: 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
5600-738: The express lanes of I-15. SR 163 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . SR 163 is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System , and is designated as a scenic highway in Balboa Park by
5700-545: 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
5800-563: 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 ,
5900-520: 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
6000-501: The following years, the uncertainty of Nelson's motives led to commentators projecting their theories onto his actions: "a saga about the middle class under siege; a fable about the emasculation of American men; a warning about what happens when ex-servicemen, lacking foreign enemies and domestic opportunities, bring the war home." Immediately afterwards, the National Guard planned to send two additional tanks to SR 163 to help maneuver
6100-424: 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
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#17328518443186200-480: 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
6300-460: 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
6400-425: 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
6500-425: 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
6600-413: 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
6700-608: 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
6800-559: 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
6900-511: 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
7000-416: 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
7100-622: 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
7200-401: 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
7300-455: The other and southbound traffic can only transfer onto southbound direction of the other freeway. In Kearny Mesa , the freeway has a partial interchange with SR 52 , one of the biggest bottlenecks in San Diego County . The freeway then heads north to and merges with I-15 near Miramar , where the southern terminus of the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes of I-15 are located. Ramps were built to allow traffic on SR 163 to enter and exit
7400-510: 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
7500-447: 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 ,
7600-592: 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
7700-424: 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
7800-453: The second quarter of 1995, the 35-year-old had recently suffered financial, professional, and interpersonal setbacks, some of which stemmed from long-term substance abuse. On May 17, he stole a 57.3-tonne (56.4-long-ton; 63.2-short-ton) tank from the local California Army National Guard armory and drove it around for six miles (9.7 km), crushing cars and infrastructure in his path—though without injuring anyone. The tank crashed and
7900-621: 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
8000-414: The tank through residential San Diego neighborhoods, where residents described the destruction as intentional: "He didn't go down the center of the street, [...] It seems he just wanted to get the utilities and cause as much as damage without hurting people." Over a distance of six miles (9.7 km), he struck bridges, a bus bench, fire hydrants , traffic lights , 40 cars —crushing some down to
8100-465: The tank's tracks . Four SDPD officers boarded the tank and opened the hatch (which was in "combat lockdown") with bolt cutters . Nelson refused to surrender and attempted to dislodge the police by spinning the tank. Having no armament capable of penetrating the armor, and unsure whether Nelson was armed, police shot him. Two days after the incident, the Los Angeles Times reported that Nelson
8200-412: 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
8300-562: 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
8400-481: 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,
8500-460: 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
8600-544: 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
8700-434: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.30. 1995 San Diego tank rampage The 1995 San Diego tank rampage was the theft of an M60A3 tank by Shawn Timothy Nelson and his destruction of cars and utilities in suburban San Diego . Nelson was a native Californian and United States Army veteran with unusual habits that drew the attention of his neighbors. By
8800-669: Was a sophomore during the 1975–1976 academic year , grew up in Clairemont, San Diego , and later married Suzy Hellman in 1984. In 1978, Nelson enlisted in the United States Army and received training at Fort Knox . He was stationed in Germany with the Armor Branch as a tank commander . Private Nelson separated in 1980 due to " 'multifaceted' disciplinary problems" with an honorable discharge . Afterwards, he began
8900-434: Was being foreclosed upon, his utilities had been shut off, an eviction notice had been served, and he had recently broken up with a girlfriend. Nelson made "statements alluding to suicide". The California National Guard armory at 32°48′02″N 117°09′42″W / 32.800612°N 117.161560°W / 32.800612; -117.161560 was surrounded by an eight-foot (2.4 m) chain-link fence , which
9000-428: Was closed. An SDPD captain said of Nelson's tank skills: "He obviously knew what he was doing. He was working that tank pretty good." After driving onto SR 163, Nelson crashed the tank into a three-foot (0.91 m) traffic barrier at 32°47′38″N 117°09′30″W / 32.793958°N 117.158426°W / 32.793958; -117.158426 , near Sharp Memorial Hospital . The impact dislodged one of
9100-483: 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
9200-496: Was double the legal limit for driving . Nelson's friends criticized the shooting, saying police should have used tear gas or crisis negotiation . SDPD captain Tom Hall defended the decision, saying "[t]he bottom line was, we had to stop this guy." The district attorney of San Diego County later ruled the shooting was justified because, had he freed the tank, Nelson could have injured or killed people. For legal culpability,
9300-448: 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
9400-410: 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
9500-440: 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
9600-532: Was partially disabled, and San Diego police forced it open before shooting and killing Nelson. Nelson's motives are unknown. The incident raised questions about military security at the Guard armory and spurred changes in California's tank storage. Born on August 21, 1959, in California , Shawn Timothy Nelson was the second of Betty and Fred Nelson's three sons. He attended James Madison High School —where he
9700-421: Was renowned, but not well known by his neighbors. Nelson long struggled with alcohol abuse and methamphetamines , a factor in his wife leaving in 1991. Nelson's van and plumbing tools were stolen in June 1994, and his contracting business declined. By May 1995, Nelson had "a history of medical problems", including a spinal fracture caused by a motorcycle crash. Unemployed, his house on Willamette Avenue
9800-477: Was shot in the right shoulder, and The New York Times said he was alive when pulled from the tank; 18 days after the event, People published that Nelson had been shot in the left shoulder, killing him immediately. Sharp Memorial later reported that Nelson died of " gunshot wounds " (without disclosing how many times he was shot), and the San Diego coroner 's office said that Nelson "smelled of alcohol" —ultimately determining his blood alcohol content
9900-418: Was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. The Cabrillo Freeway was also part of US 80 from the late 1940s until 1964. This stretch of road has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways, and was designated a California Historic Parkway in 2002. On May 17, 1995, former US soldier and plumber Shawn Nelson stole a tank from the National Guard armory and went on
10000-515: Was topped by three runs of barbed wire . Armory personnel usually left by 6 p.m. The M60A3 tank is 31 feet (9.4 m) long, weighs 57.3 tonnes (56.4 long tons; 63.2 short tons) fully-loaded, and can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) with a range of nearly 300 miles (480 km). It has a 7.62-millimetre (0.300 in) M73 machine gun , 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) M2 Browning heavy machine gun , and 105-millimetre (4.1 in) M68 tank gun ; these weapons systems at
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