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