San Diego County, California

{{Main|History of San Diego}}

The area which is now San Diego County has been inhabited for more than 12,000 years by the Kumeyaay (also known as 'Iipai-Tiipai or by the historical Spanish name Diegueño), Luiseño, Cupeño, Cahuilla, and the Acjachemen people and their local predecessors.{{cite web|url=http://www.kumeyaay.info/kumeyaay_indians.html|title=KUMEYAAY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT USA American San Diego County Indian Reservations Tribes of Baja California Mexico Culture|website=Kumeyaay.info}}

In 1542, the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who may have been born in Portugal but sailed under the flag of Castile, claimed San Diego Bay for the Spanish Empire, and he named the site San Miguel.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/cabrillo/cabrillo.htm|title=San Diego Historical Society|website=Sandiegohistory.org|access-date=April 18, 2013|archive-date=May 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505173316/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/cabrillo/cabrillo.htm|url-status=dead}} In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what are now Mission Bay and Point Loma and named the area for Saint Didacus, a Spaniard more commonly known as San Diego.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/67october/began.htm|title=Journal of San Diego History, October 1967|website=Sandiegohistory.org}} European settlement in what is now San Diego County began with the founding of the San Diego Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá by Spanish soldiers and clerics in 1769.{{cite web|url=http://www.missionscalifornia.com/keyfacts/san-diego-de-alcala.html|title=San Diego de Alcalá – California Missions Resource Center|website=Missionscalifornia.com|access-date=April 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610233845/http://www.missionscalifornia.com/keyfacts/san-diego-de-alcala.html|archive-date=June 10, 2010|url-status=usurped}} This county was part of Alta California under the Viceroyalty of New Spain until the Mexican declaration of independence. From 1821 through 1848, this area was part of Mexico.

San Diego County became part of the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, ending the Mexican–American War. This treaty designated the border to pass through a point one marine league south of the southernmost point of the port of San Diego, ensuring that the United States received all of the natural harbor of San Diego Bay.

San Diego County was one of the original counties of California, created at the time of California statehood in 1850.{{cite book |last=Coy |first=Owen C.; PhD |title=California County Boundaries |publisher=California Historical Commission |year=1923 |location=Berkeley |asin=B000GRBCXG}}{{rp|221}}

At the time of its establishment in 1850, San Diego County was relatively large, and included all of southernmost California south and east of Los Angeles County. It included areas of what are now Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, as well as all of what are now Riverside and Imperial Counties.{{rp|221}}

During the later part of the 19th century, there were numerous changes in the boundaries of San Diego County, when various areas were separated to make up the counties mentioned above. The most recent changes were the establishments of Riverside County in 1893{{rp|207}} and Imperial County in 1907.{{rp|113}} Imperial County was also the last county to be established in California, and after this division, San Diego no longer extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Colorado River, and it no longer covered the entire border between California and Mexico.

File:San Diego-Tijuana JPLLandsat.jpg.]]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|4526|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4207|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|319|sqmi}} (7.0%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} The county is larger in area than the combined states of Rhode Island and Delaware.{{cite web|url=http://members.cox.net/wesjanssen1/sandiegoco.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020417084233/http://members.cox.net/wesjanssen1/sandiegoco.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2002|title=wild san diego county|date=April 17, 2002|access-date=February 17, 2019}}

San Diego County has a varied topography. On its western side is more than {{convert|70.|mi|km}} of coastline.Gerber, James ed. [http://www.borderecoweb.sdsu.edu/bordpub/brdlnk94.pdf Economic Profile of the San Diego-Tijuana Region: Characteristics for Investment and Governance Decisions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321122417/http://www.borderecoweb.sdsu.edu/bordpub/brdlnk94.pdf |date=March 21, 2012 }}. Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias. 1995. p.11 Most of San Diego between the coast and the Laguna Mountains consists of hills, mesas, and small canyons. Snow-capped (in winter) mountains rise to the east, with the Sonoran Desert farther to the east. The Cleveland National Forest is spread across the central portion of the county, while Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occupies most of the northeast.

Although the county's western third is primarily urban, the mountains and deserts in the eastern two-thirds are primarily undeveloped backcountry. Most of these backcountry areas are home to a native plant community known as chaparral. San Diego County contains more than {{convert|1000000|acres|km²}} of chaparral, twice as much as any other California county.{{cite web|url=http://www.californiachaparral.com/factsandmyths/wheretofindchaparral.html|title=The California Chaparral Field Institute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623064734/http://californiachaparral.com/factsandmyths/wheretofindchaparral.html|archive-date=June 23, 2006}}

Periodically the area has been subject to wildfires that force thousands to evacuate. The most recent are the December 2017 Lilac Fire, the May 2014 San Diego County wildfires, the Witch Creek Fire in 2007, and the Cedar Fire in 2003. California defines a fire season in which fires are most likely to occur, usually between late July and late October (which are the driest months of the area). Signs posted in numerous spots of the county provide information on the level of threats from fires based on weather conditions.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

Northern San Diego County is known as North County; the eastern suburbs are collectively known as East County; the rural areas located further east and extending to the Imperial County line are known as the Mountain Empire; and the southern suburbs, extending to the Mexican border, are collectively known as the South Bay or South County, including South San Diego, an exclave of the city of San Diego which has no land connection to the rest of the city.

San Diego County is bordered on the northwest by Orange County, on the north by Riverside County; on the east by Imperial County; on the south by Mexico; and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

{{Main|Climate of San Diego, California}}

File:Mountlagunasmall.jpg]]

Under the Köppen climate classification system, the urban and suburban San Diego area straddles areas of Mediterranean climate (Csa) to the north and hot semi-arid climate (BSh) to the south and east.{{cite journal|author=M. Kottek|author2=J. Grieser |author3=C. Beck |author4=B. Rudolf |author5=F. Rubel |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated|journal=Meteorol. Z.|volume=15|pages=259–263|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif|doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130|access-date=April 22, 2009|year=2006|issue=3 |bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K }} As a result, it is often described as "arid Mediterranean" and "semi-arid steppe." Farther east, arid desert conditions prevail. Western San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters with most of the annual precipitation falling between November and March. The city has mild, mostly dry weather, with an average of 201 days above {{convert|70|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and low rainfall ({{convert|9|–|13|in|cm}} annually). Summer temperatures are generally warm, with average highs of {{convert|70|–|78|F|C}} and lows of {{convert|55|–|66|F|C}}. Temperatures exceed {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} only four days a year. Most rainfall occurs from November to April. Winter temperatures are mild, with average high temperatures of {{convert|66|–|70|F|C}} and lows of {{convert|50|–|56|F|C}}.

The climate in the San Diego area, like much of California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances resulting in microclimates. In San Diego's case this is mainly due to 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 will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but will yield to bright cloudless sunshine approximately {{convert|5|–|10|mi|km}} inland. This happens every year in May and June.{{cite web|url=http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/gloom.html|title=California May Grey / June Gloom|website=meteora.ucsd.edu|access-date=April 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613050427/http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/gloom.html|archive-date=June 13, 2010|url-status=dead}} Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas tend to 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 {{convert|48|°F}} and August highs of {{convert|77|°F}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USca0982|title=Monthly Averages for San Diego, CA|access-date=April 22, 2009|publisher=The Weather Channel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502201247/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USCA0982|archive-date=May 2, 2009|url-status=dead}} The city of El Cajon, just {{convert|10|mi}} northeast of downtown San Diego, averages January lows of {{convert|42|°F}} and August highs of {{convert|89|°F}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/92020|title=Monthly Averages for El Cajon, CA|access-date=December 22, 2017|publisher=The Weather Channel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604055354/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/92020|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=dead}} Julian, in the mountains, has an average January low of {{convert|29|°F}} and August high of {{convert|85|°F}}.{{cite web|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USCA0530:1:US|title=Monthly Averages for Julian, CA|access-date=December 22, 2017|publisher=The Weather Channel}} Borrego Springs, in the Colorado Desert, has an average January low of {{convert|43|°F}} and August high of {{convert|106|°F}}.{{cite web|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USCA0530:1:US|title=Monthly Averages for Borrego Springs, CA|access-date=December 22, 2017|publisher=The Weather Channel}}

Rainfall along the coast averages about {{convert|10|in|cm}} of precipitation annually, which occurs mainly during the cooler months of December through April. Though there are few wet days per month during the rainy period, rainfall can be heavy when it does occur. However, the rainfall is greater in the higher elevations of San Diego. Some of the higher areas of San Diego, such as Palomar Mountain and the Laguna Mountains, receive {{convert|20|–|40|in|cm}} of rain per year, supporting lush forests similar to the Sierra Nevada and California Coast Range. The Colorado Desert portion of the county lies to the east of the mountains, which receives the least amount of precipitation; Borrego Springs, the largest population center in the desert, averages only {{convert|5|in|cm}}, with a high evaporation rate.

{{San Diego weatherbox}}

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{{Annotated image | float=none

| image = San Diego County California adjacents.svg

| image- style="width:350px;"| width = 344 | height=245

| image-bg-color = #dddddd; font-size:smaller

| annotations =

{{annotation|158|126|San Diego}}

{{annotation|11|7|Orange}}

{{annotation|175|11|Riverside}}

{{annotation|294|116|Imperial}}

{{annotation|130|217|Tijuana,
Baja California,
Mexico}}

{{annotation|224|203|Tecate,
Baja California,
Mexico}}

{{annotation|35|175|Pacific
Ocean}}

| caption = Counties adjacent to San Diego County, California

}}

Image:4.3LasPlayasSunset1 copy 1.jpg; San Diego is on the right while Tijuana is on the left.]]

File:Border USA Mexico.jpg (right) and San Diego's border patrol offices (left)]]

• Cabrillo National Monument
• Cleveland National Forest (part)
• San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex,{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_Diego/About_the_Refuge_Complex.html|title=About the refuge complex|work=San Diego National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=June 7, 2015}} which includes
• San Diego National Wildlife Refuge{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_Diego/about.html|title=About the Refuge|work=San Diego National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=June 7, 2015}}
• San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_Diego_Bay/|title=About the Refuge|work=San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=June 7, 2015}}
• Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Tijuana_Slough/about.html|title=About the Refuge|work=Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=June 7, 2015}}
• Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (located in Orange County){{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Seal_Beach/about.html|title=About the Refuge|work=Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=June 7, 2015}}

There are seven official wilderness areas in San Diego County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Four of these are integral parts of Cleveland National Forest, whereas three are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Some of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below):

• Otay Mountain Wilderness (BLM)
• Pine Creek Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest)
• Hauser Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest)
• Carrizo Gorge Wilderness (BLM)
• Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness (BLM)
• Agua Tibia Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest) partly in Riverside County
• San Mateo Canyon Wilderness (Cleveland National Forest) mostly in Riverside County

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (majority)
• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
• Palomar Mountain State Park
• San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
• Border Field State Park
• Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
• San Onofre State Beach
• Moonlight State Beach
• Carlsbad State Beach
• South Carlsbad State Beach
• Leucadia State Beach
• San Elijo State Beach
• Cardiff State Beach
• Torrey Pines State Beach
• Silver Strand State Beach

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Cuyamaca Mountains
• In-Ko-Pah Mountains
• Jacumba Mountains
• Laguna Mountains
• Palomar Mountain
• Peninsular Ranges
• San Ysidro Mountains
• Santa Ana Mountains
• Volcan Mountains

{{div col end}}

There are 236 mountain summits and peaks in San Diego County{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/list-mountains.asp?cid=20434|title=Mountains in USA|website=Mountainzone.com}} including:

{{div col}}

• Black Mountain
• Cuyamaca Peak (second highest point in San Diego County)
• Cowles Mountain (highest point in the city of San Diego)
• Mount Helix
• Hot Springs Mountain (highest point in San Diego County)
• Margarita Peak
• Mount Soledad
• Stonewall Mountain
• El Cajon Mountain
• Woodson Mountain (known for Potato Chip Rock){{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Buena Vista Lagoon
• Agua Hedionda Lagoon
• Batiquitos Lagoon
• San Elijo Lagoon
• Los Peñasquitos Lagoon
• Mission Bay
• San Diego Bay

{{div col end}}

{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}

• Lake Cuyamaca
• Lake Hodges
• Santee Lakes
• Sweetwater Reservoir
• Upper Otay Reservoir
• Lower Otay Reservoir
• Lake Wohlford
• El Capitan Reservoir
• Sutherland Reservoir
• Lake Henshaw
• Lake Murray
• San Vicente Reservoir
• Lake Jennings
• Barrett Dam
• Natural Rock Tanks
• Little Laguna Lake
• Big Laguna Lake
• Big Lake
• Twin Lakes
• Jean Lake
• Lost Lake
• Swan Lake
• Lake Miramar
• Lake Poway
• Dixon Lake
• Lindo Lake

{{colend}}

• San Diego River
• San Luis Rey River
• San Dieguito River
• Sweetwater River
• Otay River
• Tijuana River
• Tijuana River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area
• Santa Margarita River

• Marys Grove

File:San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 2014-07-09.jpg]]

More than 1,700 tons of radioactive waste are stored at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station,{{cite news |title=How a nuclear stalemate left radioactive waste stranded on a California beach |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/28/17765538/san-onofre-nuclear-generating-station-radioactive-spent-fuel-waste-yucca-mountain |work=The Verge |date=August 28, 2018}} which sits in an area where there is a record of past tsunamis.{{cite news |title=Op-Ed: The San Onofre nuclear plant is a 'Fukushima waiting to happen' |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-chapple-san-onofre-20180815-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 15, 2018}}{{cite news |title=Coastal Panel Votes 10–0 to Allow Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel at San Onofre |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/07/16/unanimous-coastal-commission-vote-allows-storage-of-spent-nuclear-fuel-at-san-onofre/ |work=Times of San Diego |date=July 16, 2020}}

{{main|Demographics of San Diego County, California}}

In the 1847 census of San Diego County ordered by Richard Barnes Mason, it found that 2,287 people lived in the county, to include Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and African Americans.{{cite journal |last1=Hughes |first1=Charles |editor1-last=Hughes |editor1-first=James E. |date=Summer 1975 |title=The Decline of Californios |url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1975/july/the-decline-of-the-californios/ |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages= |doi= |access-date=September 25, 2023 |quote=During this period the population of San Diego more than tripled, despite its remoteness from the gold felds. In 1847 the military governor of California, William B. Mason. ordered a census taken in San Diego County. Captain D. C. Davis of the Mormon Volunteers carried out this order and reported a total of 248 white men, women, and children within the county. He set the total population of the county at 2,287 including whites, “tame” Indians, “wild” Indians, Sandwich Islanders, and Negroes. }}

Since at least 2014, San Diego County is the fifth most populous county in the United States.{{cite news |last=Jennewein |first=Chris |date=March 26, 2015 |title=San Diego Nation's 5th Most Populous County in 2014 |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2015/03/26/san-diego-nations-5th-most-populous-county-in-2014/ |work=Times of San Diego |access-date=March 22, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Mendelson |first=Aaron |date=March 26, 2015 |title=LA County is nation's most populous — still |url=https://www.scpr.org/news/2015/03/26/50580/la-county-is-nation-s-most-populous-still/ |work=KPCC |location=Pasadena, California }} In 2000, only about 3% of San Diego County residents left the county for work while 40,000 people commuted into the metropolitan area.{{cite web|url=http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/commute-maps/statecommute.pdf|title=San Diego County Commute|website=Calmis.ca.gov}}

File:Ethnic Origins in San Diego County, CA.png

{{US Census population

|1850= 798

|1860= 4324

|1870= 4951

|1880= 8018

|1890= 34987

|1900= 35090

|1910= 61665

|1920= 112248

|1930= 209659

|1940= 289348

|1950= 556808

|1960= 1033011

|1970= 1357854

|1980= 1861846

|1990= 2498016

|2000= 2813833

|2010= 3095313

|2020= 3298634

|estyear=2024

|estimate=3298799

|estref=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sandiegocountycalifornia/PST045224

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790–2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 24, 2022}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 4, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=October 4, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=October 4, 2015}} 2010 2020

}}

'

{{see also|Demographics of Filipino Americans#San Diego County}}

The 2010 United States census reported that San Diego County had a population of 3,095,313. The racial makeup of San Diego County was 1,981,442 (64.0%) White, 158,213 (5.1%) African American, 26,340 (0.9%) Native American, 336,091 (10.9%) Asian (4.7% Filipino, 1.6% Vietnamese, 1.4% Chinese, 3.2% Other Asian), 15,337 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 419,465 (13.6%) from other races, and 158,425 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 991,348 people (32.0%).{{USCensus2010CA}} Including those of mixed race, the total number of residents with Asian ancestry was 407,984.{{cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF2/PCT1/310M100US41740/popgroup~031 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 |author= |date=2010 |website=American Fact Finder |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003623/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF2/PCT1/310M100US41740/popgroup~031 |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |url-status=dead }}

As of 2009, the racial makeup of the county was 79.4% White American, 5.6% Black or African American, 1% Native American, 10.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 31.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

67.0% spoke only English at home; 21.9% spoke Spanish, 3.1% Tagalog and 1.2% Vietnamese.

As of 2018, the Census Bureau estimates there were 3,343,364 people, 1,067,846 households, and 663,449 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|670|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,142,245 housing units at an average density of {{convert|248|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

In 2000, there were 994,677 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.29.

As of 2000, 25.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.30% was from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

In 2012, it was estimated that there were 198,000 unauthorized immigrants; the origin of the plurality of them is Mexico.{{cite report |author=Sheldon X. Zhang |author2=Karen J. Bachar |author3=John Picarelli |author4=Yang Qin |author5=Irma Cordova |author6=Manuel Enrique |author7=Cristina Juarez |author8=Adan Ortiz |author9=Maria Stacey |date=November 2012 |title=Looking for a Hidden Population: Trafficking of Migrant Laborers in San Diego County |url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240223.pdf |publisher=San Diego State University |via=United States Department of Justice |pages=16–17 |access-date=September 12, 2018 }}

In 2018, the median household income was $70,824; most people spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs.{{cite news |last=Stebbins |first=Samuel |date=August 15, 2018 |title=Priced out of the market? Cities where the middle class can no longer afford a home |agency=24/7 Wall Street |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/real-estate/2018/08/15/cities-where-middle-class-can-no-longer-afford-home-prices/37105219/ |work= USA Today |access-date=August 15, 2018 }} In August of that year, the median home price was $583,000; this is lower than the median home price in Los Angeles, and Orange counties.{{cite news |last=Molnar |first=Phillip |date=September 26, 2018 |title=New record: San Diego home price hits $583K |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/real-estate/sd-fi-home-median-20180926-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=October 4, 2018 }}

According to the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $47,067, and the median income for a family was $53,438. Males had a median income of $36,952 versus $30,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,926. About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Much of the county's high-income residents are concentrated in the northern part of the city of San Diego. The San Diego metropolitan area has two places with both a population of over 50,000 and a per capita income of over $40,000: Carlsbad and Encinitas.

The county's largest continuous high-income urban area is a triangle from a first point on the northern edge of Carlsbad, a second point southeast of Escondido, and a third point on the southern edge of La Jolla. It contains all or most of the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Poway in addition to a substantial portion of northern San Diego.U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Tables B01003 and B19025. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 26, 2013.

According to a point-in-time count taken for the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, there were 8,576 homeless individuals on January 6, 2018, a 6% decrease from 2017. 3,586 were sheltered, and 4,990 were not. 4,912 (75.3%) were in the city of San Diego. North County Inland had 1,153 (13.4%), North County Coastal with 822 homeless (9.6%), 602 (7%) were found in South County, and 1,087 (12.7%) in East County.https://www.rtfhsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2018-WPoint-in-Time-Count-Annual-Report.pdf. San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless. Retrieved March 4, 2020.

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, 68% of adults in the county were Christian, of whom 32% were Catholic. 27% were religiously unaffiliated, and 5% adhered to a non-Christian faith.{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/metro-area/san-diego-metro-area/ |title=Adults in the San Diego metro area |author= |date=2014 |website=Religious Landscape Study |publisher=Per Research Center |access-date=May 10, 2018 }} According to the University of Southern California, in 2010, the largest faith in the county was Catholicism, followed by non-denominational Christians, and Mormons.{{cite web |url=https://crcc.usc.edu/sandiego/ |title=San Diego County |author= |date=September 17, 2009 |website=Center for Religion and Civic Culture |publisher=University of Southern California |access-date=May 10, 2018 }}

In 2014, the county had 978 religious organizations, the seventh most out of all US counties.{{cite web | title = Social Capital Variables Spreadsheet for 2014 | url = https://aese.psu.edu/nercrd/community/social-capital-resources/social-capital-variables-for-2014/social-capital-variables-spreadsheet-for-2014 | website = PennState College of Agricultural Sciences, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development | date = December 8, 2017 | access-date = December 30, 2019 | archive-date = December 31, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191231001016/https://aese.psu.edu/nercrd/community/social-capital-resources/social-capital-variables-for-2014/social-capital-variables-spreadsheet-for-2014 | url-status = dead }}

In 2014 according to Pew Research Center, there are about 170,000 undocumented immigrants living in the region.{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Joshua |date=February 9, 2017 |title=San Diego home to 170k immigrants here illegally, study shows |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-immigration-study-20170209-story.html |work= San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=May 15, 2018 }} San Diego has been a destination for trafficked minors from Mexico and the Philippines.{{cite report |first1=Ami |last1=Carpenter |first2=Jamie |last2=Gates |date=April 2016 |title=The Nature and Extent of Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking in San Diego County |url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249857.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Justice |page=14 |access-date=May 15, 2018 }} In 2018, the United States Border Patrol caught an average of over a hundred individuals crossing the border illegally each day.{{cite news |agency=Los Angeles Times |last=Marosi |first=Richard |date=May 14, 2018 |title=The aggressive prosecution of border-crossers is straining the courts. Will 'zero tolerance' make it worse? |url=http://www.richmond.com/news/national-world/ap/the-aggressive-prosecution-of-border-crossers-is-straining-the-courts/article_6b1be1a2-799b-5e7d-bf34-5d45b53b93f0.html |work= Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=May 15, 2018 }}

San Diego County and Imperial County are part of the Southern Border Region, one of nine such regions. As a regional economy, the Southern Border Region is the smallest but most economically diverse region in the state. However, the two counties maintain weak relations and have little in common aside from their common border.http://search.ca.gov/search?q=cache:AtbaXur_WaEJ:www.labor.ca.gov/panel/pdf/CESP_Regions_100606.pdf&proxystylesheet=xfix&output=xml_no_dtd&client=xfix {{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} The region has a high cost of living.{{cite news |author= |agency=City News Service |title=Report: Wages don't cover high cost of living for 33% of San Diegans |url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/01/31/report-wages-dont-cover-high-cost-of-living-for-33-of-san-diegans/ |work=KSWB-TV |location=San Diego |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Tom |first2=Ron |last2=Campbell |date=March 30, 2018 |title=MAP: Housing Costs Continue to Outpace Incomes in San Diego County |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/MAP-Housing-Costs-vs-Incomes-in-San-Diego-County-478428343.html |work=KNSD |location=San Diego |access-date=May 4, 2018 }}
{{cite news |author= |title=San Diego, California |url=https://realestate.usnews.com/places/california/san-diego |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=2017 |access-date=May 4, 2018 }}
{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Freeman |title=Survey: San Diego is a good place for job hunters, but pay lags living costs |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sd-fi-indeed-jobsurvey-20180412-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 }}
{{cite news |first=Zac |last=Self |title=Data shows how much San Diego families need to budget |url=https://www.10news.com/lifestyle/data-shows-how-much-san-diego-families-need-to-budget |work=KGTV |location=San Diego |date=March 26, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Bauder |first=Don |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Good weather, high cost of living make San Diego bad for pro sports |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2018/feb/21/city-lights-good-weather-high-cost-living/ |work=San Diego Reader |access-date=May 4, 2018 }} This includes the highest cost of water in the United States.{{cite news |agency=Voice of San Diego |first=Ry |last=Rivard |title=Why San Diego Pays Some of Highest Water Rates in State and Country |url=https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/05/30/why-san-diego-pays-some-of-highest-water-rates-in-state-and-country |work=News Deeply |location=New York |date=May 30, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2018 }} {{as of|2018}}, San Diego County is within the top ten highest cost of rent in the United States;{{cite news |last=Stafford |first=Audra |date=January 19, 2018 |title=San Diegans Coping with Rising Rental Costs |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diegans-Coping-with-Rising-Rental-Costs-470051703.html |work=KNSD |location=San Diego |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last1=Cavanaugh |first1=Maureen |last2=Lipkin |first2=Michael |date=October 9, 2017 |title=Average Rent Hit Record High In San Diego County |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/oct/09/average-rent-hit-record-high-san-diego-county/ |work=KPBS |location=San Diego |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Molnar |first=Phillip |date=October 5, 2017 |title=San Diego County rents hit record high |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/real-estate/sd-fi-rent-all-time-high-20171005-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Daniels |first=Jeff |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Californians fed up with housing costs and taxes are fleeing state in big numbers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/californians-fed-up-with-housing-costs-and-taxes-are-fleeing-state.html |work=CNBC |location=New Jersey |access-date=March 20, 2018 }} this has led to people moving out of the county.{{cite news |last1=Kotkin |first1=Joel |last2=Cox |first2=Wendell |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Leaving California? After slowing, the trend intensifies |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/24/leaving-california-after-slowing-the-trend-intensifies/ |work=Mercury News |location=Santa Clara |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Jeff |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Why some people are fleeing Southern California |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/03/14/why-some-people-are-fleeing-southern-california/ |work=Orange County Register |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Alon |date=April 17, 2017 |title=Low-Income San Diegans Are Getting Pushed to Riverside |url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/economy/low-income-san-diegans-are-getting-pushed-to-riverside/ |work=Voice of San Diego |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Molnar |first=Phillip |date=September 21, 2017 |title=Would you leave San Diego because of housing costs? |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/real-estate/sd-fi-considered-leaving-20170920-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Bauder |first=Don |date=April 9, 2014 |title=Why more people leave than enter San Diego |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/apr/09/citylights1-why-more-people-leave-enter-san-diego/ |work=San Diego Reader |access-date=March 20, 2018 }}

San Diego County's agriculture industry was worth $1.85 billion in 2013,{{cite news |author=Dwane Brown |title=San Diego County Agricultural Industry Thrives |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/sep/10/san-diego-county-agricultural-industry-thrives/ |newspaper=KPBS |location=San Diego |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2015 }} and is one of the top five egg producing counties in the United States.{{cite news |author=J. Harry Jones |title=New rules create 'Chicken Disneyland' |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/01/chicken-eggs-hilliker-farm-ranch/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=January 1, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2015 }} In 2013, San Diego County also had the most small farms of any county in the United States, and had the 19th largest agricultural economy of any county in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/awm/docs/2013%20Crop%20Report%20-%20Copy.pdf |title=2013 Crop Statistics and Annual Report |author=Ha Dang |date=2013 |website=Sandiegocounty.gov |publisher=County of San Diego |access-date=January 3, 2014}} According to the San Diego Farm Bureau, San Diego County is the United States' leading producer of avocados and nursery crops.{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/SD-Ag/Ag-Facts.php |title=San Diego County Agriculture Facts |author= |date=2014 |website=sdfarmbureau.org |publisher=San Diego Farm Bureau |access-date=January 3, 2015}} Until the early 20th century, San Diego County had a thriving wine industry; however the 1916 Charles Hatfield flood was the beginning of the end of the industry which included the destruction of the Daneri winery in Otay Valley.{{cite web |url=http://sandiegowineries.org/sd-wine-country/sdcva-history |title=San Diego was the first area in California where vineyards were planted and wine produced |date=2015 |publisher=San Diego Vintners Association |access-date=September 21, 2017}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.mauricescru.com/2015/07/san-diego-wine/#.WcRXjLKGOM8 |title=How Did San Diego Wine Get Left Behind |last=DiMarino |first=Maurice |date=July 17, 2015 |website=Maurice's Wine Cru |access-date=September 21, 2017}}
{{cite book |last=Pourade |first=Richard F. |date=1977 |title=Gold in the Sun |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/archives/books/gold/ch11/ |chapter=Chapter Eleven: The Rainmaker – And Who Caused the Big Flood? |location=San Diego |publisher=Copley Newspapers }}
{{cite journal |last1=Bryant |first1=Mike |date=July–August 2010 |title=E. Daneri Otay Winery and Distillery |url=http://www.fohbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DaneriBE_JulyAug2010.pdf |journal=Bottles and Extras |publisher=The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors |pages=22–23 |access-date=September 21, 2017 }}
{{cite book|author1=Dwight Furrow|author2=Lynn Furrow|title=San Diego Wine Country: A Tasting Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aalcDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT91|date=November 22, 2014|publisher=BookBaby|isbn=978-1-4835-4599-8|pages=91–94}}
{{cite news |last=Walter |first=Susan |date=November 24, 2012 |title=The tragedy of Daneri winery |url=https://www.thestarnews.com/the-tragedy-of-daneri-winery/ |work=The Star News |location=Chula Vista |access-date=May 12, 2018 }} {{as of|October 2016}}, there are roughly one hundred vineyards and wineries in San Diego County.{{cite magazine |last=Wycoff |first=Ann |date=September 23, 2016 |title=The Ultimate San Diego Wine Guide |url=http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/October-2016/The-Ultimate-San-Diego-Wine-Guide/ |magazine=San Diego Magazine |access-date=September 21, 2017 }}

By the 2019{{endash}}2020 statistical survey, California Department of Food & Agriculture (cdfa) found that the nursery trade dominated the county's agriculture by dollar value. Second place went to avocado production.{{cite web | access-date=May 11, 2022 | year=2021 | title=California Agricultural Statistics Review 2019-2020 | website=California Department of Food & Agriculture (cdfa) | url=https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Statistics/PDFs/2020_Ag_Stats_Review.pdf}}

{{main|Beer in San Diego County, California}}

The county has been called "the Craft Beer Capital of America".{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/March-2010/San-Diego-Americas-Beer-Capital/|title=San Diego: America's Beer Capital|last=Elder|first=Adam|date=March 2010|work=San Diego Magazine|access-date=November 22, 2014}} Brewing has been one of the fastest-growing business sectors with local breweries ranking among the 50 largest craft brewers in the United States and breweries that are consistently rated among the top breweries in the world.

{{further|Cannabis in California}}

Commercial operations to grow, test, or sell cannabis are not allowed in the unincorporated areas of the county. Companies must be licensed by the local agency to operate and each city or county may authorize none or only some of these activities. Local governments may not prohibit adults, who are in compliance with state laws, from growing, using, or transporting marijuana for personal use.{{Cite news|work=City News Service|date=August 5, 2020|title=Plan To Allow Legal Pot Shops In Unincorporated Areas Dies For Lack Of Support|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/aug/05/plan-allow-legal-pot-shops-unincorporated-areas-di/|access-date=August 6, 2020|via=KPBS Public Media|language=en}}

File:Westfield UTC 1 2022-12-04.jpeg in University City]]

Tourism plays a large part in the economics of the San Diego metropolitan area. Tourists are drawn to the region for a well rounded experience, everything from shopping to surfing as well as its mild climate. Its numerous tourist destinations include Westfield UTC, Seaport Village, and Fashion Valley for shopping. SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California as amusement parks. Golf courses such as Torrey Pines Golf Course and Balboa Park Golf Course. Museums such as the Museum of Us, the San Diego Museum of Art, Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum, USS Midway Museum, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Historical places such as the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Wildlife refuges, zoos, and aquariums such as the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Birch Aquarium, Living Coast Discovery Center, and the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. Outdoor destinations include the Peninsular Ranges for hiking, biking, mountainboarding and trail riding. Surfing locations include Swami's, Stone Steps Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach, Cardiff State Beach, San Onofre State Beach and the southern portion of Black's Beach.

The region is host to the second largest cruise ship industry in California which generates an estimated $2 million annually from purchases of food, fuel, supplies, and maintenance services.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Connie|title=Cruise Ships Face Stiffer Anti-Pollution Policies|newspaper=San Diego Business Journal|date=September 27, 2004|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/environment-natural-resources/pollution-environmental/10632995-1.html|access-date=April 22, 2009}} In 2008, the Port of San Diego hosted 252 ship calls and more than 800,000 passengers.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegometro.com/2008/oct/visionaries9.php|title=San Diego Metro Magazine|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120011117/http://www.sandiegometro.com/2008/oct/visionaries9.php|archive-date=November 20, 2008}}

{{see also|Culture of San Diego}}

The culture of San Diego is influenced heavily by American and Mexican cultures due to its position as a border town, its large Hispanic population, and its history as part of Spanish America and Mexico. The area's longtime association with the U.S. military also contributes to its culture. Present-day culture includes many historical and tourist attractions, a thriving musical and theatrical scene, numerous notable special events, a varied cuisine, and a reputation as one of America's premier centers of craft brewing.

{{See also|Sports in San Diego}}

File:Petco_Park_Padres_Game.jpg, home of the San Diego Padres]]

Sports in San Diego County includes major professional league teams, other highest-level professional league teams, minor league teams, and college athletics. San Diego County hosts two teams of the major professional leagues, the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB) and San Diego FC of Major League Soccer (MLS).{{cite press release |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to San Diego |date=May 18, 2023 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-to-san-diego-x9222 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=Major League Soccer}} The county is home to several universities whose teams compete in various NCAA Division I sports, most notably the San Diego State Aztecs. The Farmers Insurance Open, a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, is played annually at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

San Diego County hosted the National Football League (NFL)'s San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 2017, when the team relocated to the Greater Los Angeles area (now the Los Angeles Chargers). The county also hosted the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s San Diego Rockets from 1967 to 1971 (now the Houston Rockets) and San Diego Clippers from 1978 to 1984 (now the Los Angeles Clippers). San Diego County has never hosted a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, though it hosted the San Diego Mariners of the now-defunct World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1977.

Currently, there is no NFL, NBA, or NHL team in the county. San Diego is the largest American city not to have won a championship in a "Big Four"{{Efn|MLB, NFL, NBA, and the NHL are commonly referred to as the "Big Four".}} major professional league. The city does have one major league title to its name: the 1963 American Football League (AFL) Championship won by the San Diego Chargers, when the AFL was an independent entity prior to the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. Due to its lackluster record on winning professional championships, and in some cases retaining professional teams, some San Diego sports fans believe there is a curse on professional sports in the city.

File:San Diego City and County Administration Building.jpg]]

{{main|Government of San Diego County, California}}

{{see also|San Diego County Water Authority}}

The government of San Diego County is defined and authorized under the Constitution of California, California law, and the Charter of the County of San Diego.California Government Code § 23004 Much of the government of California is in practice the responsibility of county governments such as the government of San Diego County. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition the County serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas.{{cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/gtg/ca/state/overview/county.html#1|title=About County Government|work=Guide to Government|publisher=League of Women Voters of California|access-date=December 26, 2012}} Some chartered cities such as San Diego and Chula Vista provide municipal services such as police, public safety, libraries, parks and recreation, and zoning. Other cities such as Del Mar and Vista arrange to have the County provide some or all of these services on a contract basis.

The county government is composed of the elected five-member San Diego County Board of Supervisors, several other elected offices and officers

and numerous county departments and entities under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer such as the Probation Department. In addition, several entities of the government of California have jurisdiction conterminous with San Diego County, such as the San Diego Superior Court.

Under its foundational Charter, the five-member elected Board of Supervisors is the county legislature. The board operates in a legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial capacity. As a legislative authority, it can pass ordinances for the unincorporated areas (ordinances that affect the whole county, like posting of restaurant ratings, must be ratified by the individual city). As an executive body, it can tell the county departments what to do, and how to do it. As a quasi-judicial body, the Board is the final venue of appeal in the local planning process.

As of January 2025, the members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors are:{{cite web |title=Board of Supervisors |url=https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/general/bos.html |website=Sandiegocounty.gov}}

For several decades, ending in 2013, all five supervisors were Republican, white, graduates of San Diego State University, and had been in office since 1995 or earlier. The Board was criticized for this homogeneity, which was made possible because supervisors draw their own district lines and, until 2010, were not subject to term limits.{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/30/shame-on-arrogant-county-supervisors/|title=Supervisor's shameless self-preservation|date=June 30, 2011|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=November 28, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jun/09/voters-approve-term-limits-supervisors/|title=Voters Approve Term Limits for Supervisors|last=Orr|first=Katie|date=June 9, 2010|work=KPBS|access-date=November 28, 2012}}) That pattern was broken in 2013 when Slater-Price retired; she was replaced by Democrat Dave Roberts, who won election to the seat in November 2012 and was inaugurated in January 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-nov-23-la-me-san-diego-supervisor-20121124-story.html|title=Dave Roberts brings diversity to the San Diego County supervisors|last=Perry|first=Tony|date=November 23, 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 28, 2012}}

The San Diego County Code is the codified law of San Diego County in the form of ordinances passed by the Board of Supervisors. The Administrative Code establishes the powers and duties of all officers and the procedures and rules of operation of all departments.

The county motto is "The noblest motive is the public good." County government offices are housed in the historic County Administration Center Building, constructed in 1935–1938 with funding from the Works Progress Administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cob/cacs/index.html|title=The County Administration Center|work=San Diego County webpage|access-date=January 6, 2013}}

{{main|Politics of San Diego County}}

With its prominent military presence, San Diego County historically has been a Republican Party stronghold, but in recent years it has come to favor the Democratic Party. The Republican presidential nominee carried the county in every election from 1948 through 2004, except in 1992, when Bill Clinton won a 37% plurality of the vote. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win a majority of votes in San Diego County since World War II. Democratic candidates continued to carry the county in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. Joe Biden's 2020 margin of victory in the county, 22.8%, was the largest for a Democratic candidate since 1936, though it was narrower than Biden's statewide margin of 29.2%.

{{PresHead|place=San Diego County, California|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}|source2=The total for "Third party(ies)" in 1912 comprised 7,922 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who was official Republican nominee in California), 2,873 votes for Socialist Eugene V. Debs and 1,139 votes for Prohibition Party nominee Eugene W. Chafin.}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|593,270|841,372|43,386|California}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|600,094|964,650|37,399|California}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|477,766|735,476|98,376|California}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|536,726|626,957|30,266|California}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|541,032|666,581|27,890|California}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|596,033|526,437|13,881|California}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|475,736|437,666|45,232|California}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|402,876|389,964|91,311|California}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|352,125|367,397|267,124|California}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|523,143|333,264|12,788|California}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|502,344|257,029|9,894|California}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|435,910|195,410|85,546|California}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|353,302|263,654|16,839|California}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|371,627|206,455|23,055|California}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|261,540|167,669|35,654|California}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|214,445|211,808|33|California}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|223,056|171,259|1,106|California}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|195,742|106,716|1,147|California}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|186,091|105,255|1,688|California}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|101,552|98,217|5,690|California}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|75,746|89,959|1,059|California}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|55,434|71,188|1,488|California}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|35,686|64,628|1,540|California}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|35,305|45,622|4,223|California}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|47,769|22,749|633|California}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|22,726|2,944|20,721|California}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|19,826|8,478|2,783|California}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|16,978|16,815|2,744|California}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|63|9,731|11,934|California}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|5,412|2,393|1,598|California}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,303|1,398|1,529|California}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,800|2,678|443|California}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,631|3,908|209|California}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|3,525|2,334|1,853|California}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,661|3,189|344|California}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|1,120|800|45|California}}

{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|743|546|19|California}}

The city of San Diego itself is more Democratic than the county average and has largely voted Democrat in each presidential election since 1992; certain areas and cities within the county are swing areas and have split their votes in post-2000 elections. The county's Republican population gradually increases the further one travels away from downtown; the Republican strongholds include La Jolla, Coronado, the regions of North and East County, the eastern backlands, and remote mountain communities such as Julian. While these areas have traditionally voted Republican, all also contain varied electorates of Democrats, Libertarians, and independents.

A unique feature of the political scene is the use of Golden Hall, a convention facility next to San Diego's City Hall. The County Registrar of Voters rents the hall to distribute election results. Supporters and political observers gather to watch the results come in; supporters of the various candidates parade around the hall, carrying signs and chanting; candidates give their victory and concession speeches and host parties for campaign volunteers and donors at the site; and television stations broadcast live from the floor of the convention center.{{cite news|url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/election/article_92315642-27a2-11e2-a565-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Where to Find Us on Election Day|last=Libby|first=Sarah|date=November 5, 2012|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=December 28, 2012}} The atmosphere at Election Central on the evening of election day has been compared to the voting portion of a political party national convention.{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041104/news_1m4hall.html|title=Amid the celebrations, farewell – The San Diego Union-Tribune|website=Signsonsandiego.com}}

On November 4, 2008, San Diego County voted 53.71% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution, effectively placing a ban on same-sex marriages; this proposition would restore Proposition 22, which was overturned by a ruling from the California Supreme Court. However, the City of San Diego, along with the North County coastal cities of Del Mar, Encinitas, and Solana Beach voted against Proposition 8. La Mesa was a virtual tie for Prop. 8 support, while Carlsbad supported the referendum by only a 2% margin.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesewelch.com/2008/12/19/san-diego-county-proposition-8-results-by-community/|title=San Diego County Proposition 8 Results by Community – Jim's Blog|website=Jamesewelch.com}}

In the U.S. House of Representatives, San Diego County is split between five congressional districts:{{cite web

|url = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_cd_finaldraft_splits.zip

|title = Counties by County and by District

|publisher = California Citizens Redistricting Commission

|access-date = September 24, 2014

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130930184128/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_cd_finaldraft_splits.zip

|archive-date = September 30, 2013

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

• {{Representative|cacd|48|fmt=district}}
• {{Representative|cacd|49|fmt=district}}
• {{Representative|cacd|50|fmt=district}}
• {{Representative|cacd|51|fmt=district}} and
• {{Representative|cacd|52|fmt=district}}.

In the California State Assembly, San Diego County is split between seven legislative districts:{{cite web

|url = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_ad_finaldraft_splits.zip

|title = Communities of Interest — County

|publisher = California Citizens Redistricting Commission

|access-date = September 28, 2014

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023054757/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_ad_finaldraft_splits.zip

|archive-date = October 23, 2015

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

• {{Representative|caad|71|fmt=adistrict}},
• {{Representative|caad|75|fmt=adistrict}},
• {{Representative|caad|76|fmt=adistrict}},
• {{Representative|caad|77|fmt=adistrict}},
• {{Representative|caad|78|fmt=adistrict}},
• {{Representative|caad|79|fmt=adistrict}}, and
• {{Representative|caad|80|fmt=adistrict}}.

In the California State Senate, San Diego County is split between four legislative districts:{{cite web

|url = http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_sd_finaldraft_splits.zip

|title = Communities of Interest — County

|publisher = California Citizens Redistricting Commission

|access-date = September 28, 2014

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023054153/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_sd_finaldraft_splits.zip

|archive-date = October 23, 2015

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

• {{Representative|casd|36|fmt=sdistrict}},
• {{Representative|casd|38|fmt=sdistrict}},
• {{Representative|casd|39|fmt=sdistrict}}, and
• {{Representative|casd|40|fmt=sdistrict}}.

{{clear}}

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

San Diego County contains three public state universities: University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego); San Diego State University (SDSU); and California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). Major private universities in the county include University of San Diego (USD), Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), Alliant International University (AIU), and National University. It also includes three law schools, the USD School of Law, California Western School of Law, and the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Within the county there are 24 public elementary school districts, 6 high school districts, and 12 unified school districts. There are also five community college districts.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdcoe.net/distadd.asp|title=San Diego County Board of Education|access-date=March 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326080415/http://www.sdcoe.net/distadd.asp|archive-date=March 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}

Several cities in the county maintain public library systems, including the city of San Diego itself. The San Diego County Library serves all other areas of the county. In 2010 the county library had 33 branches and two bookmobiles; circulated over 10.7 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other material formats; recorded 5.7 million visits to library branches; and hosted 21,132 free programs and events. The San Diego County Library is one of the 25 busiest libraries in the nation as measured by materials circulated.[http://www.sdcl.org/aboutus.html County of San Diego: San Diego County Library]. Sdcl.org (September 30, 2007). Retrieved on 2014-05-24.[http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/AR2010/index.html San Diego County Library: Annual Report FY 2009–2010]. Dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us (September 21, 2009). Retrieved on 2014-05-24.

• Grossmont–Cuyamaca Community College District
• MiraCosta Community College District
• Palomar Community College District
• San Diego Community College District
• Southwestern Community College District

;School districts:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06073_san_diego/DC20SD_C06073.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: San Diego County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06073_san_diego/DC20SD_C06073_SD2MS.txt Text list]

K-12 unified:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Borrego Springs Unified School District
• Bonsall Unified School District
• Carlsbad Unified School District
• Coronado Unified School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• Oceanside Unified School District
• Poway Unified School District
• Ramona Unified School District
• San Diego Unified School District
• San Marcos Unified School District
• Vista Unified School District
• Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
• Warner Unified School District

{{div col end}}

Secondary:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Escondido Union High School District
• Fallbrook Union High School District
• Grossmont Union High School District
• Julian Union High School District
• San Dieguito Union High School District
• Sweetwater Union High School District

{{div col end}}

Elementary:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Alpine Union Elementary School District
• Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District
• Cardiff Elementary School District
• Chula Vista Elementary School District
• Dehesa Elementary School District
• Del Mar Union Elementary School District
• Encinitas Union Elementary School District
• Escondido Union Elementary School District
• Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
• Jamul-Dulzura Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union Elementary School District
• La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
• Lakeside Union Elementary School District
• Lemon Grove Elementary School District
• National Elementary School District
• Rancho Santa Fe Elementary School District
• San Pasqual Union Elementary School District
• San Ysidro Elementary School District
• Santee School District
• Solana Beach Elementary School District
• South Bay Union School District
• Spencer Valley Elementary School District
• Vallecitos Elementary School District

{{div col end}}

File:Starboard side view of USS Decatur (DDG-73) returning to San Diego 040309-N-7949W-002.jpg]]

San Diego is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Eleventh Naval District and is the Navy's principal location for West Coast and Pacific Ocean operations.{{cite web| url = http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/San-Diego-Economy.html | title = San Diego Economy |work= CityData.com }} Naval Base San Diego is principal home to the Pacific Fleet (although the headquarters is located in Pearl Harbor). NAS North Island is located on the north side of Coronado, and is home to Headquarters for Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Force Pacific, the bulk of the Pacific Fleet's helicopter squadrons, and part of the West Coast aircraft carrier fleet.

The Naval Special Warfare Center is the primary training center for SEALs, and is also located on Coronado. The area contains five major naval bases and the U.S. Marines base Camp Pendleton. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base.{{cite book | last = Estes | first = Kenneth W. |year=1999 |title=The Marine Officer's Guide – Sixth Edition |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location = Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-567-5 |page=176}} It is located on the Southern California coast, bordered by Oceanside to the south, San Clemente to the north, and Fallbrook to the east.

• Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station
• Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
• Naval Air Station North Island
• Naval Base Point Loma, which includes the Submarine Base and the Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Training Center
• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)
• Naval Medical Center San Diego, also known as Bob Wilson Naval Hospital and Balboa Naval Hospital

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

• Coast Guard Air Station San Diego

• San Diego Air National Guard Station, which is home to the 147th Combat Communications Squadron.

San Diego County is primarily served by media in San Diego, including TV and radio stations based in the city.

San Diego County is served by many newspapers. The major regional paper is The San Diego Union-Tribune, also known as U-T San Diego or just "The U-T" by locals, is ranked 23rd in the country (by daily circulation) as of March 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.auditedmedia.com/news/research-and-data/top-25-us-newspapers-for-march-2013.aspx|title=Top 25 U.S. Newspapers for March 2013|work=Alliance for Audited Media|access-date=June 1, 2014}} The Union-Tribune serves both San Diego County and neighboring Imperial County. The former North County Times, based in Escondido and serving portions of Riverside County and North County, was purchased by the Union-Tribune in 2012 and closed down. For about a year after absorbing the North County Times the Union-Tribune published a North County edition,{{cite news|url=http://sdbj.com/news/2012/sep/10/u-t-buys-north-county-times-and-californian/|title=U-T Buys North County Times and Californian |date=September 10, 2012|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=July 2, 2013}} but the regional edition was later abandoned.{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/01/mainstreet-newspapers-lajollalight-delmartimes/|title=U-T buys 8 local community newspapers|last=Horn|first=Jonathan|date=November 1, 2013|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=December 27, 2013}} The Los Angeles Times is also delivered in portions of the county. Many of the area's cities, towns and neighborhoods have their own local newspapers, such as the Coronado Eagle; the Union-Tribune acquired eight local weekly publications in 2013 and has continued to publish them as independent local newspapers, including the La Jolla Light. The San Diego Daily Transcript reports business and legal news. Privately-published papers, like the Military Press Newspaper and the Navy Dispatch, serve the military community both on and off base.

County Television Network is a public-access television cable channel, offering a "hometown blend of C-SPAN, the Lifetime, History, Travel, and Discovery channels" for the county, and funded by fees paid by cable companies.{{cite web| url= http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dmpr/ctn/aboutctn.html | title= About CTN| publisher= San Diego County | access-date=December 27, 2013}}

{{Main|Transportation in San Diego County}}

{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}

• 20px Interstate 5
• 20px Interstate 8
• 20px Interstate 15
• 25px Interstate 805
• 20px U.S. Route 80 (decommissioned)
• 25px U.S. Route 101 (decommissioned)
• 20px State Route 11
• 20px State Route 15
• 20px State Route 52
• 20px State Route 54
• 20px State Route 56
• 20px State Route 67
• 20px State Route 75
• 20px State Route 76
• 20px State Route 78
• 20px State Route 79
• 20px State Route 94
• 25px State Route 125
• 25px State Route 163
• 25px State Route 188
• 25px State Route 282
• 25px State Route 905

{{colend}}

• San Ysidro Port of Entry
• Otay Mesa Port of Entry
• Otay Mesa East Port of Entry (projected opening 2028)
• Tecate Port of Entry

{{San Diego county rail}}

• (Amtrak) Pacific Surfliner
• Coaster
• Metrolink
• San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
• San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad

• San Diego Trolley
• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
• Sprinter
• North County Transit District (NCTD)

• Embarcadero

• McClellan–Palomar Airport (CRQ)

• Gillespie Field (SEE)

• Oceanside Municipal Airport (OKB)

• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF)
• Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM)

• Agua Caliente Airport (L54)
• Borrego Valley Airport (L08)
• Fallbrook Community Airpark (L18)
• Jacumba Airport (L78)
• Ocotillo Airport (L90)
• Ramona Airport (RNM)

File:North County San Diego.png communities. Coastal cities are in dark blue, unincorporated coastal community is in light blue. Inland cities are in dark yellow, unincorporated inland communities are in light yellow. Parts of northern San Diego city are sometimes also considered part of North County]]

File:East County San Diego.png, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee, which mark the western edge of East County. Unincorporated communities are in light red, including Alpine, Jamul, Lakeside, and Spring Valley]]

File:South Bay Communities San Diego.png, Imperial Beach and National City are in dark orange. The unincorporated community of Bonita is in light orange. San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, neighborhoods of the city of San Diego, are in pink.]]As of the 2020 census, San Diego County includes 18 incorporated cities, 18 Indian reservations, and 39 census-designated places.

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Alpine
• Bonita
• Bonsall
• Borrego Springs
• Bostonia
• Boulevard
• Campo
• Camp Pendleton Mainside
• Camp Pendleton South
• Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
• Crest
• Del Dios
• Descanso
• Elfin Forest
• Eucalyptus Hills
• Fairbanks Ranch
• Fallbrook
• Granite Hills
• Harbison Canyon
• Harmony Grove
• Hidden Meadows
• Jacumba Hot Springs
• Jamul
• Julian
• Lake San Marcos
• Lakeside
• La Presa
• Mount Laguna
• Pala
• Pine Valley
• Potrero
• Rainbow
• Ramona
• Rancho San Diego
• Rancho Santa Fe
• San Diego Country Estates
• Spring Valley
• Valley Center
• Winter Gardens

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• 4S Ranch
• Agua Caliente Springs
• Ballena
• Banner
• Casa de Oro
• Cuyamaca
• De Luz
• De Luz Heights
• Dehesa
• Dulzura
• East Otay Mesa
• Flinn Springs
• Foster
• Guatay
• Jesmond Dene
• Jofegan
• Kentwood-In-The-Pines
• Lake Henshaw
• Lincoln Acres
• Manzanita
• Morena Village
• Mount Helix
• Oak Grove
• Ocotillo Wells
• Pala Mesa
• Palomar Mountain
• Pauma Valley
• Pine Hills
• Ranchita
• Rincon
• San Felipe
• Santa Ysabel
• Shelter Valley
• Tecate
• Warner Springs
• Wynola

{{div col end}}

San Diego County has 18 federally recognized Indian reservations, more than any other county in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.edu/nativeamerican/reservations.html|title=University of San Diego|website=Sandiego.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125022002/http://www.sandiego.edu/nativeamerican/reservations.html|archive-date=January 25, 2010}} Although they are typical in size to other Indian reservations in California (many of which are termed "Rancherías"), they are relatively small by national standards,{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} and all together total {{convert|200.2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of area.

{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}

• Barona Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Campo_Reservation_flag.jpg}} Campo Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.PNG}} Capitan Grande Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Ewiiaapaayp band seal.png}} Ewiiaapaayp Indian Reservation
• Inaja and Cosmit Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Jamul_Indian_Village_Kumeyaay_flag.jpg}} Jamul Indian Village
• La Jolla Indian Reservation
• La Posta Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Los_Coyotes_Band_of_Cahuilla_and_Cupeno_Indians_official_flag.png}} Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Manzanita_Band_of_Diegueño_Mission_Indians_flag.gif}} Manzanita Indian Reservation
• Mesa Grande Indian Reservation
• Pala Indian Reservation
• Pauma and Yuima Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Rincon-Band-of-Luiseño-Flag.jpg}} Rincon Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|San_Pasqual_Band_of_Diegueño_Mission_Indians_flag.gif}} San Pasqual Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Iipay_Nation_of_Santa_Ysabel_Kumeyaay_flag.gif}} Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Sycuan_Band_Kumeyaay_flag.jpg}} Sycuan Indian Reservation
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.PNG}} Viejas Indian Reservation

{{colend}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of San Diego County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=2010 U.S. Census website |access-date=July 10, 2016 }}{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 18, 2021}}

† county seat

The communities of Del Dios, Elfin Forest, Harmony Grove, and Pala were newly-designated as CDPs in the 2020 census.{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/map?g=160XX00US0632212&layer=VT_2021_160_00_PY_D1&mode=selection&loc=33.0847,-117.1361,z10.4777 |access-date= |website=data.census.gov}}

Some CDPs and unincorporated communities of San Diego County have explored incorporating as cities/towns in the past (California makes no legal distinction between the titles of "city" and "town", allowing communities that incorporate to chose their designation,{{Cite web |title=2005 California Government Code Sections 56010-56081 :: :: :: CHAPTER 2. :: DEFINITIONS |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/california/2005/gov/56010-56081.html |access-date= |website=Justia Law |language=en}} though there has never been an incorporated town in San Diego County). Alpine, Bonita, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe and Spring Valley have each been tied to various incorporation studies, organized efforts and discussions in the past.{{cite web |date=June 9, 1986 |title=More New Cities Mean Less Money, Growing Problems for County |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-09-me-10237-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.sweetwatervalleyca.org/history/ |access-date= |website=Sweetwater Valley Civic Association |language=en}} Some of these past efforts have culminated in ballot initiatives. Voters in Fallbrook previously rejected incorporation in 1981 and 1987.{{cite web |date=June 8, 1988 |title=Fallbrook Rejects Incorporation |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-08-me-3814-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Rancho Santa Fe residents also rejected incorporation in 1987.{{cite web |date=June 3, 1987 |title=Rancho Santa Fe Rejects Cityhood : Residents of Wealthy North County Enclave Vote Against Incorporation |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-03-me-2546-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Among the existing cities of San Diego County, some had multiple failed incorporation efforts before ultimately succeeding in becoming a city. Lemon Grove, for example, saw incorporation measures fail in 1955, 1958 and 1964 before a successful incorporation vote in 1977.{{cite web |title=The City of Lemon Grove |url=https://www.lghistorical.org/historic-lemon-grove/the-city-of-lemon-grove/ |access-date=August 19, 2021 |website=Lemon Grove Historical Society |language=en-US}} Other cities have seen incorporation success thanks to mergers of neighboring unincorporated communities. Encinitas, for example, became an incorporated city through a consolidated effort between the then-unincorporated communities of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Encinitas and Olivenhain in 1986.{{cite web |title=About Encinitas |url=https://encinitasca.gov/Visitors/About-Encinitas |access-date=August 19, 2021 |website=encinitasca.gov}} Encinitas and Solana Beach in 1986 are the most recent examples of successful campaigns for incorporation within the County of San Diego.

{{Portal|California}}

• List of breweries in San Diego County, California
• List of high schools in San Diego County, California
• List of media set in San Diego County, California
• List of museums in San Diego County, California
• List of school districts in San Diego County, California
• List of United States counties and county-equivalents
• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County, California
• San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• Pryde, Philip R. San Diego: An Introduction to the Region (4th ed. 2004), a historical geography

{{AmCyc Poster|San Diego (county)|San Diego County, California}}

{{Commons category|San Diego County, California}}

{{wikivoyage|San Diego–Tijuana}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.sandag.org/ San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) official website]
• [http://www.sandiego.org San Diego Tourism Authority]
• [http://sangis.org/ San Diego Geographic Information Source]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = San Diego County

| North = Riverside County

| Northeast =

| East = Imperial County

| Southeast = Tecate Municipality {{flagicon|Mexico}}

| South =

| Southwest = Tijuana Municipality {{flagicon|Mexico}}

| West = Pacific Ocean

| Northwest = Orange County

}}

{{San Diego County}}

{{San Diego Metropolitan Area}}

{{San Diego-Tijuana}}

{{San Diego-Imperial (California)}}

{{California}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1850 establishments in California

Category:California counties

Category:Counties in Southern California

Category:Geography of San Diego County, California

Category:Metropolitan areas of California

Category:Populated places established in 1850

Category:San Diego metropolitan area

Category:Majority-minority counties in California