San Diego County

San Diego County Map
Coastal Conservancy Projects in San Diego County
Sources

• San Diego: Vizcaino named the harbor in 1609 in honor of St. Didacus, a native of Spain and a Franciscan saint. The Mission was named in 1769, the county in 1850 as one of the original twenty-seven, and the city in 1856.

• San Onofre State Beach: Famous as a surfing beach before the installation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in 1968. Thought to be named for the Egyptian hermit Saint Onuphrius.

• Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base: On site of Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, once a part of Mission San Luis Rey, and named for Joseph H. Pendleton, a veteran of 1920's Central American conflicts. Access restricted.

• Oceanside: Early settlers were English gentry engaged in agriculture; 1883 town was commercial and agricultural center for inland agriculture. Small craft harbor completed in 1963.

• Oceanside Pier: Claimed to be the longest pier on the west coast at 1700 feet in 1910, it has been damaged by storms and rebuilt several times and is now 910 feet in length.

• Carlsbad: Named Frazier's Station in 1884 for the well driller who found a mineral water spring judged identical to that of Karlsbad in Germany. Extensive commercial farming of flowers and vegetables.

• Agua Hedionda Lagoon: ("Stinking water") Extensively dredged in 1950's to accommodate the Encina Power Plant.

• Batiquitos Lagoon: ("A small watering place") California Salt Company established evaporation ponds in 1900's.

• Leucadia: Founded by English colonists and named after an Ionian Island off Greece; the word is Greek for "sheltered place."

• Encinitas: Named Canada de los Encinos ("live oak") by Father Crespi of Portola expedition in 1769. Agriculture introduced in 1920's by San Dieguito Irrigation Company and South Coast Land Company; especially noted for fields of poinsettias.

• Self-Realization Fellowship Ashram Center: Established in 1937 as retreat and meditation center, and to spread the ancient science of yoga; open to the public.

• Cardiff-by-the-Sea: Formerly called San Elijo for nearby river and lagoon and once part of Las Encinitas Rancho; community founded in 1911 by J. Frank Cullen was named for a seaport in Wales. Pier built in 1915 with mechanism to harness wave energy for perpetual motion, washed away in 1916 storm.

• San Elijo Lagoon: Archeological sites of La Jollan Indian culture on former fresh water marsh, more saline since 1900's due to construction of a railroad crossing and two dams on Encino River. 1900's dams on San Dieguito River feeding San Dieguito Marsh also.

• Del Mar: Built as artistic center in 1880's by T.M. Loop; name chosen from Bayard Taylor poem "Paso del Mar." Del Mar Racetrack built by WPA during Depression, opened in 1937, frequented by many movie stars.

• Torrey Pines State Reserve: Botanists recognized a new species of pine there in 1850 and named it for their professor Dr. John Torrey. Land by purchased by Ellen B. Scripps in early 1900's and donated to the public.

• (nearby) Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Founded by discoverer of polio vaccine; buildings designed by Louis I. Kahn considered among best examples of modern architecture.

• (nearby) University of California, San Diego: Established on former Camp Matthews, Marine Corps training camp 1917-1964.

• (nearby) Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Founded in 1903 by Dr. W. Ritter of UC Berkeley, first at Hotel del Coronado boathouse, then La Jolla Cove until 1907 permanent site donated by Ellen and E.W. Scripps. Became part of University of California in 1912. Noted for its Deep Sea Drilling Project studying core sediments to learn history of earth.

• La Jolla Shores Beach-Kellogg Park: Known as "Chinese Run" in 1900's for Chinese who operated boats from the area. Kellogg Park donated by Florence Scripps as a memorial to her husband William Kellogg.

• La Jolla: Mexican geographical term found on maps referring to various kinds of hollows, pits, cavities or caves, probably refers to the caves worn by waves in coastal bluffs. Developed in 1887 by investors Botsford and Heald, became residence for wealthy retirees. Noted for series of named beaches, caves, rocks and parks, museums, galleries and architecture.

• Pacific Beach: First major development of community was 1860 racetrack; lemon groves thrived after 1890's. San Diego College of Letters, later to become San Diego State University, founded at Pacific Beach in 1887.

• Crystal Pier: Opened in 1926 to attract future residents, featured amusement park and ballroom. Remodeled in 1936 and motel substituted, only pier on West Coast with motel cottages over the ocean.

• Mission Beach Park: Peninsula extending from Pacific Beach south to Mission Bay Channel, where in 1916 J.M. Asher built tent city, pool, pier and bath house, and in 1925 John D. Spreckels constructed Mission Beach Amusement Center with dance hall, casino, roller rink, plunge. Giant Dipper roller coaster opened 1925, closed for repairs 1976, a State Historical Landmark.

• Mission Bay Marine Park: Tidelands and water of Mission Bay declared a state park by legislature in 1929. After World War II, San Diego began extensive dredging and landscaping project converting area to commercial recreation and public use including hotels, shops, restaurants, picnic and camping areas, and areas for boating, swimming, fitness, fishing, team and individual sports, beaches, and some remaining wetlands. Sea World opened there in 1964.

• San Diego River: Until 1952 when it was channelized into the ocean just south of Mission Bay, the river alternately emptied into San Diego Bay and Mission Bay. A 1792 dam was constructed to bring to the Mission San Diego de Alcala; a later dam completed in 1816 is a National Historical Landmark.

• Ocean Beach Park: Originally named Mussel Beds, summer cottage community from early 1900's. Site of the 1913 Wonderland Amusement park, since demolished.

• Ocean Beach Fishing Pier: 1966 pier claims to be longest on West Coast at 1971 feet. Local residents helped raise money for pier by bake sales and car washes.

• Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery: Founded soon after Fort Rosecrans established on Point Loma in 1852 and named for Civil War hero General W.S. Rosecrans.

• Cabrillo National Monument: Commemorates explorer Juan Cabrillo's 1542 discovery of San Diego Bay; in 1939 a statue of Cabrillo designed by Portuguese sculptor Alvare deBree was placed there. Visitors center and exhibit hall.

• Old Point Loma Lighthouse: Built in 1854, one of eight original New England-style lighthouses on west Coast. Abandoned in 1891, but open to visitors.

• Point Loma Lighthouse: Erected in 1891 at a higher location, still in service.

• Shelter Island: Submerged shoal built up by accumulations from 1930's and 1940's bay dredgings; causeway added in 1950.

• La Playa: Called "Hide Park" when site of most successful hide tanning operation on Pacific Coast 1824-1846.

• San Diego Bay: Nomadic Indian tribes frequented the Bay for its shellfish. First area of Alta California to be explored by Europeans; 1769 Spanish village first settlement. Extensive protected deep water port, enclosed at north by Point Loma and from south by peninsula ending in Coronado and North Island; dredged and filled to provide new facilities in 1936 and since.

• City of San Diego: In 1769 first Spanish fort and mission in Alta California, and small settlement with plaza surrounded by adobe structures, all near Mission Valley. This became "old town" after Alonzo Horton established "new town" adjacent to the harbor. Arrival of Santa Fe Railroad in 1885 and establishment of Navy bases in 1917 spurred growth. Many historical sites in both old and new towns and all around Bay .

• Spanish Landing Park: Commemorates Vizcaino's 1602 landing.

• Maritime Museum: Three historic floating ships demonstrate sail to steam power.

• Broadway Pier: In addition to tourist amenities, U.S. Customs office located at end of pier.

• Seaport Village: Site of former landing of Coronado ferry, discontinued after bridge construction.

• North Island Naval Air Station: Formerly connected to Coronado by a continuation of the "Silver Strand" peninsula from the south, with the small inlet "Spanish Bight" opening into San Diego Bay. Site of several early aeronautic events; purchased in 1917 to be a permanent aviation facility for Army and Navy; now home base for carrier based squadrons and carriers. The Spanish Bight was filled in with harbor dredgings in 1941.

• Coronado: Located near the northern end of the peninsula from the south that encloses San Diego Bay. Consisted of two "islands" (one now North Island) when named Los Coronados by Vizcaino in 1602 honoring Roman martyrs. Site of many temporary Indian encampments; later granted to Pedro Carillo. The"island" changed hands many times before 1885 purchase by developers Elisha Babcock and H. Story who sold lots to finance construction of the Hotel del Coronado. Still a notable hotel, it has hosted many celebrities and is the largest wooden Victorian building in California. In 1889 John D. Spreckels bought out Story. They developed Tent City for tourists and sought permanent residents; later augmented by presence of the military.

• U.S. Navy Amphibious Base: Constructed on strand south of Coronado in 1943 on land dredged from Bay.

• Silver Strand State Beach: Extends to south end of Bay and includes both ocean and bayshore. Beginning just south of Coronado was extensive tourist development "Tent City, established in 1903, some remained until 1941 highway construction. Railroad serving Coronado and North Island ran along Strand.

• Imperial Beach: Developed as summer cottages, in 1906 ferry and railroad connections with San Diego.

• Border Field State Park: International Boundary Markers indicate line established as a result of 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico.