One of the largest economic forces in the State of California, San Diego County contains military interests, economic force, theme parks, amusements, miles of beaches, casinos, golf, and the border to Mexico. Imagine 70 miles of sun-drenched coast, an inviting ocean, and a year-round daily forecast of 70°F, and you’ll understand why this southernmost stretch of the state is all about outdoor fun. Discover top theme parks and attractions like SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and LEGOLAND California. Relax at legendary retreats like Hotel del Coronado, find art and culture in San Diego and surrounding cities like luxurious La Jolla, and enjoy world-class golf at Torrey Pines, and enjoy culture and diversity, all at the edge of a sparkling blue sea.

San Diego was the first part of California that Europeans settled in, and in turn San Diego has been described as “the birthplace of California.” Native Americans such as the Kumeyaay people had been living in the area for as long as 12,000 years. Spanish explorers discovered San Diego Bay in 1542, but it was 200 years before Europeans settled the area. A fort and mission were established in 1769, which gradually expanded into a settlement under first Spanish and then Mexican rule.

San Diego became part of the U.S. in 1848, and the town was named the county seat of San Diego County when California was granted statehood in 1850. It remained a very small town for several decades, but grew rapidly after 1880 due to development and the establishment of multiple military facilities. Growth was especially rapid during and immediately after World War II. Entrepreneurs and boosters laid the basis for an economy based today on the military, defense industries, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. San Diego is now the eighth largest city in the country and forms the heart of the larger San Diego metropolitan area. San Diego is also part of the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area shared between the United States and Mexico.

San Diego County has 70 miles of coastline. This forms the most populated region of the county, which has a mild Mediterranean climate to semiarid climate and extensive chaparral vegetation, similar to the rest of urban Southern California. Precipitation and temperature extremes increase to the east, with mountains that receive frost and snow in the winter. These lushly forested mountains receive more rainfall than average in Southern California, while the desert region of the county lies in a rain shadow to the east, which extends into the Desert Southwest region of North America. There are also 16 naval and military installations of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Coast Guard in San Diego County. These include the Naval Base San Diego, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and Naval Air Station North Island.

Because of its ideal weather and its over 70 miles of beaches, San Diego County is one of the top tourist destinations for beach vacations. The Laguna Mountains, Cleveland National Forest, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park make the county not solely a beach paradise, but also quite popular with hiker and those seeking to explore the stark, vast desert beauty beyond the beach.

Some Native American casinos in San Diego County include Viejas, Barona and Pala. They offers many of the attractions, food options and entertainment that Las Vegas has, and Californians increasingly have opted to gamble at casinos closer to home in San Diego County and Riverside. There are over 15 reservations in San Diego County, around 15 state beaches and parks, half a dozen mountain ranges, three border crossings to Mexico, close to 100 golf courses, four major theme parks, and more.