13 articles
Calexico, California
Calexico, California: border city in Imperial County adjacent to Mexicali, founded 1899, incorporated 1908; about 38,600 residents, 97.4% Hispanic; two land ports of entry and a State Auditor high-risk designation removed in 2025.
Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California: coastal city in northern San Diego County, 35 miles from San Diego, incorporated 1952, named after Karlsbad, Bohemia. Known for LEGOLAND, seven miles of beaches, surf and skate culture, and North America's largest desalination plant.
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, California: second-largest city in San Diego County (275,487 in 2020), on San Diego Bay near the Mexican border. Incorporated 1911; once the world's largest lemon-growing center; transformed by Rohr Aircraft in World War II.
Coronado, California
Coronado, California (The Crown City) is a seaside city in San Diego County on a peninsula across from downtown San Diego, incorporated 1890, home to the 1888 Hotel del Coronado, Naval Air Station North Island, and about 20,000 residents.
Del Mar, California
Del Mar is a small coastal city in San Diego County, California, incorporated 1959, population about 4,200 on 2.2 square miles. Founded 1885 by Jacob Taylor; home of the Del Mar Racetrack (1937) and Fairgrounds; known for $3.6 million typical home values, bluff erosion, and rail relocation plans.
El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California: a city 15 miles east of San Diego in San Diego County, incorporated November 12, 1912, Charter City since 2012. Population about 102,000 (2025 estimate), 14.4 square miles, fifth largest of the county's 18 cities.
El Centro, California
El Centro is the county seat and largest city of Imperial County, California, located in the Imperial Valley near the Mexican border and incorporated in 1908.
Encinitas, California
Encinitas, California: coastal city in northern San Diego County incorporated in 1986 from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Old and New Encinitas, and Olivenhain; about 60,700 residents, six miles of coastline, surfing, poinsettia-growing heritage, and beach nourishment projects.
Escondido, California
Escondido, California: a city of about 146,000 in northern San Diego County, incorporated October 8, 1888, named from Spanish for "hidden," governed under a council-manager system.
Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California: coastal city in northern San Diego County, incorporated July 3, 1888; population 174,068 (2020). Known for its 1,954-foot pier, 3.5 miles of beaches, adjacency to Camp Pendleton, and tourism- and biotech-driven economy.
Poway, California
Poway, California: "City in the Country," a city in northeast San Diego County incorporated December 1980, population about 49,000, over half its 39.4 square miles preserved open space, served by Poway Unified School District.
San Diego
San Diego, California's second-largest city (2020 population 1,430,483), county seat founded 1769 and chartered 1850; economy of defense, life sciences, and tourism; faces a $318 million structural city budget deficit.
Vista
Vista, California: incorporated city in northern San Diego County, founded as a post office in 1882, incorporated January 28, 1963; about 98,400 residents, 18.75 square miles, majority-Latino, known for its avocado-farming past and Business Park.