San Diego

San Diego is a city in the U.S. state of California. It is located in the southern part of the state, on the Pacific Ocean coast and around 20 miles from the country's border with Mexico. The city, named for Saint Didacus, is the seat of San Diego County. Regarded the birthplace of California, San Diego was originally part of Mexico and only became integrated into the U.S. at the end of the Mexican-American War. It is the second-largest city in the state and the eighth-largest in the country. The San Diego-Tijuana conurbation, of which it is part, is the second-most populous trans-border agglomeration between America and a neighboring country.

The city has one of the best natural deep-water harbors in the world. This has helped to make it a major shipping center in the region. San Diego is a key receiving point for Southern California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Baja California in Mexico. It has long been associated with the American Navy, with 11th U.S. Naval District having its base there.

San Diego is the economic hub of the region. Its economy is driven mainly by businesses related to the military and defense. It has large manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding and electronic industries. The city has also emerged as a key center for healthcare and biomedical research as well as oceanography. Its all-year mild climate, public beaches and historic attractions have contributed to make it a population vacation spot.