Hawaii!

I am a California girl at heart but I'd have to say that Hawaii is truly the most beautiful place I have ever visited.  I recently visited the big island of Hawaii and Oahu.  The temperature is moderate all year-round and the water in the Pacific Ocean is pleasantly warm compared to the cold water at the beaches in California.  The Hawaiian archipelago is a chain of islands and reefs that form an arc in the Pacific Ocean.  There are eight islands that make up the entire state of Hawaii: Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.  The scenery is beautiful and the history of the islands is still very much alive.  The volcanoes Mauna Kea, Kilauea, and Mauna Loa  are all sights worth seeing.  Mauna Loa is still active and sprouts lava every four years. Kilauea is also still active and sprouts lava every seven years.  Just like Hawaii, San Diego also has beautiful scenery and a large amount of it's economy is stimulated by tourism...

View from my hotel room in Oahu, Waikiki Beach

The 10 Best Things to do in San Diego!
1. Sea World-
The world famous Shamu calls Sea World home and there are also several shows that families can take their children to watch.  My personal favorite exhibit at this ocean theme park are the polar bears.  I also had a blast feeding the dolphins fish.  Sea World gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with marine life.
2. Legoland-
Legoland is a relatively new theme park that is based upon the popular children's toy legos.  There are rides, attractions, and a water park.  I personally have never been to Legoland mainly because it is a place to take younger children.
3. The Beach-
Where else would you go in San Diego?! San Diego has several beaches including Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, the La Jolla Beaches, and the Point Loma Beaches.  Soak in the rays, play beach volleyball, or go surf!

4. San Diego Zoo Safari Park- 

This zoo offers a different offers a different kind of experience.  The tour is safari style and allows us to come into close contact with animals, included lions, living as they would in their natural habitat.

5. The San Diego Zoo- 

 The San Diego Zoo is a enormous complex housing a vast variety of animals.  There are also several restaurants in the zoo that hungry visitors can chow down at.  Some of my favorite animals that I saw here were the lions, giraffes, polar bears, and tigers.  

6. Harbor Cruise- 

A harbor cruise gives you an awe-inspiring view of downtown San Diego and also gives you a view of the Pacific Fleet.  The view from the water is unforgettable.

7. Coronado Island- 

This city is located about 15 minutes outside of downtown San Diego.  It's peaceful and easy going atmosphere is a slight departure from San Diego's lively, fast-pace nature.  Coronado also has a classic hotel named the Hotel de Coronado and ocean-side dining.

8. Balboa Park-

 Balboa Park is America's largest cultural urban park.  It has more than 25 museums and attractions and 8 gardens.  You can take a walk, admire the scenery, go for a long bike ride, or even ride a carousel.

9. USS Midway Aircraft Carrier- 

Exhibits range from the crew's sleeping quarters to a massive galley, engine room, the ship's jail, officer's country, post office, machine shops, and pilots' ready rooms, as well as primary flight control and the bridge high in the island over the flight deck. 

10. La Jolla- 

La Jolla is a higher end community with extravagant shopping, beaches, and beach-side dining. It is a beautiful community to visit especially if you have a little extra cash to blow!

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier

Hotel de Coronado

Pacific Beach

Chapter 16: The North Pacific Coast

The North Pacific Coast section of the United States is constituted by Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and part of Canada.  The typical visual image of this area is snow-capped mountains, beautiful cities, tall trees, and friendly people.  Seattle, Washington is the most populated city in this region of America.  In the realm of climate, this area is highly subject to maritime influences and there is high precipitation.  Due to the immense amount of rain, there is lush vegetation near the coast.  Forestry and fishing are a large part of the North Pacific Coast's economy.  San Diego does not have a large forestry industry but fishing for sport is a popular leisure activity in Southern California.

Seattle, Washington

Fishing in San Diego...
Just like the Northwest Coast, San Diego is also famous for fishing.  After all, it is located right on the shores of the Pacific Beach.  Rated #2 in Field & Stream's list of America's Best Fishing Cities, San Diego is home to world-record class largemouth bass, the state record blue catfish, and a world class sport fishing fleet hot on the tails of giant yellowfin tuna and other bluewater sportfish.  Salmon is the primary fish of import in the North Pacific Coast.  Fishermen in San Diego have the opportunity to choose where they fish: the bay, the pier, or nearby lakes.  

Yellowtail

Spotted Sea Bass

Bone Fish

Blue Catfish

• The Bay- Fishermen can fish at either Mission Bay or San Diego Bay.  Mission Bay provides anglers an extremely diverse year-round fishery. Fishing for spotted bay bass and halibut is very good in Mission Bay. Anglers can also target Bat Rays and Leopard  Sharks which strain both angler and equipment (sdfish.com).  San Diego Bay offers anglers the county's most diverse fishery.  One of San Diego Bay's most sought-after species is the bonefish.
• The Pier- The four piers in located in San Diego are: Crystal Pier, Ocean Beach Pier, Oceanside Pier, and Shelter Island Pier.  At 1,971 feet long, the Ocean Beach Pier is the longest pier on the West Coast and probably the most popular fishing pier in the County.  Sand bass, halibut, surf perch, and the rest of the saltwater surf-zone fish are available here.  Crystal Pier does not boast as many fish species as some of the other piers but is still popular for catching surf perch.  The Oceanside Pier is a popular spot for catching barred surf perch, corbina, croaker, stingrays, guitarfish, and sargo. Shelter Island is the hub of fishing in San Diego Bay. It houses the most frequented launch ramp, and protects the world's largest sportfishing fleet (sdfish.com).
• Lakes- San Diego's lakes are not always full of water, but always rich in history. Historically known for the world's largest largemouth bass, and world class size blue catfish, our lakes are known around the world.  Here are a few popular lakes: Lake Cuyamaca, Barrett Reservoir, Diamond Valley Lake, Dixon Lake, and Lake Henshaw. 

Chapter 15: CaLiFoRnIa

California is a state admired for it's physical beauty and is home to more than 12% of all Americans.  American citizens who dwell in one of the forty-nine other states have varying opinions about California.  Some view the golden state as idealistic while others believe that Californians are overindulgent.  Regardless of non-California resident's opinions, California is very diverse in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic standing, and climate.  San Diego is located in the most southern section of California.  California is typically viewed as being divided into three sections: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California.

Contrary to popular belief, the climate in California is arbitrary.  The west coast border of California is the only area in the entire United States that experiences Mediterranean climate.  San Diego is one of the cities located in this area so it's residents undergo mild temperatures year-round.  There are areas in the interior of California and Central Valley that experience desert climate and semiarid climate.  The primary reason for our great weather is the location of the state's proximity to the Pacific Ocean.  Being so close to the Pacific Ocean has its disadvantages.  California is far removed from the core of the United States which contains much of the country's economic demand and supply.

  

Fires and earthquakes are frequent occurrences in California.  The San Andreas Fault runs through much of California and as a resident myself, I fear that a large earthquake may happen at any given time.  San Diego is not directly located on the fault like many other cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.  However, the effects of nearby earthquakes can still be felt by residents of San Diego County.  Here are some recent statistics on fires near San Diego (provided by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)

• Ammo Fire (October 23, 2007)
• Location: Camp Pendleton USMC, North of San Diego  
• Acres Burned: 21,004
• Injuries: 6
• Cost: $708, 047
• Poomacha Fire (October 23, 2007)
• Location: Hwy 76, Pauma Valley  
• Acres Burned: 49, 410
• Injuries: 15 firefighters were injured
• Cost: $20.6 million
• Rice Fire (October 22, 2007)
• Location: Rice Canyon, Clearwater Rd. Fallbrook 
• Acres Burned: 9,472
• Injuries: 5
• Cost: $2.6 million

Images from the Poomacha Fire

Chapter 14: The Southwest Border Area

The Southwest Border Area is a portion of the United States that overlaps many other distinct regions.  It includes the southern border of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the southwestern part of Texas.  What makes this region unique is it's cultural foundation.  This area is distinguished by coexisting Spanish American, American Indian, and Northwest European American people.  Like the southwest border area, San Diego is also an ethnically diverse city.  This mix of cultures gives San Diego a distinct cultural fusion which is reflected in the local music, architecture, and cuisine.

San Diego boasts a large Hispanic population (around 30%) but the most populous is the Caucasian race (around 40%).  California has the highest number of Hispanic people in the entire united states with around 13.2 million followed by Texas and Florida.  Hispanic Americans first began settling in this area around 1769.  The Hispanic population in San Diego is the tenth-largest in the nation and continues to grow. For the first time in San Diego County, Hispanic births have surpassed the total number of Anglo births. By the year 2036, Hispanics will comprise the largest section of the population; two out of every five people in the county, or 41 percent, will be of Hispanic origin or descent (Hispanic Marketing).

The presence and history of the Hispanic population can be easily seen in the historical sites and restaurants in Old Town San Diego...

• Serra Museum- Original San Diego Presidio, this museum chronicles Old Town's inhabitants from the Kumeyaay to the present with classic photos and exhibits. Operated by the San Diego Historical Society, 2727 Presidio Drive.
• Casa de Aguirre- This is a reconstruction of a house built in the 1850's by Jose Antonio Aguirre. Aguirre married two of his neighbor Don Jose Antonio de Estudillo's daughters. He married Francisca, and after her death married her sister Maria del Rosario.
• Presidio Park- Father Junípero Serra established the first San Diego Mission on Presidio Hill. Officially proclaimed a Spanish Presidio on January 1, 1774, the fortress was later occupied by a succession of Mexican forces. The Presidio was abandoned in 1837 after San Diego became a pueblo.
• Tequila Museum- From its beginnings in the blue agave fields of Jalisco, to its consumption in small cantinas and trendy restaurants, tequila is the quintessentially Mexican drink.  It is said that, Old Town San Diego serves more tequilla than anywhere else in the world so there is plenty to choose from!
• Casa de Bandini/Cosmopolitan Hotel- Originally a one-story adobe, the home of Don A. Bandini. Built in the early 19th century, this adobe was the headquarters of Commodore Robert F. Stockton in 1846. The building was purchased in 1869 by Alfred Seeley, who added the second story and opened it as the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Now operates as the Cosmopolitan Restaurant

Presidio Park

Cosmopolitan Restaurant

Serra Museum

Chapter 13: The Empty Interior

The Empty Interior spans across the Rocky Mountains to the Cascade Range and Canadian Coast Range.  It was given the name the "empty interior" because the population density is so sparse in this area.  The climate is arid to semi-arid and there is a large Mormon presence concentrated around the Salt Lake City area in Utah. The empty interior's toprography is mostly comprised of plateaus, mountains, and canyons.  Similar to San Diego, this area attracts many tourists every year primarily due to the mass appeal of Las Vegas, Nevada.  San Diego also has it's fair share of attractions including Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and the Gaslamp District.  The wildlife found in the empty interior also entices flocks of visitors.  The Colorado River is also located in this section which is a main source of water supply for residents of San Diego!

The One and Only LAS VEGAS!

Wildlife

• There has been an explosion of wildlife in the empty interior since 1935...There are currently 60,000 buffalo, 500,000 elk, 750,000 pronghorn deer, and 15 million white-tail deer.
• The golden eagle is very common in areas of Southern California and can be found soaring across the skies of San Diego. 
• The black-tail deer is another common species found in San Diego County.  While they enjoy well-forested areas, they do most of their feeding in open areas with a good deal of greenery.
• Large Predators- larger animals such as bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions are prevalent in this city and are often forced to share quarters with humans due to the loss of their habitat.
• Sea and Shore Birds- What would San Diego be without the occasional sea bird? If you visit a beach or a park in this area, you are guaranteed to come into contact with a gull or pelican.  
• Mallards- The most common type of duck.  They are commonly found in many places, San Diego being one of them.  They prefer to live in wetlands because there are numerous invertebrates to feed on.
• Cottontail Rabbits-The most prevalent type of rabbit found in San Diego.  The can be found throughout southwestern North America; range extends as far south as central Mexico and as far west as the Pacific coast.

Peter Cottontail

Three Little Mallard Ducklings

Seagull

Mountain Lion

Golden Eagle

   

Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies

The Great Plains are located in the nation's central section from Montana and North Dakota in the north and all the way south to Texas.  While the popular notion is that this region is entirely flat, the topography is actually highly variable with hills and uplands.  This area also is subjected to extreme weather such as tornadoes, blizzards, and thunderstorms. We are blessed with beautiful weather but still sometimes suffer from earthquakes and fires.  Other than the occasional occurrence of  violent weather, San Diego, California does not have much in common with this area of the United States... 

The Great Plains

Water is the single most important resource in the great plains.  A great portion of the High Plains are underlain by the vast natural Ogallala aquifer.  This aquifer supplies water for irrigation along with naturally occurring precipitation.  San Diego and Southern California as a whole is extremely water conscious.  Our water reserve levels are continuing to decline and as the dry summer months are coming up, Southern Californians are asked to cut back wherever possible...but where does San Diego get it's water from?

• About 10-12% of San Diego's total water supply is collected from precipitation into local reservoirs.  The remaining 80-90 percent is imported via the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) from two separate sources.  
• San Diego receives a portion of it's water from the an aqueduct connected to the Colorado River.  San Diego also receives water which originates in Northern California from the State Water Project. This water is captured in reservoirs north of Sacramento and released through natural rivers and streams into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The 444 mile-long California Aqueduct then carries the water from south of the Delta to State Water Project contractors throughout the state such as MWD (sandiego.gov).
• The MWD blends Colorado and State Project water for San Diego to achieve the highest quality for treatment and taste. The water is then transferred to the San Diego treatment plants at Miramar, Alvarado and Otay reservoirs, via pipelines operated by CWA.           

The Colorado River

California Aqueduct

Area covered by the Ogallala Aquifer

Chapter 11: The Agricultural Core

The Agricultual Core is comprised of several small towns and farm landscape ranging from the Great Lakes to the Great Plains.  Sections of the agricultural core overlap into the previously discussed manufacturing core in the United States.  It is divided into the two sections: the interior western plain and the interior eastern plain.  The eastern interior plain is noted as receiving more precipitation and more humidity than it's counterpart.  The western interior plain is dry, comprised of mostly grassland, and has a sense of vast openness.  Due to the presence of rich soil and expansive farmland, this area is ideal for the harvesting of various crops and raising livestock.  Wheat, corn, and soybeans are three examples of the crops grown in this section of America.  Though many individuals may be unaware of this, San Diego actually is home to a thriving agricultural industry!  It ranks 4th in it's own county and 10th in the nation in terms of the value of agricultural products sold...

Farmland in Minnesota

 Agriculture in San Diego? Yes, it's not all beaches!

Surprisingly San Diego is home to 6,565 small family farms, 65% of which are nine acres or less in size.  Here are a few facts about the agricultural arena in California's most southern city...

• Despite the poor soil found in this area, farms located in San Diego are quite prosperous.  The terrain is characteristically steep and the soil in this area is erodible.  Only 6% of the soil is considered to be prime in San Diego but the crops still seem to thrive (sd.county.ca.gov).
• The water used for farming in San Diego is extremely expensive.  Many farmers have to rely on imported water from the Colorado River and Northern California which can be pricey.  As a result, farmers in San Diego are notorious for their low-use irrigation methods.
• The temperate climate in San Diego is idealistic for growing crops.  In some parts of the county, the growing season is year-long.  This weather is perfect for sustaining indoor nurseries because it keeps the cooling and heating prices down.  Various fruit crops such as avocados, strawberries, oranges, and apples also thrive in this environment.   

Apple Tree

Avocado Tree

Plant Nursery in San Diego

Some More Stats...

• #1 county in the nation for value of floricultural, nursery, greenhouse and sod products
• #1 county in the nation in small (under 10 acres) farms (5,899 California farms have 49 or fewer acres, 65 percent of which are nine or fewer acres)
• Ranks #1 in the nation in production of avocados and mushrooms
• Ranks #9 in the nation for grapefruit
• Ranks #8 in the nation for strawberries

Chapter 10: The Southern Coastlands

The Southern Coastlands are located along the southeast portion of the United States.  It is divided into two primary sections: the Rio Grande east to North Carolina and the US-Mexico Border area.  This particular area is known for its idealistic subtropical weather conditions and a long growing season.  Coastal California and the Southern Coastlands are neck and neck in terms of climatic appeal.  Both share pleasant weather conditions that entice millions to visit and in some cases even move.  The only difference is that summers in the Coastlands are frequently hotter and more humid than in San Diego. 

Those from the southeast also have to deal with the possibility of violent hurricanes while natives of San Diego are more likely to experience an occasional earthquake.  On a personal level, last Easter when I was in San Diego for our annual family dinner the ground began to shake for several seconds.  The shaking quickly subsided but the initial shock and fear from the earthquake took longer to wear off.  My story pails into comparison of many of the experiences of those who have gone through the eye of a hurricane.  Who could forget the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005?...

San Diego and the Southern Coastlines also share another commonality: Oranges!  Both Florida and Southern California are the top producers of oranges in all of the United States.  In the growing season of 2006-2007 Florida produced 6,300 tons of oranges while California produced 1,726 tons.  The only other location in all of the United States that produces any form of citrus in large quantities is Arizona.  In fact, only California surpasses Florida in the production of lemons and naval oranges.  The orange industry is especially labor intensive because each orange has to be individually picked.

Oranges ready for picking!

San Diego and portions of the Southern Coastlands also share one more similar feature: the presence of recreation.  San Diego is known for it's aesthetic appeal and popular vacationing hot-spots.  Long sandy beaches and water sports are commonplace in both San Diego and Florida.  SeaWorld is located in both San Diego, California and Orlando, Florida.  This theme park offers visitors an interactive experience with marine life.  San Diego also is home to the expansive San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.  Not to be outdone, Orlando, Florida calls Walt Disney World their own.  Walt Disney World is the largest theme park in the United States and turns a child's fantasy land into reality.  New Orleans also is a popular location for visitors due to it's Mardi Gras flavor, the French Quarter, and jazz-infused roots.   

Walt Disney World- Where Dreams Come True!

The French Quarter

Panda at the San Diego Zoo

The Changing South

The South is known as a very distinctive region of the United States and is shaped by various factors.  The people of the South are proud and have a deeper sense of the land that they live on.  They have been greatly affected by the practice of slavery and their way of living reflects it's impact.  They are also famous for their plantations, cotton textile industry, and Southern values.  Much of the south remained rural to the mid 20th century.  The population is heavily African-American and their history has shaped the culture of the South as a whole.  San Diego, California never had to face the difficult past that residents of the South endured but still had their fair share of issues throughout history.

Slaves picking cotton in the South

Ethnic Influences:
The South has been greatly impacted by it's ancestry.  From the slaves in the 19th century to the Cajuns in the 18th century, they have all contributed to the atmosphere of the south.  These contributions can be seen in Southern people's diets, preference for music, and speech patterns.  Fried Okra, grits, gumbo, and craw fish are staples of the Southern Diet.  They also prefer jazz, gospel, and country music rather than the modern genre.  Southerns have a identifiable speech pattern shaped by early slaves and creoles.

Paula Dean "fixing" to make some fried okra

California also has been influenced by it's descendants.  Signs of Mexican culture are apparent throughout the city from Hispanic street names to the name of the city itself, San Diego.  Various restaurants can be found throughout the city offering authentic Mexican cuisine.  Multiple seafood restaurants are also available for your dining pleasure.  The sounds of Mexican music can be heard on the local radio and from Mariachi bands inside of cantinas.  The influence of Spanish architecture is prevalent amongst the buildings of San Diego.  The most obvious example would be the San Diego Mission de Alcala.

Spanish architectural influence- Balboa Park

Other differences:
The South supports a conservative population and the most prevalent religion is the Baptist Church.  They are highly religious individuals and faith plays a central role in their daily lives.  As previously discussed, San Diego is liberal and the Catholic church has the highest number of patrons.  While religion still is important to Californians, it is not as celebrated and is more diversified.  The way of life in the South is far slower than the hustle and bustle lifestyle of a large urban city like San Diego, California.  The South's economy is heavily supported by agricultural pursuits influenced in the past by large-scale plantations.  San Diego is more reliant upon technology, defense, and manufacturing.  Cities in the south are definitively more rural than in Southern California but they are slowly becoming subjected to urbanization.

Appalachia and the Ozarks

Appalachia and the Ozarks is a region in the United States that is characterized by it's rugged landscape, steep slopes, and mountainous areas.  This region encompasses all of West Virginia and parts of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.  Sadly this region is also generally know as an economically poor area and most of the residents who inhabit Appalachia and the Ozarks are stereotyped as "hillbillies."  The residents of this area are highly isolated and there is few occupational opportunity beyond mining.  San Diego, California has little to nothing in common with this region when it comes to culture, topography, and economic opportunity.

A Glimpse into Appalachia

Mountain Areas:

Appalachia and the Ozarks region is famous for it's extensive mountain ranges which contribute to isolation and economic depravity.  San Diego also is nearby a few mountain ranges but they enhance economic opportunity, beautify the landscape, and are not a barrier to residents.  The Cuyamaca Mountains are located to the east of San Diego County and run northwest to southeast.  The are part of the Cleveland National Forest and several small towns can be located within these mountains including Julian and Pine Valley.  The Cuyamaca Mountains were known as a gold mining region during the gold rush era but once the gold rush ended the mining site was shut down and is now a museum.  The Laguna Mountains run along a section of eastern San Diego County for approximately 20 miles.  They are bordered by the Cuyamacas on the west and Colorado Desert on the east.  There is a small village aptly named Mount Laguna within the mountains with a population of about 80. 

Cuyamaca Mountains

Laguna Mountains

Population Differences:

The Appalachian and Ozark area is comprised of predominantly white residents who are conservative both politically and religiously.  San Diego is much more diverse to say the least.  This city is intermixed with Caucasian, Mexican, African-American, and Pacific-Islander residents.  San Diego is also very politically liberal and supports a large gay community.  Hillcrest, an area in San Diego County, is a well-known homosexual community.  San Diego's population is predominantly Catholic (67%), followed by the Mormon Church (3.8%), Southern Baptist Church (2.2%), and the Presbyterian Church (2%).  About 17% of the population is classified as other.

Hillcrest- neighboring gay community

Economics:
The residents of states within Appalachia and the Ozarks are very poor and have the largest amount of poverty of any predominantly white area in the United States.  San Diego is generally a wealthier area but still boasts a 14.3% poverty percentage in all of San Diego County according to www.city-data.com.  There is not much educational or occupational opportunity in Appalachia past a high school diploma and working in the mines.  In San Diego there is significantly more occupational opportunity and 35% of the population has a Bachelor's degree or higher and 13.4% has a Master's degree or PhD.

Stereotyped "Hillbillies" in Appalachia

Surfers

The Bypassed East

The Bypassed East is comprised of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, northern New England, and the Adirondacks of New York.  While this region is near major transportation routes it actually is not on them.  There are only a few large urban areas and about 50% of the cites are urban and 50% of the cities are rural.  New York, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire can all be found within this region and the topography is characterized by a series of mountain chains including the Green Mountains, White Mountains, Mountains of the Atlantic Provinces, and the Adirondack Mountains.  San Diego, California does not share many similarities with region but rather exhibits more differences.

The Green Mountains

Adirondack Mountains 

Climate:
The Bypassed East's weather patterns are often cold and almost always damp because it is exposed to continental wind systems.  The coastal water is extremely cold, there is heavy precipitation and they also experience a great degree of fog.  The climatic disparity between the Bypassed East and San Diego is notable.  Native San Diego resident would have difficulty adjusted to the frigid temperatures in the East because they are acclimated to a Mediterranean weather classification which translates to mild weather all year long.  The only similarity between the two is the presence of fog but the fog is thicker in the Bypassed East.

Winter in Maine

Winter in San Diego

Population:
Much of the population in the Bypassed East is concentrated in the lowlands and as previously stated, the land is equally constituted of rural and urban areas.  Most of the urban areas are not even substantial.  San Diego on the other hand, is highly urban and does not contain any rural areas.  It is densely populated while the Bypassed East is only highly populated in it's southern section.

Population Density Map

Industries:
Fishing, forestry, and mineral production are the primary industries in the Bypassed East.  The individuals employed in the fishing industry either engage in inshore or deep-sea fishing and usually go for lobster and cod.  As discussed in the previous blog, San Diego is more known for it's technological and defense industries.  The average per capita income in San Diego is significantly higher than the average income in the Bypassed East.

Logging- a big industry in the Bypassed East

The Workforce:
Most of the Bypassed East's work population is employed in fields such as farming, fishing, logging and mining.  Unfortunately, these jobs are also among the lowest paying occupations in the United States.  The majority of San Diego's workforce is employed in the United States Navy, education, and various healthcare fields.  These jobs are traditionally higher paying which corresponds to the higher standard of living.

United States Navy 

Transportation:
There is inadequate access to urban areas in the Bypassed East which contributes to the high transportation costs.  San Diego promotes a highly attractive transportation system.  This city offers accessibility via car, bus, trolley, train, boat, air and even "bike buggies."  It is also in close proximity to neighboring urban towns.

Bike Buggies

The Manufacturing Core

The manufacturing core of the United States consists of the Northeastern United States and the Southern section of Ontario.  According to Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada, this area produces one-half of each country's steel and approximately 71% of the total number of manufactured cars (90).  Ten of the nation's biggest metropolitan areas are also located within this region.  The manufacturing core is loosely banded together by three locations: the Ohio River Valley, Megalopolis, and the Great Lakes.  These central areas are where most of the manufacturing occurs.  A manufacturing core generally has multiple large cities with even more medium sized cities, numerous industrial concentrations, great ethnic diversity, and a large quantity of migrants.  This area in the United States is most known for it's steel, automobile, and textile industries.  It is also notable for it's accessibility resources: interaction between locations, roads, railroads, airports, and navigable waterways which provide for cheap, convenient transportation.  San Diego, California also contributes, in a lesser degree, to the manufacturing industry but specializes in different categories.

The Manufacturing Core

This is a video of the inter-workings of a Steel Industry in Ohio in 1944

San Diego may not be the manufacturing core of the United States but it's industries still bear importance.  This beautiful city has always been known for it's military and defense industries but is now involving into a far more eclectic area in California.  The biotechnology industries in San Diego are thriving and even beginning to spawn some international competition.  Several small technology firms can be traced within San Diego's city limits.  Residents of San Diego are beginning to manufacture what is currently in global demand such as wireless cellular technology.  According to www.sandiego.gov the top 4 industries in San Diego are:

1.  Manufacturing
2. Defense
3. Tourism
4. Agriculture

There are also 6 additional clusters that San Diego focuses on:

1. Biotechnology/Biosciences
2. Defense and Space Manufacturing
3. Electronics Manufacturing
4. Business and Finance Services
5. Software 
6. Telecommunications

Many other industries in San Diego are beginning to rapidly develop such as environmental, transportation, recreation goods, and international trade.  Qualcomm, a wireless telecommunication company, was founded and is headquartered in San Diego.  A company entitled Websense is also located here and it specializes in web security gateway software.  San Diego's economy is primarily based upon it's port which is also the site of some of the only shipbuilding and submarine yards on the West Coast.  It houses the largest naval fleet and is the headquarters for many national defense contractor including General Atomics and NASSCO.

Qualcomm's next generation smartphone

Launch of navy ship by NASSCO in San Diego

MeGaLoPoLiS

Megalopolis is located in the Northeast portion of the United States and consists of the area from New Hampshire to Washington D.C.  This area was the first region to become urbanized in all of the continental United States.  Metropolitan areas such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore are major cities which are all urban centers on the east coast.  Megalopolis has an apparent urban theme and shares common urban forms such as; dense patterns of streets and buildings, industrial centers, retail clusters, and government complexes.  San Diego, California is not geographically located in Megalopolis but it shares many similar characteristics and qualities...

Map of Megalopolis

Similar Characteristics

• A site characteristic of Megalopolis is it's coastal location and harbors.  San Diego also occupies a coastal location and contains harbors.  The only difference is it is on the west coast rather than the east coast.
• San Diego has dense streets in certain areas, industrial centers, retail clusters and government complexes similar to some of the major cities in Megalopolis.
• San Diego also shares a similar topography with Megalopolis.  They both have a relatively flat coastal plain and portions of hilly landscape.
• Both areas also share exceptional accessibility and are good locations for trade and immigration.
• The rapid growth of the major cities in Megalopolis in the 1800s is paralleled by the rapid increase in population in California, more specifically San Diego, in the mid to late 1900s.  

Downtown San Diego

Metropolitan Boston

Differences

• Megalopolis experiences moderate climate while the climate in San Diego, California is consistently mild or Mediterranean.  Their winters are considerably colder and summers are hotter and more humid.
• A defining characteristic of Megalopolis is the close proximity of cites.  California in general is more spread out and while the cities are relatively close, it pails in comparison to the proximity of cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.  They are all in separate states yet still within in driving distance.
• Both areas experience high levels of immigration but San Diego has a higher percentage of Mexican immigrant and Megalopolis has a higher degree of African American immigrants.
• Megalopolis and San Diego are both dense in regards to the number of people per square mile but Megalopolis is expansive in it's density while San Diego is concentrated.  California is much more spread out and does not have a large, consistent area of population density like the northeast coast.
• New York, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston have merged to form a single urbanized region over recent years.  California's most productive counties (Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and San Diego) are still relatively independent of each other.  Even though they are all located in the same state, they serve different functions are not to the merging level of Megalopolis.

Climate Chart for San Diego

Climate Chart for New York City