Chapter 3: Foundations of Human Activity

The stereotypical image of the blond haired, blue eyed native Californian is well ingrained into the minds of foreigners and many Americans who have never experienced our state first-hand.  San Diego, a certified beach town, is no exception to this common assumption.  In all actuality, San Diego is a city rich in ethnic diversity which adds an electric feel to the atmosphere.

"Typical Californians"

Settlement history:

Before California was officially California, it was inhabited by Native Americans over 10,000 years ago.  These first inhabitants were prominently hunter-gatherers and lived in small tribes widely dispersed over a large area.  The Spanish were the first European based explores to "discover" California in the mid 1550s.  California became part of Spain's North American holdings and over the course of several years Spain built several missions along the west coast spanning from San Diego to Sonoma.  In 1769, the Presidio of San Diego was established  and around that same time Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded.  During the late 1700s, the once thriving Native American population began to dwindle due to the ravaging effects of European disease.  California was seized by the United States in 1846 and officially became a state in 1850.  The city of San Diego became incorporated into California soon after but did not experience a large population boom until 1890.  A strong military presence soon began in 1901 and hosted two World's Fairs in 1915 and 1935.  This leads us to the modern day San Diego that we have all come to know and love.

San Diego Mission de Alcala

Modern Day San Diego:
San Diego currently ranks as the second most populous city in all of California.  In 2009, the population of San Diego was approximated to be 1,353,993 by the US Census Bureau and is expected to continue to increase in the coming years(City of San Diego Demographics).  San Diego's residents make up about 43% of the total population of San Diego County.  It is also the economic center of San Diego county and constitutes for over half of the county's jobs and three-quarters of the regions large employers.  According to Figure 3.3 in the text, San Diego boasts 300-2,999 people per square mile by county (53).

Recent Statistics (As of 2009) according to City-Data.com

• 50.4% Males and 49.6% Females 
• Median age of a San Diego resident is 32.5 while the average age of a Californian is 33.3. 
• Estimated median family income: $59,901
• Median price of a household: $445,500
• Ancestries: German (10.8%), Irish (8.7%), English (8.0%), Italian (4.6%), United States (3.2%), French (2.4%) 

Breakdown by Race

• White- 615,495 (47.1%)
• Hispanic - 373,573 (28.6%)  
• Asian alone - 185,716 (14.2%)
• Black alone - 82,885 (6.3%)
• Two or more races - 36,242 (2.8%)
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 7,220 (0.6%)
• American alone - 2,383 (0.2%)Other race alone - 2,713 (0.2%)
 

Distribution of Races in San Diego

Chapter 2: Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

Topography:
San Diego, California is located in the Pacific Mountains and Valleys region of the United States.  The Pacific Mountains and Valleys region runs from the California Pacific Coastline all the way up north to Washington.  It is characterized by numerous mountain chains and abrupt changes in elevation.  The Coast Range is an extensive area in California with peaks reaching 3,000 meters.  This range is 840 miles long and it rises from the shore in steep cliffs ad terraces.  This physiographic region is also famous for it's abundance of sandy beaches.  There is also a major fault zone running along Southern California which is a source of frequent earthquake activity.

The San Diego Ranges, also know as the Peninsular Ranges, are comprised of the Aqua Tibia, Laguna, and Vallecito Mountains which extend southward into Baja California. San Diego encompasses 70 miles of coastline and is known for it's hilly geography.  It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and has miles of lush, sandy beaches.  Metropolitan San Diego is crossed by five west flowing rivers and several streams.  These geographic features aid the creation of San Diego's canyons, gorges, and mesas.  The city of San Diego rests upon steep canyons and hills which effectively separate it's mesas.  The San Diego River, another distinguishing geographic feature of the the city, runs directly through the center of San Diego.

Overview of the Topography of San Diego

The San Diego River

Climate: San Diego, California is known for it's idealistic weather conditions.  The sun shines for the vast majority of the year and the weather is fairly consistent when compared to other regions in the United States.  The climate is officially classified as Mediterranean which means that there is moderate precipitation in the mild winters and the summers are fairly warm.  The weather in San Diego is mostly sunny and the presence of severely cold or scorching hot weather is highly unlikely.  The average temperature in Fahrenheit in January is about 57.3 degrees and in August it is 72.5 (rssweather.com).  There have been incidences of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees during the hottest summer months although these occurrences are rare.  The precipitation rate is less than 12 inches per year which makes San Diego a borderline arid city.  San Diego is prone to floods and droughts and is also plagued by the Santa Ana winds.  Out of the 125 years of weather recording, there has only been five reported days of snow falling.  Overall, San Diego's weather is perfect if you enjoy the laid back atmosphere of leisurely, sunny beach living.  Here is a video of the typical weather forecast in San Diego during July:        

Vegetation and Soils:

The southern region of California is classified as sclerophyllous vegetation area.  According to enclyopedia.com, sclerophyllous vegetation is typically scrub, but also forest, in which the leaves of the trees and shrubs are evergreen, hard, thick, leathery, and usually small. These adaptations allow the plants to survive the pronounced hot, dry season of the Mediterranean-type climate in which sclerophyllous vegetation is best developed.  Different types of vegetation that thrive in this area include: pine trees, oak trees, citrus trees, manzanita schrubs, sagebrush, and fig trees among numerous others.  San Diego is classified under the highland soil category which is generally unproductive but mollisols and alfisols can also be found in this region, which are both very productive soils.  Here are a few examples of the beautiful vegetation that grows on San Diego's home turf:

Purple Ice Flower



Southern Red Monkeyflower







Chapter 1: Regions and Themes

San Diego is the epitome of a typical Southern California city.  It is located in the California region of the nation and is the most southern city in California.  The City of San Diego is the second largest city in California and the sixth largest in the nation.  According to www.sandiego.gov, the population, as of 2009, is 1,353,993.  San Diego is highly industrious and it's four main industries are manufacturing, defense, tourism, and agriculture.  The economy of San Diego is dependent on these four industries and is a highly urbanized area.  Not only is it an expansive city, but it also is the center of San Diego County which is made up of several cities including Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Mesa, and Coronado just to name a few.  The county of San Diego is the fifth largest in the nation and is also among the richest counties in the country.  Here is map of the complete list of counties in the County of San Diego:  

Regions/Areas of San Diego, California:

• The Airport, Point Loma, and Ocean Beach- Point Loma is a well known Peninsula which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and is famous for the Cabrillo National Monument within which is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.  The San Diego International Airport is located near Point Loma and is the busiest single-runway commercial service airport in the United States.  Ocean Beach lies on the Pacific Ocean at the estuary of the San Diego River.  It is directly north of Point Loma and is a popular beachfront in the City of San Diego.
• Old Town San Diego- Old Town San Diego area is just north of downtown and is most famous for Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.  This area is the original location of San Diego's foundation and was first settled by the Spanish in 1769.  This settlement portrays the Mexican and early American years of 1821-1872 with historic buildings and adobe homes.  In this area you can also find the Wells Fargo History Museum, Old Town Plaza, the Serra Museum, and the Seely Stables Museum. 
• Downtown San Diego/The Gaslamp District- This section of San Diego is a unique blend of old-time flavor with new modern renovations while still preserving it's ethnic neighborhoods such as "Little Italy."  The downtown area has a vast array of restaurants, several retail stores (including Horton Plaza), Petco Stadium, and a vibrant night life.  Nearby is the famous Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo.
• Mission Valley- Mission Valley is located in central San Diego.  This region flourishes due to it's many businesses, an upscale shopping center, and its cornucopia of hotels, especially those lining Hotel Circle.   You can find Mission Bay in the center of Mission Valley which is comprised of two islands, many coves, and inlets.  This area is famous for Seaworld San Diego and Belmont Park, a historic beachfront amusement park.  Hotels dot the beachfront and many tourists flock to this area due to the allure of the authentic beach life and variety of fun activities that if offers.

Old Town San Diego

The Gaslamp District

Mission Bay

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Introductions first...

Hello everyone! My name is Nicole Zardenetta and this blog is devoted to San Diego, California.  I chose this particular location because much of my family calls San Diego home and in the near future, I hope to call it home too.  I enjoy visiting this city whenever I get the chance because of all it has to offer...unseasonably warm weather, vast beaches, eye-catching scenery, exquisite dining, and let's not forget, a plethora of recreational activities for every age.  Throughout this blog, I will explore various aspects of this grand city and I hope you all enjoy the journey!     

Soaking up the Rays in Pacific Beach!