$<pa1n1025><cg1n4097><ca1l1><cb1l1>The Birthplace of California ù San Diego<cg1n4098><ca1l0><cb1l0>
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$<pa1n1025>San Diego, the second largest city in California, is both a modern metropolis and a popular resort during every season.
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$ The city spreads from the coast to the desert and encompasses hills, mesas, canyons and valleys.
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$ San Diego possesses one of CaliforniaÆs largest natural harbors;
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$ peninsulas shelter San Diego Bay from the ocean and provide many miles of shoreline for both business and pleasure.
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$ The cityÆs ideal location has been a dominant factor in determining the history, economy and development of San Diego.
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$<pa1n1025>
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$<pa1n1025>San Diego, which is regarded as the birthplace of California, was first discovered in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who landed at Point Loma and claimed the area for the Spanish Crown.
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$ The first Spanish colonies came more than 2 centuries later in 1769, when Gaspar de Portolß and a group of Spanish settlers founded a military outpost on what is now Presidio Hill.
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$<pa1n1025>In PortolßÆs company was Franciscan friar Junφpero Serra.
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$ He founded Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalß;
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$ this was the first of a chain of 21 missions established along CaliforniaÆs coast.
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$ In 1774, Serra moved the mission a few miles up the San Diego River, where better soil and a more abundant water supply could be found.
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$ The sites of the original mission and the fort can still be seen in Old Town San Diego.
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$<pa1n1025>After California achieved statehood in 1850, San Diego grew slowly in comparison to the development of the northern coastal cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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$ It maintained a fairly insular existence until the late 19th century, when San Francisco merchant Alonzo E. Horton decided to move the nucleus of the town closer to its valuable harbor.
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$ Horton bought 960 acres of waterfront land and developed it into New Town, which is now part of downtown San Diego.
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$<pa1n1025>During the early twentieth century, San Diego made a concerted effort to attract people, industry, and ship and railway commerce.
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$ But Los Angeles remained the leading city.
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$ World War II had a major impact on the city:
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$ The United States, forced to move its Pacific naval headquarters from Pearl Harbor, chose San Diego as the new command center.
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$ This relocation produced an increase in industry and brought thousands of military personnel;
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$ of these, many stayed after the war.
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$<pa1n1025>San Diego is the home of the largest naval air station on the West Coast.
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$ San Diego Bay, headquarters for many Pacific Fleet missions of the US Navy, also supports a large tuna fleet.
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$ The federal government and the aerospace equipment industry are of high economic importance, closely followed by tourism and agriculture.
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$ It sprawls over the natural contours of the land, rather than following the traditional grid layout of American cities, and encompasses several distinct communities.
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$ Mission Bay, once a shallow wasteland, is an aquatic park of 4,600 acres.
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$ Southeast of Mission Bay, Old Town preserves the townÆs rich Spanish-Mexican heritage, while downtown accommodates the business community, a convention center, theaters and naval and commercial shipping enterprises.
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$<pa1n1025>Balboa Park, an oasis in the midst of the city, provides numerous tourist attractions and recreational opportunities.
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$ Point Loma boasts a man-made resort, Shelter Island, and contains Cabrillo National Monument, where California began.
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$ A spectacular 2 mile-long bridge over San Diego Bay connects the Coronado peninsula with downtown San Diego.
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$<pa1n1025>San DiegoÆs institutions of higher education include San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego.
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$ Within the city is the community of La Jolla, home of Scripps Institute of Oceanography, a world-renowned center for marine studies, and the Salk Institute, an outstanding biological research facility.
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$<pa1n1025>Business and pleasure coexist in unusual harmony.
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$ San DiegoÆs climate, attractive setting and recreational facilities promote a casual lifestyle that has enticed many visitors to become permanent residents.
