The New International Encyclopædia/San Diego

SAN DIEGO, sän dḗ-ā′gṓ. A port of entry and the county seat of San Diego County, Cal., 125 miles south by east of Los Angeles, on San Diego Bay, and on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and several steamship lines (Map: California, E 5). San Diego Bay forms a superb land-locked harbor, 22 square miles in area. The Navy and the War Department have separately large tracts of land on the bay, for a coaling station and fortifications respectively, the latter known as Fort Rosecrans. A health resort of some prominence, San Diego is favored by a beautiful situation and a mild equable climate. It is the seat of a State Normal School, and has the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, a Carnegie public library, the Hospital of the Good Samaritan, and a fine court-house. Fort Stockton and the old Spanish mission are other noteworthy features. Coronado Beach, across the bay, with the large Hotel del Coronado, an ostrich farm, botanical gardens, and other attractions, is a popular resort. San Diego has considerable commercial importance as the centre of extensive lemon and other fruit interests and as a port of entry. The value of the foreign trade in 1901 was $1,475,000, including exports to the amount of $963,000. The industrial establishments of the city in the census year 1900 had an invested capital of $1,147,712, and an output valued at $1,309,321. The principal manufactured products are carriages and wagons, flour, furniture, fertilizers, show cases, vinegar, wine, citric acid, oil of lemon, of orange, etc. The government, under the revised charter of 1901, is vested in a mayor, chosen every two years, a bicameral council, and in administrative officials. Population, in 1890, 16,159; in 1900, 17,700, In 1769 the first California mission was established here, and in 1835 the ‘pueblo’ was organized, San Diego thus being the oldest municipality in the State. In 1846 Commodore Stockton took possession of the place for the United States, and established a fort which is still known as Fort Stockton. The growth of the present city dates from 1867. The charter now in operation was granted in 1889. Consult: Gunn, San Diego, Climate, Productions, Resources, Topography (San Diego, 1887); Wood, Home-land, being a brief description of the city and county of San Diego (ib., 1901).