The southernmost city in California, San Diego is bordered on the west by the deep blue Pacific Ocean which imparts a warm, dry climate that delights residents and visitors alike. Glorious sunrises over the mountains to the east, incredible sunsets over the Pacific Ocean to the west. Affluent, comfortable and bathed in sunshine, seaside villages, boat-filled harbors, quiet coves.

A legacy of Spanish place names, graceful architecture, and a relaxed life style reflect San Diego’s pride in its past. The interior, or back country, holds a wealth of surprises, ranging from the impressive Wild Animal Park to the old-fashioned mining village of Julian.

Time Zone - Pacific; eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight Saving Time observed from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.

San Diego offers: numerous parks and beaches, Balboa Park, World famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, the Wild Animal Park, Broadway shows and so much more ...

The Economy.

When the cold war with the Eastern Block ended, the County's extensive defense industry shrank, causing much local pain. Luckily the wireless communication and computer industries, as well as biotech companies (among others), grew and expanded and now more than fill the gap.

San Diego County, with a population of over 2,720,906, has an economy larger than Portugal or Israel.

Sales or Use Tax - State and city sales tax on most purchases, 7.75%. Hotel occupancy tax, 10.5%

The Military.

The Pacific, home of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp. Although San Diego lost some facilities during the early 1990s shake up of the nation's military, generally it made out okay.

San Diego is home to 54 ships, including carriers and submarines. The Naval Station in San Diego Bay is home to 46 ships of the Pacific Fleet. Miramar is now a Marine Base with helicopters and FA-18 fighter squadrons. The Naval Air Station North Island has F14s.

On Coronado's Silver Strand, the Naval Amphibious Base is home to the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Naval Special Warfare Command, including three Naval SEAL teams.

The City.

The City of San Diego, home to the Chargers and Padres, is the 6th most populous city in the U.S. with a population 1,197,676 (1990 census). The University of Southern California, San Diego (UCSD) is world renowned.

The University of San Diego (USD) is one of the most populous in California. The city's relationship with the ocean gives it a special character.

If you are from the East Coast or Midwest, San Diego will strike you as clean; most western cities are, as they evolved after the Industrial Revolution.

The City of San Diego is divided into neighborhoods often spoken of as if they are towns or cities, such as La Jolla, Coronado, etc.

The Homes.

In 1995 the State counted 452,493 homes in San Diego County, of which 209,398 were single family detached, 38,618 single family attached, 188,752 multiple units and 5,725 mobile homes.

Along the coast, mesas or plateaus rise several hundred feet and flatten out providing sites for residential homes. Thousands of homes have been built on the rims of these mesas to take advantage of superb views. Not all the coast is covered in homes. There are parks and State reserves that cushion some neighborhoods from each other while providing a haven for wildlife.

Divided naturally by ravines, hills, mesas, water and now freeways, San Diego has evolved into a city of geographically distinct neighborhoods.