San Diego County is located in the southwest corner of the state. With a population of over 3.3 million people, it is the second most populous county in California and the fifth most populous in the United States. San Diego County is known for its mild year-round climate, beautiful beaches, and numerous local landmarks.
One of the most famous landmarks in San Diego County is the San Diego Zoo, which is home to over 3,700 animals and is known worldwide for its conservation efforts. Another popular destination is SeaWorld San Diego, a marine theme park featuring shows and attractions centered around marine animals. The county is also home to numerous museums, including the USS Midway Museum, which is a former naval aircraft carrier turned museum, and the San Diego Museum of Art, which houses a collection of works by artists from around the world.
San Diego County sits on the ancestral land of the Kumeyaay people, who lived there for at least 10,000 years before European contact. In 1542 the Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his crew became the first known Europeans to come ashore in what is today San Diego bay. The county was named after San Diego de Alcala, a Spanish Franciscan friar and the first bishop of California. The city of San Diego, which is the county seat and the 8th largest city in the world, was founded in 1769 band is the oldest European-founded settlement in California.
Geographically, San Diego County is located on the Pacific coast of California and is bordered by Orange County to the north, Riverside County to the Northeast, Imperial County to the East, and Mexico to the south. The county is home to a variety of landscapes, including beaches, mountains, valleys, and deserts.
The economy of San Diego County is diverse and includes a strong military presence, tourism, and a thriving biotech and technology industry. The county is home to numerous military bases, including the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Naval Base San Diego. It is also a popular tourist destination, with millions of visitors each year coming to enjoy the county's many attractions and beautiful weather.
San Diego County allows commercial cannabis throughout, although the majority of the industry there is focused on retail. Historically, during cannabis prohibition, San Diego was a hotbed for illicit cannabis smuggled in from Mexico.