San Diego, situated on the sparkling Pacific Ocean, is a multi-faceted, multi-cultural environment of history and tradition combined with the elements of a modern, almost futuristic world-class city. Eighth largest in the United States, this gleaming Southern California city lies just north of the border with Mexico, between the Pacific on the west and the mountains and high deserts on the north and east. It is a comfortable place to live and raise a family.

First discovered in 1542 by Portuguese explorers, the area was christened San Diego in 1602 in honor of the 15th century saint, St. Didacus (San Diego). It was not until 1769, however, that Spanish colonists established the Presidio de San Diego, a military outpost, and at nearly the same time, the Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of many Franciscan missions to be built in Old California.

Today, San Diego is bustling, vibrant city framed by the charming architecture of the past, yet filled with a diversity of cultures, business and industry, military facilities, miles of sandy beaches, parks and waterfront skyscrapers. San Diego’s economy is driven by tourism, trade, agriculture, ship-building, the military, biotechnology, computer science and electronics. The city is home to the world’s largest naval fleet and was recently ranked as the leading biotech center in the nation.

Education plays a key role in San Diego’s vibrancy, with the University of California, San Diego, a world leader in academia, credited with reshaping the region’s economy.
Other facilities of educational renown include the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute and the Burnham Research Institute.

Entrepreneurism is cherished and nurtured in San Diego. The region has spawned many companies in biotech, software development, wireless communications, pharmaceutics and medical equipment manufacturing.

The neighborhoods of San Diego are almost as diverse as the city’s culture. From Torrey Pines and La Jolla on the north to the picturesque Old Town on the west to Balboa Park and Sherman Heights in the central region to the Tijuana River Valley in the south, there is attractive housing that will meet almost any need or desire.

With its strong economy, cultural diversity, architecture and great traditions, San Diego is a unique and attractive city in which to live and work.