SW N-021 BJ-091 San Diego, California (2 postcards)

San Diego is a major city in California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, approximately 120 miles (190 km) south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and second largest in California and is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.  San Diego is the birthplace of California and is known for its mild year-round climate, natural deep-water harbor, extensive beaches, long association with the U.S. Navy, and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center. The population was estimated to be 1,322,553 as of 2012.
Historically, San Diego was the first site visited by Europeans on the West Coast of the United States. Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Cabrillo claimed the entire area for Spain, forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later. The Presidio and Mission of San Diego, founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California. In 1821, San Diego became part of newly independent Mexico, and in 1850, became part of the United States following the Mexican-American War and the admission of California to the Union.

The urban area of San Diego extends beyond the administrative city limits and has a total population of almost 3 million, making it the third-largest urban area in the state, after that of the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Francisco metropolitan area.

This postcard shows the San Diego - Coronado Bay Bridge in the foreground with the city of San Diego in the background.    This postcard came from Jan Hardt (26 March 2014) Swap-bot who has affixed several stunning stamps.  For notes on the bridge, see entry on ‘Bridge across San Diego Bay’.


This second postcard came from Dawna K. (16 May 2014) Swap-bot.  It features Old Town San Diego State Historic Park where visitors can witness the living legacy of California's birthplace.  This is the site of the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast and features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites, colourful shops with local artisans demonstrating their craft, early-California-style restaurants, museums, a theatre and the restored Cosmopolitan Hotel. Five original adobes are part of the complex. Other historic buildings include a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, San Diego's first newspaper office, a cigar and pipe store, houses and gardens and a stable with a carriage collection.