Founding
City in California, United States
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National City is a city in the South Bay region of southwestern San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 56,173 at the 2020 United States census, down from 58,582 at the 2010 census. National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, having been incorporated in 1887.
Human presence within the modern National City may have begun as early as 130,000 years ago, as allegedly evidenced at the Cerutti Mastodon site. Archaic period sites have been found along Sweetwater River which runs through the city limits of modern-day National City. Before the arrival of Spaniards, the area which modern day National City occupies was part of the territory of the Diegueño tribe, also known as Kamia, and later Kumeyaay. Later in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century there was a Kumeyaay village, north of the modern National City boundaries, on Chollas Creek.
The Spanish named the 26,000 acres (11,000 ha) of land El Rancho del Rey (the Ranch of the King), used by Spanish soldiers to graze horses. After independence from Spain, in 1810, the Mexican government renamed it Rancho de la Nación (Ranch of the Nation). Governor Pío Pico granted Rancho de la Nación to his brother-in-law John (Don Juan) Forster in 1845. President Andrew Johnson, in issuing the land patent, listed the name as simply "The National Ranch", the English translation of the land grant name, "Rancho de la Nación".
In 1868, Frank Kimball and his brothers Warren and Levi, contractors and builders from San Francisco, purchased the entire rancho and thus began the foundation of the city, retaining the National name.
Frank Kimball first brought novelty and change to the area by building his personal residence. His home included a bathtub as well as hot running water, making it the first modern house in the entire county. However, it was more than his personal innovative endeavors that allowed the region to flourish. By constructing the first roads and railroad in what is now National City, Frank and his brothers most notably were responsible for introducing modern transportation to the residents of the community. The brothers also implemented the area's first post office and a wharf for sea-bound imports and exports. These large ventures, coupled with smaller personal missions, both contributed to the overall goal of creating a community unparalleled to the times. A lasting mark of the Kimballs was the trees they imported and planted from Europe and Asia, accomplished via a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These trees can be found dotted throughout the city to this very day. It was the passion and influence of the Kimballs as well as other early pioneers that made way for the city's incorporation on September 17, 1887.
In the mid-20th century, businesses on National Avenue catered to the entertainment of sailors stationed at Naval Base San Diego, and became known as the "Mile of Bars". In the late 20th century, the city, seeking to end the association of the street with drinking culture, urged the growth of automobile dealerships, transforming the area to be known as the "Mile of Cars". Part of the change of business types was the closure of a Pussycat Theater in 1999. The last of the bars that was on the "Mile of Bars" was the Trophy Lounge, which lasted until at least 2004.
In the early 21st century, the city began to utilize eminent domain to create new developments; this met some criticism, to include on Reason TV in a video narrated by Drew Carey. One of the defining features of National City's past is the Victorian-style homes, many of which were built in the late 1800s. Brick Row is a prime example of how National City has preserved and brought old architecture into the modern world. Constructed by Frank Kimball in 1887, it was created to accommodate the railroad workers and lack of housing. In the 1970s Malcolm C. Greshler pitched the idea of creating Heritage Square in the heart of the city to showcase National City’s tourist attractions, it also acted as a way for people to visit National City's history, in the forms of museums, shops, and other ways these buildings could be repurposed. The National City general plan had listed around 66 historical sites that could be restored and preserved, Frank Kimball's interest in making National City in a western terminus for the Santa Fe Rail Way, was overlooked. So to commemorate Frank Kimball, they preserved his house and the Brick Row. Having a Heritage Square shows how National City has an important History that has to be shown to the public, along with the stories of the creators of these vintage buildings. In the end, Brick Row and Frank Kimball were major factors that impacted how National City has grown into the City it is today.
National City also became a focal point in immigration-related debates in the 21st century. On September 30, 2006, then-Mayor Nick Inzunza declared National City a sanctuary city, signaling limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. His proclamation, presented during dueling rallies at City Hall, followed a statement made on National Public Radio earlier that month and sparked considerable local controversy. After Ron Morrison was elected mayor in November 2006, he reversed this stance, stating publicly that the city would no longer identify as a sanctuary city. More than a decade later, on June 19, 2017, the City Council unanimously adopted a "Compassionate City" resolution in support of immigrants, marking a partial shift in tone and policy.
On January 22, 2024, National City experienced severe flooding due to an intense rainstorm that brought over 4 inches of rain in a few hours, overwhelming local stormwater systems. Low-lying neighborhoods, including the Happy Hollow Trailer Park, were particularly affected, with nearly half of its 90 mobile homes sustaining significant damage. Many residents, predominantly low-income and Spanish-speaking, lacked flood insurance, leading to prolonged displacement and financial hardship. In response to the disaster, President Joe Biden declared a Major Disaster for the region, enabling federal assistance for recovery efforts. Subsequently, some residents and business owners filed lawsuits against National City, alleging negligence in infrastructure maintenance contributed to the flooding.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (24 km2). 7.3 square miles (19 km2) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) of it (20.17%) is water. National City is bounded by San Diego to the north and northeast, Bonita to the southeast, and Chula Vista to the south across the Sweetwater River. San Diego Bay lies to the immediate west of the city. Also, within the boundaries of National City on the eastern side of town is the unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Lincoln Acres. National City is 15 minutes away from the US–Mexico Border (Tijuana).
National City has road access by the Interstate 5, Interstate 805, and California State Route 54, in addition to surface streets. National City Blvd, which once served as part of the historic U.S. Route 101, still serves as a north–south arterial street parallel to Highland Ave. Plaza Blvd and 30th Street/Sweetwater Road serve as east–west arterial routes. It has rail access through the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line. The nearest commercial airport is San Diego International Airport.
In 2012, National City was honored as the most walkable city in San Diego County. It currently holds a walk score of 71, among the highest scores for cities of similar size. However, its current score also puts National City among bigger cities like Seattle, Washington (74) and Portland, Oregon (66). San Diego's current walk score is 56.
Although there are no specific communities identified by the city of National City, certain areas have self-identified as communities. The Old Town community is bordered by McKinley Ave. (to the west) and National City Blvd. (to the east), and 24th Street (to the south) and 8th Street (to the north). While Lincoln Acres is an unincorporated area of San Diego County, it is located wholly within the boundaries of the incorporated city of National City and both share the postal code (91950). The South Port Business Center, an industrial park in which many businesses operate, is bordered by I-5 to the west, National City Blvd. to the east Mile of Cars Way (24th St.) to the north, and W. 28th St. to the south. The residents near Las Palmas and El Toyon Parks have neighborhood councils where they can voice their concerns with the city's elected officials.
The Neighborhood Council Program was developed in an effort to improve communication with the community and to bring services directly to National City residents. The program helps to unify neighbors to further enhance the image of the city, instilling civic pride into neighborhoods. Regular monthly meetings are held in each of the three Neighborhood Councils. Agenda topics are driven by resident requests, current events, and a desire by city officials to keep residents abreast of new programs and upcoming developments. Meetings are usually attended by police and fire officials, as well as members of the City Council.
Besides attending regular meetings, Neighborhood Council participants assist the city in improving their neighborhoods by volunteering during clean-up and beautification events and by helping to reduce crime. Residents also participate in family events sponsored by the Neighborhood Council Program such as National Night Out and Movies in the Park, as well as other city-sponsored events.
National City's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 72 °F (22 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches [23–33 centimetres] annually). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick "marine layer" of cloud cover will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast.
On average, the warmest month is August. The highest recorded temperature was 108 °F in September 1988. On average, the coolest month is December. The lowest recorded temperature was 15 °F in April 2003. The maximum average precipitation occurs in February.
Like most of Southern California and the San Diego County region, the majority of National City's current area was originally occupied by chaparral, a plant community made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs. National City's broad city limits encompass the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and the most northern area of the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The Sweetwater River runs from the Cuyamaca Mountains, through National City and Chula Vista via a flood control channel (natural route as opposed to a canal) and empties into San Diego Bay. Most of west National City is flat with an average elevation of 72 feet (22 m), which made it historically desirable and well suited for the Spanish to graze their horses. The eastern areas of National City tend to have canyons and ridges with an existing wildlife.
As of the 2020 census, National City had a population of 56,173. The population density was 6,200 people per square mile (2,400 people/km2). The median age was 35.6 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 16,882 households in National City, of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.6% were married-couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Text from the Wikipedia article “National City, California”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.