Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista (/ˌtʃuːlə ˈvɪstə/ CHOO-lə VIST-ə; Spanish for 'Beautiful/Pretty View', pronounced [ˈtʃula ˈβista]) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is also the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fifteenth largest city in the state of California, and the 78th-largest city in the United States. The population was 275,487 as of the 2020 census, up from 243,916 as of the 2010 census. Located about halfway—7.5 miles (12.1 km)—between the two downtowns of San Diego and Tijuana in the South Bay, the city is at the center of one of the richest culturally diverse zones in the United States. Chula Vista is so named because of its scenic location between the San Diego Bay and coastal mountain foothills.
Chula Vista, California | |
|---|---|
City | |
From top to bottom, left to right: Downtown Chula Vista, South County Courthouse, Chula Vista Center, Congregational Tower, Gateway Buildings. | |
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Flag Seal | |
| Nicknames: Lemon Capital of the World | |
Chula Vista Location within San Diego County Chula Vista Location within California Chula Vista Location within the United States | |
| Coordinates: 32°37′40″N 117°2′53″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Diego |
| Incorporated | November 28, 1911 |
| Named for | Spanish for "beautiful view" |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • City Council | Mayor John McCann Jose Preciado Carolina Chavez Andrea Cardenas |
| • City manager | Maria V. Kachadoorian |
| Area | |
| • City | 52.09 sq mi (134.92 km2) |
| • Land | 49.64 sq mi (128.56 km2) |
| • Water | 2.46 sq mi (6.36 km2) 4.73% |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 275,487 |
| • Rank | 2nd in San Diego County 15th in California 78th in the United States |
| • Density | 5,549.70/sq mi (2,142.87/km2) |
| • Metro | San Diego–Tijuana: 5,105,768 |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 91909–91915, 91921 |
| Area code(s) | 619 |
| FIPS code | 06-13392 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1660481, 2409461 |
| Website | www |
The area, along with San Diego, was inhabited by the Kumeyaay before contact from the Spanish, who later claimed the area. In 1821, Chula Vista became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire, which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later. California became part of the United States in 1848 as a result of the Mexican–American War and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850.
Founded in the early 19th century and incorporated in October 1911, fast population growth has recently been observed in the city. Located in the city is one of America's few year-round United States Olympic Training centers, while popular tourist destinations include Sesame Place San Diego, North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, the Chula Vista marina, and the Living Coast Discovery Center.