San Diego County covers approximately
4,255 square miles - 65 miles from north to south and 86 miles
from east to west. San Diego County is the second largest in the
state with a population of more than 2.6 million.
The County draws its name from San Diego de Alcala, a designation
credited to Spaniard Don Sebastian Vizcaino who sailed into what
is now San Diego Bay on November 12, 1603, and renamed it in honor
of his flagship and, it is said, his favorite saint. The site was
actually discovered 61 years earlier by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
who had named it San Miguel.
The County of San Diego was established by the State Legislature
on February 18, 1850, as one of the original 27 counties of California.
