10 Fun Facts About San Diego: How Well Do You Know Your City?

San Diego is known for its stunning beaches, excellent year-round weather, delicious food, and its laid-back vibe. However, there is a lot more to this city than what meets the eye. So whether you’re already local or you’re considering moving to San Diego, here are 10 facts about San Diego you may not know.

1. The rare Torrey Pine only grows in two places, one of which is San Diego

They are the rarest type of pine tree in the United States that can only be found in two places in the world: San Diego and Santa Rosa Island. These magical and critically endangered trees are a sight to behold and can be found at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in the northern coastal area of San Diego County. The Torrey pine tree is the official tree of the city of San Diego.

2. Ronald Reagan was the first person to cross the Coronado Bridge

The San Diego-Coronado Bridge is an iconic landmark that was built in August 1969. The first person to drive across the bridge was then-California Governor Ronald Reagan.

3. The original California burrito was created in San Diego

San Diegans love California burritos, as do so many others across the world. These delicious and massive burritos are filled with carne asada and french fries and often also include guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and other ingredients. The history of the California burrito is a little vague, but most people believe it was invented in the 1980s at Roberto’s Taco Shop. Regardless of who invented it, it’s widely accepted that the California burrito originated in San Diego.

4. San Diego is home to more small farms than any other U.S. city

San Diego’s 7,000 farms take advantage of the area’s diverse microclimates to grow a variety of crops. These include strawberries along the coast, apples in the mountains, and date palms in the desert. In fact, San Diego is the nation’s top producer of avocados and ranks third in honey production, fifth in lemons, ninth in strawberries, and tenth in the number of egg-laying hens.

5. One of the most popular comic conventions is hosted every July in San Diego

The first San Diego Comic-Con International was held in 1970 and brought in just over 100 attendees. Now, the popular convention brings in over 100,000 enthusiasts from all over the country.

6. San Diego is considered the birthplace of California

It’s seen as the birthplace because it’s the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. Founded in 1769, Old Town San Diego to this day has many museums and historic buildings that preserve its original roots.

7. San Diego takes pride in its booming avocado industry

In fact, San Diego produces the most avocados in the United States. California grows 90% of domestic avocados, 60% of this is produced in San Diego. So if you’re eating avocado toast or freshly-made guacamole that uses California-grown avocados, there’s a good chance they came from sunny San Diego.

8. Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) called La Jolla home

While many famous people reside in San Diego, one of the most famous children’s authors did as well. Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego is named in his honor and holds a collection of original drawings and manuscripts.

9. San Diego is home to some of the largest and most visited zoos in the country

Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre park home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, while the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a 1,800-acre wildlife park that offers its visitors various safari tours and other activities.

10. Be sure the holiday cheer ends on February 2nd, or you could be fined

As odd as it may sound, residents that keep Christmas lights on their homes or apartments in San Diego past February 2nd can be subject to a fine.

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