National City

National City is a town in southwestern San Diego County, California, roughly twelve miles (19 kilometers) from the Mexican border. It covers an area of about nine square miles and sits between San Diego Bay to the west and gentle hills to the east.

The Kimball brothers bought the land in 1868 and turned the former Rancho de la Nación into a new settlement. The town developed into a center for trade and industry in the San Diego region during the 20th century.

The city maintains a population of 56,173 residents, including 25,000 immigrants and refugees who contribute to the multicultural community dynamics.

The Mile of Cars strip along the northern edge gathers dozens of car dealerships on a single road. Visitors come here to compare models and prices without traveling between distant locations.

Fossil finds at the Cerutti Mastodon site point to human activity roughly 130,000 years ago, which could represent the oldest traces of human settlement in North America. This discovery shifts earlier assumptions about when the first people arrived on the continent.

Location: San Diego County

Inception: July 7, 1868

Website: http://nationalcityca.gov

GPS coordinates: 32.67806,-117.09917

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:06