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Description of the study area 

 Statistical study areas 



For purposes of the technical analysis, bay-related land has been 

 divided into three geographic areas. Study area I consists of virtually 

 all land immediately adjacent to and surrounding the bay extending 

 approximately 4 to 8 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Study 

 area II lies immediately adjacent to area I and extends approximately 

 15 additional miles inland. Study area III includes the balance of 

 the county. 



General description — San Diego County 



San Diego Bay lies in the southwestern corner of the United States. 

 It is the prime economic factor in the development of San Diego Coun- 

 ty which surrounds it. The county, which corresponds to the San 

 Diego Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, is bordered on the 

 south by Mexico, on the east by Imperial County, on the north by 

 Riverside and Orange Counties, and on the west by 70 miles of Pacific 

 Ocean shoreline. It is approximately 80 miles wide and encompasses 

 4,258 square miles (fig. IV.3.3 on p. 174) . 



The entire San Diego area has many valuable natural features, but 

 the one of greatest influence and value is San Diego Bay. The bay is 

 crescent shaped, approximately 15 miles in length, varies in width 

 from one-quarter to 21/2 miles, and has a surface area of approxi- 

 mately 18.5 square miles. It is protected on the west by the high 

 ground of Point Loma and is separated from the Pacific Ocean by a 

 narrow sand spit called the Silver Strand. North Island, once an 

 actual island, forms the northern end of the Silver Strand. 



San Diego Bay is one of the great natural harbors of the world. 

 Four cities and three naval military facilities line its shoreline: the 

 city of San Diego in the north, east, and south; National City and 

 Chula Vista on the eastern shore south of San Diego ; Coronado along 

 the western edge of the bay ; North Island Naval Station occupying 

 the western half of North Island ; the Marine Corps Depot across the 

 bay to the north ; and San Diego Naval Station along the northeastern 

 shore of the bay. The city of Imperial Beach lies just south of the bay 

 on the Pacific coast, 3 miles north of San Diego Bay and on the coast 

 is Mission Bay, 22 years ago. Mission Bay was a tidal mudflat. Exten- 

 sive development, which is still continuing, has converted it into an 

 attractive recreational waterland. 



Approximately 369,000 civilians are gainfully employed in San 

 Diego County. The county's economy, which once depended primarily 

 on the military and the aircraft- aerospace industries, has experienced 

 considerable diversification. Today, other major contributors to the 

 economy are shipbuilding, manufacturing, tourism, education, agri- 

 culture, and construction. 



Government agencies comprise the largest civilian employment cate- 

 gory in San Diego County. In 1967, 83,500 persons were in Govern- 

 ment ser^dces. This is an increase of over 47.7 percent since 1960. 

 There was a similar increase in the number of persons employed in 

 service industries. Public employment other than in the defense sector 

 is expected to increase in proportion to the increase in the population 

 of the county. 



