Mission Valley, San Diego

Mission Valley, San Diego
Community of San Diego
Mission Valley
Central Mission Valley viewed from University Heights Park
Mission Valley, San Diego Location within Central San Diego
Coordinates: 32°46′02″N 117°08′59″W / 32.7672613°N 117.1496170°W / 32.7672613; -117.1496170
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	San Diego
City	San Diego

Mission Valley is a wide river valley trending east–west in

Mission Valley was the site of the first Spanish settlement in California, established in 1769.^[2]

Mission Valley currently serves as an important shopping and entertainment center for San Diego. Several condominiums and apartments can also be found in the area.

History

The San Diego River valley was originally called Emat Kuseyaay, which was then named by the Spanish as La Cañada de San Diego. Cañada in Spanish means gully, ravine, or glen. The name was changed to Mission Valley in the 1860s in reference to Mission San Diego de Alcalá.^[3]

The Mission Valley area was inhabited by

The first Spanish settlement in present-day California was the

Until the 1940s, Mission Valley remained largely undeveloped, featuring dairy farms and other agricultural activities; the city of San Diego was largely confined to areas south of the valley. After World War II, the city's expansion began to encroach on the valley.[8] The last of the valley's dairy farms closed in the early 1960s.^[3]

Another early activity in Mission Valley was quarrying sand and gravel from its walls. A large quarry on the north side of the valley was in operation for most of the 20th century. The quarry ceased operation around 2000 and is now the site of the Civita mixed-use development.^[9]

The development of Mission Valley began in 1953 when the first hotel was built in what is now Hotel Circle. In 1958, the city council rezoned 90 acres (36 ha) of the river valley to allow the construction of San Diego's first regional shopping center. The Mission Valley Center (now Westfield Mission Valley) opened in 1961^[10] and was followed by several other large regional shopping malls.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the U.S. 80 freeway (now Interstate 8) was constructed through Mission Valley, further opening the area up for development.^[11]

in 2022.

Boundaries

Mission Valley stretches as far west as

Government

Mission Valley is located in City Council District 7 and is currently represented by Councilmember Raul Campillo. For federal representation, it is divided between California's 52nd congressional district, represented by Scott Peters, and California's 53rd congressional district, represented by Sara Jacobs.^[15]

Transportation

Mission Valley serves as a path for

also cross Mission Valley and connect with Interstate 8.

The

SDCCU Stadium

.

Attractions

Toward the eastern end of Mission Valley lies Mission San Diego de Alcalá, for which the valley is named. At the southwestern end overlooking the valley is Presidio Park. At the foot of Presidio Hill lies Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the original site of the town of San Diego. All three attractions are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Three major shopping malls located in Mission Valley are

. Many other commercial developments can be found in the region as well, including smaller shopping plazas, auto malls, and vocational schools. The frontage roads parallel to Interstate 8 west of Highway 163 are named Hotel Circle North and Hotel Circle South, for the many hotels and motels located on them. The frontage roads east of Highway 163 are called Camino del Rio North and Camino del Rio South.

Recently-built

, and other San Diego attractions.

References

External links

• Media related to Mission Valley, San Diego at Wikimedia Commons
• Old Town-Mission Valley travel guide from Wikivoyage