Chula Vista, California

Chula Vista, California
From top to bottom, left to right: Downtown Chula Vista, South County Courthouse, Chula Vista Center, Congregational Tower, Gateway Buildings.
Nicknames: 
Lemon Capital of the World
Chula Vista
Location within San Diego County
Chula Vista
Location within California
Chula Vista
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 32°37′40″N 117°2′53″W / 32.62778°N 117.04806°W / 32.62778; -117.04806
Country United States
State California
CountySan Diego
IncorporatedNovember 28, 1911
Named afterSpanish for "beautiful view"
Government
  TypeCouncil-Manager
  City CouncilMayor John McCann
Jose Preciado
Carolina Chavez
Rachel Morineau
  City managerMaria V. Kachadoorian
Area
  City
52.09 sq mi (134.92 km2)
  Land49.64 sq mi (128.56 km2)
  Water2.46 sq mi (6.36 km2)  4.73%
Elevation
66 ft (20 m)
Population
 (2020)
  City
275,487
  Rank2nd in San Diego County
15th in California
81st in the United States
  Density5,549.70/sq mi (2,142.87/km2)
  Metro
San Diego–Tijuana: 5,105,768
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
91909–91915, 91921
Area code(s)619
FIPS code06-13392
GNIS feature IDs1660481, 2409461
Websitewww.chulavistaca.gov

Chula Vista (/ˌlə ˈvɪstə/ CHOO-lə VIST; Spanish for 'Beautiful/Pretty View', pronounced [ˈtʃula ˈβista]) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh-most populous city in Southern California, the 15th-most populous city in the state of California, and the 81st-most populous city in the United States. The population was 275,487 as of the 2020 census, up from 243,916 as of the 2010 census. It is located in the South Bay, about halfway—7.5 miles (12.1 km)—between the two downtowns of the San Diego–Tijuana region. Chula Vista is named for its scenic location between San Diego Bay and coastal mountain foothills.

The area, along with San Diego, was inhabited by the Kumeyaay before contact from the Spanish, who later claimed the area. In 1821, Chula Vista became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire, which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later. California became part of the United States in 1848 as a result of the Mexican–American War, and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850.

Founded in the early 19th century and incorporated in October 1911, fast population growth has recently been observed in the city. The city is home to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, Sesame Place San Diego, North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista Marina, and the Living Coast Discovery Center.