Chula Vista Real Estate

One of the fastest growing and attractive communities in the San Diego region is the city of Chula Vista, San Diego County’s second largest city. With more than 225,000 people, Chula Vista has a growing population of Latino, Anglo, African-American, and Asian residents, making it one of the most diverse communities in California, and one which takes great pride in its heritage and in its future. It is also a very young community with forty percent of households having children under the age of 18.

Chula Vista Homes for Sale

Born out of the citrus fields of the early twentieth century, Chula Vista, is now thriving as a desirable locale for families and businesses, located just seven miles south of downtown San Diego and seven miles north of the US-Mexico border crossing. The city includes a large marina, Chula Vista Marina, along a scenic bayfront, beautiful views of the San Miguel mountains to the east, and a busy and growing downtown area that is being renovated and expanded for easy access and convenient shopping.

Chula Vista has big plans for the future that include the possibility of a San Diego Chargers’ stadium, a four-year university, an ambitious downtown urban development project, and revamping of the bayfront. Nearby developments in Otay Ranch, Lomas Verdes, Eastlake and Otay Mesa areas are adding to the rapid influx of new residents in recent years in the Chula Vista area. The South Bay Freeway Extension, due to open in late 2007, will connect freeways 805 and 905 with State Route 125, and relieve some of the congestion found on Interstate 5 through the city. The city council is a responsive business-favorable body and are forward-thinking in their ideas and activities.

Originally part of the Kumeyaay Indian lands, a tribe that lived throughout the San Diego region for thousands of years, in 1795, Chula Vista became part of a Spanish land grant known as Rancho del Rey, and then part of Rancho de la Nación or National Ranch, which encompassed present-day Chula Vista as well as National City and the Sweetwater Valley. The Rancho was primarily used for cattle and horse raising until 1845 when it was granted to John Forster, the son-in-law of Mexican governor Pio Pico. Forster operated the ranch for ten years and then sold it, eventually becoming part of land sold to the Kimball brothers, Warren, Levi, and Frank, the last of whom was responsible for bringing the Santa Fee Railroad to San Diego.

By the 1880s, development in Chula Vista was well under way, and companies were advertising the thriving community located just a mile from National City. One of these early residents, James D. Schulyer, suggested the name Chula Vista for the town and the San Diego Land and Town Company adopted it. Chula Vista in Spanish means "beautiful view." Like most early communities in Southern California, water was a constant issue, so in 1888 the Sweetwater Dam was completed to bring the development the water it needed for farms and families. With ready access to water, Chula Vista quickly became the largest lemon-growing center in the world at the time.

In 1911, the residents of  Chula Vista voted to incorporate the town. Lemon growing bloomed until the devastating freeze of 1913 and droughts in the next few years
caused the lemon farms to fail. A new source of income was found during World War I with a kelp processing plant being built; kelp was a source of materials used in the production of explosives. The plant was located on what is now known as Gunpowder Point, presently home to the Chula Vista Nature Center.

Though citrus farming continued, after World War II the population of Chula Vista tripled from 5,000 residents in 1940 to more than 16,000 in 1950. The many factory workers and servicemen who came to the area during the war, ended up staying, and raising families.

Chula Vista now is undergoing its biggest period of expansion and looking to the future to add quality-of-life additions to the community and to make the city even more of a welcoming environment for businesses and families looking to make the area their home. In addition, there are many popular destinations for visitors and residents to enjoy.

One of the jewels of Chula Vista is the ARCO US Olympic Training Center, which is home to many Olympic athletes. It is also a popular tourist destination and a great place to take the kids to see world-class athletes dedicating themselves to the pursuit of gold. Other attractions in Chula Vista include a concert venue, Coors Amphitheater, that attracts national acts; a wildlife preserve at the Chula Vista Nature Center; and a popular water theme park, Knotts Soak City USA; as well as four golf courses, and many public parks.

Chula Vista's harbor offers easy access to south San Diego Bay and includes two marinas, an RV park, and restaurants. It is also home to the Chula Vista Yacht Club and various sport fishing, sight-seeing and whale-watching charters. The harbor area is being expanded and developed with new hotels, restaurants, and shops that is expected to lure conventions and conferences to the area.

The Chula Vista Heritage Museum on Third Street is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon. A recent exhibit included a display of Rohr Aircraft memorabilia. Rohr Aircraft, founded in 1940, became the world’s largest manufacturing subcontractor of jet-related components and was Chula Vista’s single largest employer for decades following World War II. Other cultural centers can be found at the Onstage Playhouse, the San Diego Junior Theatre, and at special events sponsored by the Chula Vista Public Library system.

Whether you’re looking for a convenient place to live for quick access to downtown San Diego, or a positive business environment for your company, or a place to live and enjoy for your family and yourself, Chula Vista is quickly gaining a reputation as the hot new place to build a home and a future. The natural beauty of the area and the positive city government is a combination that is attracting many new residents and businesses to Chula Vista.