Coronado, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coronado, California
City
Hotel del Coronado in December 2008
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "The Crown City"
Location of Coronado in San Diego County, California
Coronado, California Location in San Diego County, California Show map of San Diego County, California Coronado, California Location in California Show map of California Coronado, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Diego
Incorporated	December 11, 1890
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
Area
• Total	32.50 sq mi (84.17 km2)
• Land	7.80 sq mi (20.22 km2)
• Water	24.69 sq mi (63.96 km2)  75.72%
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,192
• Density	2,587.06/sq mi (998.82/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	92118, 92178
Area code	619
FIPS code	06-16378
GNIS feature IDs	1660513, 2410233

Coronado is a beautiful resort city in San Diego County, California. It sits across San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. The name "Coronado" means "Crowned" in Spanish, which is why it's often called The Crown City.

The city was started in the 1880s and officially became a city in 1890. In 2020, about 20,192 people lived there. Coronado is a special type of island called a tied island. It's connected to the mainland by a sandy strip of land called the Silver Strand.

The name Coronado comes from the Coronado Islands. These are a group of islands off the coast of Mexico. An explorer named Sebastian Vizcaino first mapped the area in 1602. Three ships of the United States Navy have been named after the city, including USS Coronado.

History of Coronado

Before Europeans arrived, the Kumeyaay people lived in Coronado. They had fishing villages on the peninsula. When American settlers moved in, the Kumeyaay families were moved away from Coronado. The last families left in 1902.

Coronado officially became a town on December 11, 1890. The first post office opened earlier, in 1887. Some businessmen bought the land to create a resort community. In 1886, they formed the Coronado Beach Company.

By 1888, they had built the famous Hotel del Coronado. This made the city a popular place for vacations. They also built a school and started sports clubs.

In 1900, a tourist area called Tent City was created south of the Hotel del Coronado. People stayed in tents there for vacations. Over time, these tents were replaced by small cottages. The last cottages were removed around 1940.

In the 1910s, Coronado had streetcars running on Orange Avenue. These streetcars were a common sight until they stopped running in 1939.

In 1969, the San Diego–Coronado Bridge opened. This bridge made it much faster to travel between Coronado and San Diego. Before the bridge, people used ferries or drove a longer way around. The bridge has special lanes that can change direction to help traffic flow better during busy times.

Coronado's Geography

Coronado covers about 32.7 square miles. Most of this area is water, with about 7.9 square miles of land.

A view of San Diego from Coronado

As mentioned, Coronado is a tied island. It's connected to the mainland by the Silver Strand. The Silver Strand, Coronado, and North Island together form San Diego Bay.

The United States Navy has a big presence in Coronado. Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) is located here. Also, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado is a training center for Navy SEALs. These facilities are part of the larger Naval Base Coronado complex.

Coronado has grown over time. New land has been added by moving sand from the bay. Areas like the "Country Club" and "Glorietta" were built on this added land.

Climate in Coronado

Coronado has a semi-arid climate. This means it's generally dry but not a desert.

People of Coronado

Coronado Bridge

Coronado Beach in 2009

In 2020, Coronado had a population of 20,192 people. In 2010, the population was 24,697. Most residents are White, but there are also many African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 13.6% of residents in 2010 were of Hispanic or Latino background.

In 2000, the average household had about 2.27 people. The average family had about 2.84 people. About 16% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 34 years.

Coronado is known for having very expensive homes. In 2023, the average home value was $2.2 million.

Tourism in Coronado

The Coronado Ferry Landing

Tourism is very important to Coronado's economy. The city has three large resorts: the Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island Marriott, and Loews Coronado Bay Resort. There are also many other hotels and inns.

The downtown area along Orange Avenue is popular. It has many shops, restaurants, and theaters. The restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices.

16th hole Coronado Golf Course

Golf has been played in Coronado since 1897. Today, the Coronado Golf Course is very popular, with about 90,000 rounds of golf played each year.

In 2008, the Travel Channel named Coronado Beach the sixth-best beach in America.

Hotel del Coronado

Hotel del Coronado from the beach

The Hotel del Coronado was built in 1888. It is a very important building and has been named a National Historic Landmark. Many famous people have stayed there. This includes American presidents like George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Other famous guests include Muhammad Ali, Thomas Edison, Marilyn Monroe, and Oprah Winfrey.

Hotel del Coronado, 1885

The Hotel del Coronado has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some people say it inspired the Emerald City in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The author, L. Frank Baum, lived in Coronado and could see the hotel from his home. He even designed some of the chandeliers in the hotel's dining room.

The hotel is currently owned by several companies, including Blackstone.

Schools in Coronado

Coronado Public Library

The Coronado Unified School District serves students in Coronado. It includes:

• Coronado Middle School (CMS)
• Coronado High School
• Silver Strand Elementary
• Village Elementary

Coronado School of the Arts is a special public school located at Coronado High School. There are also private schools like Sacred Heart Parish School and Christ Church Day School.

Coronado's Economy

Coronado has many important employers. The United States Navy is the largest employer, with thousands of people working at its bases. The Hotel del Coronado is also a major employer.

Here are some of the top employers in Coronado:

Famous People from Coronado

Many interesting people have lived in Coronado.

Actors and Entertainers

• Johnny Downs – a child actor from the "Our Gang" films.
• Lloyd Haynes – an actor known for the TV show Room 222.
• Mae Hotely – a silent film actress.
• Jim Kelly – a martial artist and actor, who starred with Bruce Lee.
• Anita Page – another silent film actress.
• Sarah Roemer – an actress and model.
• Tim Thomerson – an actor and comedian.
• Wende Wagner – an actress.
• William Witney – a film director.

Music Stars

• Kevin Kenner – a concert pianist.
• Mojo Nixon – a musician and radio host.
• Nick Reynolds – a founding member of The Kingston Trio.
• George Sanger – a video game music composer.
• Scott Weiland – the former lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots.
• Tina Weymouth – the bassist and vocalist of Talking Heads.

Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, 1978

Business Leaders

• Charles T. Hinde – an early investor in the Hotel del Coronado.
• Doug Manchester – a real estate developer.
• Orville Redenbacher – known for his popcorn brand.
• John D. Spreckels – a major figure in transportation and real estate.
• Ira C. Copley – a publisher and businessman.

Military Heroes

• General Joseph Henry Pendleton, USMC – a former Mayor of Coronado, and Camp Pendleton is named after him.
• Major General John H. Russell Jr., USMC – a former leader of the Marine Corps.
• Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN – inspired a character in the movie The Hunt for Red October.
• John S. McCain Sr. – the grandfather of Senator John McCain.
• Admiral George Stephen Morrison, USN – the father of The Doors' lead singer, Jim Morrison.
• Commander Alan G. Poindexter, USN – a NASA astronaut.
• Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN – a Medal of Honor recipient.

Vice President Joe Biden speaks to Navy SEAL trainees, NAB Coronado, 2009

Sports Figures

• Layne Beaubien – an Olympic silver medalist in water polo.
• Cam Cameron – a coach in the NFL.
• Servando Carrasco – a soccer player.
• Chad Fox – a Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Ken Huff – a former NFL player.
• Fulton Kuykendall – a former NFL player.
• Jim Laslavic – a former NFL linebacker.
• Don Orsillo – a baseball announcer.
• Gene Rock – a former basketball player.
• Sven Salumaa – a former tennis player.

Writers

• L. Frank Baum – the famous author of The Wizard of Oz. He wrote part of the book while living in Coronado.
• Landis Everson – a poet.

See also

In Spanish: Coronado (California) para niños