Kearny Mesa, San Diego facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kearny Mesa, San Diego
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| Kearny Mesa | |
Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa
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 Kearny Mesa, San Diego
Location in Northwestern San Diego
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  California |
| County |  San Diego |
| City |  San Diego |
Kearny Mesa is a community located right in the middle of San Diego, California. It's surrounded by major roads: State Route 52 to the north, Interstate 805 to the west, Aero Drive to the south, and Interstate 15 to the east. Nearby communities include Serra Mesa, Clairemont, and Tierrasanta. About 2,800 people live in Kearny Mesa.
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History of Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa gets its name from Camp Kearny, a U.S. military base. This base was active from 1917 to 1946. Later, it became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Camp Kearny was named after Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny. He was an important leader during the Mexican–American War. He also served as a military governor of California. Even though his name was pronounced "Car-nee" back then, people in San Diego today say "Cur-nee."
The area started to become a city in 1937 with Gibbs Airfield. This airfield is now Montgomery Field, a small airport named after John J. Montgomery, a pioneer glider pilot. In 1948, San Diego bought the airfield and a lot of land around it. They thought about using it for a new main airport.
However, there were too many airplanes flying near MCAS Miramar. This made the idea of a new airport not possible. So, Montgomery Field was only used for small planes. The extra land was turned into an area for businesses and factories.
Starting in 1955, many companies like General Dynamics moved to Kearny Mesa. These companies worked in aerospace, electronics, and other industries. There were also many shops and businesses built, especially west of State Route 163.
On October 20, 2020, a special area called the Convoy District was officially named the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District.
Geography and Location
The word "mesa" in Kearny Mesa means that the area is mostly flat. Kearny Mesa is located between several other communities. To the west is Clairemont, to the east is Tierrasanta. To the north are Miramar and Mira Mesa. To the south are Linda Vista and Serra Mesa.
The City of San Diego says Kearny Mesa is the area bordered by State Route 52 (SR 52), Interstate 15 (I-15), Aero Drive, and I-805. The city also includes a part of land south of Aero Drive, along the west side of I-15.
Montgomery Field is a local airport in Kearny Mesa. The community is also very close to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
There are a few neighborhoods where people live in Kearny Mesa. These include Stonecrest, Kearny Lodge, and Royal Highlands.
Kearny Mesa Climate
Kearny Mesa has a semi-arid climate. This means it has mild winters and warm summers with very little rain.
Economy and Businesses
Most of Kearny Mesa is used for businesses and industries. You can find many types of local businesses here. These include car dealerships, restaurants (especially American and Asian food), and supermarkets. There are also big national chain stores and many small local shops. The old General Dynamics site is now a new area called Spectrum, which has different kinds of buildings and uses.
Convoy District: A Cultural Hub
The Convoy District is famous for its many different Asian businesses. You can find shops and restaurants representing various Asian cultures. These include Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai places. Some of these businesses also spread to the east and central areas, near Balboa Avenue and along State Route 163.
The first Asian businesses in the Convoy District started in 1979. A Woo Chee Chong grocery store opened on Convoy Street. The Korean market chain Zion also opened its first store there in 1979. A few years later, in 1986, Nijiya Market, a Japanese market, opened its very first store in the area. It later grew to have many locations in California and Hawaii.
These early stores helped other Asian shops and restaurants open nearby. As the area became known for its Asian food and products, bigger Asian chain stores like 99 Ranch Market, Mitsuwa, and H Mart also opened locations in the Convoy District.
On October 20, 2020, the Convoy District was officially named the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District. This happened because local businesses, people living there, store owners, and non-profit groups worked hard to make the name change happen. They worked with San Diego City Council Member Chris Cate and Assembly member Todd Gloria.
Many community groups and fundraisers support and promote the local businesses in this district. For example, the Convoy District Partnership helped raise over $30,000. This money was used to create six highway signs that help promote this special district.
See also
In Spanish: Kearny Mesa (San Diego) para niños
