Since San Diego was poised as one of the largest military settlements in the United States, the population more than doubled after the Second World War. The several military installations and facilities in the area demanded an existing labor force which saw an increase in the general population. After the Second World War, e military continued to play a significant role in the local economy, but post-Cold War cutbacks took a heavy toll on the local defense and aerospace industries. The resulting downturn led San Diego leaders to seek to diversify the city’s economy by focusing on research and science, as well as tourism. See further information here.
Tuna Capital of the World
The American Tuna industry was primarily based in San Diego San Diego’s first Tuna cannery was established in 1911. A large fishing fleet supported the canneries, mostly staffed by immigrant fishermen from Japan, and later from the Portuguese Azores and Italy whose influence is still felt in neighborhoods like Little Italy and Point Loma. Downtown San Diego has experienced a facelift from its medieval outlook due to the establishment of the Horton Plaza, the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the construction of the San Diego Convention Center; Petco Park which opened in 2004. See also about San Diego, A hub Of Military Defenses.
