National City

The area was part of Kumeyaay territory. The Spanish named a roughly 26,000-acre (11,000 ha) tract El Rancho del Rey. After 1810 Mexico renamed it Rancho de la Nación, and Governor Pío Pico granted it to John Forster in 1845.

In 1868 Frank Kimball and his brothers Warren and Levi, contractors and builders from San Francisco, bought the whole rancho and kept the National name. The brothers built the area's first roads and railroad, its first post office and a wharf. They also imported trees from Europe and Asia in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The town was founded on July 7, 1868, and incorporated on September 17, 1887. It is the second-oldest city in San Diego County.

The California Southern Railroad Depot, built in 1882, was the first Pacific Coast terminus of the Santa Fe Railway's transcontinental system. The first transcontinental trains arrived in November 1885. The depot is California Historical Landmark no. 1023.

The city's three-mile port area on San Diego Bay is part of Naval Base San Diego. Navy sailors shaped the city's main street in the mid-20th century, when National Avenue's bars earned it the name Mile of Bars.

In the late 20th century the city encouraged car dealerships along National Avenue, and the Mile of Bars became the Mile of Cars. It is recognised as one of the world's first auto malls.

Brick Row, ten row houses at 909 A Avenue, was designed by R. C. Ball and built in 1887 for $30,000 for railroad workers and executives. It stands in Heritage Square and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city's motto is In the Center of It All.

Tourism is a major industry. In January 2012 the city created the National City Tourism Marketing District, which collects a 2.5% assessment on gross short-term lodging revenue to pay for marketing. Plaza Bonita, an enclosed shopping mall with a National City address, is the best-known retail centre.

Paradise Valley Hospital was founded in 1902 by Ellen White as a sanitarium.

Interstate 5, Interstate 805 and State Route 54 all pass through the city. National City Boulevard was once part of U.S. Route 101 and still runs north and south. Plaza Boulevard and 30th Street, which continues as Sweetwater Road, are the main east and west streets.

The San Diego Trolley Blue Line serves the city. The nearest commercial airport is San Diego International Airport. A 2012 ranking named National City the most walkable city in San Diego County, with a Walk Score of 71.

The National School District runs ten public elementary schools, including Central, El Toyon, Ira Harbison, John Otis, Kimball, Las Palmas, Lincoln Acres, Olivewood, Palmer Way and Rancho de la Nación. The Sweetwater Union High School District runs National City Middle School, Granger Junior High and Sweetwater High School.

The National City Public Library opened in August 2005 in a 49,508 square foot building. It houses the Kile Morgan Local History Room. Since 2022 council members have been elected by district rather than at large.