Monday, 23 November 2015 - 01:00 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: North America / Nordamerika Category/Kategorie: GeneralReading Time: 4minutes
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, across (and helping to form) San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. Its population is at 23.500. Coronado is Spanish for “the crowned one”, and thus it is nicknamed The Crown City. Coronado lies on geographic combination of an island and a tombolo connected to the mainland called the Silver Strand. In 1969, the San Diego-Coronado Bridge was opened, allowing much faster transit between the cities than bay ferries or driving via State Route 75 along the Silver Strand.
The town of Coronado was incorporated on December 11, 1890. The land was purchased by Elisha Spurr Babcock, along with Hampton L. Story and Jacob Gruendike. Their intention was to create a resort community, and in 1886 the Coronado Beach Company was organized. By 1888 they had built the Hotel del Coronado (when it opened, it was the largest resort hotel in the world) and the city became a major resort destination. They also built a schoolhouse, and formed athletic, boating, and baseball clubs. In 1900 a tourist/vacation area just south of the Hotel del Coronado was established by John D. Spreckels and named Tent City. Over the years the tents gave way to cottages, the last of which was torn down in late 1940 or early 1941. Hotel del Coronado was long considered one of the world’s top resorts. It is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Tourism is an essential component of Coronado’s economy. This city is home to three major resorts (Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa and Loews Coronado Bay Resort) as well as several other hotels and inns. The downtown district along Orange Avenue with its many shops, restaurants and theaters is also a key part of the local economy. Many of the restaurants are highly rated and provide a wide variety of cuisine choices. In 2008, The Travel Channel rated Coronado Beach as the fifth best beach in America.
