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is an affluent city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 24,100 at the 2000 census. Coronado is Spanish for "the crowned one," and thus it is nicknamed
. In the early days a tourist/vacation area just south of the Hotel Del Coronado was established and named Tent City. Over the years the tents gave way to cottages, the last of which was torn down at the end of 1940, or early 1941. The City, itself, was never known as Tent City. The city is a very popular tourist destination for both local and non-San Diegans alike. The small island resort-town prides itself on its small town atmosphere and uptown social environment. However, over the years, tensions between the Coronado Police and younger residents have continued to rise. The district is one of the most expensive places to reside in California, San Diego County and the nation.
, starring Rod Cameron as a private detective, Dan Adams, who operated from the San Diego area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 84.6 km² (32.7 mi²); 20 km² (7.7 mi²) of the city is land and 64.6 km² (24.9 mi²) of it (76.36%) is water.
Coronado is a peninsula connected to the mainland by a 10.0 mi narrow strip of land called the
. Another nickname, mostly used by younger residents, is "The Rock".
by a shallow channel called the Spanish Bight. The development of North Island by the United States Navy prior to World War II led to the filling of the Bight, combining the land areas into a single body. The Navy still operates Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI or "North Island") on Coronado. On the opposite side of the island is Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, famous as a training center for Navy SEALs. Both facilities are part of the larger Naval Base Coronado complex.
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 city is currently weighing the options of additional construction on Highway 75 to alleviate congestion as traffic flows to and from San Diego and North Island.