Vista, California

Not to be confused with Chula Vista, California.

Vista, California
City
Vista Gateway Arch at S Santa Fe Ave and Main St near downtown
Vista Gateway Arch at S Santa Fe Ave and Main St near downtown
Flag of Vista, California
Flag
Official seal of Vista, California
Seal
Motto: 
America's Climatic Wonderland
Location of Vista within San Diego County, California
Location of Vista within San Diego County, California
Vista city street map, California
Vista city street map, California
Vista, California is located in the United States
Vista, California
Vista, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°11′37″N 117°14′28″W / 33.19361°N 117.24111°W / 33.19361; -117.24111
Country United States
State California
County San Diego
IncorporatedJanuary 28, 1963[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorJohn Franklin[2]
 • City council[2]Corinna Contreras, Deputy Mayor
Joe Green
Katie Melendez
Daniel O'Donnell
 • City ManagerJohn Conley[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
18.75 sq mi (48.56 km2)
 • Land18.75 sq mi (48.56 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[5]
325 ft (99 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
98,381
 • Rank77th in California
307th in the United States
 • Density5,200/sq mi (2,000/km2)
DemonymVistan[6]
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
92081, 92083–92085
Area codes442/760
FIPS code06-82996
GNIS feature IDs1661645, 2412161
FlowerCalifornia Lilac[7]
BirdAnna's hummingbird[7]
TreeKentia Palm[7]
Websitewww.cityofvista.com

Vista (/ˈvɪstə/; Spanish for "view") is a city in San Diego County, California. It is a medium-sized city within the San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, Vista had a population of 98,381. Current data estimates a 2023 population of 99,835.[8] Vista's sphere of influence also includes portions of unincorporated San Diego County to the north and east, with a county island in the central west.[9] Located just 7 mi (11 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean, it has a Mediterranean climate.

Much of Vista's current territory was once part the Mexican land grants Rancho Buena Vista and Rancho Guajome. A post office was established on October 9, 1882,[10] and Vista was incorporated as a city on January 28, 1963, later becoming a charter city on June 13, 2007.

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Elected Officials". City of Vista. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "City Manager". City of Vista, California. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Vista". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "Bios". Vista Historical Society. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "About Vista". City of Vista, California. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  8. ^ "Estimates-E1 | Department of Finance". dof.ca.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  9. ^ San Diego GIS. "City of Vista" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014.
  10. ^ Cavalier, Lois. Images of America: Vista. Arcadia Publishing, 2008, p. 20.