[8] Before the arrival of Spaniards, the area which modern day National City occupies was part of the territory of the Diegueño tribe, also known as Kamia, and later Kumeyaay.

[9] Later in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century there was a Kumeyaay village, north of the modern National City boundaries, on Chollas Creek.

Governor Pío Pico granted Rancho de la Nación to his brother-in-law John (Don Juan) Forster in 1845.

[12] In 1868, Frank Kimball and his brothers Warren and Levi, contractors and builders from San Francisco, purchased the entire rancho and thus began the foundation of the city, retaining the National name.

By constructing the first roads and railroad in what is now National City, Frank and his brothers most notably were responsible for introducing modern transportation to the residents of the community.

These large ventures, coupled with smaller personal missions, both contributed to the overall goal of creating a community unparalleled to the times.

A lasting mark of the Kimballs was the trees they imported and planted from Europe and Asia, accomplished via a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

[14] In the mid-20th century, businesses on National Avenue catered to the entertainment of sailors stationed at Naval Base San Diego, and became known as the "Mile of Bars".

In the late 20th century, the city, seeking to end the association of the street with drinking culture, urged the growth of automobile dealerships, transforming the area to be known as the "Mile of Cars".

[17] In the early 21st century, the city began to utilize eminent domain to create new developments;[18] this met some criticism, to include on Reason TV in a video narrated by Drew Carey.

Having a Heritage Square shows how National City has an important History that has to be shown to the public, along with the stories of the creators of these vintage buildings.

National City is bounded by San Diego to the north and northeast, Bonita to the southeast, and Chula Vista to the south across the Sweetwater River.

Also, within the boundaries of National City on the eastern side of town is the unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Lincoln Acres.

The residents near Las Palmas[27] and El Toyon Parks[28] have neighborhood councils where they can voice their concerns with the city's elected officials.

The Neighborhood Council Program was developed in an effort to improve communication with the community and to bring services directly to National City residents.

[29] The program helps to unify neighbors to further enhance the image of the city, instilling civic pride into neighborhoods.

National City's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March.

[30] The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 72 °F (22 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches [23–33 centimetres] annually).

Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick "marine layer" of cloud cover will keep the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast.

[30] Like most of Southern California and the San Diego County region, the majority of National City's current area was originally occupied by chaparral, a plant community made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs.

The Sweetwater River runs from the Cuyamaca Mountains, through National City and Chula Vista via a flood control channel (natural route as opposed to a canal) and empties into San Diego Bay.

Most of west National City is flat with an average elevation of 72 feet (22 m), which made it historically desirable and well suited for the Spanish to graze their horses.

The median household income was $51,735, and persons living in poverty was estimated at 15.2% The 2010 United States census[33] reported that National City had a population of 58,582.

As of 2007, 19.5% of National City residents had incomes listed below the poverty level, a figure above the 12.4% California state average.

[44] The NCTMD includes all lodging business (hotels, motels and inns), existing and in the future, available for public occupancy located within the city limits boundaries.

An annual assessment of 2.5% of gross short-term room rental revenue collected by lodging business goes to fund the NCTMD and its activities of promoting the safety and enhanced image of National City in order to increase tourism as well as to market National City as a tourist, meeting and event destination.