[2] "P.B.," as it is known as by local residents, is home to one of San Diego's more developed nightlife scenes, with a great variety of bars, eateries, and clothing stores located along Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard.

As with many California cities, the history of San Diego's development can be traced back to the completion of a cross-country railroad in 1885.

It was Hubbell who "cleared away the grainfields, pitched a tent, mapped out the lots, hired an auctioneer and started to work".

[3] Early landmarks and attractions in Pacific Beach included an asbestos factory (established in 1888), a race track, and the San Diego College of Letters (1887–1891), none of which survive today.

[3] High-rise construction in nearby Mission Bay led to the establishment of a 30-foot height limitation for buildings in 1972, an ordinance still in effect.

Long-term residents of Pacific Beach worry about the future, relating to drastic development plans and stress over the importance of homelessness.

[7] The United States Navy operated an anti-aircraft training center at Pacific Beach during World War II.

There are numerous local shops, bars, hotels, and restaurants along the boardwalk, and it is generally crowded with pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders and shoppers.

[4][3] The primary north-south street running parallel to the beach is Mission Blvd., with the streets named after late 19th century federal officials, then incrementing in alphabetical order as they move further from the coast: Bayard, Cass, Dawes, Everts, Fanuel, Gresham, Haines, Ingraham, Jewell, Kendall, Lamont, Morrell, Noyes, Olney, Pendleton, Quincy, and Randall.

Kate Sessions Park has a playground, a large lawn with ocean views, and a many-acre unmaintained area used for hiking and mountain biking.

Rose Creek, which flows through Pacific Beach before emptying into Mission Bay, provides open space and a rich wetland area.

In John Dos Passos's The 42nd Parallel (1930), Fainy "Mac" McCreary briefly lives in a bungalow in Pacific Beach with his wife Maisie and their daughter Rose.

[22] It was also featured in seventh part of JoJos Bizarre Adventures[23][circular reference] named Steel Ball Run and it served as the starting point of a race from San Diego to New York.