Chula Vista ( CHOO-lə VIST-ə; Spanish for 'Beautiful/Pretty View', pronounced [ˈtʃula ˈβista]) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh-most populous city in Southern California, the 15th-most populous city in the state of California, and the 82nd-most populous city in the United States. The population was 275,487 as of the 2020 census, up from 243,916 as of the 2010 census. Located in the South Bay, about halfway—7.5 miles (12.1 km)—between the two downtowns of the San Diego–Tijuana region. Chula Vista is named for its scenic location between San Diego Bay and coastal mountain foothills. The area, along with San Diego, was inhabited by the Kumeyaay before contact from the Spanish, who later claimed the area. In 1821, Chula Vista became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire, which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later. California became part of the United States in 1848 as a result of the Mexican–American War, and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850. Founded in the early 19th century and incorporated in October 1911, fast population growth has recently been observed in the city. The city is home to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, Sesame Place San Diego, North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista Marina, and the Living Coast Discovery Center.