Tijuana, << tee WAHN uh or tee uh WAH nuh >> (pop. 1,800,645; met. area pop. 2,157,853) is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California. It lies at Mexico’s border with the United States, about 15 miles (26 kilometers) south of downtown San Diego.
Tijuana is a modern city with attractive public buildings and luxury hotels. Tourists from the United States spend millions of dollars in Tijuana each year. The city’s attractions include gift shops, fine restaurants, nightclubs, bullfights, and horse races. Tijuana produces electronic products and clothing. It is an export center for grapes, onions, and tomatoes. Many U.S. assembly plants are in Tijuana. The geographical closeness of Tijuana and San Diego has linked the cities’ economies in many ways. More Americans and Mexicans cross the border at Tijuana than at any other location.
Tijuana’s name may be derived from an Indian name for the region, or from a huge ranch in the area called the Tia Juana (Aunt Jane). During the early 1900’s, Tijuana was a small village of about 200 people. Since 1940, the city has grown rapidly because of its booming tourist trade.
