Shelltown, San Diego
Community of San Diego
Shelltown
An image looking southward on 40th Street,Naval Base San Diego in the distance
Shelltown is located in the southeastern area of the city of San Diego
Shelltown, San Diego Location within San Diego
Coordinates:32°41′12″N117°06′27″W / 32.6868°N 117.1074°W /32.6868; -117.1074
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	San Diego
City	San Diego
ZIP Code	92113

Shelltown is a neighborhood inSan Diego, California, located withinSoutheast San Diego. It is bordered byNational City to the south,Interstate 5 andBarrio Logan to the west, 43rd Avenue (a continuation of Highland Avenue) to the east, and Gamma Court and the neighborhood ofSouthcrest to the north.^[1] Prior to the 1980s the northern border of Shelltown was National Ave and many residents still consider that the northern border.^[2] Naval Base San Diego, an industrial park, and some commercial buildings are located just outside the western border of Shelltown along Main Street.

Due to the predominance of shells in the sandy soil, the neighborhood became known as "Shelltown." Located on a plateau just north and east ofNaval Base San Diego, Shelltown was a favorite location of housing for many of the early naval officers. Their ships were visible from their homes and were only moments away in the event they were called to duty^[3] The majority of Shelltown consists of residential homes built between 1920 and 1969.^[4]

Mexican Americans have a long history in the area and began living in the area as early as the 1910s. With the great influx of Filipino immigrants joining the United States Navy,^[5] especially from the Vietnam War era on to the 1990s, many Filipinos inhabited the Southeast San Diego neighborhoods ofAlta Vista,Bay Terraces,Paradise Hills, Shelltown,Skyline Hills, andValencia Park, both for the relatively affordable housing prices and its close proximity to Naval Base San Diego.^[6]

• Balboa Elementary School

Balboa Elementary School was recognized as one of six nationwide winners of the 2007Intel Schools of Distinction awards, for excellence in math education in an elementary school program.^[7][8][9]

Shelltown contains murals on walls at three main neighborhood entrances. Local activist and muralist Mario Torero was the lead artist for the Alpha Street piece.^[10]

The area is served by theSan Diego TrolleyBlue Line at thePacific Fleet station and the Route 929 bus via Main Street. The neighborhood also has quick access toInterstate 5,Interstate 15, andInterstate 805.

32°41′12″N117°6′26″W / 32.68667°N 117.10722°W /32.68667; -117.10722

• Neighborhoods in San Diego
• Urban communities in San Diego

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