La Jolla is a hilly seaside community within the city of San Diego, California, United States occupying 7 miles (11 km) of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean within the northern city limits.The population reported in the 2010 Census was 46,781. The 2004 estimated population was 42,808. La Jolla is surrounded on three sides by ocean bluffs and beaches and is located 12mi north of Downtown San Diego, and 40mi south of Orange County, The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature of 70.5 °F (21.4 °C)La Jolla is home to a variety of businesses in the areas of lodging, dining, shopping, software, finance, real estate, bioengineering, medical practice and scientific research. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) is located in La Jolla, as are the Salk Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (part of UCSD), Scripps Research Institute, and the headquarters of National University (though its academic campuses are elsewhere).HistoryOrigin of the nameLocal Native Americans, the Kumeyaay, called this location '', "land of holes". The topographic feature that gave rise to the name "holes" is uncertain; it probably refers to sea-level caves located on the north-facing bluffs, which are visible from La Jolla Shores. It is suggested that the Kumeyaay name for the area was transcribed by the Spanish settlers as La Jolla. An alternative, pseudo-etymological suggestion for the origin of the name is that it is an alternate spelling of the Spanish word la '', which means "the jewel". Despite being disputed by scholars, this derivation of the name has been widely cited in popular culture. That supposed origin gave rise to the nickname "Jewel City".
