National City is a city in the South Bay region of southwestern San Diego County, California. The population was 56,173 at the 2020 United St…National City is a city in the South Bay region of southwestern San Diego County, California. The population was 56,173 at the 2020 United States census, down from 58,582 at the 2010 census. National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, having been incorporated in 1887.