Borrego Springs is a census-designated place in northeastern San Diego County, California, set in the Low Desert region of Southern California within the Colorado Desert portion of the Sonoran Desert. The community is entirely surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which at roughly 600,000 acres is the largest state park in California. That geographic isolation, roughly 88 miles northeast of the city of San Diego, defines the town's character and has protected it from the light and development that reshape most of Southern California. With a population of about 3,100 year-round residents, Borrego Springs is one of the state's most distinctive small towns. It is recognized as California's first International Dark Sky Community, a designation reflecting decades of effort to limit artificial light and preserve the night sky. As a result, the Milky Way is visible from the town itself, and stargazing and astronomy events draw visitors throughout the year. The town's rhythms shift dramatically with the desert's seasons. During peak wildflower superbloom years, the area's population can swell many times over as visitors arrive to see the desert bloom. The rest of the year, Borrego Springs is a quiet community of a handful of cafes and shops, with little nightlife beyond the star displays and dramatic sunsets. Life here centers on the outdoors and the sky. Anza-Borrego's vast backcountry offers hiking, camping, and off-road exploration, while the Borrego Springs Unified School District serves local students in a close-knit setting. For residents, the appeal is the rare combination of complete quiet, striking desert scenery, and a night sky few other populated places in California can match. That remoteness makes Borrego Springs a year-round home for some and a seasonal retreat for others seeking darkness and stillness.