Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 was founded in 1961. The original name of the organization was Citizens Coordinate for a Handsome Community, but in 1971 the title of the organization was changed to Citizens Coordinate for Century 3. The organization is dedicated to the idea that the outward appearance of a community reveals and influences the character of its people, and that civic beauty is an integral part of the community's cultural life. The group, when first established, advocated enlightened planning, preservation of desirable open spaces, agricultural excellence, tree planting and better landscaping, control of visual nuisance, and support of official efforts to achieve these goals. Since its founding C-3 has remained a non-profit, tax-exempt, volunteer organization.

C-3 is presided over by a Chairman of the Board, a president, several vice-presidents, and a number of Board members. Work projects are distributed to a variety of committees, at times there were as many as twenty-five of these committees. Topical areas of interest to committees included billboard control and land use. The size of the organization has never been large, probably not exceeding six hundred members. Its leaders, however, have been experienced in civic affairs and dedicated to their task, and have made C-3 an important community organization.

C-3 has been concerned with a number of environmental issues. They have been especially interested in the zoning of land, land use, billboard control, water and air quality, and the aesthetic development of San Diego. The group has, on a number of occasions, taken an active role in campaigning for and against legislation that affected these and other issues. Their role consisted chiefly of letter writing to political officials, and the printing of information sheets for the public.