San Francisco

San Francisco is a large and busy city in California. It is the fourth-biggest city in the state and the 17th-biggest in the whole United States. Over 800,000 people live there.

Long ago, the Yelamu Ohlone people lived in the area. In 1776, people from New Spain built a fort called the Presidio of San Francisco. The California gold rush in 1849 brought many people to the city, and it grew quickly. In 1906, a big earthquake and fire damaged much of the city, but it was rebuilt.

Today, San Francisco is well-known for its steep hills and many different buildings. Visitors enjoy seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and riding the old cable cars. The city has many schools, museums, and music groups. It is also home to two major sports teams, the San Francisco Giants and the Golden State Warriors. San Francisco International Airport is very busy, and many people visit the city from around the world.

Etymology

See also: List of San Francisco placename etymologies

San Francisco means 'Saint Francis' in Spanish. The city is named after Mission San Francisco de Asís, named to honor Saint Francis of Assisi. The mission was founded in 1776 by Spanish leaders, guided by Padre Francisco Palóu. In 1847, the city was officially named San Francisco by Washington Allon Bartlett, who led the city then. Before that, it was called Yerba Buena, meaning 'good herb' in Spanish. The area was known as El Paraje de Yerba Buena because of the many herbs there. Today, the name Yerba Buena is still seen in places like Yerba Buena Island.

Locals often call the city "the City" or "SF". Some people use the nickname "Frisco", which has been used since 1850, but not everyone likes it.

When people from California Cantonese came during the California Gold Rush, they called the place 金山, Gāmsāan, meaning "Gold Mountain". When gold was found in Bendigo, Australia, they called it "New Gold Mountain" and referred to California and San Francisco as "Old Gold Mountain".

History

See also: History of San Francisco

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of San Francisco.

Indigenous history

The earliest archeological evidence of human habitation in the area dates to 3000 BCE. The Ohlone name for San Francisco was Ahwaste, meaning "place at the bay". The Yelamu group of the Ramaytush people lived in small villages when a Spanish exploration party arrived on November 2, 1769. This was the first European visit to San Francisco Bay. The Spanish arrival began changes to the Ramaytush people and their culture.

Spanish era (1769–1821)

The Spanish Empire claimed San Francisco as part of Las Californias, a province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The Spanish arrived in 1769 when the Portolá expedition, led by Don Gaspar de Portolá and Juan Crespí, reached San Francisco Bay. They saw the area's good harbor. In 1770, Pedro Fages looked for a better route to the San Francisco Peninsula from Monterey. This became part of the El Camino Real route.

In 1774, Juan Bautista de Anza chose sites for a mission and presidio. On August 5, 1775, the Spanish ship San Carlos, led by Juan Manuel de Ayala, became the first ship in the bay.

On March 28, 1776, Anza built the Presidio of San Francisco. On October 9, Mission San Francisco de Asís, also called Mission Dolores, was founded by Padre Francisco Palóu. In 1794, the Presidio built the Castillo de San Joaquín, a fort on the southern side of the Golden Gate.

In 1804, Alta California was created, including San Francisco. By 1810–1820, about 1,100 people lived at the Mission Dolores settlement.

Mexican era (1821–1848)

See also: Yerba Buena, California

In 1821, Spain gave the Californias to Mexico. The California mission system lost influence during Mexican rule. Land became private ranchos. Trade grew, with ships from Atlantic ports sailing in California waters.

The Mexican Secularization Act of 1833 required missions to give up land and free indigenous people. Governor José Figueroa opened San Francisco to settlers. Before this, only the Presidio military and Mission Dolores religious settlements existed. In 1835, the Presidio soldiers moved to the Presidio of Sonoma. Only a few stayed in San Francisco. Mission Dolores sold most of its land in 1836.

In 1833, Juana Briones de Miranda started the first non-indigenous household in San Francisco at El Polín Spring. In 1834, the pueblo of Yerba Buena was founded. Yerba Buena Cove was a good spot for ships, and the new settlement and trading post was built there. Yerba Buena was in today's Chinatown and Financial District, centered on what is now Portsmouth Square. A map of Yerba Buena was made by Jean Jacques Vioget.

Francisco de Haro was the first alcalde of Yerba Buena. In 1835, José Joaquín Estudillo approved the first land grant to William Richardson. Yerba Buena attracted American and European settlers. An 1842 census showed 21 residents born in the United States or Europe, plus one Filipino merchant. After the Bear Flag Revolt and the U.S. Conquest of California, American forces from the USS Portsmouth captured Yerba Buena on July 9, 1846. They raised the American flag over the plaza, later renamed Portsmouth Square.

U.S. forces appointed José de Jesús Noé and Washington Allon Bartlett as co-alcaldes. On January 30, 1847, Mayor Bartlett changed the city's name from "Yerba Buena" to "San Francisco". This was because the old name was only local, and the new name was used on maps. There was also worry that a new town planned by General Vallejo would be called "Francisca". After the change, Vallejo's town was named Benicia. Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Alta California became part of the United States.

Early American era (1848–1906)

Despite its good location as a port, San Francisco was still small in 1847, with about 459 people.

The California gold rush brought many people looking for gold. The population grew from 1,000 in 1848 to 25,000 by December 1849. Crews on ships often left for the gold fields, leaving many ships in the harbor. Some ships were used as stores, saloons, or hotels. Others were left to rot or sunk. By 1851, the harbor was extended, and buildings were built on piles among the ships. By 1870, Yerba Buena Cove was filled in to create new land.

California became a state in 1850, and the U.S. Army built Fort Point and a fort on Alcatraz Island. San Francisco County was one of the original 18 counties. In 1856, the county was divided. Everything south of a line became San Mateo County, and everything north became the new City and County of San Francisco.

The gold rush brought growth and new businesses. The discovery of silver in Nevada in 1859 helped the economy grow.

The growth also brought problems, like crime and poverty. The Barbary Coast became known for illegal activities. People like William Taylor came to preach and later built a church with donations.

One important leader was William Chapman Ralston. He controlled much of the Comstock Lode mines and founded the Bank of California, the first bank in the Western U.S. He also built the Palace Hotel. But his financial empire fell in 1875 after the Panic of 1873, causing a big economic crisis.

Feelings against Chinese people grew, leading to the San Francisco riot of 1877. This led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which stopped Chinese laborers from coming to the U.S. until it was repealed over 60 years later.

The Port of San Francisco grew, and in 1869, a railroad connected to the eastern U.S. Levi Strauss started a dry goods business, and Domingo Ghirardelli began making chocolate. Chinese immigrants created the city's Chinatown. By 1880, Chinese people made up 9.3% of the population.

The first cable cars began in 1873 on Clay Street. The city's Victorian houses appeared, and leaders planned Golden Gate Park. Schools, churches, and theaters were built. The Presidio became an important military base.

In 1890, San Francisco's population was almost 300,000, making it the eighth-largest city in the U.S. Around 1901, it was known for its grand style, big hotels, mansions on Nob Hill, and lively arts scene. The first North American plague happened during the San Francisco plague of 1900–1904.

Modern American era (1906–1940)

See also: ATCOR § San Francisco (1907-1930)

At 5:12 am on April 18, 1906, a major earthquake struck San Francisco. Buildings fell, and fires started from broken gas lines. The fires burned for days because water mains were broken. More than three-quarters of the city was destroyed, including downtown. About 498 people died, though some think it was more. More than half of the 400,000 people lost their homes. Refugees lived in tents in parks and beaches. Jack London wrote famous descriptions of the earthquake.

Rebuilding was quick and large. Amadeo Giannini started Bank of Italy, which later became Bank of America, lending money to those who lost everything. The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association or SPUR was created in 1910 to improve housing. The earthquake led to development in western neighborhoods like Pacific Heights. The mansions on Nob Hill became grand hotels. City Hall was rebuilt in the Beaux Arts style, and the city celebrated with the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915.

During this time, San Francisco built important infrastructure. Civil Engineer Michael O'Shaughnessy supervised building the Twin Peaks Reservoir, the Stockton Street Tunnel, the Twin Peaks Tunnel, the San Francisco Municipal Railway, and new sewers. San Francisco's streetcars were finished between 1915 and 1927. The O'Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct provided plenty of water.

After the 1929 stock market crash, no San Francisco-based bank failed. During the Great Depression, San Francisco built the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, finishing them in 1936 and 1937. During this time, Alcatraz became a federal prison. San Francisco celebrated with the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939–40, held on Treasure Island in the bay.

Postmodern American era (1941–present)

See also: San Francisco in the 1970s

During World War II, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was very busy, and Fort Mason was the main port for soldiers going to the Pacific Theater of Operations. Sharp Park in Pacifica held some Japanese Americans temporarily. Many people, especially African Americans from the South, came for jobs. After the war, many stayed. The United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco in 1945, and the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951.

In the 1950s and 1960s, many neighborhoods were changed for new freeways, but only short parts were built. Cargo moved from San Francisco to the Port of Oakland. The city turned to tourism. Suburbs grew, and many white people left, while many people from Asia and Latin America moved in. From 1950 to 1980, the city's population fell by over 10 percent.

San Francisco became important for the counterculture movement. Beat Generation writers were in the North Beach in the 1950s. Hippies came to Haight-Ashbury in the 1960s, with the 1967 Summer of Love. The 1970s saw the start of the gay rights movement with The Castro neighborhood, the election of Harvey Milk to the Board of Supervisors, and his assassination with Mayor George Moscone in 1978.

Bank of America, now in Charlotte, North Carolina, was started in San Francisco. The Transamerica Pyramid was finished in 1972, starting high-rise buildings downtown. The 1980s saw more homeless people, a problem that continues.

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the Marina and South of Market areas and led to removing the Embarcadero Freeway and much of the Central Freeway. The city rebuilt The Embarcadero and Hayes Valley.

Recent decades have seen growth from the internet industry. During the late 1990s dot-com boom, many startup companies moved in. By 2000, the population reached new highs. After the bubble burst in 2001, many companies closed, but technology and business remain important. The mid-2000s saw the social media boom, with San Francisco popular for tech offices and homes for people working in Silicon Valley companies like Apple and Google.

The early 2020s saw fewer tech companies in Downtown San Francisco due to the COVID-19 pandemic and people working from home. Some think this could cause economic problems, but others say it affects only parts of the city.

The San Francisco Armory, Palace of Fine Arts, Haas–Lilienthal House, and 450 Sutter Street are historical landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

San Francisco is on the West Coast of the United States, at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city touches the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. It includes islands like Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and Yerba Buena Island. The main land part is about seven miles on each side, but with water areas, it is nearly 232 square miles.

The city has many hills. Some neighborhoods are named after hills, such as Nob Hill and Russian Hill. Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson are the highest points. Earthquakes can happen because of nearby faults, which affects how buildings are made.

The shoreline has grown because of landfill projects. Some parts of the city sit on this filled land. The city has many parks and some natural water areas, but many creeks are now covered.

Neighborhoods

San Francisco has many neighborhoods, each with its own feel. The Financial District and Union Square are busy places for work and shopping. Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are favorite spots for visitors. Chinatown is the oldest in North America. The Mission District has a history of immigrants and has changed over time.

The Western Addition includes Hayes Valley and Japantown. Haight-Ashbury is famous for its links to 1960s culture. Pacific Heights and the Marina are fancy areas. The Sunset District and the Richmond are big neighborhoods with many different kinds of people.

Climate

San Francisco has mild weather with cool, wet winters and mild, dry summers. The ocean and the bay help keep temperatures even. The city often has cool winds and fog, especially in summer. Rain mostly falls between November and April, and snow almost never happens.

Ecology

Long ago, tule elk lived in the area, as shown by old remains found in shellmounds. Early explorers saw elk near what is now the Presidio.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of San Francisco

San Francisco is a busy city with lots of people. In 2020, about 874,000 people lived there. It is one of the most crowded big cities in the United States. The city is part of a bigger area with millions of people living around it.

San Francisco has many different kinds of people. There are lots of Asians, Whites, African Americans, and people from many other places. Some neighborhoods have many people from the same country or area, like Chinatown with many people of Chinese heritage.

San Francisco has many languages spoken at home. Most people speak English, but many also speak Spanish, Chinese, or other languages.

Many adults in San Francisco have gone to college. The city also has many families and people living together, but there are also lots of people who live alone. The city tries to help everyone, no matter where they are from.

Homelessness

See also: Homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area

Many people in San Francisco do not have homes. This has been a problem for a long time. The city is working hard to help these people and spends more money each year to provide support and services.

Crime

Main article: Crime in San Francisco

San Francisco has less violent crime than many other big cities. Some areas have more problems with crime than others. The city works to keep everyone safe and has seen some improvement in reducing certain types of crime recently.

Economy

See also: List of companies based in San Francisco

The city has many jobs in services, like tourism, financial services, and high technology. Many people work for the city government, and some work for big companies like Salesforce. Small shops and businesses are very important to the city.

San Francisco is good at making new technology, medicines, and finding out new things about health.

Technology

San Francisco became a place where new technology grows a lot in the 1990s, and it is still important today. Many technology jobs were made between 1999 and 2000. In the 2000s, big technology companies like Apple, Google, Ubisoft, Facebook, and Twitter put offices here. Now, new companies that work on thinking machines are also coming to San Francisco.

Tourism and conventions

See also: Port of San Francisco

Tourism is very important for San Francisco. Many people visit to see places like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alamo Square Park. The city has many hotels and a big place for meetings called the Moscone Center.

Tourists can also see the Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, Pier 39, and Alcatraz Island. There are also many places to eat, shop, and have fun at night in different parts of the city.

Arts and culture

Main article: Culture of San Francisco

See also: San Francisco in popular culture

San Francisco is famous for places like the Financial District, Union Square, and Fisherman's Wharf. The city is also known for its colorful streets and neighborhoods where people can walk to shops, restaurants, and fun places. It is called the "most walkable" city in the United States because of these features.

Many areas have a mix of shops, restaurants, and places for entertainment. Some spots are famous for their unique style, like Union Street in Cow Hollow or Valencia Street in the Mission. The city has many programs to help protect nature. It started one of the first recycling programs and has many ways to use clean energy.

LGBTQ

Main article: LGBTQ culture in San Francisco

San Francisco is a place where everyone is welcome. The city has many events that bring people together to show support and pride.

The city hosts big parades and parties that celebrate love and acceptance.

Performing arts

See also: List of theatres in San Francisco

San Francisco has many places to see plays, concerts, and other shows. The War Memorial and Performing Arts Center has famous groups like the San Francisco Opera, Ballet, and Symphony. The Fillmore is a music venue where many famous bands first played. The city has many theaters with new and exciting shows.

Museums

Further information: List of museums in San Francisco Bay Area, California § San Francisco

San Francisco has many museums with art, science, and history. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has lots of modern and contemporary art. The Palace of the Legion of Honor has European art, and the de Young Museum has art from many parts of the world. The Exploratorium is a fun science museum where you can touch and try things out.

Sports

San Francisco has many popular sports teams. The San Francisco Giants play baseball and have won several big championships called the World Series. They play at Oracle Park. The San Francisco 49ers are a football team that now play nearby. They have won big championships called Super Bowls.

The Golden State Warriors play basketball and have also won several big championships. They play at Chase Center. There are also college teams like the San Francisco Dons and the San Francisco State Gators.

San Francisco hosts fun events like the Bay to Breakers footrace, the San Francisco Marathon, and the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. The city has many places for outdoor activities, such as biking, running, and boating.

Parks and recreation

See also: List of parks in San Francisco

San Francisco has many beautiful parks and beaches. Many of these places are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is one of the most visited park areas in the United States. Some popular spots include Ocean Beach, where people enjoy surfing, and Baker Beach, located near the Golden Gate Bridge. The area also includes the California Academy of Sciences, a place where people can learn about nature and science.

The Presidio of San Francisco was an old military base that is now a big park with many museums. Crissy Field is a former airfield turned into a natural area. There are also many other special places like Fort Funston, Lands End, and Fort Mason. The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park has old ships and water areas near Aquatic Park.

San Francisco has more than 220 parks cared for by the city. The most famous is Golden Gate Park, which has many gardens such as the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. Lake Merced is a freshwater lake close to the San Francisco Zoo, where many animals live. San Francisco is known for having a park close by for everyone to enjoy.

Government

Main articles: Government of San Francisco, Politics of San Francisco, and Mayors of San Francisco

See also: San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco has a special government because it is both a city and a county. The mayor leads the city and is also the top official for the county. There is a group called the Board of Supervisors that makes laws and decides budgets. People in San Francisco can vote directly on laws through special votes called initiatives.

San Francisco takes care of some places outside the city because of its special status. For example, it runs the airport even though it is in a different county. The city also looks after important buildings and areas far away.

Members of the Board of Supervisors are chosen to represent different parts of the city. If the mayor can no longer serve, the president of the Board becomes the new mayor until the board picks someone else.

Most city jobs in San Francisco are filled by people who are elected using a special voting system called ranked choice voting.

San Francisco is an important place for many government offices. It has courts, banks, and other federal buildings. California’s highest court and many state offices are here. Many countries have offices called consulates here to help their citizens.

San Francisco is part of different areas for state and national governments. It has its own representatives in the California State Senate and Assembly, and in the United States House of Representatives.

Education

Colleges and universities

See also: List of colleges and universities in San Francisco

The University of California, San Francisco focuses on health and medical studies. It is one of the top medical schools in the United States. The university has many buildings across the city.

The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco is the oldest law school in California. Nearby, San Francisco State University has about 30,000 students.

The City College of San Francisco is a large school for students who do not want to go straight to a four-year college.

The University of San Francisco is the city's oldest university. Other schools include Golden Gate University, California Institute of Integral Studies, and the Academy of Art University.

Primary and secondary schools

See also: San Francisco public grammar schools and List of high schools in California § San Francisco County

Public schools in the city are managed by the San Francisco Unified School District. Many children also go to private or religious schools.

The city offers preschool to all four-year-olds.

Media

Further information: Media in the San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco has a big newspaper called the San Francisco Chronicle. It is the most read paper in Northern California. It was famous for a writer named Herb Caen, whose daily writings were very popular.

Another paper, The San Francisco Examiner, used to be very important but is now a free daily paper.

There are also Chinese language newspapers like Sing Tao Daily, and other magazines such as San Francisco and 7x7. Online news sites like SFist are also based here.

The San Francisco Bay Area is a big spot for TV and radio. It’s the sixth-largest TV market in the U.S. and the fourth-largest radio market. All the major U.S. TV networks have stations here. International news channels like CNN, MSNBC, BBC, and others also have offices in San Francisco.

There are public broadcasting stations here too, including KQED, which is a very popular radio station. Other local radio stations include KUSF, run by students from the University of San Francisco, and KPOO, an independent station started in 1971. San Francisco is also home to many media companies and a big broadcast tower called Sutro Tower.

Infrastructure

Transportation

See also: Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area

Public transportation

See also: San Francisco Municipal Railway

Transit is the most used form of transportation in San Francisco. Many people use Muni's bus routes and the Muni Metro light rail system every day. The San Francisco Municipal Railway, known as Muni, is the main public transit system. Muni operates light rail, heavy rail, buses, and trolley coaches. It also runs a historic streetcar line and the famous cable cars, which are a major tourist attraction.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects San Francisco with the East Bay and San Jose. BART shares stations with Muni Metro.

Another commuter rail system, Caltrain, runs from San Francisco to San Jose.

San Francisco Bay Ferry operates from the Ferry Building to points in Oakland and other areas. The Golden Gate Ferry also provides service.

Freeways and roads

Further information: List of streets in San Francisco

Many streets in San Francisco are used for driving. I-80 connects to the Bay Bridge. US 101 provides access to the south of the city and to the Golden Gate Bridge.

After an earthquake, some freeways were removed and turned into streets.

Vision Zero

In 2014, San Francisco started Vision Zero, aiming to stop all traffic accidents in the city.

Airports

Though located a little south of downtown, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is part of the city. SFO is a major airport for travel to Asia and Europe.

The San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport are also nearby.

Cycling and walking

Main article: Cycling in San Francisco

Cycling is popular in San Francisco. The city has added better bike lanes and parking. Bay Wheels offers bike sharing. Many people also walk in the city.

Cycling has become more popular over the years.

Public safety

See also: History of the San Francisco Police Department

The San Francisco Police Department was founded in 1849.

The San Francisco Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical services.

Sister cities

Main articles: Sister cities of San Francisco, California and List of diplomatic missions in San Francisco

San Francisco is part of the Sister Cities program. The city has many international friends, with many offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1980, the mayor of San Francisco visited China and made friends with the city of Shanghai.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from San Francisco

San Francisco has been home to many famous people. The city has attracted artists, writers, business leaders, and others who have made important contributions to many fields. The list of notable people from San Francisco includes individuals who have shaped culture, science, and society.