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{{Infobox settlement
__TOC__
| name              = San Francisco
| official_name      = City and County of San Francisco
| settlement_type    = Consolidated city-county
| image_skyline      =
| image_caption      = San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge
| subdivision_name1  = California
| subdivision_name  = United States
| established_date  = 1776 (mission), 1850 (city)
| population_total  = 815,000
| area_total_km2    = 121
| timezone          = Pacific (PST/PDT)
| postal_code        = 94102–94188
| area_code          = 415, 628
}}
'''San Francisco''' is a major city in [[California]] located on the West Coast of the United States. Known for its steep hills, fog, and iconic Golden Gate Bridge, it is a cultural and financial center with a unique blend of historic charm and cutting-edge innovation.


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
'''San Francisco''', officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. Located on a 46.9-square-mile (121 km²) peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, it is the second most densely populated large U.S. city after New York City. Known for its steep rolling hills, eclectic architecture, and summer fog, it is a global icon of social and technological innovation.


* '''Population''': ~815,000 (metro over 4.5 million)
== Geography and Topography ==
* '''Founded''': 1776 by Spanish colonists
San Francisco is famous for its "Seven Hills," though the city actually contains over 50 named hills within its borders.
* '''Nicknames''': The City by the Bay, SF, Fog City
* '''Geography''': Situated on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay


== Landmarks and Attractions ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Hill !! Elevation !! Significance
|-
| '''Mount Davidson''' || 928 ft || The highest point in the city, topped by a 103-foot concrete cross.
|-
| '''Twin Peaks''' || 922 ft || Offers 360-degree views of the Bay Area; a popular tourist landmark.
|-
| '''Nob Hill''' || 376 ft || Historically the home of the "Nobs" (wealthy railroad tycoons).
|-
| '''Telegraph Hill''' || 284 ft || Home to Coit Tower and a famous colony of wild parrots.
|}


* Golden Gate Bridge
== Historical Milestones ==
* Alcatraz Island
* '''1776:''' Founded by Spanish colonists who established the Presidio of San Francisco and Mission San Francisco de Asís.
* Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
* '''1848:''' The '''California Gold Rush''' transformed the city from a small hamlet (Yerba Buena) into a major boomtown.
* Chinatown – the oldest in North America
* '''1906:''' A massive '''earthquake and fire''' destroyed 80% of the city, leading to one of the fastest urban reconstructions in history.
* Lombard Street – the “crookedest street”
* '''1937:''' The Golden Gate Bridge opened, at the time the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.
* Painted Ladies and Golden Gate Park
* '''1967:''' The "Summer of Love" established the city as the global epicenter of the hippie counterculture.


== Economy ==
== Iconic San Francisco Facts ==
* '''Yerba Buena:''' The city was originally named "Yerba Buena" (Spanish for "Good Herb") due to the abundance of wild mint in the area. It was renamed San Francisco in 1847.
* '''Karl the Fog:''' The city's famous fog is so iconic that locals have named it "Karl." It is created when cold ocean air meets the heat of the California Central Valley.
* '''The Alcatraz Showers:''' Alcatraz Island, once a notorious federal prison, provided hot-water showers to inmates—not for comfort, but to prevent them from acclimating to the cold Bay water in case of an escape attempt.
* '''Fortune Cookie Capital:''' Despite common belief, the modern fortune cookie was actually invented in San Francisco at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
* '''The Cable Cars:''' San Francisco’s cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system and is a designated National Historic Landmark.


San Francisco has a high-tech and finance-driven economy:
== Culture and Economics ==
* Close ties to [[Silicon Valley]]
San Francisco is a leading global center for high technology and finance.
* Strong presence of startups, venture capital, and global tech firms
* '''Silicon Valley Gateway:''' The city is home to major tech headquarters including Salesforce, Uber, Airbnb, and OpenAI.
* Tourism and hospitality play a major role
* '''Cuisine:''' Famous for its sourdough bread, Dungeness crab, and "Mission-style" burritos. It is also credited with introducing Irish Coffee to the United States at the Buena Vista Cafe in 1952.
* Also a center for biotech, design, and green innovation
* '''Demographics:''' San Francisco is home to the oldest and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America.


== Culture and Identity ==
== Also See ==
* [[Golden Gate Bridge]]
* [[Alcatraz Island]]
* [[California Gold Rush]]
* [[History of California]]
* [[Silicon Valley]]


* Progressive, diverse, and LGBTQ+ inclusive
[[Category:Cities in California]]
* Historic center of 1960s counterculture, Beat poets, and hippie movements
[[Category:San Francisco Bay Area]]
* World-class food scene: sourdough bread, seafood, global fusion
[[Category:United States Geography]]
* Major arts and theater institutions, including SF Symphony and SF Ballet
 
== Transportation ==
 
* Iconic cable cars and Muni Metro system
* Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects the wider metro
* Walkable and bike-friendly, though very hilly
* San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
 
== Fun Facts ==
 
* The Golden Gate Bridge is not actually golden — it's painted "International Orange"
* Home to the first-ever fortune cookie
* The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed over 80% of the city
 
== See Also ==
* [[California]]
* [[Western States]]
* [[United States Cities]]
* [[Technology in the U.S.]]

Latest revision as of 20:58, 11 January 2026

Overview

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. Located on a 46.9-square-mile (121 km²) peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, it is the second most densely populated large U.S. city after New York City. Known for its steep rolling hills, eclectic architecture, and summer fog, it is a global icon of social and technological innovation.

Geography and Topography

San Francisco is famous for its "Seven Hills," though the city actually contains over 50 named hills within its borders.

Hill Elevation Significance
Mount Davidson 928 ft The highest point in the city, topped by a 103-foot concrete cross.
Twin Peaks 922 ft Offers 360-degree views of the Bay Area; a popular tourist landmark.
Nob Hill 376 ft Historically the home of the "Nobs" (wealthy railroad tycoons).
Telegraph Hill 284 ft Home to Coit Tower and a famous colony of wild parrots.

Historical Milestones

  • 1776: Founded by Spanish colonists who established the Presidio of San Francisco and Mission San Francisco de Asís.
  • 1848: The California Gold Rush transformed the city from a small hamlet (Yerba Buena) into a major boomtown.
  • 1906: A massive earthquake and fire destroyed 80% of the city, leading to one of the fastest urban reconstructions in history.
  • 1937: The Golden Gate Bridge opened, at the time the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.
  • 1967: The "Summer of Love" established the city as the global epicenter of the hippie counterculture.

Iconic San Francisco Facts

  • Yerba Buena: The city was originally named "Yerba Buena" (Spanish for "Good Herb") due to the abundance of wild mint in the area. It was renamed San Francisco in 1847.
  • Karl the Fog: The city's famous fog is so iconic that locals have named it "Karl." It is created when cold ocean air meets the heat of the California Central Valley.
  • The Alcatraz Showers: Alcatraz Island, once a notorious federal prison, provided hot-water showers to inmates—not for comfort, but to prevent them from acclimating to the cold Bay water in case of an escape attempt.
  • Fortune Cookie Capital: Despite common belief, the modern fortune cookie was actually invented in San Francisco at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
  • The Cable Cars: San Francisco’s cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

Culture and Economics

San Francisco is a leading global center for high technology and finance.

  • Silicon Valley Gateway: The city is home to major tech headquarters including Salesforce, Uber, Airbnb, and OpenAI.
  • Cuisine: Famous for its sourdough bread, Dungeness crab, and "Mission-style" burritos. It is also credited with introducing Irish Coffee to the United States at the Buena Vista Cafe in 1952.
  • Demographics: San Francisco is home to the oldest and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America.

Also See

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