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.