San Francisco is one of our most cosmopolitan cities and the fourth largest in California. Located north of the state, in San Francisco Bay, the city is a technological and creative giant with an estimate population of almost a million people. The city has one of the highest incomes per capita of anywhere in the country too.
As the name suggests, San Francisco has Spanish roots. The area was originally home to the Yelamu group of the Ohlone people until the Spanish arrived in 1769. Settlement began in 1776 with the creation of the Presidio de San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís.
Like most of California, San Francisco passed from Spanish control to Mexico and then onto America after the Mexican–American War. The first private home was constructed in 1821 by Portsmouth Square and steadily the town grew. Growth was initially slow as the terrain is challenging. The gold rush brought an influx of people in 1849. Known as the ‘forty-niners’ because of the year of their arrival, they swelled the population massively.
Deserters from ships in San Francisco Bay meant hundreds of abandoned vessels filled the harbor. Enterprising locals used these ships as businesses, homes, piers and some where sunk. Eventually, the harbor was extended to sit atop of these ships. In 1850, a fort was built on Alcatraz island and Wells Fargo was founded to help manage the gold rush.
In 1906, the city was devastated by earthquake and fire resulting in 75% of the city being demolished. Rebuilding was fast and offered the opportunity to plan and use modern construction methods and ideas.
San Francisco’s economy is mainly service-based. Financial services is huge here, as is technology. Tech industries employ almost 30% of people within the city and brings the per capita income to one of the highest in the country. While earnings are high, so are living costs, with San Francisco having one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country.
Thanks to the gold rush, financial services has always been a feature in San Francisco. Some of the largest financial institutions in the world are headquartered here. They bring supporting industries and keep the skill level high.
Biotechnology and medical research also have an influence in San Francisco. Tech jobs are huge here while manufacturing and lower skilled industries have moved to cheaper regions to avoid such high living costs.
San Francisco has a relatively young demographic and the city has molded itself to support that market. It has a very young outlook and cosmopolitan attitudes and ideas. There is a real focus on working hard and developing careers while also relaxing afterwards. A real emphasis is on food, entertainment and creativity as well as work.
The demographic is also accepting so San Francisco has one of the highest LGBT populations in the country.
Some of the districts that make up San Francisco include; Golden Gate, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill-Russian Hill, Chinatown-North Beach, Union Square-Financial District, Civic Center-Tenderloin, SoMa, Western Addition, Haight, The Avenues, Twin Peaks-Lake Merced, Castro-Noe Valley, Mission-Bernal Heights and Southeast San Francisco.