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Real Estate & Homes in San Francisco - California - San Francisco, California homes and communities
San Francisco
  
San Francisco History
San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the United States. The city was named for St. Francis of Assisi and grew to prominence in 1849, when gold was discovered in nearby Sutter's Mill. Would-be miners flocked to the new state of California, and many arrived by boat via San Francisco, which became a major West Coast port.
On April 18, 1906, a massive earthquake struck the city, killing between 500 and 700 people. Many of the buildings that weren't destroyed by the quake were damaged by ensuing fires. By 1915, a majority of the city was rebuilt. Another quake hit the city on Oct. 17, 1989, killing 62 people and flattening a portion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
The Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1937, and around that time, Alcatraz Island became known as one of the toughest prisons in the nation. Although the prison closed in 1963, it remains a popular tourist spot. Other attractions include Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park and the famous cable cars.
In the 1950s, San Francisco began attracting musicians from all walks of life, and by the 1960s, the city was frequented by hippies, Yippies and others in search of peace, love and freedom. The city has a large gay population and a welcoming, liberal lifestyle. Although housing prices are among the highest in the nation, neighboring cities serve as bedroom communities for San Francisco and the entire bay area.
For more information on San Francisco, visit coastparadise.com, or www.sanfranciscohomesguide.com.
San Francisco Photos
San Francisco Fast Facts Location: San Francisco is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, about 10 miles across the bay from Oakland
*Total area: 231.92 square miles (46.69 square miles land area; 185.22 square miles water area)
*Population: 776,733
*Housing units: 346,527
Average annual rainfall: 20.11 inches
Average temperatures: 64ºF in summer, 49ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census
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