San Francisco Bay Area, California

History

The City of Gold

San Francisco was first settled back in prehistory; archeological remains dating from 3000 BC have been found in the bay area, and it appears the area was lightly settled through to the 16th-17th centuries. In the 18th Century, a Spanish presidio and mission were established in the Bay area, and by 1808 the Mission San Francisco de Asis was a bustling spiritual centre, which drew more than 1000 neophytes from local tribal people.

During the 1820’s American trappers and hunters began to move towards the SF area from the East, and by 1847 the missionary era for the area was over, and the settlement of “Yerba Buena” was renamed San Francisco, claimed by Captain John B Montgomery –  a famous commander during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

During 1848 gold was found at Sutter’s Fort and within months San Francisco became a key player in the U.S. Gold Rush. The Gold Rush led to a rapid expansion of SF, with the population increasing in one year from 1,000 to 25,000. After the gold rush ended, silver was discovered and this led to industrial development due to the difficulty in extracting this precious material. A trans-continental railroad was completed in 1869. The city continued to expand and cable cars were added, to help resident navigate its steepest hills. During 1887 1,000 acres on the Pacific side of the peninsula were allocated for Golden Gate Park, which became a site of refuge for people who had lost their homes during the 1906 earthquake.

The 1906 earthquake was devastating, killing over 3000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. After the earthquake, SF quickly rebuilt, and saw rapid growth in subsequent years, including the construction of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay Bridges.

After playing a key role in the transition between WWII and the Cold War, hosting the 1945 conference where the U.N Charter was drafted, SF became well –known for ‘counterculture’. It drew writers like Jack London and Mark Twain and was known for 1950’s ‘beat Poets’ and 1960’s hippie counterculture.

Today SF has enjoyed the benefits of the 1990’s internet technology boom, drawing entrepreneurs to the area and improving on housing and infrastructure. For the busy international entrepreneur, SF Bay’s interesting and inspiring history provides a hotbed for creative vision and growth.

Climate

A Comfortable Climate for Those who Like Moderate Weather

The SF Bay Area has a Mediterranean climate, but with cooler summers than you might expect. This is because of cold currents that run from the coast of California, and fogs that tend to form in SF Bay. What this means in practice is that during the summer you get a natural air conditioning weather feature that leads to a pleasant high of around 70°F in the summer months and a low of 41°F in the winter, with the weather rarely reaching freezing. Precipitation can be increased during winter months but is never very high.

If you choose to live closer to the coast you are likely to experience more continental weather, with slightly warmer summers and cooler winters. Fog reaches its height during the months of June to September but usually clears by mid-morning. Overall the climate is moderate and pleasant with no extremes of temperature.

Education

A Worldwide Center of Educational Excellence

Public schools in SF Bay do not necessarily draw their students based on residential address, rather tries to maintain even demographics based on income, race and language skills. This helps to ensure public schools are a good mix of abilities, however, it might mean that children attend schools which further away.

Private school acceptance can be competitive and involve testing and interviews. It can be expensive and take some time to find a good private school, so researching early is recommended.

As you might expect from an area that has innovation and entrepreneurship at its heart, SF Bay Area has a wealth of renowned educational institutions. Its home to Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco, which are all considered to be world leaders in education. SF is also home to the Art Institute of California, a leading liberal arts college.

When it comes to finding the best graduates for your business, SF Bay is a nationwide leader.

Recreation

Eclectic and Welcoming Community

San Francisco enjoys a reputation for having an international character due to the high-level of incomers taking advantage of the opportunities Silicon Valley has to offer, and a world leader in civil rights – especially as relates to LGBT culture. The large gay community has added many cultural events to the year, including the largest and oldest Gay Pride event, which regularly attracts over a million people.

SF has a bustling nightlife, with plenty of live music venues, theatres, and performing arts centers, as well as the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet. The SF Rec & Park service operates over 25 recreation centers, ranging from swimming pools and sports centers to museums and tennis park complexes.

When it comes to sporting events, the Baseball Major League’s San Francisco Giants lead the pack, and SF has produced the most major league baseball players as a city than any other in the U.S. SF is also home to an NFL team – the 49ers.

SF is home to over 220 parks, the largest of which is the Golden Gate Park, which runs from the city center to the Pacific Ocean. The park also covers Ocean Beach which is home to a busy surfer community.