San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 12th most populous city in the United States, with a 2008 estimated population of 808,976.

It is the eighth most densely populated city in the U.S. and is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than seven million people.

The city is located at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the north and east, and Daly City and Brisbane to the south.

In 1776, the Spanish established a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named for Francis of Assisi. The California Gold Rush in 1848 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth, transforming it into the largest city on the West Coast at the time.

California USA - An article listing the major cities of California arranged by population. Includes pictures of famous landmarks on each city.

Great Stuff To Do In San Francisco - I lived in San Francisco for a dozen years. I enjoyed going to street fairs and seeking out those quirky and unique events that you find only in San Francisco! I have never owned a car, so there will be lots of things reviewed that are perfect to get to on public transit or by bike or foot. Check out some recommended historic landmarks and unusual sights, and learn about the City by the Bay. I suggest some good foot wear, a jacket, a backpack, a bottle of water and a camera if you like to take pictures of interesting sights. San Francisco is a great city to explore on foot if you have the time. If your visit is limited, just try to get out and explore a small area wherever you are staying.

10 Cities to Visit in California - As a resident of California, I am completely fascinated by the fact that life can be so different here from one city to the next. Even just in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live there is a lot of diversity in terms of socio-political views, urban vs. rural living, opportunities for work and education and other demographic details. Take into consideration that this state is so large that it takes up half the west coast and you can imagine just how many different ways of living there are in California. I would almost say that it’s impossible to do a complete tour of California without taking a huge chunk of time to do it since each city here is so unique from the others. However, I do think that it’s possible to get a good sense of how many different ways of life there are in California by making a trip to each of the following ten cities in the state. If you manage to spend at least a little bit of time in each of them, you should have a good sense of what California could be about (and a much better idea of which part of California you wouldn’t like to live in if you wanted to make the move!)

San Francisco California Street Musicians and Cable Cars - Street performers come in all shapes and sizes sounds and spectaculars. One of the best places to find them? San Francisco, of course! The people of San Francisco enjoy free concerts every day.  San Francisco is know for it's vast array of sidewalk and street corner musicians. They come and go. They linger. They float from spot to spot. Some are expected. Others are unexpected. They play alone. They play in groups.  They line the sidewalks.  Drums may greet you on your way to work. You may come across an entising Salsa band on your way back home. A walk down a San Francisco mainstreet can feel like taking a walk through the radio waves.