Profile: San Francisco, California

By Ellen Lee, FrontDoor.com | Published: 11/26/2008

Population: 764,976 (San Francisco proper)

USDA Hardiness Zone: 10

Major Airports: San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport

Companies With a Major Presence: Google, eBay, Yahoo, Facebook, Netflix, TiVo, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Palm, Sun Microsystems, Intel, Chevron, Gap, Levi's, Genentech, Charles Schwab, Clorox, Cisco Systems, Adobe, Dolby, Electronic Arts, Peet's Coffee and Tea, Gymboree, McAfee, LeapFrog, Intuit, Wells Fargo, Safeway, Ross, Lucas Arts, Pixar

Since the days of the Gold Rush, people have made their way to the San Francisco Bay Area in droves. Then, they were drawn by dreams of striking it rich with nuggets of gold. Today, the region attracts people for a mix of reasons: its moderate climate, world-class dining, fine arts and culture, a reputation for progressiveness, the outdoors and, as before, the money, with San Francisco the financial hub of the West Coast and Silicon Valley a center for high-tech innovation.

If anything, the region is diverse. It is home to a vibrant and expansive immigrant community and one of the largest Asian-American populations in the nation, as well as a haven for gays, lesbians and transgender people. The Bay Area ranges from Marin County's woodsy retreat in the north to Oakland's urban culture in the east to the geeks developing the latest technology in Silicon Valley in the south.

The downside? Commutes can be long, with congested freeways and abundant amounts of traffic. Living in the Bay Area is also expensive, with the median cost of homes in some desirable neighborhoods surpassing $1 million.

Read More About San Francisco, CA:

• Search Homes for Sale in San Francisco
• 10 Great Neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area
• San Francisco Bay Area Essentials
• Local Life and Lore in the San Francisco Bay Area
• San Francisco Bay Area: Like No Place Else
• Silicon Valley: A Breeding Ground for Entrepreneurs
• Slide Show: Get to Know the San Francisco Bay Area, California

Visit HGTV's United States of Design to discover San Francisco's distinctive architecture and home design

Explore more cities in FrontDoor's City Guides

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