About this place
San Francisco was founded in 1776 by Spaniards, named after Saint Francis. It's most notable icon is the Golden Gate Bridge, spanning the Golden Gate, the waterway between the bay and the Pacific Ocean. In 1849, San Francisco experienced rapid growth caused by the California Gold Rush. San Francisco and it's accompanying metropolitan area shot up to become the largest city on the United States West Coast (until it was overtaken by Los Angeles).
The city has been hailed as the center of liberal activism since the latter half of the 20th century. It's been home to the "hippie" counterculture, the Peace Movement, and the gay rights movement. Today, it is also home to an array of high-tech companies and banks.