San Francisco, a major commercial, financial, and cultural hub in Northern California, had a population of 808,988 in 2023, making it California's fourth-most populous city and the 17th in the U.S. Covering 46.9 square miles on the San Francisco Peninsula, it's the second-most densely populated major U.S. city. San Francisco leads U.S. cities with over 250,000 residents in per capita income and ranks sixth in aggregate income as of 2023. It's the core of the 13th-largest U.S. metropolitan area (almost 4.6 million residents) and part of the fifth-largest urban region, boasting over nine million residents.
In 1900, San Francisco was the site of the first North American plague epidemic, which lasted until 1904.
Around 1901, San Francisco was known for its flamboyant style, stately hotels, ostentatious mansions on Nob Hill, and a thriving arts scene.
In 1901, Golden Gate University, a private, nonsectarian university, was formed and located in the Financial District.
The San Francisco plague epidemic, which started in 1900, came to an end in 1904.
On April 18, 1906, a major earthquake struck San Francisco, leading to widespread fires and destruction, leaving more than half the population homeless.
Following the 1906 earthquake, wealthy San Franciscans built homes in Pacific Heights.
In 1906, San Francisco experienced an earthquake caused by the San Andreas Fault.
In 1906, San Francisco was devastated by a major earthquake and subsequent fire, which destroyed three-quarters of the city. The disaster led to a rapid rebuilding effort and the city hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition nine years later.
In 1906, The Western Addition survived the earthquake with its Victorians largely intact.
In 1906, the Historical Center of San Francisco monument marks where the 1899-1906 City Hall once stood.
In 1910, the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) was founded to address housing quality issues after the earthquake.
In September 1912, Michael O'Shaughnessy was hired as the chief engineer for San Francisco to oversee the construction of several major infrastructure projects.
Since 1912, the Bay to Breakers footrace is held annually and is best known for colorful costumes and a celebratory community spirit.
San Francisco was granted a perpetual leasehold over the Hetch Hetchy Valley and watershed in Yosemite National Park by the Raker Act in 1913.
Between 1915 and 1927, San Francisco's streetcar system, including the J, K, L, M, and N lines, was pushed to completion by O'Shaughnessy.
In 1915, San Francisco celebrated its rebirth after the earthquake by hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
In 1918, the construction of the Twin Peaks Tunnel connected southwest neighborhoods to downtown via streetcar.
In 2012, San Francisco was ranked No. 1 in a study that examined which U.S. metro areas have produced the most Major Leaguers since 1920.
Between 1915 and 1927, San Francisco's streetcar system, including the J, K, L, M, and N lines, was pushed to completion by O'Shaughnessy.
In 1929, following the stock market crash, no San Francisco-based bank failed, solidifying the city's standing as a financial capital.
On December 11, 1932, the lowest recorded temperature in San Francisco was 27 °F (−3 °C).
In 1934, a 103-foot tall cross was built on Mount Davidson, San Francisco's tallest hill.
In 1936, San Francisco completed the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as one of two major civil engineering projects undertaken during the Great Depression.
In 1937, San Francisco completed the Golden Gate Bridge, marking another significant civil engineering achievement during the Great Depression.
In 1939, San Francisco celebrated its regained grandeur with the Golden Gate International Exposition, held on Treasure Island.
In 1940, non-Hispanic White residents made up 92.5% of San Francisco's population.
In 1945, the United Nations Charter was drafted and signed in San Francisco.
In December 1972, the coldest daytime high since the station's opening in 1945 was recorded at 37 °F (3 °C).
In 1946, the San Francisco 49ers began playing as an All-America Football Conference league charter member.
From 1950 to 1980, San Francisco experienced significant demographic change with the loss of white population and an increase in immigration from Asia and Latin America.
San Francisco set a new population record high in 1950
In 1951, the Treaty of San Francisco was signed, re-establishing peaceful relations between Japan and the Allied Powers.
In 1955, Bill Russell led the USF Dons basketball team to an NCAA championship.
In 1956, Bill Russell led the USF Dons basketball team to an NCAA championship.
In 1958, the San Francisco Giants moved from New York to San Francisco.
In 1959, San Francisco had fewer than thirty-three hundred first-class hotel rooms.
In 1962, the Golden State Warriors moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Philadelphia and played as the San Francisco Warriors.
In 1967, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood was the epicenter of the Summer of Love, marking a peak in the hippie counterculture movement.
In 1968, the California Institute of Integral Studies was founded, offering graduate programs.
In 1969, Bank of America, which was founded in San Francisco, completed the construction of 555 California Street.
In 1969, San Francisco had a significant manufacturing sector employing nearly 60,000 workers.
By 1970, San Francisco had nine thousand first-class hotel rooms.
From 1962 to 1971 the Warriors played as the San Francisco Warriors, before being renamed the Golden State Warriors prior to the 1971-1972 season.
In 1971 The Fillmore closed its doors with a final performance by Santana.
In 1971, KPOO, an independent, African-American owned and operated noncommercial radio station, was established.
In 1971, the San Francisco 49ers moved into Candlestick Park.
In December 1972, the coldest daytime high since the station's opening in 1945 was recorded at 37 °F (3 °C).
From 1962 to 1971 the Warriors played as the San Francisco Warriors, before being renamed the Golden State Warriors prior to the 1971-1972 season.
In 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid was completed, initiating a period of extensive high-rise development in downtown San Francisco.
San Francisco Pride events have been held continuously since 1972.
In 1973, Sutro Tower was built for KTVU, KRON, and KPIX.
In 1974, the Zebra murders in San Francisco resulted in at least 16 deaths.
In 1975, the last serious Republican challenger for city office lost the mayoral election by a narrow margin.
In 1976, the most recent measurable snowfall occurred in San Francisco, with up to 5 inches falling on Twin Peaks.
Since 1977, the number of San Franciscans employed by firms of more than 1,000 employees has fallen by half.
In 1978, Dianne Feinstein assumed the office of mayor following the assassination of George Moscone and was later selected by the board to finish the term.
In 1978, Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist and member of the Board of Supervisors, and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco.
In January 1980, Mayor Dianne Feinstein signed a sister cities agreement with Shanghai.
From 1950 to 1980, San Francisco lost over 10 percent of its population.
In 1980, the San Francisco Recycling Program, one of the earliest curbside recycling programs, was launched.
Since 1980, the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon has attracted 2,000 top professional and amateur triathletes for its annual race.
In 1981, the non-profit Friends of the Urban Forest was established, contributing to San Francisco's role at the forefront of global environmental discussions.
The Folsom Street Fair started in 1984 as an annual BDSM and leather subculture street fair held in September.
Since 1988, San Francisco has not voted more than 20% for a Republican presidential or senatorial candidate.
After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, city leaders demolished the Embarcadero Freeway.
During the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Marina district experienced extensive property damage due to soil liquefaction in the landfill.
In 1989, San Francisco declared itself a sanctuary city.
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of foreign-born residents in San Francisco increased from 33% to nearly 40%.
In 1990, technology jobs accounted for just 1 percent of San Francisco's economy.
During an average year between 1991 and 2020, San Francisco recorded a warmest night at 64 °F (18 °C).
Since 1993, the San Francisco Department of Public Health has distributed 400,000 free syringes every month to reduce HIV and other health risks for drug users, while also providing disposal sites and services.
In 1994 The Fillmore reopened with a show by the Smashing Pumpkins.
In 1994, CNET was founded in San Francisco.
In 1995, Salon.com was founded in San Francisco.
In 1995, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) moved to its current building in the South of Market neighborhood.
Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts was founded in 1998 and is part of the California College of the Arts.
Between 1999 and 2000, the job growth rate in San Francisco was 4.9%, creating over 50,000 jobs in technology firms and internet content production.
By 1999, San Francisco had more than thirty thousand first class hotel rooms.
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of foreign-born residents in San Francisco increased from 33% to nearly 40%.
Between 1999 and 2000, the job growth rate in San Francisco was 4.9%, creating over 50,000 jobs in technology firms and internet content production.
By 2000, San Francisco's population surpassed the previous record set in 1950, driven by the dot-com boom.
In 2000, 48.6% of San Francisco residents commuted by driving alone or carpooling in private vehicles.
In 2000, Oracle Park opened as the home of the San Francisco Giants.
In 2001, the dot-com bubble burst, leading to the folding of many startup companies and layoffs in San Francisco.
In 2001, the non-profit City CarShare opened in San Francisco.
In 2013, 21 pedestrians were killed in vehicle collisions, the highest since 2001.
Oracle Park hosted the annual Fight Hunger Bowl college football game from 2002 through 2013 before it moved to Santa Clara.
In 2003, a 43-acre Mission Bay campus was opened for the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Nancy Pelosi held the post of House Minority Leader, from 2003 to 2007 and 2011 to 2019.
In 2004, San Francisco approved a payroll tax exemption for biotechnology companies to foster growth in the Mission Bay neighborhood.
In 2004, the Small Business Commission started a publicity campaign to keep a larger share of retail dollars in the local economy.
In 2006, small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and self-employed firms made up 85% of city establishments.
The 2010 Municipal Transportation Agency annual bicycle count showed the number of cyclists at 33 locations had increased 58% from the 2006 baseline counts.
In 2007, San Francisco expanded its Medicaid and other indigent medical programs into the Healthy San Francisco program, subsidizing certain medical services for eligible residents.
In 2007, San Francisco's median household income was $65,519, ranking it third among American cities.
In 2008, the MTA estimated that about 128,000 trips were made by bicycle each day in the city, or 6% of total trips.
In December 2010, the Sunset Reservoir Solar Project was completed, installing 24,000 solar panels and more than tripling the city's solar generation capacity.
As of 2010, 55% of San Francisco residents spoke only English at home.
In 2010, residents of Chinese ethnicity constituted the largest single ethnic minority group in San Francisco at 21% of the population.
In 2010, technology jobs accounted for 4 percent of San Francisco's economy.
The 2010 Municipal Transportation Agency annual bicycle count showed the number of cyclists at 33 locations had increased 58% from the 2006 baseline counts.
The 2020 United States census showed San Francisco's population to be 873,965, an increase of 8.5% from the 2010 census.
As of 2014, San Francisco has seen a small resurgence in manufacturing, with more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs across 500 companies, doubling since 2011.
In 2011, Bloomberg West was launched from a studio on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.
In 2011, Ed Lee was selected by the board to finish the term of Gavin Newsom.
In 2011, SFO was the eighth-busiest airport in the U.S. and the 22nd-busiest in the world, handling over 40.9 million passengers.
In 2011, San Francisco reported 50 murders, about 134 rapes, 3,142 robberies, and about 2,139 assaults, among other crimes.
In 2012, the San Francisco Giants won a World Series title and was ranked No. 1 in a study examining U.S. metro areas that have produced the most Major Leaguers since 1920.
In August 2013, Bay Area Bike Share, now Bay Wheels, launched with 700 bikes in downtown San Francisco.
By the end of 2013, technology jobs were estimated to be 8 percent of San Francisco's economy and attracted 423 financings worth US$4.58 billion.
In 2013, 21 pedestrians were killed in vehicle collisions, the highest since 2001.
In 2013, 25 pedestrians were killed by car and truck drivers while walking and biking in the city and 9 car drivers and passengers were killed in collisions.
In 2013, SFMOMA closed for renovation and expansion.
In 2013, San Francisco strengthened its sanctuary city stance with the 'Due Process for All' ordinance, restricting local authorities from holding immigrants for immigration offenses under certain conditions.
In 2013, downtown San Francisco recorded a record low 5.59 inches of rainfall.
In 2013, over 1.5 million people attended San Francisco Pride events, around 500,000 more than the previous year.
In 2013, the SFJAZZ Center opened, hosting jazz performances year-round.
Oracle Park hosted the annual Fight Hunger Bowl college football game from 2002 through 2013 before it moved to Santa Clara.
San Francisco hosted the 2013 America's Cup yacht racing competition.
On September 25, 2014, the new Terminal Project at Pier 27 opened in San Francisco, replacing the old Pier 35.
According to a 2014 quality of life survey of global cities, San Francisco had the highest quality of living of any U.S. city.
According to a 2014 study, the largest religious groupings in San Francisco's metropolitan area were Christians (48%), followed by those of no religion (35%).
As of 2014, San Francisco has seen a small resurgence in manufacturing, with more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs across 500 companies.
In 2014, San Francisco committed to Vision Zero, with the goal of ending all traffic fatalities caused by motor vehicles within the city by 2024.
In 2014, only 41.3% of San Francisco residents commuted by driving alone or carpooling in private vehicles.
In 2014, the San Francisco 49ers moved to Santa Clara to play at Levi's Stadium.
In the first six months of 2015, there were 25 murders compared to 14 in the first six months of 2014.
By June 2, 2015, the median rent in San Francisco was reported to be as high as $4,225.
From 2015 to 2019, the Golden State Warriors made five consecutive NBA Finals.
In 2015, Walk Score ranked San Francisco the second-most walkable city in the United States.
In 2015, survey data released by Gallup placed the proportion of LGBT adults in the San Francisco metro area at 6.2%, which is the highest proportion of the 50 most populous metropolitan areas.
In FY 2015-2016, The City of San Francisco spends more per resident than any city other than Washington, D.C., over $10,000.
In the first six months of 2015, there were 25 murders in San Francisco, compared to 14 in the first six months of 2014.
Since 2015, CNBC broadcasts from One Market Plaza in San Francisco.
On May 14, 2016, SFMOMA reopened with an addition that doubled the museum's size.
By 2016, San Francisco was rated low by small businesses in a Business Friendliness Survey.
In 2016, San Francisco attracted the fifth-highest number of foreign tourists of any city in the United States, with more than 25 million visitors adding US$9.96 billion to the economy.
In 2016, San Francisco increased its spending to service the growing population homelessness crisis jumping by $241 million in 2016–17 to total $275 million.
In 2016, San Francisco saw a 13.5% increase in homicides, with a total of 59 murders reported.
In 2016, approximately 27% of workers in San Francisco were employed in professional business services.
The municipal budget for fiscal year 2015-16 was $8.99 billion, and is one of the largest city budgets in the United States.
On September 1, 2017, the highest recorded temperature at the official National Weather Service downtown observation station was 106 °F (41 °C).
Ed Lee died on December 12, 2017, and was temporarily replaced by London Breed.
In 2017, Bay Area Bike Share started a major expansion, along with a rebranding as Ford GoBike.
In 2017, a count of homeless people showed 6,858 individuals and in 2017-2018, the budget for combatting homelessness stood at $305 million.
In 2017, the Overwatch League's San Francisco Shock was established.
In January 2018, a United Nations special rapporteur on homelessness, Leilani Farha, expressed shock at San Francisco's homelessness crisis.
On January 23, 2018, Supervisor Mark Farrell was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to finish Ed Lee's term.
According to a 2018 study, Jews made up 10% (80,000) of the city's population in San Francisco.
As of 2018, the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area had a population of over 9.6 million, making it the fifth-largest in the United States.
In 2018, San Francisco ranked fifth in the U.S. for park access and quality according to the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore ranking.
In 2018, complaints about human feces on San Francisco sidewalks were frequent, leading to the formation of a "poop patrol".
In 2018, it was reported that the dog population in San Francisco exceeded the child population of 115,000.
Nancy Pelosi served as the House Speaker from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2023.
As of 2019, 2.6% of the city's streets have protected bike lanes, with 28 miles of protected bike lanes in the city.
From 2015 to 2019, the Golden State Warriors made five consecutive NBA Finals.
In 2019, 42 people were killed in traffic collisions in San Francisco.
In 2019, Ford GoBike received its current name as Bay Wheels.
In 2019, San Francisco's point-in-time street and shelter count revealed 8,035 homeless people. In the 2019-2020 budget year, the city budgeted $368 million for homelessness services.
In 2019, the San Francisco Shock won a championship title.
Starting in 2019, the railings on the west side of the pedestrian walkway of the Golden Gate Bridge were replaced.
In May 2020, San Francisco officially sanctioned homeless encampments.
Starting in June 2020, reports were received of a loud hum produced by the new railing slats on the Golden Gate Bridge.
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of San Francisco included 41.3% Whites, 33.9% Asians, and other groups.
During an average year between 1991 and 2020, San Francisco recorded a warmest night at 64 °F (18 °C).
In 2020, African Americans constituted about 5% of San Francisco's population.
In 2020, the San Francisco Shock won a championship title.
In 2020, the San Francisco metropolitan area, with 4.5 million residents, ranked 5th by GDP ($874 billion) and 2nd by GDP per capita ($131,082) across the OECD countries.
In 2020, the proposed 2020–2021 budget for San Francisco included $850 million for homelessness services.
The 2020 United States census showed San Francisco's population to be 873,965.
As of 2021, sea levels are projected to rise by as much as 5 feet (1.5 m) in San Francisco, leading to flooding and other issues.
In 2021, San Francisco experienced over 19,000 car break-ins, gaining the city a reputation for this type of crime.
In 2021, the proposed 2020–2021 budget for San Francisco included $850 million for homelessness services.
In January 2022, CBS News reported that a single suspect was "responsible for more than half of all reported hate crimes against the API community in San Francisco last year".
As of the first quarter of 2022, the median value of homes in San Francisco County was $1,297,030.
In 2022 a measure on the ballot passed to protect JFK drive in Golden Gate Park as a pedestrian and biking space with 59% of voters in favor.
In 2022, San Francisco welcomed over 1.7 million international visitors and approximately 20 million domestic visitors.
In 2022, the Golden State Warriors won the franchise's first championship while residing in San Francisco proper.
In 2022, the San Francisco Art Institute, the oldest art school west of the Mississippi, closed its doors.
Nancy Pelosi served as the House Speaker from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2023.
As of 2023, Muni is the eighth-largest transit system in the United States.
In 2023, GDP in the five-county San Francisco metropolitan area grew 3.4% in real terms to $779 billion.
In 2023, San Francisco had a population of 808,988, ranking as the fourth-most populous city in California and 17th in the U.S. It also held high rankings in per capita and aggregate income among major U.S. cities.
In 2023, San Francisco proper had a GDP of $263.1 billion and a GDP per capita of $325,000 despite an accelerating exodus of businesses from the downtown area.
As of March 2024, Union Square was in "sorry shape" and had lost its position as the Bay Area's regional shopping hub to Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose.
In April 2024, the SFPD released statistics showing a decrease in robberies, burglaries, and larceny.
As of 2024, the largest private-sector employer is Salesforce, with 11,953 employees.
In 2014, San Francisco committed to Vision Zero, with the goal of ending all traffic fatalities caused by motor vehicles within the city by 2024.
In 2024, San Francisco's Point-in-Time (PIT) count estimated the homeless population to be approximately 8,323 individuals.
In 2024, the Global Financial Centres Index ranked San Francisco as the fifth-most competitive financial center in the world.
San Francisco's ambitious zero-waste goal aims to divert 100% of waste from landfills by 2025.