| Nestled along San Francisco Bay, the Bay Area | | | | that it is one of the oldest developed regions. |
| boasts of one of the finest natural harbor in the | | | | Outer East Bay, on the other hand, is composed |
| world, which has a total area of around 450 | | | | of inland valleys separated from the Inner East |
| square miles. Home to almost 8 million people, the | | | | Bay by hills and mountains. Its development dates |
| San Francisco Bay Area provides the only real | | | | back to less than 60 years ago and is mostly |
| break in the coastal mountains of California | | | | suburban to rural. |
| making it one of the most ideal spot for living | | | | San Francisco Peninsula (or simply Peninsula) is the |
| within the state. It is divided into 6 sub-regions | | | | area between East Bay and San Francisco. It is |
| (North Bay, San Francisco, East Bay, Peninsula, | | | | composed of a series of towns, small cities, and |
| South Bay, and Santa Cruz) and composed of 10 | | | | suburban communities along San Francisco Bay |
| counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San | | | | and the Pacific Ocean. |
| Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, | | | | South Bay is the sub-region where the past |
| Solano, and Sonoma). | | | | blends well with the present and the future. The |
| North Bay is a sub-region north of the Golden | | | | past is typically characterized by the city of San |
| Gate Bridge, is separated by water from the rest | | | | Jose, the oldest city in California, while the present |
| of the Bay Area. It has numerous affluent | | | | and the future could be gleaned from the |
| communities and is probably the least urbanized | | | | products churned by Silicon Valley. In 1990, San |
| among the 6 sub-regions. North Bay has many | | | | Jose became the most populated city in the area. |
| undeveloped parks, farmlands, and plantations. | | | | Santa Cruz, although regarded by most as part of |
| One popular location is Napa Valley, which is | | | | Monterey Bay Area, some agencies and records |
| well-known for the world class red wines | | | | show it as a part of San Francisco Bay Area. It is |
| produced from its vineyards. | | | | sprawled along San Francisco Peninsula, Santa |
| The City and County of San Francisco was once | | | | Cruz Mountains, and Monterey Bay. |
| the largest city, in terms of population in the | | | | With tourism being the region's leading industry, |
| whole Bay Area. Although it no longer holds that | | | | the Bay Area is teeming with tourist destinations |
| distinction, it remains as the traditional, cultural, | | | | and historic landmarks. It is one of the wealthiest |
| financial, and urban center of the region. The most | | | | regions in the United States. Of the 280 |
| famous landmark in this area is the Golden Gate | | | | metropolitan areas nationwide, the Bay Area has |
| Bridge, which spans the Golden Gate Strait, a | | | | the highest median household income with |
| water passage connecting San Francisco Bay and | | | | $62,024. Six of the top ten places in California |
| the Pacific Ocean. The bridge connects the city | | | | with the highest per capita income could also be |
| county of San Francisco with Marin County in the | | | | found in the Bay Area. These figures are a |
| North Bay. | | | | testament of the boundless opportunities available |
| The East Bay area is split into 2 regions, the Inner | | | | for the citizens residing in the region. |
| East Bay and the Outer East Bay. Inner East Bay, | | | | With its idyllic setting and mild climate, living in the |
| located along the bay's coastline, is more urban, | | | | Bay Area is an investment that you can never be |
| densely populated, and has a more ethnically | | | | wrong about. |
| diverse population. Old buildings in the area suggest | | | | |