| San Francisco, a city in western California is | | | | corporate office buildings, including the home |
| coextensive with San Francisco County. Famous | | | | office of the Bank of America, one of the largest |
| for its beautiful setting, San Francisco is primarily | | | | banks in the world. Tourism is also important to |
| located on the northern tip of a peninsula at the | | | | the city's economy. The San Francisco region is |
| entrance to San Francisco Bay. It is bordered by | | | | also home to many companies developing |
| the Pacific Ocean on the west, the strait known | | | | computer software and hardware. Several |
| as Golden Gate on the north, San Francisco Bay | | | | national apparel manufacturers also have |
| on the east, and San Bruno Mountain on the | | | | headquarters in the city.EDUCATIONAL AND |
| south. Alcatraz, Angel, Farallon, Treasure, and | | | | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONSThe main institutions |
| Yerba Buena islands are part of the | | | | of higher education in San Francisco are San |
| city.POPULATIONThe population of San Francisco | | | | Francisco State University (1899), the University |
| increased from 678,974 in 1980 to 723,959 in | | | | of San Francisco (1855), Golden Gate University |
| 1990; the population was 735,315 in 1996. | | | | (1853), the University of California-San Francisco |
| According to the 1990 census, whites constitute | | | | (1864), the New College of California (1971), the |
| 53.6 percent of San Francisco's population; Asians | | | | University of California Hastings College of Law |
| and Pacific Islanders, 29.1 percent; blacks, 10.9 | | | | (1878), the San Francisco Art Institute (1871), the |
| percent; and Native Americans, 0.5 percent. | | | | Academy of Art College (1929), the San |
| Hispanics, who may be of any race, represent | | | | Francisco Conservatory of Music (1917), and a |
| 13.3 percent of the population. San Francisco is | | | | large community college. San Francisco has many |
| part of a major metropolitan region that also | | | | performing-arts organizations. Among the best |
| includes Oakland and San Jose. The region's | | | | known are the San Francisco Symphony |
| population increased from 5,368,000 in 1980 to | | | | Orchestra, the San Francisco Ballet, the San |
| 6,253,000 in 1990, reaching an estimated | | | | Francisco Opera, and the American Conservatory |
| 6,940,000 in 2004.ECONOMYSan Francisco is a | | | | Theater.For more information, visit The San |
| leading financial and international trade center for | | | | Francisco Help Center David Chandler |
| the western United States. The downtown | | | | For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: |
| financial district contains the Pacific Coast Stock | | | | |
| Exchange; the headquarters of the 12th Federal | | | | "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You! |
| Reserve District; and numerous banks and | | | | |