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