San Francisco was a small fishing village until 1848, when James Marshall struck gold at Sutter's Mill. The Gold Rush transformed San Francisco almost overnight. 

Location: San Francisco is the 4th most populous city in the State of California within the United States. The city is located at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. The city is notorious for it's hilly terrain, and it's "seven by seven mile square" shape. San Francisco is also notorious for it's earthquakes due to it's position near the San Andreas Fault line. Oakland and San Jose border each side of the city and are separated by the Golden Gate strait. San Francisco Bay is considered the world's largest landlocked harbor.

Weather: The Bay area has a similar climate to that of the Mediterranean: dry summers and wet winters. Summers are not typically hot in San Francisco, but rather mild from May to October ranging between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the wet winters from November to April range between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, typically. During Spring and Summer, expect to see lots of fog, that can sometimes last all day. This is caused by the cool Pacific Ocean air and the hot California land temperature. 

Population: As of 2008, San Francisco boosted approximately 808,976 residents, according to the US Census.

Telephone: Country code is 1, and the area code for San Francisco is 415. While anywhere in the United States, dial 911 from any telephone for a police, fire, or hospital emergency.

Currency: US Dollar ($).  Banks are prevalent all over the San Francisco Bay area, as well as ATMs (Cashpoints). Most banks are open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and some are open from 10am to 12pm on Saturday. Most ATMs will charge a small service charge for cash withdraw. It is advisable to always carry a small amount of cash on you, just in case. Major credit cards and travelers check are widely accepted throughout the city.

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time or GMT -8, and Pacific Daylight Time in the summer or GMT -7.

Golden Gate Bridge: 1.7 miles long, 90 feet wide, 220 feet from the water.

Fun Facts: Denim jeans were invented in San Francisco for the Gold Miners who needed tough, durable clothing. Al Capone spent five years in prison at Alcatraz.