Geographic Overview

The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area is the metropolitan region surrounding the San Francisco and San Pablo bays in Northern California. It comprises cities such as San Francisco (12th largest in the country), Oakland, and San Jose (31st largest in the country), along with smaller urban and rural areas. Overall, the Bay Area consists of nine counties, 101 cities, 7,000 square miles and over 7.2 million people.

The Bay Area is renowned for its natural beauty, quality of living, diversity and reputation for technological and entrepreneurial innovation. The region is a driving force in immigration to California.

Economy

With an economy of almost $300 billion, the Bay Area ranks 24th in the world compared to national economies. On a per capita basis, it ranks ahead of all national economies, including the U.S. The region is at the cutting edge of global technology, and is a leader in many key indicators of regional, global and national competitiveness, including:

• The nation’s largest concentration of national laboratories, corporate and independent research laboratories, and leading research universities.
• The largest number of top-ten ranked graduate programs in business, law, medicine and engineering in the nation.
• The highest density of venture capital firms in the world, with 32% of total U.S. venture capital funding invested in the region.
• More Fortune 500 companies than any region except New York.
• The highest internet penetration of any U.S. region.
• The highest level of patent generation in the nation, with more patents generated per employee than any other major metropolitan area.
• The most highly educated workforce in the nation, with the highest percentage of residents with graduate and professional degrees.
• A leading position in global trade, with exports larger than all but one U.S. state.
• The highest economic productivity in the nation—almost twice the U.S. average.

Source: Bay Area Council Economic Institute
http://www.bayareacouncil.org/econ_overview.php

Ethnic Diversity

As one of the most diverse regions in the United States, the San Francisco Bay Area represents an eclectic compilation of ethnicities interwoven throughout the counties. Recent statistics show a significant portion of Asian (19%), Hispanic/Latino (19%), and foreign-born families (27%).

Climate

Temperate in summer and mild in the winter, the Bay Area is an excellent place to live year-round. The weather in the Bay Area is affected by microclimates, so certain parts of East Bay can be up to 15 degrees warmer than downtown San Francisco, and as much as 20 degrees warmer than the area around the Golden Gate bridge.

Education

The region is home to many universities and seminaries, most notably Stanford University, the Universityof California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Area population is near the top in the Nation for overall education level.

Medical

The Bay Area is home to innovative researches in pharmaceutical and medical science, and encouraging biotechnology and medical services development to foster economic growth. The region boasts the world’s largest cluster of biotech enterprise, with over 1,377 companies and over 100,000 employees. It’s a home to three major research universities with around $500 million in research funding: University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford University.

Culture

Providing a vibrant array of world-class cultural arts, nightlife, professional sports, theme parks, wineries, shopping, museums and excellent restaurants, the Bay Area delivers an unforgettable experience. The City of San Francisco is considered one of the greatest in the world for many things, including five-star dining, a robust theater scene, and unforgettable outdoor activities. And beyond the fifty-square-mile city, in the surrounding Bay Area, there is more to explore, including Marin’s Headlands, Berkeley’s free spirit and the world-renown Napa Valley vineyards.

San Francisco

San Francisco offers a diversity of arts, attractions, nightclubs, museums, art galleries, restaurants, festivals, entertainment and sightseeing tours. Old World charm and ethnic neighborhoods combine with a picturesque ocean setting to make San Francisco a unique and hip American city. Experience all the highlights including:

• Twin Peaks
• Pier 39
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• The San Francisco Zoo
• Alcatraz
• Union Square
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Coit Tower
• The San Francisco Giants.

Bay Area Art & Music

San Francisco’s reputation for world-class arts and culture started with the Gold Rush over a century ago, and continues today throughout the Bay Area with many famous museums, galleries, opera, renowned theater, performing arts, and vibrant artist communities.

Outdoor Activities

Bay Area beaches stretch from the north-reach peninsula of the Point Reyes National Seashore to the famed big-break surf beaches just south of Santa Cruz. In between are beach towns, national recreation areas, majestic mountains and the urban beaches of San Francisco. There are numerous biking options, plenty of hiking trails and many places to glimpse sea lions, pelicans, and other wildlife.