SAN FRANCISCO, a city of Califor nia, on San Francisco Bay and on many railroad lines. It is the western terminal for three trans-continental systems and three coast trunk lines, the Southern Pa cific, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, and the Western Pacific., Its advan tageous situation has made it the chief seaport on the W. coast of North America. It occupies the mountainous peninsula bordering upon the Pacific on the W., the Golden Gate on the N., and the Bay of San Francisco on the E. Since the completion of the Panama Canal its importance as an ocean terminus has rapidly increased. The city has a land area of about 50 square miles. It is un usually hilly and the hills cut in two directions, rising steeply from sea-level to several hundred feet above the sea. Southwest of the main portion of the city the twin peaks, Mt. Sutro and Mt. Davidson rise to a height of over 900 feet above water-level. Among the best known hills are Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill. Nob Hill was the site of the palatial residences of the early mil lionaires who made their fortunes in the gold mines of the State.
A large part of the site of the city is reclaimed area, won from the bay. The streets of the city are for the most part broad and well paved. South of Market Street the streets are practically level. North of the street, however, the streets run with a steep grade. Market Street is the chief thoroughfare, on which are located the leading banks, department stores, newspaper offices, and office build ings. The junction of Market, Kearny and Geary streets is the business center of the city. Market Street and the adja cent streets form the retail shopping dis trict.
The climate of San Francisco is invig orating. The winters are warm while the summers are cool. The mean tempera ture ranges from 50.8° to 56.5°. The rainfall averages about 21 inches. Snow rarely falls in the city, while it is entirely free from cyclones and tornadoes. There are within the city limits many beautiful parks and boulevards. Golden Gate Park has an area of over 1,000 acres and was reclaimed from the sand dunes. It con
tains playgrounds, zoological gardens, an academy of sciences, a museum, and many other attractions. There are in all 35 public parks and squares, embracing about 1,400 acres. The Presidio, the military reservation of the Federal Gov ernment, is practically a part of the park system of the city. The Marina, which was the site of the Panama-Pacific Inter. national Exposition contains the Palace of Fine Arts, the Column of Progress, and the beautiful Marina Boulevard, which skirts the Golden Gate. Since the fire of 1906 the city has devoted much atten tion to the system of roads and boule vards. The historic Mission Road, the city's oldest thoroughfare, has been modernized and forms a most attractive boulevard.
The city is notable for its magnificent private and public buildings. During the last decade the business district has been completely rebuilt at an expenditure of approximately $350,000,000. For many blocks along Market Street and its tribu tary thoroughfares imposing structures stretch in unbroken ranks. One of the most extensive examples of city planning in the United States is the Civic Center, situated north of Market Street and east of Van Ness Avenue. This includes the city hall, erected at a cost of $4,000,000 and the Auditorium, with a seating ca pacity of 12,000, and a public library. These buildings are grouped about a spa cious plaza. Nearly all denominations have handsome church edifices. Notable among these are Old St. Mary's, St. Luke's, the First Congregational, the First Presbyterian, and St. Mary's Cathe dral.
The city has excellent educational fa cilities. In 1919 there were 66,893 pupils enrolled in the public schools. The Uni versity of California is 9 miles E. of the city, and Leland Stanford, Jr., Univer sity is 30 miles S. In the city proper are the College of Physicians and Sur geans, St. Ignatius College, San Fran cisco Institute of Art, and many private educational institutions. The technical schools include the California School of Mechanical Arts, the Polytechnic High School, and the Y. M. C. A. Technical School.