San Francisco has in recent years be come one of the most important industrial and commercial cities in the United States. Its harbor is unsurpassed and has an area of 420 square miles with a water frontage on the bay of 10 miles. In 1918 there was a completed sea-wall, 15,000 feet in length, with 39 piers and many open wharves. New docks and wharves are being built by the State. Hunters Point Dock is the largest dry dock on the Pacific coast. There are direct steamboat connections to all ports along the Pacific coast of North and South America, to Japan, China, the Philippines, the Orient, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as ser vices to the Canal, to Atlantic coast points, and Europe.
In 1920 there were over 2,500 factories in San Francisco, giving employment to more than 55,000 wage-earners. Ship building construction during and follow ing the World War became one of the most important industries. In 1919 there were launched 53 vessels, of which 50 were steel, 2 wood, and one concrete. At the end of that year there were 31 steel vessels under construction. During 1919 there were launched 49 naval craft, in cluding one battleship, 4 gunboats, 31 destroyers, 7 submarines, and 6 tugs. At the close of that year there were 61 naval craft under construction. The total ex ports of the city in 1919 amounted to $235,685,879. The total imports amounted to $238,074,061. The leading industries include the manufacture of boots and shoes, bread and bakery products, cloth ing, copper, tin and sheet iron products, printing and publishing products, foundry and machine shop products, and flour and grist mill products.
There were in the city in 1920, 37 banks, with 19 branches. The bank clear
ings amounted to $7,286,339,237. The resources of the National banks aggre gated $527,780.951, and the deposits $359,619,941. The assessed valuation of real estate in 1919 was $297,741,765. The total valuation was $794,459,406. The bonded indebtedness was $44,259,600. Pop. (1900) 342,782; (1910) 416,912; (1920) 506,676.
History.—As early as 1769 a number of Franciscan fathers established a mis sion here, and seven years later the Span iards chose the place for a military post. In 1835 an Englishman erected the first tent on the site of the present city, in Yerba Buena, 3 miles from the mission. A village which soon grew up was united with the mission in 1846. Two years later when gold was discovered adventurers from all parts of the world entered Cali fornia and by 1850 San Francisco had a population of 25,000. During the latter year a city charter was received, and in 1856 the county and city were consolidated. Owing to corrupt municipal management in 1850-1851 a vigilance committee was organized by the law-abiding citizens who dealt severely with criminals and suc ceeded in establishing good government. In 1897, after four ineffectual attempts, a city charter was adopted by the people which contains a civil service system, provides for the initiative and referen dum, and limits taxes to $1 per $100 for municipal purposes. April 18, 1906, the city experienced a very destructive fire with loss of innumerable buildings, mated 800 lives and $300,000,000 worth of property. The rebuilding of the city was one of the most remarkable examples of civic enterprise ever known.