CHAPTER THREE: Foundations of Human Activity.

The earliest archaeological evidence of inhabitation of the territory in the city of San Francisco dates back to 3000 BC. Prior to the coming of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, over 10,000 indigenous people, later to be called the Oholone (a Miwok Indian word meaning "western people"), lived in the coastal area between Point Sur and the San Francisco Bay. People of the Ohlone language group occupied Northern California from at least back in the 6th century. Since the early 16th century, although their territory had been claimed by Spain, they had relatively little contact with Europeans until 1769. 1769 was when, as part of an effort to colonize Alta California, an exploration party led by Don Gaspar de Portola learned the existence of San Francisco Bay. Seven years later, in 1776, an expedition led by Juan Bautista de Anza selected the site for the Presidio of San Francisco. Later the same year, the Franciscan missionary founded the Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores). The Yelamu tribal group of the Ohlone, who had several villages in the area, was brought to live and work at the mission and be converted into the Catholic faith.

Upon independence from Spain, the area became part of Mexico. Under Mexican rule, the mission system gradually ended. In 1835, an Englishman erected the first independent homestead. The Englishman together with Alcalde Francisco de Haro named the state Yerba Buena. Yerba Buena was later renamed San Francisco during the Mexican-American War.

San Francisco’s population increased dramatically when the Gold Rush era came about between 1848 and1855. People all over the world came to California to seek for gold. Today, population is still soaring high with constant in and out immigrants. Tourist attractions helped increased the reputation of the city. San Francisco’s culture could be described as hippy and urban.