California

San Francisco

873,965

2020 population

1860

first census record

census records

About San Francisco

San Francisco, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 56,802. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 873,965.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Portolá – San Francisco Bay Expedition 1769, San Francisco (Yerba Buena) Occupation, Battle of Yerba Buena / San Francisco, and 207 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	873,965
2010	805,235
2000	776,733
1990	723,959
1980	678,974
1970	715,674
1960	740,316
1950	775,357
1940	634,536
1930	634,394
1920	506,676
1910	416,912
1900	342,782
1890	298,997
1880	233,959
1870	149,473
1860	56,802

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in San Francisco

Military engagements that took place in San Francisco, California.

Portolá – San Francisco Bay Expedition 1769

1769

San Francisco (Yerba Buena) Occupation

1846

Battle of Yerba Buena / San Francisco

1846

Capture of San Francisco

1846

San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856

1856

San Francisco Vigilance Committee 1856

1856

Historic places in San Francisco

National Register of Historic Places listings in San Francisco, California.

Fort Point National Historic Site

San Francisco

Golden Gate Park Conservatory

San Francisco

Grabhorn Press Building

San Francisco

USS PAMPANITO (submarine)

City of Paris Building

San Francisco

Audiffred Building

San Francisco

Aquatic Park Historic District

Payne, Theodore F., House

San Francisco

San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal

San Francisco

San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco

San Francisco Port of Embarkation, US Army

San Francisco

Westerfeld, William, House

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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Riverside Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Solano Sonoma

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Everything a full report reveals about San Francisco County, California

This page charts the census history of San Francisco County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Californiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from California›

Frequently asked about San Francisco

When does San Francisco first appear in the US census?

San Francisco, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 56,802.

What is the population of San Francisco?

At the most recent federal census (2020), San Francisco had a recorded population of 873,965.

Were any battles fought in San Francisco?

6 documented military engagements took place in San Francisco, including Portolá – San Francisco Bay Expedition 1769, San Francisco (Yerba Buena) Occupation, Battle of Yerba Buena / San Francisco.

How many historic places are in San Francisco?

207 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco, California.

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