Unlike almost anywhere else, San Francisco is both a city and a county. It is the financial, commercial, and cultural center of the entire Northern California …
Marin County
Marin County is located just on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and San Rafael is the county seat. It was created in 1850, shortly …
San Mateo County
San Mateo is Spanish for St. Matthew, and the county covers much of the peninsula below San Francisco. It was established in 1856, along with the other eight …
Contra Costa County
Located across the bay from San Francisco, the primarily suburban Contra Costa County has about 1,000,000 people, and Martinez is the county seat. Fossils have …
Solano County
Solano County was also created in 1850 when California officially became one of the United States. It has a population of about 400,000, and the county seat is …
Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County is located on the Pacific Coast of California, between San Francisco and Monterey. The county is the northern coast of Monterey Bay. It has a …
Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County is located almost directly in the center of eastern California. It’s largest city and county seat is San Jose. It is probably most known for …
Sonoma County
Sonoma County is not densely populated, with about 484 000 residents. Santa Rosa is its largest city and county seat. It is located to the north of Marin County …
Napa County
Napa Valley has long been known for its excellent vineyards and wineries. It had achieved such success in the industry that it ranked equally with French wines …
Alameda County
Alameda is the county that contains the well-known cities of Berkeley and Oakland – which is the county seat, although there are 12 others and several …