how did san francisco get its name

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how did san francisco get its name?

-- lucky eddie (imjude@telis.org), March 05, 1998

Answers

The Spanish named it after St. Francis of Assisi.

Long before the City was established, Spanish mariners applied the name "Bahia de San Francisco de Assis" (Bay of St. Francis of Assisi) to the entire coastal area extending from Pt. Reyes on the North to Pillar Point on the South. It was only logical that when Spanish explorers established a mission and army post (Presidio) on the Bay in 1776 that they give them the same name.

Interestingly, the City did not adopt the name San Francisco until 1846. Until then, the little pueblo was known as "Yerba Buena," or "Good Herb."

John Martini Presidio of San Francisco

-- John Martini (John_Martini@nps.gov), March 07, 1998.


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