This Bay Area is like no other.

It is the birthplace of technologies that impact the world. It is the location of internationally renowned universities and research facilities, and the hub for an exceptionally skilled and educated workforce that makes the San Francisco Bay Area a nucleus of knowledge-based industry. The region is consistently on the cutting edge of the latest developments in technology and the latest economic trends.

The Bay Area is home to many of the most diverse communities in the United States, and is influenced by cultures from around the globe. With three major cities - San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose - each with an international airport and two with international seaports - the region's global orientation inspires its multi-cultural character and climate for continued innovation.

The region is hailed as one of the most beautiful natural environments, accented by the breathtaking San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, a unique estuary ecosystem, and landscapes varying from dramatic redwood forests to mountain peaks as high as 3,850 feet.

People are drawn to the Bay Area for the richness of its economic, cultural, and environmental resources, citing it as the best place to raise children, to be educated, to do business, to be part of a community. Almost 7 million people live in the Bay Area's nine counties and 101 cities. This number is projected to grow to 8 million by 2020.