San Francisco is a city and county in Northern California that is named after the San Francisco Bay, which in turn is named after St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order of friars. It is the fourth-most-populous city in the state and the 16th-most-populous city in the country. It is known for its iconic landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Lombard Street, its cultural and historical diversity, and its role as a center for technology, finance, and tourism.
Sacramento is a city and the capital of California that is named after the Sacramento River, which in turn is named after the Spanish term for the Eucharist, sacramento. It is the sixth-most-populous city in the state and the 35th-most-populous city in the country. It is known for its history as a center of the California Gold Rush, its political and economic influence, and its cultural and recreational attractions, such as the California State Capitol, the Crocker Art Museum, and the Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County that is named after the long and sandy beach that stretches along its coastline. It is the seventh-most-populous city in the state and the 43rd-most-populous city in the country. It is known for its maritime and industrial activities, such as the Port of Long Beach, the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and the Boeing Company, its cultural and educational institutions, such as the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Long Beach Museum of Art, and the California State University, Long Beach, and its diverse and vibrant communities, such as the East Village Arts District, the Cambodia Town, and the Belmont Shore.
Oakland is a city in Alameda County that is named after the oak trees that once covered its territory. It is the eighth-most-populous city in the state and the 45th-most-populous city in the country. It is known for its history as a railroad and port city, its social and political activism, and its cultural and artistic scene, such as the Oakland Museum of California, the Fox Theater, and the Jack London Square.
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County that is named after Thomas Baker, a former colonel and lawyer who settled in the area and helped to irrigate the land. It is the ninth-most-populous city in the state and the 52nd-most-populous city in the country. It is known for its oil and agricultural production, its musical and cultural heritage, especially the Bakersfield sound, a genre of country music, and its natural and recreational attractions, such as the Kern River, the Buck Owens Crystal Palace, and the Kern County Museum.