On This Day
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Construction begins on the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024.

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023. Some 4.6 million residents live in the city's metropolitan statistical area, which is the 13th-largest in the United States. Around 9.2 million live in the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland combined statistical area, the fifth-largest in the United States.

Prior to European settlement, San Francisco was inhabited by the Yelamu Ohlone.

Historical Significance

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024.

Events Before

  1. First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

    First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

  2. Kim Philby is born

    Kim Philby, British intelligence officer and soviet double agent, known for british intelligence officer and soviet double agent, was born on 1912-01-01.

  3. Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the

    Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the Geological Association at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt

  4. Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National

    Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National Congress and declare its aim to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms

  5. Captain Robert Scott's expedition arrives at the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen

    The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a United States scientific research station at the South Pole of the Earth.

Events After

  1. Kornelis "Klaas" ter Laan becomes the Netherlands' first socialist mayor in Zaandam

    Kornelis "Klaas" ter Laan becomes the Netherlands' first socialist mayor in Zaandam

  2. Danish "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen (28), pen name Isak Dinesen marries her 2nd cousin Baron Hans von Blixen-Fine

    Danish "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen (28), pen name Isak Dinesen marries her 2nd cousin Baron Hans von Blixen-Finecke

  3. "The Squaw Man," the first feature-length film shot in Hollywood, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel, is relea

    "The Squaw Man," the first feature-length film shot in Hollywood, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel, is released in the US

  4. First successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels

    First successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels

  5. Film serial "The Perils of Pauline" is shown for the first time in Los Angeles, California

    Film serial "The Perils of Pauline" is shown for the first time in Los Angeles, California

More from the 1910s

birth

Hank Greenberg is born

Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery

The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 8, 1913?
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023.
Why is Construction begins on the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco for the Panam... significant?
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024.

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December 8 in HistoryYear 1913