San Rafael, California

San Rafael
City
Aerial view
Aerial view
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
St. Vincent's School for Boys
St. Vincent's School for Boys
Downtown San Rafael
Downtown San Rafael
Dominican University of California
Dominican University of California
Flag of San Rafael
Flag
Official seal of San Rafael
Seal
Nickname: 
The City With a Mission
Location in California
Location in California
San Rafael is located in San Francisco Bay Area
San Rafael
San Rafael
Location in the United States
San Rafael is located in California
San Rafael
San Rafael
San Rafael (California)
San Rafael is located in the United States
San Rafael
San Rafael
San Rafael (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°58′25″N 122°31′52″W / 37.97361°N 122.53111°W / 37.97361; -122.53111
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMarin
IncorporatedFebruary 18, 1874[1]
Named forArchangel Raphael
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager with directly elected mayor
 • MayorKate Colin[2]
 • City ManagerCristine Alilovich[3]
 • SupervisorDistrict 1: Mary Sackett

District 2: Katie Rice

District 4: Dennis Rodoni
 • State Legislators[5]Sen. Mike McGuire (D)
Asm. Damon Connolly (D)
 • U. S. Rep.Jared Huffman (D)[4]
Area
[6]
 • City
22.54 sq mi (58.4 km2)
 • Land16.59 sq mi (43.0 km2)
 • Water5.96 sq mi (15.4 km2)  26.42%
Elevation
[8]
43 ft (13 m)
Population
 (2020)[9]
 • City
61,271
 • Density3,693.92/sq mi (1,426.23/km2)
 • Urban
246,548 (US: 165th)[7]
 • Urban density2,897.2/sq mi (1,118.6/km2)
 • Demonym
San Rafaelino
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
94901
Area codes415/628
FIPS code06-68364
GNIS feature IDs1659589, 2411804
Websitewww.cityofsanrafael.org

San Rafael (/ˌsæn rəˈfɛl/ SAN rə-FEL; Spanish for "St. Raphael", Spanish pronunciation: [san rafaˈel]) is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 61,271,[9] up from 57,713 in 2010.

San Rafael was founded by the Spanish in 1817, when Vicente Francisco de Sarría established Mission San Rafael Arcángel, initially as an asistencia (sub-mission). San Rafael Arcángel was upgraded to full mission status in 1822, a month before Alta California declared independence from Spain as part of Mexico. Following the American Conquest of California, the community of San Rafael incorporated as a city in 1874.

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Mayor & City Council". City of San Rafael. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "City Manager's Office". City of San Rafael. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "California's 2nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  5. ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "San Rafael". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  9. ^ a b "P1. Race – San Rafael city, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.