BUSINESS
San Francisco is home to nearly 70,000 businesses, and the Bay Area economy is
the 25th largest economy in the world. The city ranks second among U.S. cities
in its high percentage of high-tech jobs, and computer engineering is still the
fastest growing profession in the area. While San Francisco is known for technology,
other leading industries include tourism, media and finance; life sciences is
emerging as a new industry in the area. Many major companies call the Bay Area
home, including Levi Strauss & Co., Bechtel Group, Hewlett-Packard, Safeway,
Sun Microsystems, Apple Computer, Seagate Technology, Bank America, Intel, Chevron
and 3Com Corp.
CULTURE
With 18 museums, 235 visual arts venues and 654 nightlife destinations, a plethora
of cultural opportunities can be found in San Francisco. Arts organizations provide
a $1.3 billion boost to the local economy, making the arts the fourth-largest
growth industry in San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Area has the largest arts
attendance per capita among U.S. metropolitan areas.
Diversity is the essence of San Francisco's culture. Murals enliven the streets
of the Mission District, museums are centered around Yerba Buena Gardens, children's
poetry is displayed on side street kiosks
in the Financial District. The museum of the City of San Francisco is housed at
Fisherman's Wharf and the War Memorial Opera Center in the Civic Center hosts
the San Francisco Opera and America's oldest professional ballet company, the
San Francisco Ballet. Visitors and residents alike enjoy Broadway shows, improvisational
comedy, musical revues and dramatic theater throughout the city.
San
Francisco by the numbers (2000 data)
| Bay
Area population: |
6,783,760 |
| Unemployment
rate: |
6.3%
(Dec. 2002) |
| Median
household income: |
$55,221 |
| Median
home price: |
$537,000 |
| Avg.
monthly apartment: |
$1,825 |
| Number
of Drake alumni: |
650 (currently) |
|
 |
"This
area, particularly Silicon Valley, is loaded with entrepreneurs and new ideas.
It's just such a tremendous opportunity for learning, experiencing and exploring.
And there's a real sense of acceptance and diversity that permeates everybody's
attitude out here."
- Tim Shetler,
BN'79, vice president of marketing, TimesTen Inc.
|
 |
"San
Francisco offers access to a lot of wonderful metropolitan amenities, like great
theater, symphony, restaurants, but with more of a smaller city feel, with distinct
neighborhoods."
- Mark Norland,
BN'83, national director of organizational effectiveness, Deloitte & Touche
|
|
"San
Francisco is a dynamic and exciting city that offers a lot of diversity and cutting-edge
attitudes along with some terrific
natural beauty."
- Michael Dasher,
BN'71, managing director, Bank of America
|
ALUMNI
CHAPTER
Get in touch with fellow Drake alumni! Contact Drake University National Alumni
Association Board of Directors member Jane Stampe, ED'70, at janestampe@yahoo.com
or jstampe@getthere.com.
You can also connect in cyberspace by visiting Drake's online alumni community
at www.drakealumni.net. |
|
Regional
Scoop