Marin County

Marin County is a jurisdiction north of San Francisco in California, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. The landscape shifts between coastal hills, beaches, redwood forests, and open valleys where small towns sit along the roads.

The jurisdiction formed in 1850 and took its name from Chief Marin, a leader of the Coast Miwok who lived here before colonization. The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 and permanently connected the area to San Francisco, leading to rapid settlement.

The towns here have drawn artists and musicians since the 1960s, who work in studios and galleries and organize regular concerts. In Sausalito and Tiburon, floating homes sit anchored offshore, combining waterfront living with a free-spirited atmosphere.

Many trails and beaches can be reached from San Francisco using public transport that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. Fog often rolls in from the Pacific during summer and keeps coastal areas cooler than the inland valleys.

Muir Woods preserves coastal redwoods that grow over 250 feet (76 meters) tall and rank among the oldest living organisms on Earth. The forest sits just a short drive from San Francisco and forms a quiet contrast to the city.

Location: California

Inception: 1850

Capital city: San Rafael

Part of: San Rafael metropolitan division

Shares border with: Sonoma County, San Francisco County

Website: http://co.marin.ca.us

GPS coordinates: 38.04000,-122.74000

Latest update: December 11, 2025 19:00