Does anyone know the population of San Francisco in 1850?

-- Denise Peacher (DP6505@aol.com), March 23, 2000

Answers

Jul 1849 5,000*

1852 34,776

Source: http://www.sf50.com/sf/hgpop.htm

-- richard (zpub@sirius.com), March 24, 2000.

Source: "Historic San Francicso (A Concise History an Guide)", Rand Richards First Printing 1991 ISBN 1-87967-00-9 (I paid $ 14.95)

Chronology: "1847 San Francisco's Population: 500 (est.)" "1848 August. San Francisco's Population: 6,000 (est.)" "1850 San Francisco's Population: 25,000 (est.)" "1860 San Francisco's Population: 56,800" "1870 San Francisco's Population: 149,500" "1880 San Francisco's Population: 234,000" "1890 San Francisco's Population: 299,000" "1900 San Francisco's Population: 342,800" ... ...

-- Heinz-Dieter Krippendorf (krippendorf@t-online.de), March 26, 2000.

I finally found an official figure for 1850: 21,000. It also appears that I had the 1852 figure wrong; it should be 36,151. I think the previous figure may have been an estimate as to the population of San Francisco "city." I have the updated figures, with explanatory notes, at:

-Ron Filion

-- Ron Filion (ron@sf50.com), July 10, 2000.

The website address didn't post, so here it is again:

http://www.sf50.com/sf/hgpop.htm

-- Ron Filion (ron@sf50.com), July 10, 2000.