Marin County has 11 cities and 17 unincorporated towns and villages in an area almost three times the size of Manhattan Island. But, we have only about 3% of the population of that great metropolis. We are blessed by having 80-85% of our land as open space, parks, lakes, estuaries, bayside marshes, and seashore.

1937 was a big year for Marin, with the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge linking Marin to San Francisco. Up till then, Marin was a summer haven for San Francisco residents, who came here for summer sunshine and recreation. After that historic opening, San Franciscans built their primary homes in the canyons and on the shores of Marin.

With easy access by car, the housing industry blossomed at end of WWII. Lots of tract homes and developments were added to the summer cabins, Victorian cottages, and Craftsman bungalows that predominated throughout Marin. Of course, there were concentrations of fine housing established in the late 19^th Century by affluent merchants and English expatriates: Sausalito, Belvedere Island, and Ross. These persist today, and are highly prized locations.

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