“In 1852, the city of San Francisco occupied only the northeastern portion of the peninsula of the same name. The city was also part of the County of San Francisco, which was separately governed and encompassed a much larger area, including what is today San Mateo County. However, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors harbored ambitions to expand the city beyond its modest limits. As the mapping of the city had hitherto generally been limited to the densely settled area in what is now downtown, they commissioned a map that showed the territory west and south of the city. The map embraces the San Francisco Peninsula from San Bruno northwards, with areas of elevation, cliffs, and wetlands, lakes and streams all indicated. Major roads are shown, as are the Presidio and Telegraph Station above Fort Point, and ranchos are identified and their acreage indicated. The vast barren area to the southwest of the Golden Gate is labeled the “Great Sand Bank.” The city limits of San Francisco are demarcated, including the boundary extensions of 1850 and 1851, though the only man-made details within the city itself are Market Street, the “Mission” (Mission Dolores), the Embarcadero, and an adjacent brickyard.” bostonraremaps.com
UC Berkeley
