South San Francisco is a residential and industrial community of 58,000. It is located mostly on flat land near the western edge of the bay 2.2 miles north of San Francisco International Airport, and is nestled between San Bruno Mountain, the Santa Cruz Mountain Range and

San Francisco Bay. It is well known for its name on a hill highly visible to commuters who travel north on US 101. Originally a center for steel mills and manufacturing, South San Francisco has evolved into a mix of offices and industry. South San Francisco is one of the centers of bioscience worldwide, the birthplace of the biotechnology industry, and home of what is arguably the highest concentration of commercial biotechnology companies anywhere. The homes are modestly priced by Bay Area standards making it a favorite bedroom community for San Francisco. It has excellent schools and an unusually low crime rate.