San Rafael, located halfway between San Francisco and California's famous wine country, is Marin's oldest city. It is the largest, and is the County Seat. San Rafael is also Marin's central city. Located in the center of the county's eastern urban corridor, San Rafael is the county's governmental, business, and cultural center. San Rafael is approximately 12 to 16miles to the Golden Gate Bridge.

China Camp State Park features hiking, equestrian and biking trails, boat launches, fishing piers on San Pablo bay. One of the more fascinating historic sites in San Rafael, this 1,648-acre bayside park acquired its name from a Chinese fishing village that once flourished there. China Camp has hiking and horseback riding and biking trails with sweeping views of San Pablo Bay to the east, and San Rafael and the San Francisco Bay to the west. Boat launches, fishing piers, windsurfing, and plenty of picnic tables and barbecue pits round out the park's features.

Along the park, San Pedro Road hugs the shores of San Pablo Bay for a breathtaking view of the North Bay panoramas. The road is studded with jutting points with parking, barbecue pits and picnic tables. Remnants of an old pier dating back to the founding of China Camp are off Buckeye Point. People still fish there. Also visit a preserved fisherman's cottage and the China Camp Museum. Located in the original shrimp processing plant, the museum offers self-guided tours showing photos and tools of China Camp in its heyday.

Marin is a bicyclist's paradise. It is also the birthplace of mountain biking. There are many locations favored by cyclists. Favorites include Lake Lagunitas for an easy ride. The most scenic is the 11.2-mile Bolinas Ridge ride.

McNear's Beach is one of Marin's most popular recreation areas, located off Point San Pedro Road near Peacock Gap. The 35-acre recreational area offers an outdoor swimming pool, fishing pier, two tennis courts, numerous family and group picnic areas with barbecues, and almost a mile of sandy beaches.

Housing

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $771,268

Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $829,132; Detached houses: $941,202; Townhouses or other attached units: $607,268; In 2-unit structures: $999,390; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $394,930; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $533,296; Mobile homes: $143,955; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $189,429

Demographics

Population in July 2009: 55,901. San Rafael covers 16.6 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 12 feet above sea level. Area code 415.

Weather

San Rafael, CA climate is mild during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 60's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.

The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 81.20 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 41.30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at San Rafael is 34.29 Inches. Winter months tend to be wetter than summer months. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 7.38 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com