Just before the Gold Rush, the town of San Francisco, especially the section along the Bay, was known by what name?

Long before the tidal wave of prospectors arrived, the small port settlement on the cove of San Francisco Bay was known as Yerba Buena. The name, Spanish for "good herb," was given by early Spanish explorers in reference to the wild spearmint that flourished on the surrounding hillsides. This small village was distinct from the two older Spanish establishments in the area: the military Presidio and the religious Mission San Francisco de Asís, popularly known as Mission Dolores.

The transition to its modern name occurred in 1847, just after the United States secured the territory during the Mexican-American War. The American alcalde (a type of mayor), Lt. Washington A. Bartlett, made a strategic decision. Recognizing that the entire bay was already known as San Francisco, he officially renamed the town of Yerba Buena to match it. This shrewd move ensured that the growing port would become the primary city on the bay, preventing a rival settlement from claiming the more prestigious name.

This name change happened at a pivotal moment. Just one year later, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, and the newly named San Francisco exploded from a sleepy outpost into a bustling global metropolis. The former name was quickly overshadowed, but it lives on today in local landmarks such as Yerba Buena Island and Yerba Buena Gardens.