Marin County is located in the North San Francisco Bay Area directly north across the Golden Gate Bridge from the city/county of San Francisco. As of 2007, the population was 248,096. The county seat is the city of San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is renowned for its natural beauty, liberal politics, affluence and a strong New Age reputation. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Marin County has the fifth highest income per capita in the United States at $91,483.

San Quentin Prison is located in the county, as is Autodesk, the publisher of AutoCAD. A number of other high-tech companies are located in Marin County as well. The Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and draws thousands of visitors a year to guided tours of its arch and atrium design.

Marin County's natural sites include Muir Woods redwood forest, the Marin Headlands, Stinson Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Mount Tamalpais.

Marin County is one of the original 27 counties of California, created February 18, 1850, following adoption of the Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union.

County Website: http://www.co.marin.ca.us