The City of San Luis Obispo serves as the commercial, governmental and cultural hub of California’s Central Coast. One of California’s oldest communities, it began with the founding of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772 by Father Junípero Serra as the fifth mission in the California chain of 21 missions. The mission was named after Saint Louis, a 13th Century Bishop of Toulouse, France. (San Luis Obispo is Spanish for "St. Louis, the Bishop".) It was first incorporated in 1856 as a General Law City, and became a Charter City in 1876.

With a population of 44,000, the City is located eight miles from the Pacific Ocean and is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles at the junction of Highway 101 and scenic Highway 1. San Luis Obispo is the County Seat, and a number of federal and state regional offices and facilities are located here, including Cal Poly State University, Cuesta Community College, Regional Water Quality Board and Caltrans District offices. The City’s ideal weather and natural beauty provide numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation at nearby City and State parks, lakes, beaches and wilderness areas.