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(), founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Alameda County. Oakland is approximately 8 miles east of San Francisco and the cities are separated by San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Bay Area is the sixth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. Based on United States Census Bureau estimates for 2006, Oakland is the 44th largest city in the United States with a population of 397,067.
Oakland is a major West Coast port, and is home to several major corporations including Kaiser Permanente and Clorox, as well as corporate headquarters for nationwide businesses like Dreyer's and Cost Plus World Markets. Oakland is a major hub city for the Bay Area subregion collectively called the East Bay.
According to the 2000 U.S. census, Oakland and Long Beach, California are the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, with over 150 languages spoken in Oakland. Attractions include Jack London Square, the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center, Lake Merritt, the East Bay Regional Park District ridge line parks and preserves, and Chinatown.