People with Irish ancestry comprise roughly 7.5% of San Francisco County's population, but that percentage will seem a lot higher this weekend as the U.S. celebrates St. Patrick's Day.

Why it matters: Irish people's presence in the Bay Area dates back as far as the Gold Rush. They quickly became a backbone in the local community; now, there are nearly 64,000 Irish Americans in San Francisco.

Flashback: Immigration to the U.S. from Ireland surged in the mid-1800s amid the potato famine and economic depression. Many came to California in search of striking it rich.

• By 1880, about one-third of San Francisco's population was of Irish descent, according to historical archive FoundSF. Alongside Chinese immigrants, they made up a bulk of the workforce on the Transcontinental Railroad, often risking their lives for little pay.
• Despite facing bigotry due to their cultural differences and religion, they quickly centralized their political capital to gain power in the unions.
• Irish immigrants also founded Irish Hill in the 1860s and turned it into a working-class neighborhood that housed single men who were industrial laborers, though it was later destroyed via quarrying.

Zoom in: As the largely undeveloped San Francisco began to grow, they secured jobs in the police and fire departments, resulting in leadership roles in public service and business.

• Notable figures include the city's first mayor John W. Geary, its first chief of police Malachi Fallon, its first foreign-born mayor Frank McCoppin and educator, suffragist and labor leader Kate Kennedy.
• It was also an Irishman, Jasper O'Farrell, who designed the city grid.

Yes, but: The Irish led many anti-Chinese campaigns in a bid to deflect prejudice. Dennis Kearny, leader of the Workingman's Party of California, famously coined the rallying cry "The Chinese must go!" in the 1870s.

State of play: From dance traditions to live piglet protests, Irish people have plenty of history in San Francisco and have played key roles shaping the city's early identity.

Go deeper

St. Patrick's Day commemorates Irish culture, highlighted in San Francisco by a sprawling parade dating back to the 1850s.

Zoom in: The holiday falls on Monday March 17, which means the party starts this weekend. Here's where to celebrate:

🎭 The St. Patrick's Day Comedy Festival kicks off Friday and lasts through Monday, featuring 70 minutes of laughs from 4 to 5 comics in every set. Tickets start at $25. Located at The Function at 1414 Market St.

🍺 Kiss Me, I'm Irish! bar crawl starts at 2pm Saturday and at 6pm Monday at Northstar Cafe, before traveling to spots like Gino & Carlo's and Tupelo. Tickets start at $20.

☘️ The St. Patrick's Day parade will celebrate its 174th year on Saturday from 10am- 5pm, beginning at the corner of 2nd and Market before make its way down to Civic Center Plaza.

🇮🇪 The United Irish Cultural Center will have traditional music, food, dancing and family-friendly activities all weekend, including a concert on Friday, a block party on Sunday and a celebration on Monday. Located at 2700 45th Ave.

More events

✈️ SFO food catering company Gate Gourmet is laying off 835 workers after recently losing a customer account. (SF Chronicle)

A city worker and her girlfriend are facing charges for allegedly defrauding Section 8 housing funds and child care benefits by falsely claiming to care for 17 children, according to district attorney Brooke Jenkins. (SF Standard)

🏠 Local housing advocates are lauding state Sen. Scott Wiener 's new bill. It aims to narrow the scope of the California Environmental Quality Act, which critics say has long limited new housing construction in the state. (SF Examiner)

St. Patrick's Day weekend has arrived and with it, the drinking spirit of the Irish.

The latest: Order a pint of Guinness or your favorite Irish whiskey at one of these lively bars. Here's where to go:

The Little Shamrock: Revel in a small piece of history when visiting this humble watering hole in the Sunset known as one of the oldest bars in the city. Hours vary 807 Lincoln Way.

The Plough and the Stars: As the self-described "home of traditional Irish music in the Bay Area," this Richmond spot proudly hosts live Celtic music most evenings. Hours vary 116 Clement St.

Dovre Club: This corner dive bar in the Mission is steeping in history with Irish memorabilia, photos of former owner "Paddy" Nolan, and newspaper clippings plastered on the walls. Open 2pm- 2am at 1498 Valencia St.

More pubs

I found myself one windy weekday afternoon in a part of the city I tend not to regularly frequent when I made a pit stop at Buena Vista Cafe .

The latest: As one does in this historic locale, I ordered their famous "Irish coffee," a delectable concoction of whiskey, sweetened coffee and cream that will lift your spirits and comfort you on a cold city day.

Catch up quick: Buena Vista Cafe's signature drink was developed after former owner Jack Koeppler made it his mission to recreate a well-loved coffee cocktail he tried at the Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland back in 1952.

• Today, this San Francisco staple is known as the birthplace of Irish coffee in the U.S. and continues to boast the same delicious recipe made by industrious bartenders in a charming old-timey setting.

My thought bubble: Go have one now!

If you go: Open from 9am-11pm Monday through Friday and 8am-midnight Saturday and Sunday at 2765 Hyde St.