San Luis Obispo [de Tolosa] (Spanish for St. Louis, the Bishop [of Toulouse]) was founded in 1772 by Spanish Franciscan Junípero Serra. San Luis Obispo is one of California's oldest communities. The city, is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is home to California Polytechnic State University. The population was 45,119 at the 2010 census.

San Luis Obispo, incorporated February 16, 1856, sits on the Central Coast of California. It was once named the happiest place in America by Oprah.

Why are we so happy? Listen to this NPR show: Talk of the Nation that talks about our happiness, contributing it to SLO's bike-ability, sunniness, closeness to water, and nice sidewalks!