What does Google know about the Bay Area

What does Google's search algorithms say about us? As you type in a search query suggested and previous searches are offered. Choosing one that we associate with the topic leads to accurate results and saves us hours of work every year.

But something interesting is happening. When a town or state is entered not only are the usual geographic info suggested but also other cultural factoids come up. For instance as Albany is typed the initial suggestions that comes up are a whole slew of Albany, NY referents and only a local hang-out, the Albany Bowl gets any instant love.

The pattern I found by looking at these, the most searched refinements of Bay Area cities are that they are either places to grow up or they are destinations for entertainment. The oddball cases are news-worthy events like San Bruno's unfortunate firestorm or a plane crash in San Carlos. To me it seems as if the cities of the Bay Area are seemingly re-formed by this autocomplete feature. The past is obscured by the search patterns of people moving to or wishing to spend there idle time.

It also seems to be a form of the group speaking out about what cities are preferred to grow up and be educated in. While search for "police" comes up in the list for Palo Alto it makes no appearance in Oakland's public (Google) dossier. Perhaps people no longer even ask what they may already "know".

What do we know about Minnesota? Vikings, of course.