Wikimedia is moving to San Francisco

The Wikimedia Foundation, the force behind the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia, is moving from Florida to a new headquarters in San Francisco. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, Founder Jimmy Wales said that the small operation is packing up its office in St. Petersburg, Fla., and moving to San Francisco in an attempt to create a larger brand, attract more talent and make better inroads in developing countries, particularly in Asia. Wikipedia, which is edited largely by volunteers, is among the 10-most-visited Internet sites in the world. “San Francisco won out for all the obvious reasons; the Internet culture, the great developers and potential partners. It’s really the place to be,” said Wales. “We’re a major Internet brand and this is where a lot of the major brands are located.” San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom welcomed the nonprofit to town in a statement. “Wikimedia will be an illustrious addition to our thriving information technology hub,” he said. “They represent the cutting edge of Internet-based innovation and will contribute greatly to the atmosphere of creativity that flourishes in San Francisco.”