To describe the epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections in the San Francisco Bay Area, population-based active surveillance for laboratory-confirmed iGAS was conducted by the California Emerging Infections Program in three California counties. From January 1989 to December 1999, 1415 cases of iGAS were identified. Mean iGAS incidence was 4.06/100,000 person-years and case fatality ratio was 13%, with no linear trends over time. Incidence was lowest in adolescents, was higher in men than women (4.4 vs. 3.2/100,000 person-years), and was higher in African-Americans (6.7) than in non-Hispanic (4.1) or Hispanic (3.4) Whites, Asians (2.2) or Native Americans (17/100,000 person-years). Injecting drug use was the riskiest underlying condition and was associated with the highest attributable risk. Cases were associated with several underlying conditions, but 23% occurred in previously healthy persons. From 1989-1999, iGAS infections in the San Francisco Bay Area became neither more common nor more deadly.