San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a
county located in the
San Francisco Bay Area of the
U.S. state of
California. It covers most of the
San Francisco Peninsula just south of
San Francisco and north of
Santa Clara County.
San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and
Silicon Valley begins at the southern end. As of 2000 the population was 707,161. The
county seat is
Redwood City.
San Mateo County was formed from parts of
San Francisco County and
Santa Cruz County in 1856.
The county bears the
Spanish name for
Saint Matthew. As a place name, St. Matthew appears as early as 1776, and the
arroyo, the point and the settlement at the unofficial San Mateo Mission are all so designated on the early maps. Until about 1850, the name appeared as
San Matheo.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,919
km² (741
mi²). 1,163 km² (449 mi²) of it is land and 756 km² (292 mi²) of it (39.40%) is water.
Major Highways
*
Interstate 280 (Junipero Serra Freeway)
*
Interstate 380*
U.S. Route 101 (Bayshore Freeway)
*
California State Route 1*
California State Highway 92 (J. Arthur Younger Freeway,
San Mateo Bridge)
*
California State Highway 84 (Woodside Road,
Dumbarton Bridge)
Adjacent Counties
*
San Francisco County, California north
*
Alameda County, California east
*
Santa Clara County, California southeast
*
Santa Cruz County, California south
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 707,161 people, 254,103 households, and 171,265 families residing in the county. The
population density was 608/km² (1,575/mi²). There were 260,576 housing units at an average density of 224/km² (580/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.49%
White, 3.51%
Black or
African American, 0.44%
Native American, 20.04%
Asian, 1.33%
Pacific Islander, 10.17% from
other races, and 5.02% from two or more races. 21.88% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
 |
San Mateo County Government Center |
There were 254,103 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were
married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $70,819, and the median income for a family was $80,737. Males had a median income of $51,342 versus $40,383 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $36,045. About 3.50% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.
San Mateo County encompasses a variety of habitats including
estuarine, marine, oak woodland, redwood forest, coastal scrub and oak savannah. There are numerous species of
wildlife present, especially along the
San Francisco Bay estuarine shoreline,
San Bruno Mountain,
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and the forests on the Montara Mountain block.
The county is home to several
endangered species including the
San Francisco garter snake and the
San Bruno elfin butterfly, both of which are endemic to San Mateo County. The endangered
California clapper rail is also found on the shores of San Francisco Bay, in the cities of
Belmont and
San Mateo. the endangered wildflower
Hickman's potentilla is found near the Pacific Ocean on the lower slopes of Montara Mountain.
Presidential elections results| Year | GOP! Dems |
|---|
| 2004 | 29.2% 83,315 | 69.5% 197,922 |
| 2000 | 31.0% 80,296 | 64.3% 166,757 |
| 1996 | 29.2% 73,508 | 60.6% 152,304 |
| 1992 | 27.2% 75,080 | 54.0% 149,232 |
| 1988 | 42.9% 109,261 | 55.7% 141,859 |
| 1984 | 51.9% 135,185 | 46.9% 122,268 |
| 1980 | 48.8% 116,491 | 36.6% 87,335 |
| 1976 | 50.6% 117,338 | 44.4% 102,896 |
| 1972 | 52.8% 135,377 | 42.8% 109,745 |
| 1968 | 43.7% 98,654 | 47.2% 106,519 |
| 1964 | 35.5% 77,916 | 64.3% 140,978 |
| 1960 | 51.7% 104,570 | 48.0% 97,154 |
|
|
1939 Facade of Redwood City Court House, California. (Now removed.) Restoration to 1910 facade in progress. |
*
Atherton*
Belmont*
Brisbane*
Broadmoor*
Burlingame*
Colma*
Daly City*
East Palo Alto*
El Granada*
Foster City*
Half Moon Bay*
Highlands-Baywood Park*
Hillsborough*
La Honda*
Loma Mar*
Menlo Park*
Millbrae*
Montara*
Moss Beach*
North Fair Oaks*
Pacifica*
Pescadero*
Portola Valley*
Redwood City**
Emerald Lake Hills*
San Bruno*
San Carlos*
San Gregorio*
San Mateo*
South San Francisco*
West Menlo Park*
Woodside*
Año Nuevo State Park*
Butano State Park*
Coyote Point* Coyote Point Marina
*
Crystal Springs* Edgewood Park
*
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve* Flood Park
* Heritage Grove
* Huddart Park
* Junipero Serra County Park
*
San Mateo County Memorial Park* Pescadero Creek
*
Portola Redwoods State Park* Quarry Park
* Sam MacDonald Park
*
San Bruno Mountain*
San Bruno Mountain State Park* San Mateo Fishing Pier
* San Pedro Valley Park
* Sanchez Adobe
* Sawyer Camp Trail
* Woodside Store
*
Half Moon Bay State Beach*
Montara State Beach*
Pacifica State Beach*
Pescadero State Beach*
San Gregorio State Beach*
List of school districts in San Mateo County, California*Telephone
Area code 650*Telephone
Area code 415*
County of San Mateo Official Website*
Coastsider - news for coastal San Mateo County*
Nearlocal - San Mateo Restaurant Listings and Reviews*
San Mateo County Library
