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The Peninsula

San Mateo County – The Peninsula

Bordered by the Pacific on the west and the bay on the east, San Mateo is a county of  754,285 residents, the great majority of whom owe their livelihoods to the county’s neighbors.  On the northern border sits San Francisco, owner of the most valuable piece of real estate in San Mateo County, the San Francisco International Airport.

San Francisco stores its water supply in San Mateo and to assure its purity has placed thousands of acres in watershed.  Nine out of every ten residents reside in 20 cities.  Besides the City of San Mateo, they are:  Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, South San Francisco and Woodside.

On the southern border sits Santa Clara County, home of Stanford University and Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley has spread into San Mateo County, home to Genentech, Sun/Oracle and VISA.

Hills and mountains run down the spine of San Mateo County, with thousands of residents enjoying picture perfect shorelines and some of the tallest waves in the world crash against its 55 miles of Pacific coast.

San Mateo County encompasses 440 square miles, about one-third the size of Santa Clara County, and about nine times the size of San Francisco.  From north to south, the county runs about 40 miles, and from east to west, at the widest point, about 15 miles.  The highest point, elevation about 2,600 feet, is a place called Long Ridge, on the south side of the county, in the coastal mountains.  Running up the center of the county is the San Andreas Fault.  Yes, this is earthquake country.  The whole Bay Area is earthquake country.

In its informal 2009 tally, the state numbered the county’s residential units at 268,908 of which 153,917 were single family homes, 22,896 single attached, 88,514 apartments or hotel rooms and 3,581 mobile homes.  Single homes make up 66 percent of the housing stock and apartments/hotel rooms 33 percent.  To comfort and shelter travelers, hotels have sprung up in the cities around the airport.

Because of its location and beauty, San Mateo County is considered one of the most desirable addresses in the state.  Many homes, even the plain three-bedroom tract jobs, 50 years old, sell for over $700,000.

Peninsula Weather

For most towns, the average rainfall is less than 20 inches, but in can reach 50 inches in the mountains.  Temperatures rarely fall below freezing and rarely rise above 90 degrees.  Humidity rarely bothers anyone and rarely does thunder rumble or lightening strike.

San Mateo claims to have the mildest climate in the Bay Region.  The coastal hills and mountains shelter the Bay cities, where most people reside, from the cold fogs and winds of the Pacific.  Yet, enough cooling breezes come down the Bay or over the hills to take the edge off the summer heat.

Things to Do

San Mateo County has an array of local museums, theater and musical groups, shopping, event centers, sports facilities and golf courses.  In addition to those, here is a list of some local activities.

Coyote Point Recreation Area
1701 Coyote Point Dr.
San Mateo, CA

650.573.2592

One on One Basketball
1020 Haven Ave.
Redwood City, CA
650.366.1661

California Kids Gymnastics
2831 Spring Street
Redwood City, CA
650.369.7343

Kings Swim Academy
57 E. 40th Ave.
San Mateo, CA
650.349.7946

Malibu Grand Prix
340 Blomquist St.
Redwood City, CA
650.366.6463

GoKart Racer
1541 Adrian Rd.
Burlingame, CA
650.692.7223

Redwood Roller Rink
1303 Main St.
Redwood City, CA
650.369.5558

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