"San Mateo, California" a San Mateo Travel Page by Court94403

San Mateo is a city located approximately 20 miles south of San Francisco, 30 minutes north of San Jose, and 40 minutes west of Oakland. San Mateo has a population of almost 100,000 residents, has an area of 16 square miles, and an elevation of 43 feet. San Mateo is a city and a county, it was incorporated on September 4, 1894. San Mateo is both a residential and a business community. San Mateo grew from what was once a small district along a freshwater creek in an area that is now considered downtown San Mateo.

The first San Mateans were members of the Ohlone Tribe. The Ohlone Indians lived in the area of South San Francisco in the north, to the area south of San Mateo in the current city of Belmont, for over 3,000 years before the first Spanish explorers.

The Spanish Explorers came to San Mateo during an expedition to find an area to start a colony. Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza, Padre Pedro Font and Lt. Jose Joaquin Moraga began the first "town" near a creek that ran through the area. They named it San Mateo Creek. In the late 1700's a mission was built here on the San Mateo Peninsula.

I live in the City of San Mateo. However, San Mateo is also a County and Redwood City (where I work ) is the County Seat. Redwood City is the place where all the governmental offices are. Literally if you are born, marry, die or get arrested in any city in the county of San Mateo, Redwood City has a record of it.

The Cities of San Mateo County are:
Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane,
Broadmoor, Burlingame, Colma,
Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada,
Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough,
La Honda, Loma Mar, Menlo Park,
Millbrae, * Mira Mar, Montara,
Moss Beach, Pacifica, Pescadero,
Portola Valley, Princeton, Redwood City,
San Bruno San Carlos San Gregorio
San Mateo, Skylonda, South San Francisco,
and Woodside

(I know I missed one or two cities!)

*Millbrae is The home of San Francisco International Airport, so if you visit San Francisco, you will actually be in Millbrae, California

The San Mateo Bridge connects the Peninsula; (what locals call the area south of San Francisco to San Jose), to the cities of the East Bay; Hayward, Fremont, San Leandro, and Oakland. The San Mateo Bridge is about 5 miles long. It was opened in 1967 it was replaced by the first bridge that was built in 1929. San Mateo Bridge is one of seven bridges in The San Francisco Bay Area.