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.

[edit] Geography

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.

[edit] Cities and towns

Image:Redwood City CourtHouse California USa.jpg

[edit] Adjacent Counties

San Francisco County, California north
Alameda County, California east
Santa Clara County, California southeast
Santa Cruz County, California south

[edit] Transportation Infrastructure

[edit] Major Highways

Image:Interstate 280 (California).svg Interstate 280 (Junipero Serra Freeway)
Image:Interstate 380 (California).svg Interstate 380
Image:US 101 (CA).svg U.S. Route 101 (Bayshore Freeway)
Image:California 1.svg California State Route 1
Image:California 92.svg California State Highway 92 (J. Arthur Younger Freeway, San Mateo Bridge)
Image:California 84.svg California State Highway 84 (Woodside Road, Dumbarton Bridge)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² 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 in Redwood City - facing north west

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.

[edit] Environmental features

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. The endangered wildflowers White-rayed pentachaeta, Pentachaeta bellidiflora, San Mateo Woolly Sunflower, Eriophyllum latilobum, and the San Mateo Thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii, are found in the vicinity of the Crystal Springs Reservoir.

[edit] Notable structures

There are a number of well known structures within San Mateo County:

Carolands Mansion, Hillsborough
Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo
Cow Palace, Daly City
Crocker Mansion, Hillsborough
Crystal Springs Reservoir, unincorporated central part of county
Dakin Building, Brisbane
Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, which incorporates Ralston Hall
Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero
Point Montara Lighthouse, Montara
San Francisco International Airport
Sanchez Adobe, Pacifica

[edit] Politics

**Presidential elections results**
Year	Republicans	Democrats
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

[edit] County trails

Alpine Trail
Bog Trail
Cañada Trail
Crystal Springs Trail
Edgewood Trail
Ralston Trail
San Andreas Trail
Sand Hill Trail
Sawyer Camp Trail
Skyline Trail
Sheep Camp Trail
Sweeney Ridge Trail

[edit] County parks

Coyote Point Recreation Area
Coyote Point Marina
Crystal Springs
Edgewood Park and Natural Reserve
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Flood Park (County)
Heritage Grove
Huddart Park
Junipero Serra County Park
San Mateo County Memorial Park
Pescadero Creek Park
Sam MacDonald Park
San Bruno Mountain (County Park)
San Mateo Fishing Pier
San Pedro Valley Park
Sanchez Adobe
Woodside Store
Wunderlich Park - New

Source: http://www.sanmateocountyparks.org/ County Parks http://www.eparks.net/smc/department/esa/home/0,2151,5556687_10575168,00.html

[edit] State Parks

Año Nuevo State Park
Butano State Park
Castle Rock State Park
Heritage Grove
Portola Redwoods State Park
Quarry Park
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
Pigeon Point Light Station Historic State Park
Point Montara Light Station State Park
Portola Redwoods State Park
San Bruno Mountain State Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/default.asp?tab=3 State Parks, Choose San Mateo

[edit] State beaches

Año Nuevo State Reserve
Bean Hollow State Beach
Big Basin State Beach
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Montara State Beach
Pacifica State Beach
Pescadero State Beach
Pomponio State Beach
San Gregorio State Beach
Thornton State Beach

Source: http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/default.asp?tab=3 State Parks, Choose San Mateo

[edit] See also

Image:Commons-logo.svg

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

San Mateo County, California

List of school districts in San Mateo County, California
Peninsula Humane Society
Telephone Area code 650
Telephone Area code 415

[edit] External links

Image:Portal.svg

San Francisco Bay Area Portal

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San Mateo County, California

Incorporated places
Population over 100,000:    Daly City
Population 50,000 – 100,000:    Redwood City (County seat) • San Mateo • South San Francisco
Population under 50,000:    Atherton • Belmont • Brisbane • Burlingame • Colma • East Palo Alto • Foster City • Half Moon Bay • Hillsborough • Menlo Park • Millbrae • Pacifica • Portola Valley • San Bruno • San Carlos • Woodside

Census-designated places
Broadmoor • El Granada • Emerald Lake Hills • Highlands-Baywood Park • Montara • Moss Beach • North Fair Oaks • West Menlo Park

Other unincorporated communities
Kings Mountain • La Honda • Ladera • Los Trancos Woods • Middleton Tract • Sky Londa

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