San Mateo County

This site is a county site for California AHGP, a state organization of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). AHGP is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. You have apparently stumbled upon my contribution to this effort. Our name are Judy White and Dennis Partridge, and we are the joint CAAHGP county coordinators (cc) for San Mateo County, California. If you would like to contribute data to this website please contact us, using the comment form! San Mateo County Biographies Biographies … Read more

Hillsborough Hillsborough, known as the “municipality of millionaires,” and richer per capita than any other city in the world, is an attractive and altogether unique suburban community extending along part of two sides of the town of San Mateo and the westerly boundary of Burlingame. It covers six and a quarter square miles, and although much of the land is occupied, it has only a little over one hundred residences. Here on rolling foothills at the base of Black Mountain, nestling among the luxuriant shrubbery and lofty trees, are the estates of many of California’s oldest and wealthiest families. With … Read more

Automobilists declare that San Mateo County is the leader in highway construction. This is attested to by the astonishing fact that a fair Sunday or holiday brings forth 15,000 motor cars on the main highways, exclusive of the traffic on the coastwise roads, which have just been opened to the public. To accomplish the work of road building, now a reality, millions of dollars and herculean energy were required. Streams were traversed by bridges and mountains reduced to hills in order to make the boulevards practical for all purposes of traffic. Nature has been kind to San Mateo County, and … Read more

Although the city of San Mateo seized upon the designation of the “Floral City” some few years ago, this title could well be extended to take in practically the whole county; the rich soil, dependable rains, and equable temperature causing a growth of semitropical verdure the year around. Wild flowers and orchids, palms and hardy apple trees-all seem to do equally well, some of the larger country estates being famous for the beauties of their gardens, while nearly all of the most modest bungalows are surrounded by beds of roses or covered with clinging vines. San Mateo County in its … Read more

Although all parts of San Mateo County are within about forty miles of San Francisco and within a few hours by auto, there are few sections of the state that are better supplied with game and fish. It is true that a few years ago there was much better hunting, but everything considered, the coast region in San Mateo County is not to be despised. In years past the grizzly bear was common throughout the peninsula. It is said that these bears were even larger than the famous Kadiak Island grizzlies, said to be the largest in the world. Stories … Read more

The very beginning of San Mateo may be traced back to the little wayside mission or hacienda on the banks of San Mateo Creek. The interest that still clings to the spot where this little building once stood, is that it was the first step toward the foundation of the present city. As the route between the Mission Dolores and that at Santa Clara lay through the peninsula which was occupied only by Indians, many of whom had been brought under the benign influence of the Franciscan fathers, a small mission or station was established on the banks of San … Read more

The next navigator to pass the shores of the future San Mateo County after Sebastian Viscaino and Gaspar de Portola was an English Captain, George Vancouver, in command of the sloops “Discovery,” and “Chatham.” He arrived in the bay of San Francisco toward the end of 1792, and anchored off the Presidio, where he was invited ashore by the genial Franciscan friars and entertained. At their suggestion he made the trip down the peninsula on horseback to see the Santa Clara Mission. The following passages are taken direct from his book, “A ‘Voyage of Discovery round the World,” in which … Read more

Following the trail of the discoverers came the Franciscan fathers, building their missions in an unbroken chain, six hundred miles long, from San Diego to San Francisco-and passing through San Mateo County. Gradually the region which later became this county, ceased to be an unknown land because of the proselytizing work of the priests among the Indian tribes, and it began to attract settlers. For many years the advent of the newcomers was imperceptible; but as time passed their numbers increased, while the population of the native tribes correspondingly decreased, and little settlements began to form throughout the country. Among … Read more

Although San Mateo County’s natural beauties and advantages have been the prime factors of development; the progressive spirit manifested by the people, and the activity of the county’s various promotion organizations have been the actual moving forces behind the phenomenal development which has taken place during the last few years. The achievements of the San Mateo County Development Association command particular attention. This aggressive association is the most important of these organizations in the county. It was organized in April, 1910 by the public spirited citizens of the county, primarily to obtain better transportation facilities and lower rates, and in … Read more

On account of the natural barrier of mountains and hills separating the Coastside from the other districts, this particular part of the county was somewhat retarded in its growth until the coming of the Ocean Shore Railroad. This portion of the peninsula possesses a romantic interest, in that it was the first place in the county to be discovered by the Spanish people when taking possession of the seacoast of Central California. In the beginning there were only a few settlements and large ranches for dairying, grain and farming purposes. All this is being changed, as there has been a … Read more