Hillsborough, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hillsborough, California
Town in California
Town of Hillsborough
Carolands
Seal
Location of Hillsborough in San Mateo County, California.
Hillsborough, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Mateo
Incorporated	May 5, 1910
Area
• Total	6.17 sq mi (15.97 km2)
• Land	6.17 sq mi (15.97 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	322 ft (98 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,387
• Density	1,847.1/sq mi (713.15/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	94010
Area code	650
FIPS code	06-33798
GNIS feature IDs	1659735, 2412752

Hillsborough is a small town in San Mateo County, California. It is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The town is about 17 miles (27 km) south of San Francisco. It sits on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Hillsborough is surrounded by other towns. Burlingame is to the north. San Mateo is to the east. Highlands-Baywood Park is to the south. Interstate 280 is to the west. In 2020, about 11,387 people lived here.

History of Hillsborough

Hillsborough was once part of Rancho San Mateo. This land was given to Cayetano Arenas in 1846.

Hillsborough is built on land that was once part of a large Mexican land grant. This land was called Rancho San Mateo. In 1846, William Davis Merry Howard bought this land. He was the son of a rich shipping owner from Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

Howard and his family settled in this area. Soon, many wealthy people from San Francisco were attracted to the area. On May 5, 1910, the people of Hillsborough voted to become an official town. For many years, it was a community mainly for wealthy white families.

In 1963, Jack and Betty Ken bought land in Hillsborough. They were the first non-white people to own property in the town. This important event helped to end segregation in Hillsborough.

Geography and Environment

Hillsborough covers about 6.2 square miles (16 km²). All of this area is land. The town has many winding roads and hills. This makes it a bit tricky to get around. Many properties have steep slopes, especially in the western part of town. The land becomes flatter as you go east.

Local Streams and Wildlife

Three main streams flow through Hillsborough's wooded hills. These are San Mateo Creek, Cherry Canyon Creek, and Sanchez Creek. The areas around these streams are covered with California oak woodlands. You can see trees like Coast Live Oak, Pacific Madrone, and California Bay.

Some parts of San Mateo Creek have special rocks called serpentinite. These rocks are home to rare plants, like the San Mateo woolly sunflower. Other common plants include toyon and lupine. Many animals live here too. You might see California mule deer, raccoons, opossum, and coyotes. Mountain lions also live in the green areas around the town.

Town Planning and Homes

Hillsborough is known for its large homes. The town has rules about how big houses must be. Homes must be at least 2,500 square feet (232 m²). Each property must also be at least 0.5 acres (2,000 m²). Because of these rules, you won't find apartments or condominiums in Hillsborough.

The town does not have any business areas. This means there are no stores or shops within the town limits. The only non-residential places are the town's schools, government buildings, a golf course, a country club, and small parks.

Population and People

In 2010, Hillsborough had a population of 10,825 people. Everyone lived in homes, as there are no other types of residences. The average household had about 2.93 people. The average family had about 3.18 people.

The median age in Hillsborough was 47.5 years old. In 2019, a study by Bloomberg ranked Hillsborough as the fifth richest town in the United States. This was based on the average household income.

Schools in Hillsborough

Hillsborough has its own public school system for elementary and middle school students. These schools are highly rated. However, there are no public high schools in the town. High school students usually attend schools in the San Mateo Union High School District.

Hillsborough is also home to a few private schools. The Hillsborough school district is considered the best for K-8 grades in northern San Mateo County.

• The Nueva School: This is a private school for gifted students.
• Crocker Middle School: A public middle school named after William H. Crocker.
• West Elementary School: A public elementary school.
• South Elementary School: Another public elementary school.
• North Elementary School: A public elementary school.
• Bridge School (California): A school for students with physical and speech challenges.
• Crystal Springs Uplands School: A private middle and high school that prepares students for college.

Famous Landmarks

Hillsborough is mostly a residential area. But it has many grand mansions and interesting places. These buildings date back to the early 1900s.

• Arthur and Mona Hofmann House: This house was designed by Richard Neutra. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Carolands: Built by Harriet Pullman Carolan, who inherited money from the Pullman Company railway. It is one of the largest homes in the United States. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Skyfarm: Built by William H. Crocker, who was a banker. It is now home to The Nueva School.
• Tobin Clark Estate: Designed by David Adler for Celia Tobin Clark. Her family was very important in the early 20th century.
• Uplands: Built by Templeton Crocker as a gift for his fiancée. It is now home to Crystal Springs Uplands School.
• Western White House: Commissioned by George Randolph Hearst. It was designed by Julia Morgan, who also designed Hearst Castle.
• Junípero Serra statue: A statue honoring Father Junípero Serra. It overlooks Highway 280.
• Sidney Bazett Residence: Designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939. It is a great example of his "Usonian" style. Joseph Eichler, a famous home builder, once lived here.
• The Flintstone House: Also known as the Adobe, Dome, Bubble, Marshmallow, or Gumby house. It was built in 1976 using sprayed concrete. It is now painted a bright orange color. You can see it from Highway 280.

Climate

Hillsborough has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Most of the rain falls between November and April. On average, Hillsborough gets about 17 inches (430 mm) of rain each year.

The coastal mountains protect Hillsborough. They block much of the rain in winter and almost all the fog in summer. Hillsborough enjoys about 307 sunny days each year. There are only about 52 days with noticeable rain.

Notable People

See also

In Spanish: Hillsborough para niños