Kings Mountain, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kings Mountain
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 Kings Mountain
Location in California
Kings Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Mateo |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
94062
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| Area code(s) | 650 |
Kings Mountain is a small community in San Mateo County, California. It is located along State Route 35, also known as Skyline Boulevard. This area is about 5 miles (8 km) north of Woodside Road.
Even though people live here, the U.S. Geological Survey sees Kings Mountain as a "summit" or a high point, not a populated town. The community uses the area code 650 and the Woodside ZIP Code 94062.
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About Kings Mountain
The name "Kings Mountain" comes from an old hotel from the 1800s. It was called the "Kings Mountain Browhouse" and was run by the Frank King family.
Some famous people have lived in Kings Mountain. These include novelist Carl Djerassi, investor and writer Kenneth Fisher, and rock 'n' roll star Neil Young.
Kings Mountain has its own school, Kings Mountain School. It teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade. This school is part of the Cabrillo School District in Half Moon Bay. In 2008, it won the "Distinguished Schools" award from the State of California.
The community also has a fire station and a community center. The Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade helps with over 160 calls each year. Many of these calls are to help bicyclists and hikers. They enjoy the redwood forest trails in the area. Kings Mountain Road is a very steep and winding road. It is a fun challenge for cyclists.
High Point of the Area
The Kings Mountain area includes a spot called Sierra Morena. It is also known as "brown mountain." This point is about 2,417 feet (737 meters) above sea level. It is close to Skeggs Point, which is a popular viewpoint along Skyline Boulevard.
A gravel road leads to Sierra Morena. However, it is closed to the public because of communication antennas and microwave equipment there.
Weather in Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain often gets heavy, wet snow every few years. Sometimes, the snow can be more than a foot deep! The area gets a lot of rain, too. It is estimated to receive over 50 inches (1,270 mm) of rain each year.
Heavy fog is very common, especially in the summer. The fog usually clears by late morning or early evening. In January, temperatures are usually between the upper 30s and lower 50s Fahrenheit. In July, they range from the lower 50s to the upper 70s Fahrenheit.
Kings Mountain Art Fair
Every year, on Labor Day weekend, Kings Mountain hosts a special art fair. This fair helps raise money for the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade. It also supports the Kings Mountain Elementary School and other local groups.
At the fair, you can enjoy a pancake breakfast, lunch, and other food and drinks. These sales also help fund the fire department and the school. Free shuttle buses run along Skyline Boulevard to help with parking. The first Kings Mountain Art Fair was held in 1963. It is completely organized and run by volunteers from the community. This fair is known as one of the best in California.
Government Lands Nearby
Kings Mountain is surrounded by large areas of government-owned land. To the north is the San Francisco Peninsula Watershed. This land is owned by the City and County of San Francisco. East of the community are Huddart County Park and the Phleger Estate. These are managed by San Mateo County. To the south and west, you will find the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. This preserve is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
History of Kings Mountain
In the late 1800s, there was a big timber and saw-milling industry here. Thousands of acres of old redwood trees were cut down. The redwood forests you see today are mostly "second-growth" trees. This means they grew back after the original trees were cut.
Until the 1950s, most people in Kings Mountain only lived there during the summer. This included people who stayed at Henrik Ibsen Park, a private recreational facility. More recently, Kings Mountain has become a place where people live all year. This is partly because of Interstate Highway 280, which makes it easy to commute to San Francisco. Also, the strong economy in Silicon Valley has brought more full-time residents. Now, there are many modern homes, not just rustic cabins.
In 1953, a plane called BCPA Flight 304 crashed into Kings Mountain. All the people on board died, including the famous pianist William Kapell.
See also
- Sky Londa, California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- State Route 35 (Skyline Boulevard)
- Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
