San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its name comes from Spanish and means "St. Charles." In 2020, the city had a population of 30,722 people. San Carlos is known as the "City of Good Living."

Exploring San Carlos History

San Carlos was once part of a large ranch called Rancho de las Pulgas. This land was given to Californio politician José Darío Argüello in 1795.

San Carlos has a rich history, from its first inhabitants to its growth into a modern city. Understanding its past helps us appreciate the city today.

Native American Life in San Carlos

Before the Spanish arrived in 1769, the land of San Carlos was home to a group of Native Americans called the Lamchins. They were part of the larger Ohlone or Costanoan tribes in the Bay Area.

The Lamchins called their main living area "Cachanihtac." This name meant "the fleas" to the Spanish, who then named many local places "las Pulgas."

These Native Americans lived by hunting and gathering food. They found plenty of game, birds, and fish from the San Francisco Bay. They also gathered plants and acorns from oak trees. Tools like mortars and pestles show how they prepared their food.

The Lamchin village was likely located between what are now Alameda de las Pulgas and Cordilleras Avenue.

Spanish Arrival and Ranchos

In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá was the first European to see the San Francisco Bay. Early stories said he saw it from the San Carlos hills. Today, experts believe he actually saw it from nearby Belmont.

The Spanish soon took control of the Bay Area. They invited local Native Americans to join Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores). Many Lamchin people moved to the mission and became Christians. This changed their traditional way of life.

Later, the land was divided into large "ranchos" (ranches) for wealthy Spanish families. These ranchos were given without considering the Native Americans living there. The new owners raised cattle, which changed the land and affected the Native Americans' food supply.

The land that is now San Carlos became a large rancho for Don José Darío Argüello. His family used the land for cattle and crops. After his son, Luis Argüello (California's first governor born in the state), died in 1830, the family moved to the ranch. It was then known as Rancho de las Pulgas.

San Carlos in the Late 1800s

The California Gold Rush in 1849 brought many new settlers to California. While no gold was found in San Carlos, people looking for gold eventually settled in the area. The Argüello family kept their ranch and began selling parts of it in the 1850s.

Nearby towns like Redwood City and Belmont grew quickly. However, San Carlos grew much slower. Large parts of the land were bought by families like the Brittans and Hulls, and by important figures like Timothy Guy Phelps.

This map shows how the Phelps Estate was divided in 1917.

Timothy Phelps, a rich politician, tried to develop San Carlos. He invested in improvements like sewer lines and streets. He even tried to sell lots in a place he called "The Town of Phelps."

Phelps's plan didn't work very well. He sold much of his land to the San Carlos Land Development Company. Other developers decided to rename the town. They chose "San Carlos" because of the belief that Portolá saw the bay on St. Charles's feast day. Also, the Spanish king was Carlos III, and the first ship in San Francisco Bay was the San Carlos.

The new town got a boost when the Peninsula Railroad Corridor was built in 1863. A train station was added in San Carlos in 1888.

Growth remained slow into the 1900s. Most residents enjoyed the short train ride to San Francisco while living in a quiet, rural area. By the end of the 19th century, San Carlos had fewer than one hundred homes.

Growth and Incorporation (1900–1941)

This map shows the city limits and streets of San Carlos in 1937.

In the early 1900s, the first town streets were laid out. Streets like Cedar, Elm, Laurel, and Walnut were created.

Growth picked up in 1918 when the town built a school on Elm Street. Frederick Drake, often called "The Father of San Carlos," bought a large amount of land and started selling it. He built an office that is still there today.

In the early 1920s, Cypress Avenue was widened and renamed San Carlos Avenue. The town also got its first fire station in 1923. On July 8, 1925, the community voted to become an official city.

Even during the Great Depression, San Carlos continued to grow. Its population increased from about 600 in 1925 to 5,000 by 1941.

In 1932, Charles Litton Sr. started Litton Engineering Laboratories in San Carlos. He invented a special machine for making vacuum tubes. This invention helped create new electronics and communication technologies.

Before World War II, San Carlos was still mostly a rural community. Much of the land was used for farming, and there were many open fields between houses.

San Carlos During World War II (1941–1945)

War Dogs Training Center

During World War II, a group called "Dogs for Defense" asked people to donate dogs to the Army. These dogs helped save soldiers' lives in combat.

In October 1942, the US Army chose a 178-acre site in San Carlos to be a War Dog Reception and Training Center. It was known as the H and H Ranch.

Dog handlers were trained with four dogs each. They would then choose the best dog to take with them. The dogs learned to be sentries, attackers, scouts, and messengers. Later, they were also trained to find mines. The center could train up to 1,200 dogs at a time.

The first army dog platoon from San Carlos went overseas in May 1944. They traveled to the Pacific Theatre to help in the war effort. The training center closed in October 1944, after training about 4,500 dogs.

Post-War Growth and Development

After 1945, San Carlos saw a big increase in electronics companies. Firms like Dalmo Victor, Eitel McCullough, and Varian Associates opened plants in the city.

These new companies helped San Carlos's population grow four times larger between 1940 and 1950. By 1950, the city had 89 different businesses, from factories to distributors. The electronics industry became a very important part of the city's economy.

In the late 1940s, the San Carlos Airport moved to its current location. The county bought the airport in 1964.

In 2025, San Carlos will celebrate its 100th birthday!

Geography of San Carlos

San Carlos is located on the San Francisco Peninsula.

The United States Census Bureau reports that the city covers about 5.54 square miles (14.02 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part of this area is water.

San Carlos Climate

San Carlos has a mild climate. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are cool and wet. The city gets most of its rain between November and March.

Climate data for San Carlos, California
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	78 (26)	80 (27)	89 (32)	97 (36)	102 (39)	109 (43)	110 (43)	105 (41)	110 (43)	104 (40)	87 (31)	77 (25)	110 (43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	58.5 (14.7)	62.3 (16.8)	65.5 (18.6)	70.2 (21.2)	74.4 (23.6)	79.2 (26.2)	82.4 (28.0)	82.1 (27.8)	80.2 (26.8)	74.4 (23.6)	65.3 (18.5)	58.2 (14.6)	71.1 (21.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	40.3 (4.6)	43.8 (6.6)	45.2 (7.3)	46.5 (8.1)	50.7 (10.4)	54.3 (12.4)	56.3 (13.5)	56.5 (13.6)	54.4 (12.4)	50.5 (10.3)	44.3 (6.8)	40.1 (4.5)	48.6 (9.2)
Record low °F (°C)	16 (−9)	25 (−4)	29 (−2)	33 (1)	36 (2)	39 (4)	40 (4)	43 (6)	38 (3)	33 (1)	29 (−2)	19 (−7)	16 (−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.02 (102)	4.09 (104)	3.13 (80)	1.16 (29)	0.47 (12)	0.1 (2.5)	0.01 (0.25)	0.05 (1.3)	0.16 (4.1)	1.06 (27)	2.37 (60)	3.84 (98)	20.46 (520.15)
Source: "The Weather Channel

Understanding San Carlos Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	1,132	—
1940	3,520	211.0%
1950	14,371	308.3%
1960	21,370	48.7%
1970	26,053	21.9%
1980	24,710	−5.2%
1990	26,167	5.9%
2000	27,718	5.9%
2010	28,406	2.5%
2020	30,722	8.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Demographics help us understand the people who live in San Carlos. This includes information like age, race, and how many people live in each household.

San Carlos Population in 2020

The 2020 Census showed that San Carlos had 30,722 residents. Most residents (71.1%) were White, and 17.6% were Asian. About 8.2% of residents were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 10,955 households in the city. The average household had about 2.69 people. Most residents (88.5%) had lived in their homes for over a year.

The population included 5.9% under age 5 and 18.0% aged 6 to 18. About 15.0% of residents were 65 or older.

Most adults (97.4%) had finished high school. A large number (68.3%) had a bachelor's degree or higher.

The median household income in San Carlos was $189,739. This was one of the highest incomes in San Mateo County.

San Carlos Economy and Jobs

San Carlos is home to several companies. Some of these include Check Point, MarkLogic, Helix, and Natera.

Top Employers in San Carlos

Here are the companies that employ the most people in San Carlos, based on a 2022 report:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Natera	934
2	Pacific Gas and Electric	323
3	The Home Depot	291
4	Check Point Software Technologies	225
5	Delta Star	214
6	ChemoCentryx Inc.	182
7	Joby Aero Inc.	170
8	Allakos Inc.	163
9	Atreca Inc.	140
10	Thought Stream	132

L-3 Communications used to make special tubes for radar and TV systems in San Carlos. In 2016, the company moved its operations to other parts of California and Pennsylvania.

Arts and Culture in San Carlos

San Carlos offers several cultural attractions and community events.

The San Carlos History Museum shares the story of the town. It covers everything from early Native American times to the modern age. The museum is open every Saturday.

The Hiller Aviation Museum focuses on helicopters and aviation history. It has interactive exhibits and over forty aircraft. You can see a replica of the first aircraft to fly and a spy drone.

San Carlos was once home to the Circle Star Theater. Famous performers like Big Brother & the Holding Company and Richard Pryor played there. The theater was later replaced by office buildings.

Every May, San Carlos hosts "Hometown Days" at Burton Park. This is the city's largest park and features a carnival. In October, the Chamber of Commerce holds the San Carlos "Art & Wine Faire."

On Sunday mornings during the summer, Laurel Street hosts a weekly farmer's market. San Carlos also has a sculpture called "Balancing Act" by James Moore. It is often decorated for holidays.

The city's library is the San Carlos Public Library. It is part of the San Mateo County Libraries system.

Education in San Carlos

San Carlos has a strong focus on education, with public, parochial, and private schools.

Public Schools in San Carlos

The San Carlos Public Library is a great place for students to learn and read.

The public schools in San Carlos are managed by the San Carlos School District. The district has several elementary schools (grades K–3) and two upper elementary schools (grades 4–5). There are also two middle schools (grades 6–8).

Since 1982, San Carlos has not had its own high school. Students now attend Sequoia High School in Redwood City or Carlmont High School in Belmont.

In 1996, Vice President Al Gore visited Arundel Elementary School. Former President Bill Clinton also visited Charter Learning Center in 1997.

Elementary Schools

Arundel
Brittan Acres
Heather
White Oaks

Upper Elementary Schools

Arroyo
Mariposa

Middle Schools

Central Middle School
Tierra Linda Middle School
Charter Learning Center (Kindergarten through 8th grade)

High Schools

San Carlos used to have its own high school, San Carlos High School, until 1982. It closed because fewer students were enrolling. The land became Highlands Park, which is now used for youth sports.

As the city's population changed, more young families moved in. This led to a growth in student numbers. In 2014, there was a proposal for a new high school in San Carlos. However, a different location was chosen in Menlo Park, which opened in 2019 as TIDE Academy.

Parochial Schools

St. Charles School

Private, Non-Parochial Schools

Arbor Bay School

San Carlos Transportation

San Carlos has several ways for people to get around.

Bus and Rail Services

San Carlos is served by both buses and trains. SamTrans provides bus service, and Caltrain offers train service. Both companies have their main offices in downtown San Carlos.

In 2002, the city tried a free shuttle bus service called SCOOT. This shuttle helped people living in the hills and provided transportation for students. However, the program ended in 2005.

San Carlos Airport

San Carlos Airport is located in the city. It is a private airport. Soon, it will have a new bus terminal to help people travel to larger airports nearby.

Notable People from San Carlos

Many interesting people have connections to San Carlos.

Luís Antonio Argüello, the first governor of Alta California
Kathryn Bigelow, a film producer and director, who was the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director
Bryan Bishop, a podcast personality
Hunter Bishop, a baseball player
Barry Bonds, a famous former MLB baseball player
Bobby Bonds, also a former MLB baseball player
Dana Carvey, an actor and comedian who grew up in San Carlos
Emma Chamberlain, a popular internet personality and YouTuber
Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan and a political commentator

Sister Cities of San Carlos

San Carlos has special relationships with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities.

Current Sister Cities

Omura, Japan
Metepec, Mexico

San Carlos, California facts for kids

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