Hillsborough, California

Town of Hillsborough
Town

Location in San Mateo County and the state of California
Coordinates: 37°33′37″N 122°21′23″W / 37.56028°N 122.35639°WCoordinates: 37°33′37″N 122°21′23″W / 37.56028°N 122.35639°W
Country  United States
State  California
County San Mateo
Incorporated May 5, 1910[1]
Area[2]
 • Total 6.190 sq mi (16.031 km2)
 • Land 6.190 sq mi (16.031 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation[3] 322 ft (98 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)[4]
 • Total 10,825
 • Estimate (2013)[4] 11,273
 • Density 1,700/sq mi (680/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 94010
Area code 650
FIPS code 06-33798
GNIS feature IDs 1659735, 2412752
Website www.hillsborough.net

Hillsborough is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hillsborough is one of the wealthiest communities in America and has the highest income of places in the United States with populations of at least 10,000. It is located 17 miles (27 km) south of San Francisco on the San Francisco Peninsula, bordered by Burlingame to the north, San Mateo to the east, Highlands-Baywood Park to the south, and Interstate 280 to the west. The population was 10,825 at the 2010 census. The town is served by Hillsborough City School District.

Hillsborough's landscape is dominated by large homes; the town zoning and subdivision ordinances require a 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) minimum house size and minimum lot size of 0.5 acres (2,000 m2).[5] As a result, there are no apartments, condominiums or townhouses in the city limits; however, it is not unusual for the homes along the eastern edge of Hillsborough to face condominiums in neighboring Burlingame, sharing the ZIP code 94010.

The town has no commercial zoning and thus no businesses within the town limits; the only non-residential properties are the town's four public and three private schools, town and county government facilities, a golf course, and a small park.

History

Hillsborough is located on the Rancho San Mateo Mexican land grant which was purchased by William Davis Merry Howard, son of a wealthy Hillsborough, New Hampshire, shipping magnate, in 1846. Howard settled his family in this area, which attracted wealthy San Franciscans. Hillsborough is near Burlingame. In 1910, Hillsborough residents voted to incorporate.[6]

Geography and environment

Hillsborough is located at 37°33′37″N 122°21′23″W / 37.560199°N 122.356277°W.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km2), all of it land. The area's considerably winding, hilly topography (unsurprising given the town's name), and impossibility of a grid layout, make Hillsborough notoriously challenging to navigate. Many lots include fairly steep slopes, particularly the western side of the town, with the landscape generally flattening to the east as it descends from the 280 freeway to El Camino Real and the towns of Burlingame and San Mateo.

Two prominent streams drain the mostly wooded slopes of Hillsborough: San Mateo Creek and Cherry Creek. In both cases the upper watersheds are closed-canopy California oak woodlands, with dominant trees of Coast Live Oak, Pacific Madrone and California Bay.

The upper drainage area of San Mateo Creek in Hillsborough contains significant serpentinite outcrops, which are known habitats for several rare plant species including the San Mateo woolly sunflower.[8] Other common plants include toyon, gooseberry, lupine, monkeyflower and coffeeberry. Commonly observed mammals include California mule deer, raccoons, opossum, coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, and skunks.

Hillsborough is bordered by Burlingame to the north, San Mateo to the east, Highlands-Baywood Park to the south, and Interstate 280 to the west.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census[9] reported that Hillsborough had a population of 10,825. The population density was 1,748.9 people per square mile (675.3/km²). The racial makeup of Hillsborough was 7,178 (66.3%) White, 42 (0.4%) African American, 7 (0.1%) Native American, 3,044 (28.1%) Asian, 23 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 109 (1.0%) from other races, and 422 (3.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 373 persons (3.4%).

The Census reported that 10,825 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,693 households, out of which 1,445 (39.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,804 (75.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 220 (6.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 114 (3.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 66 (1.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 34 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 451 households (12.2%) were made up of individuals and 309 (8.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93. There were 3,138 families (85.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.18.

The population was spread out with 2,877 people (26.6%) under the age of 18, 466 people (4.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,600 people (14.8%) aged 25 to 44, 3,667 people (33.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,215 people (20.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

There were 3,912 housing units at an average density of 632.0 per square mile (244.0/km²), of which 3,490 (94.5%) were owner-occupied, and 203 (5.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%. 10,206 people (94.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 619 people (5.7%) lived in rental housing units.

Hillsborough homes sold in 2011 for a median price of about $1.45 million.[10]

2000

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 10,825 people, 3,689 households, and 3,161 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,738.7 people per square mile (670.9/km²). There were 3,804 housing units at an average density of 611.0 per square mile (235.8/km²).

There were 3,689 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.6% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.3% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $193,157, and the median income for a family was $200,000. Full-time male workers have a median income of $100,000+ versus $55,882 for full-time female workers. The per capita income for the town was $98,643. About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

The town of Hillsborough is the second most Republican political subdivision in heavily Democratic San Mateo County (behind only Atherton). According to the California Secretary of State, on October 22, 2012, Hillsborough had 7,228 registered voters. Of those, 2,871 (39.7%) were registered Republicans, 2,307 (31.9%) were registered Democrats, and 1,821 (25.2%) had declined to state a political party.[13]

Hillsborough is one of the few remaining cities or towns in the San Francisco Bay Area to have a plurality of Republican registered voters. The others include the affluent towns of Danville, Atherton, and Woodside.

In the state legislature, Hillsborough is in the 13th Senate District, represented by Democrat Jerry Hill, and in the 22nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Kevin Mullin.[14]

In the United States House of Representatives, Hillsborough is in California's 14th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jackie Speier.[15]

Schools

Hillsborough has its own highly regarded and -ranked public elementary and middle school system, but no public high school. High school-aged children can attend one of several schools in the San Mateo Union High School District, generally assigned by residential address. The town is also home to a small number of independent schools. The Hillsborough school district is ranked as the #1 school district in California and one of the top ten school districts in the country.

Landmarks

Primarily a residential suburb of San Francisco, Hillsborough has many mansions and other points of interest within the town's borders dating from the early 20th century.

Climate

December is the coolest month with an average high of 60 degrees, and September is the warmest month with an average high of 78 degrees. Hillsborough has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), with the vast majority of the precipitation from the months of November to April. On average, Hillsborough receives 17 inches (430 mm) of rain. With coastal mountains to the west of Hillsborough, it is blocked in the winter from much of the rainfall over Half Moon Bay, and in the summer it is blocked from virtually all the fog of the coast. Hillsborough receives an average of 307 days of sunshine annually, with 52 days of recordable precipitation per year.

Notable residents

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "California Cities by Incorporation Date" (WORD). California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  3. ↑ "Hillsborough". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Hillsborough (town) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Hillsborough City Council Minutes, February 13, 2006 - page 3". Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  6. ↑ "Hillsborough history summary". Hillsborough.net. 1910-05-05. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ Environmental Impact Report for the Hillsborough Highlands Estates, Earth Metrics Report 7803, California State Clearinghouse, November, 1989
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Hillsborough town". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hillsborough, California". City Data. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ Cox, Jeff (2007-07-16). "25 top-earning towns - Hillsborough, Calif. (1) - Money Magazine". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  13. ↑ CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – October 22, 2012
  14. ↑ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  15. ↑ "California's 14th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  16. ↑ Inman, Bradley (April 9, 1995). "The Other White House". SFGate/Examiner. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Tongans mourn passing of king". San Mateo Daily Journal. 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2012-03-31.

External links

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