Hillsborough, California

Hillsborough is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the 6th richest town in America, and it is located seventeen miles (27 km) south of San Francisco on the San Francisco Peninsula, between Interstate 280 and SR-82/El Camino Real. The population was 10,825 at the 2000 census. The town is served by Hillsborough City School District. Hillsborough is home to some of the Bay Area's wealthiest people, and the landscape is dominated by large estates and mansions; the city enforces a 2,500-square-foot (230 m²) minimum house size and half-acre minimum lot size to preserve exclusivity.^[1] As a result, there are no apartments, condominiums or townhouses in the city limits; however, it is not unusual for multi-million dollar mansions along the eastern edge of Hillsborough to face condominiums in neighboring Burlingame, with which it shares ZIP code 94010. Hillsborough was a piece of the Mexican Land Grant Rancho San Mateo purchased by William Davis Merry Howard, son of a wealthy Hillsboro, New Hampshire shipping magnate, in the year 1846. Howard settled his family in this area, which attracted wealthy San Franciscans. In 1910 Hillsborough residents voted to incorporate.^[2]

Geography and environment

Hillsborough is located at 37°33′37″N, 122°21′23″W (37.560199, -122.356277)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), all of it land. The area's hilly topography and lack of use of a grid layout for roads make navigation by outsiders notoriously difficult. The area of Crystal Springs Road is one of the most difficult to navigate.

There are two prominent streams that 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 serpentine outcrops, which are known habitat for several rare plant species including the San Mateo Woolly Sunflower.^[10] Other common plants include Toyon, gooseberry, lupine, monkeyflower and coffeeberry. Commonly observed mammals include California Mule Deer, raccoon, opossum and skunk.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] 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/sq mi (235.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.80% White, 24.04% Asian, 2.67% from two or more races, 0.70% from other races, 0.50% African American, 0.23% Pacific Islander, and 0.06% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.81% of the population.

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.

• According to The Best Places to Live 2007 in Money Magazine, Hillsborough has the "highest median household incomes in the country."[1]
• As of the year 2000, Hillsborough was the highest income place in the United States among cities with a population of 10,000 or more.
• As of the May 1998 issue, Hillsborough ranked #6 in Worth Magazine's "250 Richest Towns In America".

Politics

In the state legislature Hillsborough is located in the 8th Senate District, represented by Democrat Leland Yee, and in the 19th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Gene Mullin. Federally, Hillsborough is located in California's 12th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +22^[12] and is currently vacant with the recent death of Democrat Tom Lantos.

Schools

Hillsborough has its own public elementary and middle school system, but no public high school. The town is also home to a small number of independent schools:

• The Nueva School, a nationally recognized independent school serving gifted and talented students
• Crocker Middle School, a public middle school, located on Ralston Avenue, named after William H. Crocker.
• West Elementary School, a public elementary school, located on Barbara Way.
• South Elementary School, a public elementary, at 303 El Cerrito.
• North Elementary School, a public elementary, at 545 Eucalyptus Avenue, making North, South, West. There is no East.
• The Bridge School, a school serving students with physical and speech impairments.
• Crystal Springs Uplands School, a college preparatory middle and high school.

Landmarks

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

• Carolands -- Built by Harriet Pullman Carolan, heiress to the Pullman railway car fortune. At 65 000 ft² (6 000 m²), it is one of the largest private residences in the United States.
• Skyfarm -- Built by William H. Crocker, namesake of Crocker middle school, and grandson of Charles Crocker of California's Big Four railroad magnates. Designed by Arthur Brown, Jr., and opened in 1930. Home since the 1960s to The Nueva School.
• Uplands -- Built by Templeton Crocker, as a gift to his fiancée Helène Irwin, heiress to the C&H Sugar family fortune. Designed by Willis Polk; opened in 1912, with interior of 35 000 ft² (3 250 m²). Home since the 1950s to Crystal Springs Uplands School.
• Western White House -- Built by William Randolph Hearst and now privately owned. It is structured very similarly to Hearst Castle.

Notable residents

• The singer Bing Crosby raised his second family at a fourteen roomed mansion, set within a three acre estate in Hillsborough.
• The heiress and onetime kidnapping victim Patty Hearst grew up primarily in Hillsborough.
• Rickey Henderson was a notable resident.
• Barry Bonds once lived in Hillsborough.
• J.T Snow, an American baseball player, lives in Hillsborough
• Alicia Silverstone, actress, attended Crocker Middle School and neighboring San Mateo High School.
• Brigitte Lin, a Taiwanese actress.

References

External links

• Hillsborough, California official website.

• Hillsborough, California is at coordinates 37°33′37″N 122°21′23″W / 37.560199, -122.356277 (Hillsborough, California)Coordinates: 37°33′37″N 122°21′23″W / 37.560199, -122.356277 (Hillsborough, California)

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