Hillsborough is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hillsborough is one of the wealthiest places in America and has the highest income of places in America with populations of at least 10,000. 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 homes; the city enforces a minimum house size and half-acre minimum lot size to preserve exclusivity. 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, with which it shares ZIP code 94010.In 2007, Coldwell Banker lists Hillsborough as the most expensive housing market in the United States, with a median home price of over $3.8 million.

History

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

Geography and environment

Hillsborough is located at .

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 habitats for several rare plant species including the San Mateo Woolly Sunflower. Other common plants include Toyon, gooseberry, lupine, monkeyflower and coffeeberry. Commonly observed mammals include California Mule Deer, raccoon, opossum and skunk.

Hillsborough is bordered to the west by Interstate 280, and to the south by Crystal Springs Road which runs along San Mateo Creek. The San Mateo Highlands borders Hillsborough to the south across San Mateo Creek.

Demographics

As of the census 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's $263,456 median household income is the highest in the country. The median family income is $370,945/year, and the average resident spends $11,023 per year on vacations.
• 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 and is currently represented by Democrat Jackie Speier.

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.
• 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. At 65,000 ft² (6,000 m²), it is one of the largest residences in the United States and is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 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.

Climate

Hillsborough, like most of the Bay Area has a moderate climate. With December being the coolest month with an average high of 60 degrees, and September being the warmest month with an average high of 73 degrees. Hillsborough has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), with the majority of the precipitation from the months of November to April, with oftentimes 0.0 inches precipitation from May to October. On average, Hillsborough receives 20 inches of rain. However, it is extremely rare to have an average year of rainfall, usually, there are 3–5 years of 10-12 inches of rain, with one year which receives 35+ inches of rain often with over 20 inches in 1 month, unlike most of the west coast, a light sprinkle is rare. Much of the months precipitation in winter happens on just 5 days. With mountains to the west of Hillsborough, it is blocked from much of the rainfall over Half Moon Bay, and also is blocked from virtually all the fog of the coast. Hillsborough receives 260 days with nothing but sunshine, with 50 days of recordable precipitation a year.

Notable residents

• Bing Crosby raised his second family in Hillsborough.
• The heiress and onetime kidnapping victim Patty Hearst grew up in Hillsborough.
• Rickey Henderson was a notable resident.
• Barry Bonds lives 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.
• Brandon Herman, contemporary artist, was born and raised in Hillsborough.
• Jenny Craig (born Genevieve Guidroz in 1932 in Berwick, Louisiana), an American weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc.
• Martin Yan, a famous Chinese chef, and star of his cooking show "Yan Can Cook", lives with his family in Hillsborough.
• Countess Lillian Remillard Dandini, a San Francisco brick heiress (whose personal fortune derived from the re-building of San Francisco after the devastating 1906 earthquake).
• William H. Crocker, founded and then later became the president of Crocker National Bank. Crocker also chaired the Panama-Pacific Exposition Committee and SE Community Chest, and was a key member of the committee that built the San Francisco Opera House and Veterans Building. Crocker was the founder of Crocker Middle School.
• William Randolph Hearst I, a leading newspaper publisher and son of self-made millionaire George Hearst.
• Helène Irwin, heiress to the C&H Sugar family fortune.
• Brigitte Lin, a Taiwanese actress.
• Lucio Tan's son (also his business partner) and family live in Hillsborough.
• Matt Sosnick, the San Francisco-based sports agent profiled in Jerry Crasnick's License to Deal.
• Ricky Henderson -Hall of Fame former Major League Baseball Player
• Greg Maddux - Former Major League Baseball Player owns a summer house in Hillborough

References

External links

• Hillsborough, California official website.