History of Hillsborough
In 1824, a visionary 16-year old son of a Hillsboro, New Hampshire shipping magnate decided to sail on one of his father’s ships from Boston, MA around Cape Horn and up the West Coast of the US. Upon returning home, William Davis Merry Howard convinced his father there were fortunes to be made in California, and some fifteen years later he purchased “Rancho San Mateo” from the Mexican governor. He paid only $25,000 for a tract of land, and a portion of that land has since become the city of San Mateo. When the Gold Rush began a few years later, Howard became even wealthier than the most successful gold miners.
Howard himself died in 1856, but his children and his wife’s family maintained his estate, once known as “El Cerrito”, and “set the pattern for genteel living” on the Peninsula. The area became attractive to businessmen who desired a more relaxed and rural place to live outside of San Francisco that was convenient for commuting to the city.
As San Mateo and nearby Burlingame continued to grow, residents in the area began to show interest in annexing those estates, but the estate owners were not agreeable to contributing tax dollars toward “city life” or the “benefits” incorporation could bring. So, in 1910, the estate residents filed incorporation papers and “Hillsborough” was born. At that time the population was approximately 750. Today, Hillsborough’s population is nearly 11,000 people.
In addition to its relaxed and quiet atmosphere, Hillsborough also has award-winning public schools from kindergarten through middle school. High school students can attend their choice of any of the excellent high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District.
One of the main features Hillsborough CA real estate offers home buyers is its charm. Hillsborough still offers its residents an escape from the pressures of the city. It still strives to retain the “nature of Hillsborough” and maintains a minimum lot size of one-half acre, with homes restricted to a 2500 square foot minimum. There are no apartments, condominiums, or townhouses within Hillsborough city limits.
If you're looking for a serene environment close to the city, Hillsborough real estate might be for you!
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