From “County of San Mateo Profile”
San Mateo County was established on April 19, 1856. Located between San Francisco and Santa Clara counties on the San Francisco Bay, the County covers 531 square miles and boasts 54-miles of spectacular coastline bluffs and beaches, with 74 percent of its land in agricultural use, watershed, open space, wetlands or parks. Mild climate, abundant natural resources, picturesque landscape of oak-tree dotted rolling green foothills, creeks and majestic stands of old redwoods best describes San Mateo County, making it one of the most attractive communities in California. Historically, as it is equally true today, generations have made a commitment to protect and preserve the County’s natural resources.
Population
San Mateo County is the 13 th largest county in California with a population of 712,400. Of this, approximately 63,500 live in the unincorporated area of the County. According to the most recent 2000 U.S. federal census data, San Mateo County is one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the nation: 49.8 percent of County residents are Caucasian, 21.8 percent are Hispanic, 21 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 3.3 percent African American and 4.1 percent are other. According to the California Department of Finance, the state’s population exceeded 36 million persons on January 1, 2004 representing a 1.5 percent increase over the previous year while San Mateo County’s population grew by .5 percent during the same period. It projects that by the year 2020 San Mateo County will grow to 834,500 a 16.4 percent increase over current population estimates. The County’s median age is 36.8 and has an aging population with the single largest age cohort of 65 and over at 14.5 percent.
Economy
Much like the gold rush, the Silicon Valley’s information technology “bonanza” pushed San Mateo County’s population to 730,000 in 2000. Information, bioscience and medical technology leading edge industries call San Mateo County home. They include Oracle Corporation, Siebel Systems, Electronic Arts, DreamWorks, Genentech, Nektar, Gilead, Cell Genesis, Applied Biosystems, and InterMune.The median family income is $80,737; the per capita income in San Mateo County is $57,906 — one of the highest in California, while the average household income is $129,000 — making it one of the highest in the nation. Historically, San Mateo County has enjoyed a low unemployment rate. Hit hard by the 2001 tech wreck, the County saw its unemployment spike to 5.2 percent in 2002-03. The County lost about 10,000 jobs while the Bay Area Region as a whole lost nearly 325,000 during that same period.
Housing
California, and specifically the Bay Area, consistently has among the highest housing costs in the nation. As of March 2004 the median home price in San Mateo County rose to $729,000 from $640,000 just a year ago. The median home cost requires an annual income of $205,000, which puts home ownership out of reach for 85 percent of County residents. Moreover, the monthly rent for an average 2- bedroom unit is $1,775 per month. The inability of families in San Mateo County to afford appropriate housing is the single greatest impediment in achieving self-sufficiency and continues to make affordable housing development a top County priority.