Hillsborough, Residential town in San Mateo County, California, US
Hillsborough is a residential municipality in San Mateo County on the San Francisco Peninsula between Burlingame and San Mateo. The municipal territory extends along rolling slopes and valleys threaded by winding residential streets as Interstate 280 forms its western boundary.
The territory was part of Rancho San Mateo granted to Cayetano Arenas in 1846 before William Davis Merry Howard purchased the land. Incorporation occurred in 1910 as residents chose to permit only residential development and exclude commercial zones entirely.
This municipality houses several private golf courses and sport clubs where members gather regularly for training and social occasions. The quiet streets wind through dense vegetation as walkers pass frequently with dogs and joggers use the rolling topography for exercise.
The winding roads can confuse visitors unfamiliar with the layout so using navigation tools or a map helps during initial visits. Town Hall on Floribunda Avenue operates weekday mornings and afternoons from Monday through Thursday while Friday access ends at midday.
Three waterways flow through the area and feed wetlands where California oak woodlands grow and a rare plant called San Mateo woolly sunflower appears. This species exists only in a few Bay Area counties and blooms during dry summer months with bright yellow flowers.
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