Atherton

History

The entire area was originally part of the Rancho de las Pulgas. During the 1860s, Atherton was known as Fair Oaks. In 1923, Menlo Park wanted to incorporate its lands to include Fair Oaks, but the Fair Oaks property owners chose to incorporate separately. The name Fair Oaks was already in use, so the property owners decided to rename the town in honor of Faxon Dean Atherton, a former 19th century landowner on the south peninsula. The town has been involved in lawsuits to block or delay the introduction of California High-Speed Rail due to perceived negative outcomes for Atherton residents. Atherton was an early and vocal opponent of the electrification of the U.S. commuter railroad Caltrain, which serves cities in the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley. Residents opposed electrification and the proposed high-speed rail route because the overhead electrical lines would require tree removal and the town could potentially be divided by the closing of the two grade crossings at Fair Oaks Lane and Watkins Avenue. In February 2015, shortly after the project received environmental clearance from the state, Atherton sued Caltrain, alleging the agency's environmental impact review was inadequate and that its collaboration with the CHSRA should be further vetted. In July 2015, the suit proceeded after Caltrain's request to the Surface Transportation Board to exempt it from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines was denied. Atherton reiterated its opposition to electrification on the basis that overhead wires would require removing a significant number of heritage trees, and city representatives asserted that "newer, cleaner, more efficient diesel trains" should supplant plans for "century-old catenary electrical line technology." Atherton mayor Rick De…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , comprising 0.63%, is water. Atherton lies southeast of Redwood City, and northwest of San Jose. The town is considered to be part of the San Francisco metropolitan area.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Carlmont High
  High · Belmont · 2,322 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Menlo-Atherton High
  High · Atherton · 2,125 students · 19:1 ratio
• Sequoia High
  High · Redwood City · 1,909 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• Aragon High
  High · San Mateo · 1,740 students · 23.2:1 ratio
• Woodside High
  High · Woodside · 1,694 students · 16:1 ratio
• Hillsdale High
  High · San Mateo · 1,629 students · 17.7:1 ratio
• Ralston Intermediate
  Middle · Belmont · 1,117 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• Borel Middle
  Middle · San Mateo · 926 students · 18.5:1 ratio