Redwood City

Sister cities

• Colima
• Zhuhai
• Annapolis
• Naranjo de Chila Municipality

History

The earliest known inhabitants of the area that would become Redwood City were the Ohlone, who were present when the Spanish claimed the land and established missions. Redwood City incorporated in 1867, being the first city in San Mateo County to do so; it has remained the county seat since the county's formation in 1856. The land had been part of the Rancho de las Pulgas granted to the Argüello family in 1835 by the Mexican government. Their control was challenged after the Mexican–American War when California became part of the United States. The family lawyer, Simon M. Mezes, in 1854 defended the claim somewhat successfully and was allowed to buy the part of the estate that is now Redwood City. Mezes sold some of the land to people already squatting on it along the banks of Redwood Creek and named the settlement "Mezesville". Though the city did not keep that name, Mezes Park still exists on land that Mezes had given for open space. In 1907, Eikichi and Sadakusi Enomoto, Japanese immigrant brothers, grew what may perhaps have been the first commercially grown chrysanthemums in the United States in Redwood City. In 1926, the chamber of commerce proclaimed the city the "Chrysanthemum Center of the World" though the internment of Japanese Americans in 1941 and other factors would contribute to the end of flower growing as a major industry in the city.

Geography

Redwood City stretches from the San Francisco Bay towards the Santa Cruz Mountains between San Carlos to the northwest and Atherton to the southeast with Woodside to the southwest. It is divided by Highway 101 and further inland El Camino Real on the northwest–southeast axis and Woodside Road on the north-northeast/south-southwest axis. Locally, the former two are regarded as north–south and the latter east/west, as 101 and El Camino connects Redwood City to San Francisco and San Jose and Woodside Road runs from San Francisco Bay to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Neighborhoods include Bair Island to the northeast of Highway 101. The northern planned community of Redwood Shores, also to the northeast of Highway 101, is part of Redwood City, although it is not possible to travel by road from one to the other without passing through the neighboring city of San Carlos, or through Belmont via San Mateo County. Stretching along Highway 101 to the southeast of Woodside Road is Friendly Acres, further inland and still to the southeast of Woodside Road are Redwood Village and then Redwood Oaks. Most neighborhoods are to the northwest of Woodside Road and southwest of Highway 101. Centennial, Downtown, and Stambaugh Heller are adjacent to 101. Next inland are Edgewood, Mt. Carmel, Central and Palm then Canyon, Eagle Hill, Roosevelt, and Woodside Plaza. Furthest inland is Farm Hills (or Farm Hill). Neighborhoods associated with Redwood City but not part of the incorporated city include Emerald Lake Hills and Kensington Square inland and to the north and North Fair Oaks to the southeast. Palomar Park, just north of Emerald Hills and east of San Carlos' Crestview area, is another Redwood City neighborhood that is formally part of unincorporated San Mateo County. Although…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  71,549
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  65,588
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  63,871
• Black Phoebe

  Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  58,554
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  48,633
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  48,390
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  46,182
• Bewick's Wren

  Thryomanes bewickii (Audubon, 1827) · Aves
  43,996

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
• San Mateo High
  High · San Mateo · 1,613 students · 19.2:1 ratio
• Burlingame High
  High · Burlingame · 1,519 students · 21.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.54 — 2026-10-15
  10 km ESE of Gilroy, CA
• M 2.51 — 2026-09-29
  5 km W of Yountville, CA
• M 2.6 — 2026-09-27
  26 km WSW of Westley, CA
• M 3.32 — 2026-09-27
  27 km WSW of Westley, CA
• M 2.51 — 2026-09-19
  10 km ENE of Milpitas, CA
• M 2.53 — 2026-09-17
  2 km ENE of Aromas, CA