Half Moon Bay, California | |
|---|---|
| City of Half Moon Bay | |
 Aerial view of Half Moon Bay facing north | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: "Home of the world-famous Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival!" | |
| Motto(s): Vivir, Trabajar, Jugar (Live, Work, Play) | |
 Location of Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County, California | |
  Half Moon Bay, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 37°27′32″N 122°26′13″W / 37.45889°N 122.43694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Mateo |
| Incorporated | July 15, 1959[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Joaquin Jimenez[2] |
| • City Manager | Matthew Chidester[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.25 sq mi (16.20 km2) |
| • Land | 6.24 sq mi (16.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) 0.32% |
| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 11,795 |
| • Density | 1,900/sq mi (730/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 94019 |
| Area code | 650 |
| FIPS code | 06-31708 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277528, 2410685 |
| Website | half-moon-bay |
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco. Its population was 11,795 as of the[update] 2020 census. Immediately north of Half Moon Bay is Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea. Half Moon Bay is known for Mavericks, a big-wave surf location. It is called Half Moon Bay because of its crescent shape.
Originally an agricultural outpost to Mission San Francisco de Asís, the town was founded in the 1840s first as San Benito, and then as its Anglo fishing community grew, it was renamed Spanishtown. In 1874, it was again renamed Half Moon Bay. After rail and road connections in the early 1900s, the town grew. The foggy weather of the coast made the town a popular destination for booze-running during Prohibition.
The city's infrastructure is heavily integrated with the coast, including the Pillar Point Harbor, major roads, and the fire department. The economy of Half Moon Bay is dominated by a handful of businesses, the biggest of which is the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay which employs 500 people and is a major source of property tax and tourism income for the city.[8] Because of this geography, a 2022 study[update] found that the city had over 123 buildings vulnerable to sea level rise.[8]
- ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "City Council Homepage". City of Half Moon Bay. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Directory". City of Half Moon Bay. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Half Moon Bay". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ "Half Moon Bay (city) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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