California

San Mateo

764,442
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About San Mateo

San Mateo, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 3,214. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 764,442.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 64 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020764,442
2010718,451
2000707,161
1990649,623
1980587,329
1970556,234
1960444,387
1950235,659
1940111,782
193077,405
192036,781
191026,585
190012,094
189010,087
18808,669
18706,635
18603,214
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in San Mateo

National Register of Historic Places listings in San Mateo, California.

Southern Pacific Depot
San Carlos
Green Gables-Fleischhacker, Mortimer, Country House
Woodside
National Bank of San Mateo
San Mateo
Sequoia Union High School
Redwood City
Point Montara Light Station
Montara
Sanchez Adobe Park
Pacifica
Woodside Store
Woodside
Kohl Mansion
Burlingame
Johnston, James, House
Half Moon Bay
Portola Valley School
Portola Valley
X-100
San Mateo
San Mateo County Courthouse
Redwood City
Bourn-Roth Estate
Woodside
Carolands, The
Hillsborough
Menlo Park Railroad Station
Menlo Park
Hofmann, Arthur and Mona, House
Hillsborough
New Sequoia Theater Building
Redwood City
Southern Pacific Railroad Bayshore Roundhouse
Brisbane
Casa de Tableta
Portola Valley
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pescadero
Golden Gate National Cemetery
San Bruno
South San Francisco Hillside Sign
South San Francisco
Our Lady of the Wayside
Portola Valley
Southern Pacific Depot
Millbrae
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Everything a full report reveals about San Mateo County, California

This page charts the census history of San Mateo County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about San Mateo

When does San Mateo first appear in the US census?
San Mateo, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 3,214.
What is the population of San Mateo?
At the most recent federal census (2020), San Mateo had a recorded population of 764,442.
How many historic places are in San Mateo?
64 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Mateo, California.
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