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74-786: When the Spanish arrived on the San Francisco Peninsula in 1769, the land from Belmont south to Redwood City , and from the Bay into the foothills including Woodside , Huddart Park and the Phleger Estate was occupied by the Lamchin local tribe of the Ohlone people . This tribe was encountered by the Portolà expedition as it descended from Sweeney Ridge to San Francisquito Creek through what Portola called

148-884: A country house on the Peninsula, and was soon followed by other prominent San Francisco families—the Selbys, the Floods, the Macondrays, and later the Hopkins and the Stanfords. Atherton had chosen to liquidate all his assets in Chile and reinvested heavily into California. His real estate purchases included Valparaiso Park in San Mateo County; the land now forms much of present-day Atherton. This included 640 acres (2.6 km ) at ten dollars an acre of land on

222-482: A family of modest means, and became a lawyer and diplomat after attending the University of California Berkeley (B.S. 1912) and studying law at Harvard Law School. He co-founded the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. Mary Elena Macondray Phleger was the granddaughter of prominent Peninsula family scion Faxon Dean Atherton and San Franciscan Frederick W. Macondray. Herman Phleger allowed fellow equestrians use of

296-474: A great fortune from his many enterprises; his shipping business and the import and export of goods. In 1848, Atherton corresponded with Thomas Larkin over the disappearance of his brother, Robert in Mazatlán the previous year. Atherton's brother was at the time working for Thomas Larkin on a Gold project in Mazatlán. A year later his brother got promoted to emigration as part of the gold rush, which Atherton had at

370-468: A highway between Valparaiso and Santiago. Instead he returned to Chile with a $ 259 rotary printing press and a supply of enamel "address cards". He established a ship chandler's store in Valparaiso, whilst at the same time trading in the hide and tallow and other merchandise. It was during this time that he met George Henry Bowen, who would become his business partner and lifelong friend. In Valparaiso he

444-459: A now destitute Castro leaving for Chile. Atherton in turn began selling off his portion in smaller parcels. Two men named Cull (the namesake of Cull Canyon) and Luce bought some 2,400 acres (10 km ) and began running a steam-operated saw mill in Redwood Canyon. The Jensen brothers also bought land from Atherton in 1867. Atherton is credited with initiating the custom of owning

518-1056: A political party. The city is served by the Belmont Public Library of the San Mateo County Libraries , a member of the Peninsula Library System . The city has a number of parks. This includes Twin Pines Park, Waterdog Lake Open Space, Semeria Park and Davey Glen Park . Child education is provided by public and private facilities. Students in Belmont are eligible to receive public schooling through two school districts: Belmont-Redwood Shores School District ( kindergarten through middle school ) and Sequoia Union High School District ( high school ). There are also several private schools. The private Charles Armstrong School specializes in language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia . The city's largest hotel

592-457: A seagoing merchant from Santa Barbara , who was originally from Brunswick, Maine , who by the 1830s had become engaged in the hides and tallow trade along the Californian coastline. Thompson had married into the powerful Carrillo family. This would have opened doors for Atherton, who became acquainted with influential Californian leaders, both Mexican officials and American entrepreneurs, as well

666-786: A wealthy rancher. In 1839 Atherton was described by John Sutter as an upstanding merchant from Honolulu who later moved to California (although Atherton's own diary brings his moral character into question - see "Legacy," below). Sutter enjoyed dining with Atherton during his stay in Honolulu, whilst he waited for a boat to take him to California. During 1839, Atherton left Oahu on the Don Quixote, and sailed back to New England (via Valparaíso and Cape Horn) with 540 hides valued at $ 1000. He arrived in Boston during May and sold his cargo in Boston. Whilst in Boston he tried unsuccessfully to raise $ 4,500 to build

740-422: Is Hyatt House, which is an apartment hotel and caters mostly to a business clientele, due to its proximity to Oracle headquarters. In January 2009, Belmont adopted an ordinance that bans smoking in city parks, all businesses, and all multi-story apartments and condominiums. The policy, which has been described as perhaps the strictest anti-smoking law in the nation, was the result of a group of retirees lobbying

814-650: Is a city in San Mateo County in the U.S. state of California . It is in the San Francisco Bay Area , on the San Francisco Peninsula about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose . It was originally part of Rancho de las Pulgas , for which one of its main roads, the Alameda de las Pulgas, is named. The city was incorporated in 1926. Its population was 28,335 at the 2020 census . Ralston Hall

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888-422: Is a historic landmark built by Bank of California founder William Chapman Ralston on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University , and is also home to Notre Dame High School . It was built around a villa formerly owned by Count Leonetto Cipriani  [ fr ] , an Italian aristocrat. The locally famous "Waterdog Lake" is also located in the foothills and highlands of Belmont. A surviving structure from

962-462: Is limited to hikers and equestrians (on some trails). The trails are marked with unique trail signs and pass through a mix of second growth redwood forests and oak woodlands. In the lower elevations of the park the Miramontes Trail follows West Union Creek. The Lonely Trail climbs steeply from the valley to Skyline Boulevard . Wildlife in the park includes a variety of birds, Banana slugs , and

1036-403: Is more, devilish neat and clean. The large ovens for baking they have here are fine handy things. His widow was responsible for building "Atherton House" 1990, California Street, San Francisco (located on the corner with Octavia Street) in 1881. National Register #79000527. Faxon's son George had died at sea in 1887 and his body was shipped back to the house in a barrel of rum, as a result it

1110-558: Is named after him. Faxon Dean Atherton was born on January 29, 1815, in Dedham, Massachusetts into an established New England family, with roots dating back to the colonial period of the United States. He was the son of Abner Atherton and Betsey Dean of Dedham, Massachusetts. His father was a sea captain, first married to Catherine Dean, and after her death, married her sister Betsy, who became Atherton's mother. In 1830, Atherton entered

1184-617: Is notable for laying out Cañada Road in 1862. The area Redwoods were an important source of lumber exports. According to Mexican government records of 1841, 100,000 board feet of wood were ready at the embarcadero near Mission Santa Clara for export to the Hawaiian Islands , presumably the source of this timber was Coppinger's Rancho. The wooded area was a refuge for American, English, Scots and Irish expatriates who cut timber and distilled alcohol for sale. The California Gold Rush , beginning in 1848 catalyzed logging operations to support

1258-473: The 2010 census Belmont had a population of 25,835. The population density was 5,579.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,154.4/km ). The racial makeup of Belmont was 17,455 (67.6%) White, 420 (1.6%) African American, 72 (0.3%) Native American, 5,151 (19.9%) Asian, 198 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 964 (3.7%) from other races, and 1,572 (6.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,977 persons (11.5%). The census reported that 25,321 people (98.0% of

1332-531: The Belmont – Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD) . The public high school in Belmont, Carlmont High School , however, is in Sequoia Union High School District . SamTrans provides local bus service within Belmont as well as the entire county of San Mateo. Caltrain provides commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose including Belmont station in

1406-538: The California Historical Society and edited by the historian and former professor at UCLA, Doyce B. Nunis Jr. The publication of Atherton's California Journal has been described as a singular event in the recorded history of California. As a young man from New England, Atherton vividly recorded much of the turbulent change and innovation in the California of the 1830s. The Editor of the journal, Dr. Nunis

1480-810: The California State Legislature , Belmont is in the 13th Senate District , represented by Democrat Josh Becker , and in the 21st Assembly District , represented by Democrat Diane Papan . Federally, Belmont is in California's 15th congressional district , represented by Democrat Kevin Mullin . According to the California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Belmont has 15,827 registered voters. Of those, 7,678 (48.5%) are registered Democrats , 2,540 (16%) are registered Republicans , and 4,994 (31.6%) have declined to state

1554-487: The Cañada de San Francisco (now traversed by Cañada Road). The padres spoke of the Lamchin as possessing four villages, Cachanigtac, Guloisnistac, Oromstac and Supichon, but moved them to Mission San Francisco de Asís between 1784 and 1793 for Christianization. After secularization of the California missions, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted the 12,545-acre Rancho Cañada de Raymundo (5,077 ha) which now includes

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1628-724: The Coast Range Newt . The park is bounded to the north by San Francisco watershed land, to the west by Skyline Blvd (CA Highway 35), and to the south by Huddart County Park. The area east of the park is private property and is off limits to hikers. Access to the trails is from the parking area in Huddart County Park (off Kings Mountain Road). There is park access via a trailhead on Skyline Blvd. 37°27′N 122°18.5′W  /  37.450°N 122.3083°W  / 37.450; -122.3083 Belmont, California Belmont

1702-781: The Pacific coast . His friend, William Heath Davis came from a Boston seafaring, ship-owning family. Davis was a clerk of a store in Monterey which was owned by his uncle, Nathan Spear. Like Atherton he liked the daughters of powerful men. Davis engaged in trading trips to Yerba Buena and the Hawaiian Islands and settled permanently in San Francisco , subsequently becoming one of the city's most prominent merchants and ship owners. Davis later married María de Jesús Estudillo, daughter of Joaquin Estudillo,

1776-740: The Panama–Pacific International Exposition is on Belmont Avenue (another is the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco). The building was brought to Belmont by E.D. Swift shortly after the exposition closed in 1915. The city is bordered by San Mateo to the north, Half Moon Bay to the west, Redwood Shores to the east, and San Carlos to the south. Belmont has a smoking ordinance , passed in January 2009, which bans smoking in all businesses and multi-story apartments and condominiums;

1850-836: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a land area of 4.63 square miles (12.0 km ) and 0.009 square miles (0.023 km ) of water. Belmont's population in 2020 was reported as 28,335. The population density was 6,119.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,362.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 14,248 (50.3%) White , 370 (1.3%) Black or African American , 102 (0.4%) American Indian and Alaska Native , 8,398 (29.6%) Asian , 148 (0.5%) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander , 1,527 (5.4%) Some Other Race, and 3,542 (12.5%) two or more races . The largest mixed-race groups were White and Some Other Race (1,345, 4.7%) and White and Asian (1,312, 4.6%). 3,523 residents (12.4%) were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Among

1924-812: The 1850s to 1875. These included: Many of the above were subject to court claims by former rancheros such as the Vallejo family. During the conversion of land, records under the Land Commission were changed and Ygnacio's small ranch grew from several thousand acres to 42,000 acres (170 km ). Owners of plots dating back to the Hispanic period, including Indians, Mexicans, and Spaniards, on land not originally owned by Pastor became squatters overnight. Atherton then sent notice to evict them. Many were settlers on improved lands were awaiting pre-emption , including George Hough Dutton and others who had believed they owned property in

1998-636: The 1860s Atherton had settled with his family in the then-fashionable section of San Francisco, Rincon Hill . Other residents included the Latham's, Ralstons, Millses, Stanford's, Sharon's, Donohoes, Floods, O'Briens, Fairs, Selby's and Eyre's. Atherton wanted to be in the company of those who built not just the banks and railroads of the American West, but the cultural and intellectual institutions as well. Atherton focused on ensuring his daughters married into other influential families, and they did, by marrying into

2072-540: The Macondray, Selby and Eyre families. Atherton had a business acquaintance with Guillermo Castro , a rancher, surveyor and a former magistrate under the Mexican administration, who had turned to selling large parcels of land in order to reduce his gambling debt. Atherton would lend him money, however took ownership of the land when Castro defaulted on his debt. Castro's final rancho was sold in 1864 to Atherton for $ 400,000, with

2146-664: The National Park Service. Because the latter did not want the Phleger mansion, Audrey Rust convinced Gordon Moore , the founder of Intel Corporation and his wife Betty to purchase the home and 24 acres (9.7 ha) of what would become a conservation easement for $ 6 million. Members of the Phleger family still own a 23-acre parcel (9.3 ha) on the estate. On December 23, 1994, San Mateo Times staff writer, Marshall Wilson, reported: "Hikers and nature lovers can enjoy more than 1,200 acres (490 ha) of hills and canyons now that

2220-571: The Phleger Estate officially has been added to the National Park System, and quoted Audrey Rust as saying: "I feel this has been my life." On April 29, 1995, the Phleger Estate was dedicated as part of the GGNRA. Polly Phleger Goodan, who grew up on the estate and rode a horse from her home daily to attend college at Stanford (B.A. 1944), died in 2005. The 1,084 acres (439 ha) parcel is located west of Cañada Road and east of Skyline Boulevard on

2294-644: The Phleger Estate to John Coppinger in 1841. Coppinger was a British seaman who deserted his ship in San Francisco in 1835 but he went on to support Governor Alvarado's revolt against the Mexico-installed Governor Gutiérrez in Monterey in 1836. When Coppinger died in 1847, his widow Maria Luisa Soto Coppinger married another Irish seaman, Captain John Greer, who sold off timber rights on the Rancho and

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2368-517: The San Francisco peninsula in what was then known as Fair Oaks, becoming one of the first residents of the area. He built his home, Valparaíso Park, situated approximately where the Menlo Circus Club, 190 Park Lane, Atherton has operated as a private country club since 1923. Atherton's familiarity with the grazing lands in the vicinity of Mision San Jose dated back to 1836, together with his accumulated wealth, fuelled his land purchases between

2442-574: The Spring Valley Water Company to the city of San Francisco, he allowed a Company Vice President, Samuel P. Eastman, to create his own estate, "Mountain Meadow", just south of Filoli. Eastman contracted Gardner Dailey , who had just left the Willis Polk architectural firm, to design his estate home, which was completed in 1927. The 8,000-square foot house, with a tiled mission revival style roof,

2516-477: The Spring Valley Water Company which took its name with it from its original location at the Spring Valley was between Mason and Taylor Streets, and Washington and Broadway Streets in San Francisco, where the water company started. When the company went south for more water, the Spring Valley name was carried south too. In 1915, Bourn hired Willis Polk to build Filoli, and moved in in 1917. Just before Bourn sold

2590-493: The United States Consul at Monterey (with whom he would later be associated with in many real estate and commercial ventures). Several governors of the Mexican era were also his friends, among them Nicolas Gutierrez , José Castro , and Mariano Chico , as were many traders such as W. E. P. Hartnell, Nathan Spear; and the latter's nephew, William Heath Davis , Jr. This was time of influx of settlers from New England into

2664-607: The United States would support any attempt at secession from Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially titled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic, was signed on February 2, 1848, between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). The treaty called for the U.S. to pay US$ 15 million to Mexico and to pay off

2738-553: The city to stop secondhand smoke from drifting into their apartments from neighboring places. Public health advocates consider the ordinance to be a new front in a national battle against tobacco; officials from the American Lung Association of California said "Belmont broke through this invisible barrier in the sense that it addressed drifting smoke in housing as a public health issue." The public schools in Belmont are highly rated. The public schools in Belmont are run by

2812-498: The city, and Hillsdale station in southern San Mateo city, near the border. According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in 2021 were: Faxon Atherton Faxon Dean Atherton (1815–1877) was an American businessman, trader and landowner; initially successful in Valparaíso , Chile . He became a prominent citizen of San Mateo County, California . The town of Atherton, California

2886-560: The claims of American citizens against Mexico up to US$ 5 million. It gave the United States the Rio Grande as a boundary for Texas, and gave the U.S. ownership of California. Mexicans in those annexed areas had the choice of relocating to within Mexico's new boundaries or receiving American citizenship with full civil rights. This would open great opportunities for Atherton, along with the California gold rush , where Atherton would subsequently amass

2960-511: The construction of a railroad in Hayward . He served on the board of trustees of the Lick Trust from 1875. This trust had been set up initially by James Lick in 1874 but he replaced the board with Atherton, John Nightingale, Bernard D. Murphy and John H. Lick. After a period of courtship, Atherton married Dominga Rosario Goñi Prieto (1823–1890) on July 7, 1843, in Valparaíso , Chile . His wife

3034-561: The eastern slope of Kings Mountain on the Sierra Morena portion of the Santa Cruz Mountains . The Phleger Estate lies between San Mateo County's Huddart Park to the south and Filoli to the north on the San Francisco Peninsula . This area was once a portion of Rancho Cañada de Raymundo which was aggressively logged during the nineteenth century. After entering the estate from Cañada and Edgewood Roads, Phleger Road immediately crosses

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3108-532: The executor of his estate. Atherton gave an eyewitness account as a twenty-one year old Bostonian of his hide and tallow trading days in Mexican California. It also makes references to historic sites such as the Mission San José and Mission Santa Clara de Asís , and the settlement of Alviso and areas of San Francisco Bay . The California Diary of Faxon Dean Atherton 1836 - 1839 was published in 1964 by

3182-599: The explosive growth of the city of San Francisco. By the 1860s most of the logger's mills had moved west over the Skyline, having depleted the eastern slope of trees. Willard Whipple was one of many area lumbermen who dragged logs to the port at Redwood City. His Whipple's Mill Road has come to be known as Whipple Avenue. He was a Union sympathizer in the Civil War and named the creek on which his mills operated West Union Creek . Whipple built his steam-powered Upper Mill in late 1852 at

3256-824: The foremost influential Californios ; including the Vallejos, Bandinis, and De la Guerras. When Atherton traveled to Alta California with Thompson on the ship Bolivar Libertador in 1836, arriving in San Francisco, the city was in its infancy. Atherton worked for Thompson for a period of two years, initially accepting a position as a clerk for $ 50 a month. He would soon be tasked to travel the California coast, between San Francisco and San Diego, selling goods to rancheros from Thompson's home port of Santa Barbara. During this period, Atherton penned his California diary and formed friendships with many prominent Californians, including Carlos Antonio Carrillo , José Antonio Carrillo , Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo , Juan Bandini and Thomas O. Larkin ,

3330-448: The great eagerness to obtain a share of the [gold] placer. Last July gold diggers were satisfied to obtain 2 or 3 ounces of gold per day. Now they throw up spade and pickaxe if they do not find every heave or two a "junk" of gold. Up to $ 600 have been [paid] for single lumps." "Many young men, who in May 1847 had less than $ 400, are now doing well and worth $ 5,000 to $ 30,000. … People come in by

3404-643: The hide and tallow trade, Thomas Larkin had previously urged Atherton to move to California. Larkin wrote: "... [T]here is education available for your children and a dignity of living on landed estates down the San Francisco peninsula (that is) convenient and accessible ... [Y]ou and I were of that country. Our eyes were turned towards it in admiration and in my part in gratitude. My children were from there. They and yours will soon be." Whilst in Oahu, Atherton met Captain Alpheus Basil Thompson (1795–1869),

3478-532: The hundreds, where they sleep I know not … My head whirls with speculation! My hair grows grey by the excessive working of my brain and ambitions! … Every one is becoming rich!" By 1850, both Atherton and George Bowen had joined Loring & Co, Valparaíso as partners. It would take a further eight years and the failing health of Thomas Larkin for Atherton to make the decision to settle permanently with his Chilean family in California. Atherton arrived with his family from Chile in 1858. His friend Thomas Larkin, who at

3552-473: The money and then in turn, turn the land over to the National Park Service . In 1990 Mary Elena passed away and her remaining child Mary Elena "Polly" Goodan (née Phleger) represented the family and parent's wishes. In 1994, the family completed the sale to POST for $ 21 million which was quite a contribution by the family considering the true value of the property. POST turned over the Phleger Estate to

3626-420: The occupied units 6,280 (59.4%) were owner-occupied and 4,295 (42.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 16,473 people (63.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 8,848 people (34.2%) lived in rental housing units. At the 2000 census there were 25,123 people in 10,418 households, including 6,542 families, in the city. The population density

3700-468: The ordinance has been described as one of the strictest in the nation . The name is believed to derive from the Italian bel monte , meaning "beautiful mountain." The town was named for the "symmetrically rounded eminence" nearby. Belmont is located at 37°31′5″N 122°17′30″W  /  37.51806°N 122.29167°W  / 37.51806; -122.29167 (37.518087, -122.291673). According to

3774-455: The perception of his character as moral. In fact, Atherton himself wrote of raping Indigenous girls at Mission San José during a night he spent there in 1936. "All the young girls of the Mission [sic] are kept locked up nights by themselves. They are under the charge of a man who is called an Alcalde, but I found that he knew the value of a 4 real piece and understood what he received it for. There are some pretty fair girls amongst them, and what

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3848-635: The population) lived in households, 394 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 120 (0.5%) were institutionalized. There were 10,575 households, 3,251 (30.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,630 (53.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 830 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband or wife present, 391 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife or husband present. There were 510 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 96 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 2,904 households (27.5%) were one person and 997 (9.4%) had someone living alone who

3922-457: The preacher is a fine looking man and his sermon is orthodox, in quality and quantity. The law we have or live under is brief and accommodating, each party concerned bringing proof that either the laws of Mexico or the U.S. are or ought to be in force. The defenders of the latter are rather split into small parties as each advocates the law of his native state as the only just and true one"......"Law, gospel and politics are beginning to be obsolete in

3996-498: The profits with his partner, Robert P. Ross. Initially, Atherton speculated in cargo in Valparaiso. He got to know Elishu Loring, a shipping agent and secured a position with Loring & Co, a ship chandlery firm. He was made responsible for the operation of vessels plying between Boston - Valparaíso, Chile and Monterey, California . After working in Chile for a year he sailed to Oahu in November 1835 to investigate business opportunities there. His friend and business associate in

4070-418: The property's scenic Raymundo Trail which runs through the estate. Herman served as a director of the Save the Redwoods League for 20 years. Which was part of why Herman and Mary Elena wanted to preserve the 1,315 acres (532 ha). In 1990 Mary Elena along with extended family began negotiating with the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) to acquire the land, which was valued at $ 30 million. POST would raise

4144-1121: The residents who were not Hispanic or Latino, 13,572 were White , 348 were Black or African American, 22 were American Indian and Alaska Native, 8,330 were Asian, 132 were Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, 300 were of other races, and 2,108 were of two or more races. 2020 was the first recent census in which non-Hispanic White people were not the majority of the population in Belmont (47.9%). Among Hispanic and Latino residents, 676 identified their race as White , 22 Black or African American , 80 American Indian and Alaska Native, 68 Asian , 16 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1,227 Some Other Race, and 1,434 two or more races. 1,021 Hispanic or Latino residents identified their race as both White and Some Other Race. There were 11,169 housing units, of which 10,705 were occupied and 464 were vacant. 722 people (2.5%) were living in group quarters, including 203 in nursing facilities , 339 in college/university student housing, and 180 in other facilities. 22,198 people (78.3%) were 18 years old or older, while 6,137 (21.7%) were younger than 18 years old. At

4218-496: The shipping and merchant business at the age of 15 as an apprentice to his brother-in-law, merchant Charles T. Ward. It was a time of growth in trade between the Massachusetts shoe and leather goods mills which needed raw hides from California and Chile. William Sturgis was among the most prominent at this time in the hide and tallow trade primarily focused on the California hide trade . Within two years, Atherton started his own hauling business in Boston, Massachusetts , in 1832. This

4292-449: The site of today's Phleger House (now occupied by Gordon and Betty Moore ) on the Phleger Estate. About 1908, William Bourn completely acquired the Spring Valley Water Company , which closed its lands (which included the Phleger Estate, Bourn's estate " Filoli " and today's Crystal Springs Reservoirs ) to agriculture, logging and vineyards. The two Crystal Springs lakes and San Andreas Lake used to be known as Spring Valley Lakes for

4366-407: The south fork of Laguna Creek which flows north to Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir . Higher up the slope three minor tributaries flow into West Union Creek , which travels southeast to Adobe Corner in the town of Woodside where it joins Bear Gulch Creek , which in turn flows to San Francisquito Creek and ultimately, San Francisco Bay . There are several hiking trails through the park, access

4440-539: The time between Valparaíso, Mazatlán , and San Francisco. Between 1841 and 1846 Atherton had tried to lure Thomas Larkin into the Valparaiso lumber market. Although Atherton assured him that goods in Chile were cheaper, Larkin did not become interested in this trade, instead focusing on the Pacific Coast of Mexico . During the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848, Atherton's wealth increased steadily and he wrote to Thomas Larkin that he had accepted drafts for $ 300,000 from whalers that had all been honored. Atherton

4514-512: The time dismissed. Atherton was skeptical at first witnessing gold seekers leaving Valparaíso for California. Instead he had hoped coal would be found. Thomas Larkin wrote to Atherton during 1849 on California's first boom: "JAN. 19, 1849 We yet remain in a quiet state under the combined influence of some gospel and plenty of law, the beauty of the first exemplified in many who attend church from early habits or to set an example without caring much what creed they listen to, only being aware that

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4588-462: The time of his death was one of the richest individuals in San Francisco, had died of Typhoid that same year. Atherton went on to become one of the wealthiest men on the Pacific Coast, making extensive investments in California commerce and real estate. In 1853, he hired San Francisco agent Alexander B. Grogan to represent his interests in California. However it would not be until 1860 that Atherton would return to California to settle permanently. By

4662-409: The town of Jolon . Dutton bought an Inn and 100 acres on the property for $ 1,000, now called the Dutton Hotel, Stagecoach Station . He added a second adobe story, a merchandise store, saloon post office, and stagecoach stop. Atherton became prominent in banking, financial enterprises and railroad building, with projects such as the Oregon and California Railroad . He played an instrumental role in

4736-424: Was $ 99,739, and the median family income was $ 122,515. Males had a median income of $ 63,281 versus $ 46,957 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 42,812. About 1.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 and over. In May 2009, Belmont was ranked 11th on Forbes list of "America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well." In

4810-402: Was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89. The age distribution was 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males. According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city

4884-482: Was 5,551.1 inhabitants per square mile (2,143.3/km ). There were 10,577 housing units at an average density of 2,337.1 units per square mile (902.4 units/km ). Of the 10,418 households 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 27.2% of households were one person and 7.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size

4958-585: Was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 6,851 families (64.8% of households); the average family size was 2.95. The age distribution was 5,395 people (20.9%) under the age of 18, 1,668 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 7,645 people (29.6%) aged 25 to 44, 7,284 people (28.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,843 people (14.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males. There were 11,028 housing units at an average density of 2,381.8 per square mile, of

5032-408: Was a successful merchant, dealing in hides and tallow, foodstuffs, and other commodities. As such he was a desirable bachelor, and in 1843 he married into a prominent Chilean family and soon had a family. He wrote to his friend Thomas Larkin in California during August 1843 to say that he had married the previous month. Atherton's letter provides an insight for historians into the trade route in place at

5106-543: Was an enthusiastic supporter of the Annexation of California . He had followed events from Chile and Tahiti, and was very much in favor of it being incorporated into the United States. Whilst in Tahiti, he wrote to commercial associates in 1843 saying: I hope that the U.S. will acquire California by purchase or otherwise, as it is a most beautiful country very similar to Chile. Early in 1846, Thomas Larkin had received instructions from Secretary of State James Buchanan to begin working covertly to assure all concerned that

5180-435: Was born in Chile. His daughter Florence has been confused by researchers with Florence Atherton Spalding , who was a Boston music teacher, who also married in 1886. Atherton died in Valparaiso Park on July 18, 1877. His wife died on September 20, 1890, in San Francisco, aged 67. He is buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo County, California. After Atherton's death, Alexander B. Grogan served as

5254-486: Was born on August 4, 1823, into a prominent Valparaíso family. Biographers have described her as a plump, witty young woman. She spoke no English. Although Atherton was not a Catholic by birth, they were married by the Catholic Church in Valparaíso, since she was a devout Catholic. Biographers have described Atherton as a persistent womanizer, for having had a string of affairs. The couple had nine children (with seven children reaching adulthood); all but one child (Florence)

5328-695: Was not enough for young Atherton, who also established a parcel delivery service for merchants. Atherton was intent on making his fortune in the Pacific Coast Trade. He had accumulated sufficient capital for such an overseas enterprise. He chose South America to seek his fortune, and left Boston on the Boston Ship "Mercury" in 1833, with a motley of cargo goods valued at $ 500. It included cigars, cologne, brushes, shoes, other leather goods and German harps. Upon arrival in Valparaiso, Chile he quickly sold all his cargo to Augustus Hemenway's commission firm, sharing

5402-512: Was situated to permit views of both the second-growth redwoods and oak woodlands. In 1937, Herman and Mary Elena Phleger (née Macondray) began acquiring this watershed property, that they referred to as "the home place" ultimately assembling an estate of 1,315 acres (532 ha). Their nearest neighbors were the Roth family, the new owners of Filoli, a mile to the north. Herman was raised in Sacramento to

5476-654: Was the editor of the Southern California Quarterly during the 1960s and when promoting his book in the December 1964 edition of The California Historical Society Quarterly was quoted saying: "Since Atherton begins where Richard Henry Dana leaves off, his diary is not an unworthy companion to Dana's classic. Previous authors have referred to the "gamey passages" (as on pp. 122 and 144) in his journal. Several pages are also missing and researchers have indicated they may have been removed in an attempt to preserve

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