San Bruno, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 40,165 at the 2000 census.
The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport.
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[edit] Geography
San Bruno is located at (37.625288, -122.425266)GR1. The city is located between South San Francisco and Millbrae, near the San Francisco International Airport and about 12 miles (19 km) south of downtown San Francisco.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 km² (5.5 mi²), all land. The city spreads from the mostly flat lowlands near San Francisco Bay into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which rise to more than 600 feet above sea level (183 m) in Crestmoor and more than 700 feet (213 m) above sea level in the northwestern corner of the city. San Bruno City Hall sits at an official elevation of 41 feet (12.5 m) above sea level.
Portions of Mills Park, Crestmoor, and Rollingwood are very hilly and feature some canyons and ravines. Creeks, many of them now in culverts, flow from springs in the hills toward San Francisco Bay. Just west of Skyline Boulevard is San Andreas Lake, outside the city limits, which gave its name to the famous San Andreas Fault in 1895. The lake is actually one of several reservoirs used by the San Francisco Water Department.
[edit] Climate
San Bruno enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
January is the coldest month with an average high of 55.9°F (13.3°C) and an average low of 42.9°F (6.1°C). Frost occurs occasionally during the winter months; snowfall is quite rare, but 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) fell on January 21, 1962 (with as much as four inches (10 cm) reported in Crestmoor). Measurable snowfalls also occurred on December 11, 1932 and February 5, 1976. In recent years, traces of snow have been reported on December 27, 1988; January 8, 1989; and February 24, 1996.
Freezing temperatures occur on an average of only 1.3 days annually. The coldest winter temperature on record was 20°F (-6.7°C) on December 11, 1932, the same day 1.0 inch (2.5 cm) of snow fell. A week-long cold spell in December 1972 caused hard freezes throughout the area, damaging trees and plants and causing some water pipes to break; the temperature dropped as low as 24°F (-4.4°C) at the airport and 20°F (-6.7°C) in Crestmoor, which also reported snow flurries several times that week.
September is the warmest month with an average high of 72.7°F (22.6°C) and an average low of 55.1°F (12.8°C). Temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C) on an average of 4.0 days annually. Fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours in the summer months, which are generally very dry except for occasional light drizzle from the fog. On rare occasions moisture moving up from tropical storms has produced thunderstorms or showers in the summer. Gusty westerly winds are also common in the afternoon during the summer. The highest summer temperature was 106°F (41.1°C) on June 14, 1961, breaking a record of 104°F (40°C) set in June 1960. A high of 105°F (40.6°C) was recorded on July 17, 1988, and a high of 103°F (39.4°C) was recorded on September 14, 1971. Until August 1, 1993, it had never reached 100°F (37.8°C) in August, which is one of the foggier months in the area.
Thunderstorms occur several times a year, mostly during the winter months, but are usually quite brief. Total annual precipitation, most of which falls from November to April, ranges from 20.11 inches (51.08 cm) at the nearby National Weather Service station at San Francisco International Airport to over 32 inches (81.3 cm) in the higher hills (according to observations by the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Geological Survey weather volunteers from 1962 to 1985). The annual average days with measurable precipitation is 65.2 days. The most rainfall in a month at the airport was 13.64 inches (34.65 cm) in February 1998, and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.59 inches (14.2 cm) on January 4, 1982. One of the volunteers in Crestmoor reported 6.09 inches (15.5 cm) in a 24-hour period in January 1967.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F | 55.9 | 59.3 | 61.2 | 64.3 | 66.8 | 69.9 | 71.1 | 71.7 | 72.7 | 69.7 | 62.0 | 56.1 | 65.1 |
| Avg low °F | 42.9 | 45.5 | 46.8 | 48.1 | 50.5 | 52.9 | 54.5 | 55.5 | 55.1 | 52.4 | 47.5 | 43.0 | 49.6 |
| Avg high °C | 13.3 | 15.1 | 16.2 | 17.9 | 19.3 | 21.1 | 21.7 | 22.1 | 22.6 | 20.9 | 16.7 | 12.4 | 18.4 |
| Avg low °C | 6.1 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 11.6 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 11.3 | 8.6 | 6.1 | 9.8 |
| Precipitation (in) | 4.45 | 4.01 | 3.26 | 1.18 | 0.38 | 0.11 | 0.03 | 0.07 | 0.20 | 1.04 | 2.49 | 2.89 | 20.11 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 113.0 | 101.8 | 82.8 | 30.0 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 26.4 | 63.2 | 73.4 | 510.8 |
| Source: "Climatography of the United States," National Climatic Data Center (www.ncdc.noaa.gov)[1] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 40,165 people, 14,677 households, and 9,921 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,840.3/km² (7,353.6/mi²). There were 14,980 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3/km² (2,742.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.65% White, 2.01% African American, 0.47% Native American, 18.69% Asian, 2.88% Pacific Islander, 10.82% from other races, and 7.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.12% of the population.
There were 14,677 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,081, and the median income for a family was $70,251. Males had a median income of $46,843 versus $36,851 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,360. About 3.1% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Parks
San Bruno City Park, bordered by Crystal Springs Avenue and El Crystal School, is the major municipal park. It offers shaded walkways and hiking trials, picnic tables, a playground, a small ballpark, a municipal swimming pool, and a recreation center that includes an indoor basketball court once used for training by the San Francisco Warriors basketball team. There are smaller municipal parks in other parts of the city.
Junipero Serra County Park, also accessible from Crystal Springs Avenue, is a 100-acre (.405 square kilometer) park owned by San Mateo County and includes numerous hiking trails, as well as picnic shelters, barbecue pits, and picnic tables. The wilderness area was named for Junipero Serra, a Franciscan friar who founded many of the Spanish missions in California during the eighteenth century; Serra regularly passed through what is now San Bruno whenever he visited the mission at San Francisco. The park is administered by the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department, which charges a small entry fee on weekends.
[edit] History
San Bruno was the location of the Ohlone village Urebure. It was explored in 1769 by a Spanish expedition led by Gaspar de Portola. Later, more extensive explorations by Bruno Hecate resulted in the naming of San Bruno Creek after St. Bruno of Cologne, the founder of a medieval monastic order. This creek apparently later gave its name to the community.
With the establishment of the San Francisco de Asis (St. Francis of Assisi) mission, much of the area became pasture for the mission livestock. Following the decline of the missions, the area became part of Rancho Buriburi, own by José de la Cruz Sánchez, the eleventh Alcalde (mayor) of San Francisco. Dairy farms later became common in much of the area.
The city began as a stop on the Butterfield stagecoach route, utilizing an inn built in 1849, which was initially called Thorp's Place and later Uncle Tom's Cabin. The inn was demolished in 1949. Gus Jenevein built another landmark called San Bruno House, which burned several times and was not rebuilt after the third fire. A few homes and farms were developed in the area. The railroad between San Francisco and San Jose built a train station at San Bruno in the 1860s. The railroad eventually became part of the Southern Pacific system, which ran both passenger and freight trains on the line. Today it is known as Caltrain.
Real growth and development began after the 1906 earthquake and fire. The city's first public school, Edgemont Elementary School, was completed in 1907. A second school, North Brae Elementary School, opened in 1912; among its earliest students was future actor Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Paving of California's first state highway, El Camino Real, began in 1912 in front of San Bruno's Uncle Tom's Cabin; the highway is now designated as California State Highway 82. The adjoining San Francisco International Airport opened in early 1927 and included a Weather Bureau station, now operated by the National Weather Service. Charles Lindbergh was an early visitor to the airport; unfortunately, his airplane (Spirit of St. Louis) became stuck in the mud! In 1947, the Bayshore Freeway (U.S. Highway 101) was opened from South San Francisco to Redwood City and included an interchange at San Bruno.
Following a campaign by the local newspaper, the San Bruno Herald, the community was incorporated in 1914, mainly so the streets could be paved. San Bruno grew rapidly, passing 1,500 residents by 1920 and 3,610 residents in 1930. Additional schools, including New Edgemont (later renamed Decima Allen) and Crystal Springs, were built during the 1930s.
In 1930, the El Camino Theater opened at the corner of El Camino Real and San Mateo Avenue. The popular theater, wired for sound, replaced the earlier Melody Theater, which had presented silent films. The El Camino showed double features, cartoons, short comedies, adventure serials, and newsreels throughout its history, including summer Wednesday matinees for children. Normally, films changed every week, but in 1958 Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments ran for two weeks to packed audiences. The theater closed in the early 1970s when a four-screen movie theater opened in the Tanforan shopping center. The building was remodeled and currently houses several businesses.
Following World War II, there was continued growth and new subdivisions in Mills Park, Rollingwood, and Crestmoor. Prior to 1950, San Bruno's high school students attended San Mateo High School (opened in 1902) and then Burlingame High School (opened in 1923), traveling to and from school on the street cars that ran next to the Southern Pacific railroad. Finally, on September 11, 1950, Capuchino High School opened in San Bruno. After years of using Green Hall as a multi-purpose building, the city dedicated a library and city hall in 1954. That same year saw the dedication of the current central terminal at the airport, part of a major expansion program. A central fire station was later built next to the city hall; an additional station was built in Crestmoor.
In 1953, San Bruno annexed the adjoining unincorporated community of Lomita Park, bounded by San Felipe Avenue, El Camino Real, San Juan Avenue, and the railroad tracks. Until the annexation, Lomita Park had its own Southern Pacific train station and some community services.
Parkside Intermediate School was opened in 1954, followed by additional elementary schools: Rollingwood, Crestmoor, John Muir, and Carl Sandburg. A second intermediate school, Engvall, was built in Crestmoor Canyon, only to be closed, along with Sandburg, when enrollment fell. These were all part of the San Bruno Park School District. Students in northwestern San Bruno were included in the Laguna Salada district.
San Bruno considered new annexations in the mid-1950s that would have extended the city limits to the Pacific Ocean. The unincorporated communities west of San Bruno decided they did not want to become part of San Bruno, so they incorporated in 1957 as the city of Pacifica.
The March 22, 1957, earthquake (5.3 magnitude) caused minor damage throughout the city, especially in some of the schools, where windows were broken and plaster cracked. Numerous cans and bottles were knocked off shelves at local stores, some of which were closed temporarily. Many residents reported damage to crockery.
Crestmoor High School opened in September 1962, but was closed in June 1980 due to a decline in school enrollment. The city has a two-year junior college, Skyline College.
A major landmark in San Bruno for many years was the Tanforan racetrack, which opened in 1899. Such famous racehorses as Seabiscuit and Citation raced there. Famed Hollywood director Frank Capra filmed scenes for two of his films, Broadway Bill and Riding High, at the racetrack. The track closed in 1964 and was about to be demolished when it was destroyed in a major fire on July 31, 1964. The city's only shopping mall was later built on the site; surrounding city streets were named for some of the racehorses who appeared at Tanforan.
During the late 1960s, the I-280 (Junipero Serra Freeway) was built through San Bruno. The San Bruno Planning Commission reviewed and approved plans for two major shopping centers, Bayhill (located on the old U.S. Navy property between San Bruno Avenue and Sneath Lane) and Tanforan. With final approval by the San Bruno City Council, construction proceeded on these major retail developments. Prior to that most of the city's stores were located on San Mateo Avenue and El Camino Real.
The October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake (6.9 magnitude) caused some damage in the city. The U.S. Postal Service's Western Regional headquarters, then the tallest building in San Bruno, had to be demolished due to severe structural damage. The world headquarters for The Gap clothing company is now the tallest building in the city. For more details, see Loma Prieta earthquake.
San Bruno finally acquired its own BART station when the high-speed rail system was extended to Millbrae and the San Francisco International Airport.
[edit] Trivia
San Bruno is one of only two cities in the Bay Area that manages its own cable TV and internet system. San Bruno Cable
The city was the site of the crash of Flying Tiger Line Flight 282 on December 23, 1964.
Singer/songrwriter Timothy Daniel moved to San Bruno in the spring of 2003 as an on-site computer repair specialist for CompUSA, playing guitar in small clubs and on streetcorners up and down the Peninsula. Several months later, his life would be wholly focused on his music career, a transformation documented in his song "California." Another song, "Marvel," specifically references San Bruno's pleasant climate, to wit, sunny and 72°.
Certain parts of the video game Silent Hill 2 are modeled after San Bruno.
Online video company YouTube is based in San Bruno.
San Francisco-based clothing retailer Gap, Inc. maintains a large corporate office facility in San Bruno.
Actress and businesswoman Suzanne Somers was raised in San Bruno.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau
- National Weather Service
- Army Corps of Engineers
- City of San Bruno website
- San Bruno Herald archives
- Eyewitness accounts by Robert E. Nylund, San Bruno resident from 1954 to 1985
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
