Burlingame, California - San Francisco Burlingame

Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. An early suburb of San Francisco, the city is named after diplomat Anson Burlingame. Beginning in the 1960s its proximity to the San Francisco International Airport generated airline support services growth and an increase in population. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Burlingame had a population of 28,806.

History

Burlingame is on the Mexican land grant Rancho San Mateo given by Governor Pio Pico to his secretary, Cayetano Arena in 1845. Cayetano soon sold the land to San Francisco-based merchant William Davis Merry Howard. Howard retired to live on the rancho for the remaining eight years of his life. Howard planted many eucalyptus trees on his property.

Howard's early death in 1856 led to the sale of most of the land to William C. Ralston, a prominent banker. In 1866, Anson Burlingame, the US Minister to China visited Ralston, and by the time he left he was the owner of 1,043 acres (4 km²) of land. In 1868, Ralston named the settlement after his friend, Anson Burlingame. However, Burlingame would not come back to the area again because on a visit to Russia in 1870, Burlingame died. With his death the land reverted to Ralston.

Ralston had plans for the area which he called “Ralstonville”, but he died in 1875 without many of his plans being realized. The land then passed to Ralston's business partner Senator William Sharon. Sharon died in 1885, and Sharon's son-in-law, Francis G. Newlands, became executor of Sharon’s estate. Newlands had grand plans of his own. His vision was to build estates that surrounded a country club, similar to the development he helped create in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The Burlingame Country Club was organized in 1893.

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many people looking to escape the hardships of a city in ruins flocked south. Hundreds of lots in Burlingame were sold in 1906 and 1907. Just two years after the quake, the town of Burlingame was incorporated June 6, 1908. By 1910, the neighboring town of Easton, on the former Rancho Buri Buri, was annexed and became part of Burlingame as well.

City of Trees

Burlingame is known as the "City of Trees" due to the number of trees within the city (18,000 public trees). In 1908, the Burlingame board of trustees passed an ordinance "prohibiting cutting, injuring, or destroying trees". Most residential properties have trees owned and protected by the city on their public right of way. In addition the city has many parks and Eucalyptus groves that add to the overall tree numbers. The Eucalyptus groves are west of the city on Interstate 280 and grow along many city streets, such as the heritage Jules Francard Grove along the Caltrain tracks north of Burlingame Avenue, following El Camino Real, and along other smaller local streets. Washington Park, with Burlingame Avenue at its southern edge, Burlingame High School at its northern edge, and the Caltrain line at its western edge is the oldest park in Burlingame. It was originally part of the estate of millionaire cigar retailer Moses A. Gunst, and some of the existing large trees within the park were part of this estate.

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Transportation

Highways

There are four highways passing through Burlingame. Highway 101 runs near the bay, coming from San Jose and going to San Francisco. Highway 82, also known as El Camino Real, follows a parallel course. Highway 35 connects with Interstate 280.

Caltrain

Caltrain has been serving Burlingame since 1985 when it bought out Southern Pacific. It used the same depot that was used in the early 1900s. It was labeled Burlingame, for the country club. In the early 2000s, Caltrain reduced the service at the station on Broadway from a daily basis to weekend-only service.

BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit has its final stop in Millbrae, just north of Burlingame. BART's tracks are within Burlingame city limits.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km²). 4.4 square miles (11 km²) of it is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it (27.25%) is water.

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Burlingame has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Burlingame had a population of 28,806. The population density was 4,756.2 people per square mile (1,836.4/km²). The racial makeup of Burlingame was 19,510 (67.7%) White, 360 (1.2%) African American, 74 (0.3%) Native American, 5,841 (20.3%) Asian, 139 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 1,451 (5.0%) from other races, and 1,431 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,966 persons (13.8%).

The Census reported that 28,357 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 155 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 294 (1.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 12,361 households, out of which 3,640 (29.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,735 (46.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,039 (8.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 409 (3.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 627 (5.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 101 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,276 households (34.6%) were made up of individuals and 1,201 (9.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29. There were 7,183 families (58.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.02.

The population was spread out with 6,256 people (21.7%) under the age of 18, 1,496 people (5.2%) aged 18 to 24, 8,872 people (30.8%) aged 25 to 44, 8,136 people (28.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,046 people (14.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

There were 13,027 housing units at an average density of 2,150.9 per square mile (830.5/km²), of which 5,821 (47.1%) were owner-occupied, and 6,540 (52.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 15,345 people (53.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,012 people (45.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the U.S Census of 2000, there were 27,363 people and 25,577 households residing in the city. There were 11,615 housing units with 5,389 owner-occupied homes costing at a median value of $1,000,000+.

There were 12,511 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.93. The age distribution is: 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

According to a 2009 estimate, the median income for a household was $92,295, and the median income for a family was $113,440. The per capita income for the city was $46,573. About 3% of families and 6% of the population were below the poverty line.

Neighborhoods

Government

In the California State Legislature, Burlingame is in the 13th Senate District, represented by Democrat Jerry Hill, and in the 22nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Kevin Mullin.

In the United States House of Representatives, Burlingame is in California's 14th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jackie Speier.

Economy

In the 1920s Burlingame became a location for automobile retailers. In 1958 Burlingame annexed the area including Burlingame Plaza and Mills Peninsula Hospital. Due to the proximity to San Francisco International Airport and a population increase beginning in the 1960s, various airline support service businesses opened in Burlingame. As of 2002, most of the businesses in the Rollins Road industrial area serve the airline industry due to the proximity to San Francisco International Airport; the Rollins Road area also has car service businesses.

Mills Peninsula Health Services, the largest employer in Burlingame, employs around 2,500 people. LSG/Sky Chefs, Inc., the eighth-largest employer in terms of Burlingame operations, has around 281 people employed there. Guittard Chocolate Company is headquartered in Burlingame; as the city's 10th largest employer it has around 210 employees. Virgin America's headquarters are located in Suite 450 at Bay Park Plaza II in Burlingame; as the 13th largest employer, Virgin America has around 200 employees at its headquarters.

The online discount brokerage Zecco.com operates one of two California offices in Burlingame. The United States division of Natsume, a video game company, is headquartered in Burlingame. China Airlines operates the San Francisco Branch Office (Chinese: 舊é‡'山分公司 JiùjÄ«nshān FÄ"ngōngsÄ«'') in Burlingame. The Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), the company made famous by the baseball steroid scandal, was headquartered in Burlingame. In previous eras All Nippon Airways located its San Francisco Office in Burlingame.

Top employers

According to the City's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Education

Preschools

There are nineteen preschools in Burlingame. They are A Child's Way, Palcare, Stepping Stone, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Bridge Point Academy, Burlingame Montessori, St. Paul's Co-Op Nursery School, Learning Links, Morning Glory Montessori, Sunshine Family Child Care, United Methodist Co-Op Nursery School: Toddler Room, Kiddie Lab, First Presbyterian School, and Tout About Toys.

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

San Mateo Union High School District operates local high schools while the Burlingame School District operates elementary and middle schools.

Burlingame High School is the city's sole public high school. Burlingame Intermediate School is Burlingame's sole public middle school. There are five public elementary schools serving Burlingame. They are Franklin Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, and Washington Elementary. According to the 2009 Base Academic Performance Index (API) Scores from the California Department of Education, the Burlingame School District ranks among the best in the state, with 4 out of their 5 public elementary schools (Roosevelt Elementary, Washington Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Lincoln Elementary) scoring well between 880-925, and with ratings of 9 or 10. Burlingame school district enrollment has continually been increasing as young families move to the city. The city has passed two bond measures to add new facilities to fit all the new enrollment with new buildings added to Lincoln, McKinley and BIS. There are still students in portable classrooms so, the school district also has purchased and is renovating the Hoover School, which was built in 1931 and needed modernization. However, some of the neighbors are attempting to stop the school opening with a lawsuit.

Private Schools

Mercy High School is the only private Catholic all-girls high school in Burlingame. It was founded in 1931 by the Sisters of Mercy. The School itself is located in the prestigious Kohl Mansion which is a Historic Landmark. Also Our Lady of Angels School and St. Catherine of Siena School are located in Burlingame. In 1921, the silent version of the film Little Lord Fauntleroy, with Mary Pickford, was filmed in the Kohl Mansion.

Public libraries

Burlingame Library is located in Burlingame. It was established by city ordinance October 11, 1909. Following the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 the City approved a bond issue to reconstruct the library. The architecture has won awards and was featured in Library Journal as well as earning a cover story in American Libraries. There is a secondary location on Easton Drive, which is substantially smaller than the main branch. Both are operated by the Peninsula Library System, the library authority for the county.

Points of interest

• Burlingame was the location of the Center for Libertarian Studies
• Burlingame is home to many candy and chocolate companies. There is the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, Guittard Chocolate, the See's Candies lollipop factory, and family owned candy stores Powell's, Aida's Chocolates, and Nuts for Candy.
• The Army ship USAT General Frank M. Coxe was preserved as The Sherman, a floating restaurant, just south of San Francisco International Airport, but is now closed.
• Burlingame Avenue and Broadway Avenue, two streets running parallel to each other about one mile apart, are two of the city's main retail districts.
• Gallerie Citi exhibits painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media by mid-career and established Northern Ca artists. Art on the Peninsula in downtown Burlingame.

Notable residents

• Dianna Agron, actress from Glee
• Bill Amend, author of the comic strip FoxTrot, attended Burlingame High School
• California artist Percy Gray lived in Burlingame from 1912 to 1923
• Hannah Hart, comedian and YouTuber, was raised in Burlingame
• Charles S. Howard, owner of Seabiscuit, owned a home in Burlingame
• Shirley Jackson, author, whose The Road Through the Wall is set in Burlingame
• Jung-Ho Pak, orchestra conductor, was born in Burlingame
• George Kelly, baseball player nicknamed "Highpockets," lived and died in Burlingame
• Tamora Pierce, best-selling children's author, attended Burlingame Intermediate School
• Leonard Read, founder of the Foundation for Economic Education, lived in Burlingame
• Brad Schreiber, author and TV writer-producer, attended Burlingame High School and lived in mayor's mansion at 238 Myrtle Road
• Marc Benioff, Founder & CEO of Salesforce.com, attended Burlingame High School

In popular culture

• In The Maltese Falcon, Spade rushes to 26 Ancho Street in Burlingame to rescue Brigid O'Shaughnessy.
• Scenes from the film Dangerous Minds were filmed on the campus of Burlingame High School in the spring of 1994.
• Burlingame is home to the historic Kohl Mansion, where the movie Flubber was filmed.
• In James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series, San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt lives in Burlingame.
• Leo Wyatt, character from the series Charmed, was born in Burlingame

Sound barriers

Burlingame enacted one of the first comprehensive noise elements of the General Plan in the nation. Burlingame also has sound barriers along many of its residential neighborhoods bordering Highway 101. A sound barrier along the neighborhoods bordering 280 has yet to be installed.