Redwood City | OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Introduction

Redwood City is a city of approximately 84,000 people located on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County, California. Situated about 27 miles south of San Francisco and 24 miles northwest of San Jose, it serves as the county seat of San Mateo County, meaning it is where the county’s government offices and courthouse are located. The city takes its name from the coast redwood trees that once covered the surrounding hills and were logged extensively during the 1800s. Today Redwood City is home to several major technology companies and is known for its lively downtown and mild year-round weather.

History

The Ohlone people inhabited the Redwood City area for thousands of years before Spanish explorers arrived in the late 1700s. During the California Gold Rush era of the 1850s, the area’s towering redwood forests became a valuable resource. Loggers felled the trees and shipped the lumber by boat to San Francisco, which was growing rapidly. The wood trade gave the settlement its name. Redwood City was incorporated in 1867, making it the first city in San Mateo County. In 1937, the city established its own Port Commission to manage the waterfront, and the Port of Redwood City has been active ever since.

Downtown and Landmarks

Downtown Redwood City centers on Broadway Street, a lively stretch of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues including a cinema and a performance theater. The most recognizable landmark is the old San Mateo County Courthouse, a grand Beaux-Arts building completed in 1910 with a striking stained-glass dome. The courthouse now houses the San Mateo County History Museum. Spanning Broadway are two arches displaying the city’s famous slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test,” installed in the mid-1990s to honor a motto the city has used since 1925.

The Port of Redwood City

The Port of Redwood City is the only deepwater port on San Francisco Bay south of San Francisco. Established in 1937, the port handles materials such as sand, gravel, cement, and scrap metal used in construction projects throughout the Bay Area. Unlike the massive container ports in Oakland, the Port of Redwood City specializes in bulk cargo. The port area also includes parks and trails along the bayfront where visitors can walk, bike, and watch shorebirds in the nearby salt marshes.

Technology and Economy

Like much of Silicon Valley, Redwood City has become an important center for the technology industry. Oracle, one of the world’s largest software companies, is headquartered in Redwood City. Electronic Arts (EA), the video game company behind popular titles like FIFA and The Sims, also has its headquarters there. Other well-known tech firms including Box and Informatica have offices in the city. The median household income in Redwood City is over $150,000, reflecting the area’s high-tech economy.

Climate and the Famous Slogan

Redwood City is known for its mild, pleasant weather. In 1925, the city’s Chamber of Commerce held a contest to create a slogan, and the winning entry became “Climate Best by Government Test.” The story behind the slogan is that a 1912 study by German meteorologists identified the area around Redwood City as having one of the three best climates in the world. While historians debate the details of that study, the slogan stuck and has been proudly displayed in the city for a century. Redwood City averages about 260 sunny days per year.

Fun Facts

Redwood City was the first city incorporated in San Mateo County, in 1867 — just 17 years after California became a state.
The old San Mateo County Courthouse, built in 1910, features a beautiful stained-glass dome and is now a history museum.
The city’s slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test,” has been in use for 100 years, since 1925.
Oracle, one of the largest technology companies in the world, is headquartered in Redwood City.
The Port of Redwood City is the only deepwater port on San Francisco Bay south of San Francisco.