Demographics
San Mateo County is home to some of the most spectacular and varied geography in the United States. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay and includes redwood forests, rolling hills, farmland, tidal marshes, creeks and beaches. The County is known for its mild climate and scenic vistas.
No matter the starting point, a 20-minute drive can take a visitor to a vista point with a commanding view of the Bay or Pacific, to a mossy forest or to a shady park or preserve.
As of Jan. 1, 2010, San Mateo County was home to an estimated 754,285 residents, a slight increase over the prior year's estimated population. The vast majority – 687,038 – live in cities. The largest city is Daly City with 108,383 residents. The smallest is Colma with 1,637 residents.
San Mateo County is the 14th-most populous among California's 58 counties.
San Mateo County is among the most ethnically diverse in California. As of 2008, 34.2 percent of the population was born in a foreign country compared with 26.8 percent for California and 12.5 percent for the United States.
San Mateo County Race /Ethnic Distribution
