San Mateo is a friendly city on the San Francisco Peninsula in California. About 105,000 people live there. The name “San Mateo” means “Saint Matthew” in Spanish. It was named by Spanish explorers a long time ago. San Mateo is a great place for families, with beautiful parks, fun places to play, and a train that connects it to other Bay Area cities.
Central Park is the most popular park in San Mateo. It has a playground, a rose garden, and even a small train that kids can ride! The San Mateo Japanese Garden is inside Central Park and has a peaceful pond with koi fish. If you like being near the water, Coyote Point Recreation Area is right on the bay with a beach, picnic spots, and CuriOdyssey, a science and wildlife center where you can meet animals up close.
The Ohlone people lived in the San Mateo area for thousands of years before Spanish explorers arrived. In 1776, Spanish settlers built a shelter near a creek and named the area “San Mateo.” The city grew slowly as a farming community. When the railroad came in the 1860s, wealthy families from San Francisco built big mansions in San Mateo because of its sunny weather. The city was officially founded in 1894.
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