City, San Mateo County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94027
One of the most prestigious addresses in
the Bay Area. Pretty, leafy (many trees), many large homes and a few mansions.
Trees and tall hedges hide the homes along the arterial streets. Population 7,475. www.mccormacks.com
No
stores and none allowed. No sidewalks, no street lamps and when the city
installed street reflectors the size of coasters, residents complained. Atherton
raises most of its revenues through the property tax, fees and state
subventions and a parcel tax that was renewed in 2005 — $750 a year for
the majority of homeowners.
Located in south county, a short drive
from Palo Alto and Stanford. The town starts in the flatlands then moves west
up the hills, until it reaches Highway 280.
Click for regional or detailed map
Although it’s adding homes here and
there, Atherton is essentially built out. The 1990 census counted 7,163
residents; the 2000 census, 7,194. In some years, only about three or four
homes are added to the housing stock.
Nonetheless,
there's a good deal of building, in the form of remodelings and expansions.
Atherton limits home sizes to 8,000 square feet above ground. Many homeowners
are digging out large basements to get more space.
The
state in 2008 tallied 2,560 residential units — 2,521 single homes, or 98
percent of total, 32 single-family attached, 7 multiple units and no mobile
homes. Luxury homes in the flats, luxury homes in hills. Lot sizes are one-acre
minimum. Many are larger. www.mccormacks.com
Median
age of residents is 45. Children and teens under 18 make up 24 percent of town;
people over 55 years, 33 percent. Fair number of kids but lots of grannies and
grandpas.
A
town where the kiddies will get to know each other. The 2000 census counted
only 371 under the age of five.
One
of the wealthiest communities in the Bay Area, according to census. More cars,
5,680, than adults, 5,500, reported 2000 census.
When
Google went public and created instant millionaires this set off a bidding war,
local newspapers reported, for the few Atherton homes on the market.
Named
after Faxon Atherton, rich hide-and-tallow trader from Chile who bought over
600 acres and built the first south-county mansion. Son George married Gertrude
Franklin who, as Gertrude Atherton, became a famous novelist. www.mccormacks.com
Other
estates followed, at least one from a Bonanza king (Flood), and over the years
they were broken into large lots for modestly luxurious homes, many of ranch
design. Influenced by Hillsborough, wishing to protect property values and
privacy, Atherton incorporated in 1923 and adopted tough zoning codes.
Residents shop in Menlo Park, Redwood City, Palo Alto.
Bay
view from hills. Good commute to Stanford, Silicon Valley. Long haul to San
Francisco. But if one freeway is jammed, there’s another to try. Caltrain to
City or to Silicon Valley but in 2005, to the anger of local residents, the
Atherton station was closed. Not enough Atherton riders and we're short of
money, said the train authorities. For train commuters, try Redwood City or San
Mateo stations. Dumbarton Bridge close by.
One
park but probably plenty to do. Homes are little rec centers: tennis courts,
pools. Private clubs, including a large country club that specializes in horses
and trains the kids in equestrian events. Private high school-two-year college
(Menlo).
School
rankings among tops in state — no surprise, often the top 3 percent. Kids
attend schools in Menlo Park and Las Lomitas elementary districts. Voters in
both elementary districts have passed bonds to renovate the schools and equip
them for high tech and passed parcel taxes to maintain the quality of
instructional programs and increase the pay of teachers.
Teens
usually attend Menlo-Atherton High in Sequoia Union High district. In school
rankings, Menlo-Atherton lands in 80th percentile, top 20 percent in state. See Schools. www.mccormacks.com
The
school draws students from demographically diverse towns and neighborhoods and
this affects scores. But Menlo-Atherton, through its prep program, graduates
many students into the top colleges. Bonds were passed in 1996, 2001 and 2004
to renovate all the schools in the Sequoia district and equip them for high-tech
uses.
Several
private schools in town. About half the kids attend private schools, census
revealed.
Crime
rate low. City has own police department. Zero homicides between 2005 and 1997,
one in 1996. Caretaker killed. Suspect arrested. This was Atherton's first
homicide in 49 years. See Crime.
Cops
respond to every call. One woman called the cops when she found a discarded
7-11 cup in her driveway. She wanted the cops to send it to the FBI lab so the
litterbug could be identified. Cops took the cup and let it go at that.
On
other occasions, the cops have supplied ear plugs when residents complained
about construction noise, picked up newspapers for vacationing residents and
rounded up two miniature horses that slipped out of a corral. Many residents
leave extra keys with the cops in case they need to get into a home to check
something. www.mccormacks.com
While
this stuff raises smiles, it also pleases residents and reflects community
values (zero tolerance for crime).
•
Council wants to replace city hall with a modern structure.
•
Town roiled in 2006 over accusations that building department failed to collect
$144,000 in fees for basement
excavations. Some people apparently upset about restrictions on laying in
basements under secondary buildings, such as guest houses.
•
Menlo-Atherton High School wants to build a performing arts center. Neighbors
concerned that it might bring in more people who would make noise at night. On
behalf of neighbors, city sued school district, saying it wants more information
on parking, traffic and noise. Some parents upset with city. Suit may delay
construction of center.
• To even out enrollments, Menlo Park
elementary district may change attendance boundaries at some schools. www.mccormacks.com
• Hoo-hah
of 2007. Someone stole 150 bottles of wine from an Atherton wine cellar. Expensive
wine, average bottle, $3,000. No signs of forced entry. Suspects arrested.
Media had field day with this story. One bottle was worth $4,000 to $6,000.
City
web site: www.ci.atherton.ca.us
