City, San Mateo County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94014
Smallest
and least populated, by the living, city in San Mateo County. www.mccormacks.com
Famous
for its cemeteries. Colma is where San Francisco and other towns bury their
dead — so far over 1.5 million in number. Catholic, Chinese, Jewish,
Greek, Serbian, Japanese, Italian and pet cemeteries — all located within
hilly Colma. William Randolph Hearst and Wyatt Earp are buried here, the
latter, a Protestant, in the Jewish cemetery. His wife was Jewish. Also buried:
Tina Turner's dog, in Tina's fur coat, and a Hell's Angel leader with his
Harley.
In
2003, the BART line, which has a station in Colma, was extended to San
Francisco International Airport. The Colma station with its parking lot, 1,400
spaces, eases the commute for local residents.
Click for regional or detailed map
In
2004, Colma built 68 apartments near the BART station and for the first time in
decades substantially increased its population by 21 percent or 286 people.
Housing
construction is still going on close to the BART station, which is located just
outside city limits, in a small unincorporated pocket under the jurisdiction of
the county government. Another 128 apartments are in the works. These numbers,
however, will not show up in Colma housing stats.
Colma
has little space for new housing. www.mccormacks.com
The
state in 2008 counted 1,613 residents. Median age of residents is 37. Children
and teens under 18 make up 25 percent of town; people over 55 years, 23
percent. Rounded demographics.
For
housing (2008 figures): 460 units, of which 220 are single homes, 66 single
attached, 168 multiples and 6 mobile homes. Not a fancy town. Colma was built
for blue collars and is trying to stay affordable. Some of the new apartments
will be subsidized.
For
a while Colma was known as Sand Hill or Schoolhouse Station, then Lawndale.
Some credit current name to the fog and a lad who got off the train and
exclaimed, “Gee, it’s cold, ma!”
When
San Francisco went through its periodic reforms, sin moved just over the border
to Colma and Daly City. Gambling and dog racing flourished, elections were
rigged, prize fights staged. In 1909, in Colma, Jack Johnson knocked out
Stanley Ketchel. Booze flowed in Prohibition days.
Gradually,
Colma cleaned up its act, but after much argument Colma in 1990s said OK to a
43-table poker parlor that has become a big tax source for the city. Revenues
from the parlor and two shopping malls have been used to spruce up streets,
build a rec center, subsidize sports and activities and provide free cable to residents.
Golf course. Seniors center. Museum. www.mccormacks.com
Colma
took up cemeteries when San Francisco outlawed burials within its borders.
Local businesses tied in with cemeteries: stone cutters, florists. Commercial
zone has auto dealerships. Large shopping malls located in Daly City, next to
Colma city hall.
Zero
homicides between 1998 and 2005. In previous years one, zero, zero, zero. See Crime. Chamber of commerce
(650) 755-3900.
• City favors
revising a state law that prohibits bets over $200. The more money that passes
through the casino, the higher the tax revenue for Colma. In 2006, in a
symbolic vote of 215 to 17, residents asked the state to raise the limit.
• Poker
palace practices occasionally trip the local politicians. In 2007, a former
mayor pleaded guilty to accepting airplane tickets from the former owner of the
casino and not reporting the gifts on his income tax.
City
web site: www.colma.ca.gov
