Editing San Mateo, California (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Zeppelin-ride-020100925-130 (5028699547).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of [[Coyote Point Park]], directed northeast towards [[San Francisco Bay]] and the [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge|Bay Bridge]]]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|15.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|12.1|sqmi|km2}} are land and {{convert|3.8|sqmi|km2}}, comprising 23.63%, are covered by water.

The best-known natural area is [[Coyote Point Park]], a rock outcropped peninsula that juts out into the [[San Francisco Bay]]. The early Spanish navigators named it ''la punta de San Mateo.''<ref>Brown, 1975</ref> Crews of American cargo ships carrying grain in the bay renamed it ''Big Coyote''.<ref>(BLM, 1853).</ref> Sailors had a penchant for naming promontories at the edge of San Francisco Bay after the [[coyote]]; across the bay in Fremont are the Coyote Hills, part of [[Coyote Hills Regional Park]]. By the 1890s, the shore area was developed as a popular beach called San Mateo Beach. In 1842, the Spanish had named it ''playa de San Mateo''. Today, Coyote Point is home to [[CuriOdyssey]], formerly known as the Coyote Point Museum, a major [[natural history]] museum and wildlife center in the state. The animal care facility for the [[Peninsula Humane Society]] is also situated at Coyote Point, where the adoption facility is located in Burlingame.

[[File:Parkside Aquatic Park, San Mateo - 51792634076.jpg|thumb|right|Parkside Aquatic Park on [[Seal Slough|Marina Lagoon]]]]

The variety of natural habitats includes mixed [[oak]] woodland, [[riparian]] zones, and bayland marshes. One [[endangered species]], the [[California clapper rail]], was sighted feeding on mudflats by the Third Avenue bridge in San Mateo.<ref>Pfeifle, 1980</ref>  The marsh areas are also likely habitat for the endangered [[salt marsh harvest mouse]], which inhabits the middle and high zones of salt and [[brackish]] [[marsh]]es, as well as for the endangered marsh plant, [[Point Reyes bird's beak]].

Sugarloaf Mountain, whose name has been documented in 1870, is a prominent landform between the forks of Laurel Creek.<ref>(Brown, 1975)</ref> In the late 20th century, this mixed oak woodland and chaparral habitat was a site of controversy related to proposals to develop a portion of the mountain for residential use. It has been preserved for use as park and open space area, and is home to the endangered [[mission blue butterfly]].

[[Sawyer Camp Trail]], located on the western edge of San Mateo along the [[Crystal Springs Reservoir]], is another popular destination for joggers, pedestrians, and bikers. This roughly {{convert|6|mi|km|adj=on}} trail begins in San Mateo and stretches north toward Hillsborough and San Bruno, parallel to the 280 freeway.

===Neighborhoods===
[[File:Downtown San Mateo (263918695) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|"Main Street" alley in downtown]]

In general, San Mateo's downtown core and the neighborhoods east of [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] are more populous and have a greater density than the neighborhoods to the west of El Camino Real, where there is a lower population density.

====Downtown====
San Mateo has one of the larger, better-developed suburban downtowns in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. It is located roughly between Tilton Ave. to the northwest, 9th Ave. to the southeast, Delaware St. to the northeast and [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] to the southwest. The downtown core contains over 800 shops and restaurants, many located in historic buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The non-profit Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA) works on behalf of downtown businesses to promote them and improve the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Downtown San Mateo Association|url=https://www.smccvb.com/listing/downtown-san-mateo-association/2937/|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Smccvb.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

[[File:National Bank of San Mateo, 164 S. B St., San Mateo, CA 9-5-2011 2-54-48 PM.JPG|thumb|right|The historic National Bank of San Mateo, located in downtown]]

[[Central Park (San Mateo)|Central Park]] is considered to be San Mateo's signature park with a baseball field, tennis courts, sculptures, picnic areas, playground, Japanese tea garden, recreation center, miniature train, rose garden and the [[San Mateo Arboretum]]. The {{convert|16.3|acre|ha|adj=on}} property was purchased by the city in 1922.<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Park and Japanese Garden {{!}} San Mateo, CA - Official Website|url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3319/Central-Park-Japanese-Garden|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Cityofsanmateo.org}}</ref> A historically influential area for the Japanese-American community, the downtown is home to many Japanese restaurants and shops. A large, 12-screen movie theater complex is located off the Main Street alley between 2nd and 3rd Ave. The [[San Mateo Caltrain station]] is situated downtown. The area also contains many large and small multi-story office buildings, apartments, government buildings and Mills Medical Center.

Segments of South B Street between 1st and 3rd Ave. and the southbound lane between Baldwin and 1st Ave. were temporarily closed to vehicular traffic in 2020 to allow for expanded outdoor dining.<ref>{{cite web|title=Downtown B Street Closures {{!}} San Mateo, CA - Official Website|url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4448/Downtown-B-Street-Closures|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Cityofsanmateo.org}}</ref> The San Mateo City Council extended the temporary closure through the end of 2021 and voted in September 2021 to create a permanent pedestrian mall between 1st and 3rd Ave.<ref>{{cite web|last=staff|first=Curtis Driscoll Daily Journal|title=San Mateo OKs pedestrian malls|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-oks-pedestrian-malls/article_bfa585ce-1c23-11ec-b21d-c79caad1dc4c.html|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=San Mateo Daily Journal|language=en}}</ref> The plan requires a {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} fire lane in the center of the street for public safety vehicles and necessary garbage or delivery services. The city aims to conduct the project in two phases: First, by installing retractable bollards and updating traffic signals and signage, then by raising the level of the street to be flush with sidewalk and reimagining its landscaping.

====Bay Meadows====
[[File:Landing Green Park.jpg|thumb|left|Landing Green in [[Bay Meadows (neighborhood)|Bay Meadows]]]]

The Bay Meadows neighborhood is an {{convert|83|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Mixed-use development|mixed-use]] [[transit-oriented development]] on the site of the former [[Bay Meadows Racetrack]], a horse racing venue that closed in 2008.<ref>[https://abc7news.com/archive/6136106/ Bay Meadows closes its doors]. Abclocal.go.com (May 11, 2008). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref> The area includes hundreds of new residential units, office space, retail space and parks and a town square.<ref>Simmers, Tim. (November 3, 1934) [http://www.urbanhabitat.org/node/2480 Bay Meadows nears finish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202011451/http://www.urbanhabitat.org/node/2480 |date=December 2, 2008 }}. Urban Habitat. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref> Ground broke in 2012 and construction on various projects continues as of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bay Meadows Breaks Ground on Two Townhome Projects|url=https://www.enr.com/articles/10379-bay-meadows-breaks-ground-on-two-townhome-projects|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Enr.com|language=en}}</ref>

====Hillsdale====
[[Hillsdale Shopping Center]] is a mall in San Mateo County, featuring over 120 stores in the mall itself and surrounded by many big box stores. Tenants include anchors Nordstrom, Ethan Allen and Macy's. The construction of a new food court and the outdoor North Block Plaza expanded the mall in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=NORTH BLOCK|url=https://hillsdale.com/north-block/|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Hillsdale Shopping Center|language=en}}</ref> New entertainment additions include luxury movie theater [[Cinépolis]] and a Pinstripes bowling alley off [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]]. The [[Hillsdale Caltrain station]] is located across El Camino.