Dating back to 1840, Half Moon Bay is the oldest town in San Mateo County. Traces of its past are visible in the many historic buildings as you explore Main, Purissima, and Johnston Streets "downtown". Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1) on the Coast, and Highway 92 over the mountains follow original Indian trails of the Costanoan Indians who lived here for hundreds of years. The Coastside was the first part of the Peninsula discovered by foreign explorers. During 1776, the year the United States was formed, Captain Gaspar de Portola founded San Francisco's Mission Dolores, and within a short time, the Coastside became the grazing land for mission cattle, horses, and oxen. More than 200 years later, much of the land is still used for grazing livestock.
In the 1840's, land grants were deeded to early Spanish settlers. The Dons came to live on their grants during the Mexican War. Later, Mexican and Chilean laborers settled here, and the village was dubbed Spanishtown. The first small Catholic chapel (no longer standing) was built in Pilarcitos Cemetery, which is visible from Highway 92 just east of Main Street. In 1874, Spanishtown officially became known as Half Moon Bay. The city of Half Moon Bay was incorporated in 1959.
In the late 1800's the area's character was again altered by the arrival of Canadians, Chinese, English, Germans, Irish, Italians, Scots, Portuguese, and Pacific Islanders. With the diverse representation of cultures, the Coastside became a prime example of the American melting pot.
Half Moon Bay was a thriving community in the late 1800s. The historic business district still shows signs of what downtown was like in those days.
To the south of Half Moon Bay there were stagecoach stops at Purissima, Lobitas, and San Gregorio. To the north, there were wharves at Miramar known as Amesport Landing and at Pillar Point for shipping.
The 20th century brought dramatic changes. The 1906 earthquake destroyed the last of the Spanish adobes, although wooden structures still remain. Another turning point was the construction of the Ocean Shore Railway. In 1908, the Railroad hugged the shoreline from San Francisco to Tunitas Glen. Passengers marveled at the stretches of sandy beaches perfect for picnics, kite flying, horseback riding, and exploring. Due to financial problems and the increasing popularity of the horseless carriage, the railroad ceased operation in 1920.
The Coastside came alive again during Prohibition. With hidden ocean coves and thick fog for cover, the setting was ideal for rumrunners from Canada.
From the 1920's to the present, growth has been slow but steady. Present day "explorers" of the Coastside will still see original farms dating back to the 1800's as well as miles of deserted white sandy beaches, redwood forests, beautiful state parks, fields of wild flowers, and hiking and biking trails along ocean bluffs and mountain ridges as far as the eye can see.
|
