Atherton is an integrated city in San Mateo County, California, United States
Atherton is thought for its wealth; in 1990 and 2019, Atherton changed into ranked as having the highest in keeping with capita income among U.S. Cities with a populace among 2,500 and 9,999, and it is regularly ranked because of the maximum expensive ZIP Code within the United States.
In 1866, Atherton became called Fair Oaks and was a flag stop at the California Coast Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad among San Francisco and San Jose for the benefit of the owners of the massive estates who lived north of Menlo Park. 650 area code The whole vicinity turned into known as Menlo Park. It has been part of the Rancho de las Pulgas that had included most of the location, that is now southern San Mateo County. There were several attempts to incorporate Fair Oaks, one in 1874 and every other in 1911.
In 1923, Menlo Park wished to incorporate its lands to include the Fair Oaks lands.
During an assembly of the representatives of the two groups, it became clear to the Fair Oaks belongings proprietors that to preserve their community as a strictly residential place, they could comprise separately. Both businesses rushed to Sacramento; however, the Fair Oaks committee arrived first. It becomes at that point they realized that they couldn’t hold the name Fair Oaks, as it turned into already the name of a city near Sacramento. It changed into determined to honour Faxon Dean Atherton who had been one of the first belongings proprietors within the south peninsula and call the town for him. Atherton was incorporated on September 12, 1923. That identical year, in 1923, the Menlo Polo Club become founded in Atherton.
Faxon D. Atherton, a native of Massachusetts, had spent several years in Chile and Hawaii as a trader in tallow, hides and merchandise.
His pal and commercial enterprise companion, Thomas Lark, had written to him “there may be training available on your kids and a dignity of dwelling on landed estates down the San Francisco peninsula (that is) handy and available.” 650 area code Atherton bought 640 acres (2.6 km2) for ten dollars an acre ($2470/km2) in 1860. His domestic, Valparaíso Park, was built several years later. It turned into easy in design and adequate for his own family of 7 youngsters.
Because of the improvement of the railroad, different San Franciscans travelled south and mounted summer homes.
The dust roads had been normally impassable within the wintry weather, so the families were most effective in residence from May through September.
Thomas H. Selby bought 420 acres (1.7 km2). A hit businessman, he served as mayor of San Francisco. His you. S. Estate changed into referred to as “Almendral”. John T. Doyle, an attorney, built a home off Middlefield Road, “Ringwood”. James C. Flood purchased successive parcels and constructed an extravagant mansion, Linden Towers. This is now the community known as Lindenwood. The Joseph A. Donohoe property turned into Holmgrove and is now the site of Menlo-Atherton High School. James Thomas Watkins’ home was Fair Oaks and after moves, stands restored these days on Alejandra Avenue.
