SafekipediaSan Bruno, California
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. It became an official city in 1914. In 2020, the city had a population of 43,908 people.
The city is located between South San Francisco and Millbrae. It is very close to San Francisco International Airport and the Golden Gate National Cemetery. San Bruno is about 12 miles south of Downtown San Francisco. Its name comes from the Spanish words for "St. Bruno."
Geography
San Bruno is a city between South San Francisco and Millbrae. It is close to San Francisco International Airport on the east and Golden Gate National Cemetery to the northwest. The city is about 12 miles south of Downtown San Francisco.
The city covers an area of 5.5 square miles, all of it land. It stretches from flat areas near San Francisco Bay up into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some parts rise over 600 feet above sea level. San Bruno City Hall is 41 feet above sea level. Some neighborhoods like Mills Park and Crestmoor are very hilly with canyons and ravines. Creeks flow from the hills toward the bay. Nearby San Andreas Lake is an important water reservoir for the area.
Climate
San Bruno has a mild Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The temperatures in San Bruno are usually milder than in most parts of California. Because of this, the climate feels similar to an oceanic climate.
The coldest month is January, with average daytime temperatures around 55.9 °F (13.3 °C) and nighttime temperatures around 42.9 °F (6.1 °C). Freezing temperatures are rare. The warmest month is September, with average daytime temperatures around 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) and nighttime temperatures around 55.1 °F (12.8 °C). Very hot temperatures are rare.
Thunderstorms are common in the winter but usually short. Most of the rain falls between November and April.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, San Bruno had 43,908 people. Most people lived in homes, and many families with children under 18 lived in the city.
2023 ACS estimates
In 2023, many people in San Bruno were born in other countries. Most adults had finished high school, and many had gone to college. The city had a good amount of money to spend on average.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census showed that San Bruno had 41,114 people. Many different groups of people lived there, including many White, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino people. Families were common, and many people lived in homes they owned.
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 14,822 | 33.8% |
| Black or African American | 771 | 1.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 458 | 1.0% |
| Asian | 14,148 | 32.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 1,156 | 2.6% |
| Some other race | 6,479 | 14.8% |
| Two or more races | 6,074 | 13.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 12,282 | 28.0% |
|
Politics
The current mayor of San Bruno is Rico E. Medina. He started his role on December 12, 2017. Before him, Jim Ruane was mayor from 2009 until 2017. Before Jim Ruane, Larry Franzella was mayor from 1999 to 2009. Bob Marshall, known as "Mr. San Bruno", was mayor from 1980 to 1992. San Bruno is one of the few cities in San Mateo County with a mayor that people elect directly.
San Bruno is part of the California State Legislature. It is in the 13th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Josh Becker. It is also split between the 21st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Diane Papan, and the 19th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Catherine Stefani.
In the United States House of Representatives, San Bruno is in California's 15th congressional district, represented by Democrat Kevin Mullin.
As of February 10, 2019, San Bruno had 22,808 registered voters. Most of them, 11,856, were registered Democrats. About 3,051 were registered Republicans, and 6,993 chose not to state a political party declined to state.
Parks
San Bruno City Park is the largest park in the city. It has shaded walkways, hiking trails, picnic tables, a playground, pickleball and tennis courts, a small ballpark, and two swimming pools—one indoors and one outdoors. There is also a recreation center with a basketball court, meeting areas, and a gym.
Junipero Serra County Park is a 100-acre park owned by San Mateo County. It has many hiking trails, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, and picnic tables. This park was named after Junípero Serra, a Franciscan friar who helped establish missions in California. The park charges a fee for cars entering from Crystal Springs Road, but there are two places to enter on foot—one from San Bruno City Park and another from Helen Drive.
Education
San Bruno has schools run by the San Bruno Park School District. This district has four elementary schools and one intermediate school.
The San Mateo Union High School District also serves the city. Most high school students go to Capuchino High School because the other high school, Crestmoor High School, closed in 1980. The city's main library is part of the Peninsula Library System. There is also a community college called Skyline College in San Bruno.
History
Early years
San Bruno was home to the Ohlone village called Urebure. In 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà visited the area. Later, Bruno de Heceta explored more and named San Bruno Creek after St. Bruno of Cologne. This creek gave the community its name.
As the nearby mission San Francisco de Asís grew, the land became pasture for its animals. After the mission declined, the area became part of Rancho Buri Buri, granted to José de la Cruz Sánchez. After he passed away, his family sold parts of the land. Dairy farms became common there.
The city started as Clarks's Station, a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route. It had an inn built in 1849, later called Uncle Tom's Cabin. The railroad came to San Bruno in the 1860s, and a post office opened in 1875.
20th century
Growth began after the 1906 earthquake. The first public school opened in 1906, and more schools followed. The San Francisco International Airport opened in 1927. The city officially became a city in 1914.
In 1942, during World War II, the local racetrack was used to temporarily house people of Japanese ancestry. The El Camino Theater opened in 1930 and was popular until the 1970s.
Capuchino High School opened in 1950. Actress Suzanne Somers was born in San Bruno in 1946 and graduated from the high school in 1964.
An earthquake in 1957 caused minor damage. In the 1960s, new highways were built through the city, and major shopping centers were developed.
21st century
The San Bruno BART station opened in 2003.
In 2007, YouTube moved its headquarters to San Bruno, where it became the city's largest employer.
During World War II, the United States Navy used part of San Bruno as a base. After the war, the federal government kept part of the land for the National Archives, while the rest was sold for apartment buildings.
Economy
Top employers
San Bruno has many jobs that help the city run. The top employers were listed in a report from 2025.
| Rank | Employer | No. of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YouTube | 2,535 |
| 2 | Walmart Global eCommerce | 2,165 |
| 3 | Skyline College | 549 |
| 4 | Artichoke Joe's | 448 |
| 5 | City of San Bruno | 279.5 |
| 6 | San Bruno Park School District | 234 |
| 7 | Target | 175 |
| 8 | Lowe's | 170 |
| 9 | Capuchino High School | 132 |
| 10 | Church of the Highlands | 92 |
Transportation
Roads
Interstate 280 goes through San Bruno and connects with U.S. Route 101. Interstate 380 is inside the city and links to the northern part of San Bruno. The town is divided by California State Route 82.
Public transit
SamTrans runs bus services in San Bruno. Caltrain offers commuter rail, and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has Red and Yellow lines that stop in San Bruno.
Both the San Bruno Caltrain and BART stations are near the Shops at Tanforan. The BART station is right next to the shopping mall and a place to switch to SamTrans buses, which go between Daly City and Palo Alto. The Caltrain station is about 1 kilometer south along Huntington Avenue.
Air transport
San Bruno is next to San Francisco International Airport, which you can reach using BART or U.S. Route 101. Other big airports like Oakland and San Jose can also be reached from San Bruno using BART and Caltrain services.
Notable people
San Bruno has been home to many interesting people. Some of them are Spero Anargyros, a sculptor, and Wally Bunker, a baseball player. Others include Emma Chamberlain, an internet personality, and Neal Dahlen, a football administrator.
The city also was home to Luana DeVol, a soprano, and Keith Hernandez, another baseball player. Nelson Holderman received the WWI Medal of Honor, and Ky Hollenbeck is known for kickboxing. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan was a musician, and The Mummies were a garage punk band. Ruggiero Ricci was a violinist, Suzanne Somers was an actress, and Romaine Welds is famous for visiting every country in the world and lives in San Bruno.
Sister cities
San Bruno has a sister city relationship with Narita in Japan. This means the two cities work together and share friendship and culture.
Images
Related articles
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