Overview

This former lumber town, located exactly halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, has a long history as an important port city for the peninsula. The towering redwoods that rise above the Woodside area gave the city its name and also provided early industry, as lumber was cut and shipped to San Francisco via the deepwater port formed by the Redwood Creek. The port also gave rise to a local shipbuilding industry that thrived until 1883. The only deepwater port on South Bay, it remains a busy commercial port and yacht basin. Despite a relatively small population of 76,000, Redwood City offers an intriguing mix of cultures and is known for its diversity, with Hispanics making up about a quarter of the community. Because of this international influence, the streets are lined with interesting shops and authentic Mexican eateries. The downtown area has expanded and modernized to meet the needs of industrial and high-tech companies locating in the area, but has managed to maintain its sense of history and small-town charm. Redwood City has been the training camp location for the San Francisco 49ers, and home to lifetime achievement Grammy winner John Lee Hooker and Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban.

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