San Carlos Real Estate Guide
A Brief History of San Carlos: How It Became “The City of Good Living”
From a Spanish land grant to a railroad town to a century-old city, marking its 2025 centennial
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1795 Rancho de las Pulgas Land Grant |
1908 Frank Howard Founds the City |
July 8, 1925 Officially Incorporated |
2025 Centennial Year |
San Carlos just marked its 100th year as an incorporated city, and the story behind its motto, “The City of Good Living,” goes back further than most residents realize, through a Spanish land grant, a Peninsula railroad, and two men whose names are still stamped across the city’s streets and institutions today.
Before It Was San Carlos
Long before subdivisions and Caltrain, the land that would become San Carlos was part of Rancho de las Pulgas, a vast Spanish land grant given to José Darío Argüello in 1795. For decades, the area remained largely agricultural and undeveloped, its future shaped by a single infrastructure decision still to come.
The Railroad Changes Everything
In 1863, the Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks connecting San Francisco to San Jose directly through the future site of San Carlos, and that single line reshaped the entire Peninsula. Daily commuting into San Francisco suddenly became realistic, drawing residents who wanted a quieter, more spacious alternative to the city. Decades later, the San Carlos train station itself was built with the help of an unlikely benefactor: Leland Stanford supplied excess sandstone left over from Stanford University’s construction in the late 1880s.
The Two Men Who Built the City
Frank S. Howard and Frederick Drake
In 1908, developer Frank S. Howard purchased a significant parcel of land from the Brittan family, descendants of the original Rancho de las Pulgas grantees, with a specific vision: a meticulously planned, family-friendly community within a comfortable train ride of San Francisco. That vision became San Carlos’s founding identity. A decade later, Frederick Drake, still remembered today as “the Father of San Carlos,” took over the San Carlos Park Syndicate in 1917 and handled the unglamorous work that actually made the city livable, paving streets and running water, gas, and electricity to individual lots.
Incorporation and a Century of Growth
San Carlos was officially incorporated on July 8, 1925, and the city celebrated its full centennial throughout 2025 with historical markers placed around town and a series of commemorative events. What started as a planned railroad suburb has grown into a city of roughly 30,000 residents that consistently ranks among the strongest small cities on the Peninsula for schools and overall quality of life.
San Carlos Was Silicon Valley Before Silicon Valley
Long before the term “Silicon Valley” existed, San Carlos was home to genuine electronics pioneers. Eimac, founded by radio amateurs Jack McCullough and Bill Eitel, developed transmitter tubes in 1932 that were later used throughout the WWII defense industry. Ampex, founded by Alexander M. Poniatoff, developed magnetic tape and recording technology here as well, laying groundwork for the region’s later reputation as a technology hub.
Notable Names Tied to San Carlos
| Stanley Hiller Jr., founder of Hiller Aircraft, whose legacy lives on in the Hiller Aviation Museum, still one of San Carlos’s main attractions today |
| Kathryn Bigelow, a San Carlos native who became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director |
| Dana Carvey, the comedian and Saturday Night Live star, who grew up in San Carlos and attended Tierra Linda School |
Key Takeaway
“The City of Good Living” wasn’t a marketing slogan invented later. It was the founding vision of the people who built San Carlos street by street, and a century later, it’s still the reputation the city carries.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was San Carlos founded?
Frank S. Howard began developing the land in 1908, and the city was officially incorporated on July 8, 1925.
Where does the “City of Good Living” motto come from?
It traces back to founder Frank Howard’s original vision for a planned, family-friendly railroad suburb.
Did San Carlos really celebrate its 100th birthday recently?
Yes, 2025 marked the city’s full centennial, with historical markers and events held throughout the year.
What is the Hiller Aviation Museum’s connection to San Carlos history?
It was founded by Stanley Hiller Jr., whose helicopter company was once the region’s largest employer.
| Related Reading | |
| Things to Do in San Carlos: A Local’s Guide | See where this history comes alive today, from the Hiller Museum to Burton Park. |
| Why San Carlos Keeps Showing Up on “Best Place to Live” Lists | See how that founding vision translates into today’s rankings. |
| Oak Park Neighborhood Guide | Explore one of the neighborhoods where that early architecture still stands. |
| San Carlos Homes for Sale | Browse current listings across this century-old city. |
Curious What “Good Living” Looks Like Today?
I’d love to show you around the city I know and work in every day.
Holly Noto | Coldwell Banker Realty | DRE#01244498, DRE#01908304
580 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070
650.544.6185 | [email protected]
Historical details sourced from the City of San Carlos, the San Carlos History Museum, and public historical reporting. This content is for general informational purposes only.
