With many majestic monuments, lighthouses, state parks and municipalities, Half Moon Bay's shoreline has become one of the Bay Area's most coveted destinations. Half Moon Bay is located on the Pacific coast, between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastline California has to offer. It is approximately 45 miles south of San Francisco and is located in the westernmost part of San Mateo County. The addition also allowed the city to control its own zoning regulations, which has been critical to preserving the area's natural beauty.
Located on the Pacific coast, about 25 miles south of San Francisco, it's known for its natural wonders, including the world-famous monster waves of Mavericks. Today's Half Moon Bay presents tourism as an important part of its economy, with its picturesque coastline and numerous attractions. The city is also home to several wineries, a golf course, and a variety of shops, restaurants and hotels. The annual Art & Pumpkin festival is one of the area's most popular attractions and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
For the 37th parallel north, Half Moon Bay's mild summer temperatures are unmatched across the board. The population of Half Moon Bay consisted of 8,580 (75.8%) whites, 82 (0.7%) African-Americans, 71 (0.6%) Amerindians, 490 (4.3%) Asians, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islanders, 1,710 (15.1%) of other races, and 382 (3.4%) of two or more races. The port of Pillar Point, at the northern end of Half Moon Bay, offers a protected pier for ships and provides other marine infrastructure. The ships also stopped offshore in Half Moon Bay to inspect items such as furs, since rowing boats with goods could be sent to the ships.
The album Half Moon Bay was recorded by jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1973 at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay. Long before its streets hosted vibrant art and pumpkin festivals, downtown Half Moon Bay was a rural ranch community, the result of land granted by the Mexican government to Candelario Miramontes, a military officer in the San Francisco Presidio. On the northeast corner of Johnston and Miramontes Streets is one of Half Moon Bay's architectural gems, the United Methodist Community Church of 1872 (777 Miramontes Street). The real growth of the area occurred after World War II, with the construction of numerous subdivisions, leading to the addition of Half Moon Bay in 1959. Half Moon Bay began as a rural agricultural area, used primarily by the Mission of San Francisco de Asís (established in 177 for grazing cattle, horses), and oxen. The 1992 film Raising Cain, which takes place and was filmed on the San Francisco Peninsula, mentions a fictional Half Moon swamp.
The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named in honor of Half Moon Bay and kept that name when it served as the USCGC Half Moon weather vessel of the United States Coast Guard for more than 20 years after the war. Half Moon Bay is a small, picturesque city next to the Pacific Ocean, known as the pumpkin capital of the world. The Bay Area is home to a complex network of watersheds, swamps, rivers, streams, reservoirs and bays that flow predominantly into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Eyewitness accounts indicate that ships landed on the beaches of Half Moon Bay with illegal alcohol from Canada. In 2024, Half Moon Bay politicians were criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom for repeatedly delaying approval of a 40-unit apartment building for high-ranking farm workers.
The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay.
