Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world. With abundant open spaces, lush, rolling hills, farmland and state parks, the coastline of Half Moon Bay is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places in the world. However, don't let the small-town descriptor fool you. Half Moon Bay has the best of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in one place.
With a vast and diverse landscape that encompasses miles of wide sandy beaches, lush cliff-top meadows and forested hills, there's a lot to explore. Our enviable coastal environment, with a dynamic active port and a thriving surf and water sports culture, will inspire you to hop on a fishing boat, kayak or paddleboard and explore our diverse marine ecosystem. 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-level farmworkers. Newsom threatened to take legal action against the city if they continued to delay the construction of the housing.
Half Moon Bay commissioner Rick Hernandez said they were reluctant to approve housing for older farmworkers because “we love the character of our small-town community, and he says that once this proposal is approved, it will generate more requests for other construction.” In the city, the population was dispersed: 22.2% under 18 years of age, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64 and 9.6% from 65 years of age or older. The average age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is done through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The city has the Peninsula Library System. The city is served by Half Moon Bay Airport. 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.
Pillar Point Harbor, home port for the vital commercial fishing industry, offers opportunities to kayak and drink local beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. And if you're not interested in chasing that little white ball, maybe you can grab a cold drink at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Home to many local farms, agriculture remains an important part of Half Moon Bay's economy to this day and the city is known as the pumpkin capital of the world. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream Machine, the 4th of July fashion show in the fashion of Sol, Make It Main Street, Nights of Lights and live music. Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south of San Francisco. The real growth of the area occurred after the Second World War with the construction of numerous subdivisions, which eventually led to the incorporation of Half Moon Bay in 1959. Half Moon Bay is approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco, 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz. So, take advantage of the rest stop and learn about the Half Moon Bay coastal path, which borders four beaches.
Half Moon Bay's historic main street features more than one hundred locally owned small businesses, including exclusive boutiques, delicious restaurants, impressive art galleries, and plenty of free parking within walking distance of everything. With an immense landscape and the charm of a small town, the coastline of Half Moon Bay offers visitors a wide range of experiences. 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 racial makeup of Half Moon Bay was 8,580 (75.8%) white, 82 (0.7%) African American, 71 (0.6%) Native American, 490 (4.3%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islanders, 1710 (15.1%) from other races, and 382 (3.4%) from two or more races.
