Half Moon Bay is a Pacific Ocean bay off the coast of San Mateo County, California. The bay is roughly semicircular, hence the name half moon, with access to the sea from the south. Half Moon Bay owes its name to the crescent shape of the bay in which it is nestled. A glance at a map or an aerial photograph shows that the bay looks remarkably like a crescent.
Half Moon Bay is honestly named after it. HMB, one of the first settlements in San Matheo County, was initially known as Spanishtown. Even so, in the mid-19th century, people began to refer to it by the name of the crescent shaped bay that surrounds beautiful beaches. 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. Half Moon Bay's economy is dominated by a handful of companies, the largest of which is the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, which employs 500 people and is a major source of property tax and tourism revenues for the city. Andrews, Half Moon Bay's most recognizable sights are related to the hotels and not to the countryside itself. 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, 1,710 (15.1%) from other races, and 382 (3.4%) from two or more races.
However, over time, the name evolved to more directly reflect the bay's distinctive geographical shape, hence the name Half Moon Bay. So, the next time you stroll the streets of Half Moon Bay or enjoy the beauty of its beach, remember the mix of geography and history that has shaped its name. 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. With views of the ocean all day long and playing along the coastal cliffs to finish the holes, the environment and experience of Half Moon Bay are fascinating.
Although they didn't label the area Half Moon Bay, their legacy remains an integral part of the region's history. Estanislao Zaballa, who would become one of the first urban planners to trace the streets and blocks of Half Moon Bay, married a member of the Miramontes family and built this Neo-Greco-style wooden house that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding adobes. As far as the 37th parallel north is concerned, Half Moon Bay's mild summer temperatures are unmatched across the board. Located just 50 kilometers south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay features 36 golf holes and an iconic Ritz Carlton hotel with ocean views Peaceful.
Stay at The Ritz-Carlton, the Half Moon Bay resort, and get access to the hotel's two professional golf courses, including one with ocean views from each hole, a professional golf store, and an exclusive golf concierge. And if you're not interested in chasing that white ball, maybe you can have a cold drink at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay.
