Half Moon Bay's popularity is due to its charming coastal environment, beautiful beaches, and proximity to San Francisco, which offers a combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities and a small-town atmosphere, making it a popular destination for both tourists and residents. 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. Newsom threatened to take legal action against the city if they continued to delay housing construction. 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, which states 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, 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 Men.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is provided through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The city is serviced by the Peninsula Library System. The city is served by Half Moon Bay Airport. 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. Built on the Ford Transit, the new Wonder Class C motorhome is packed with smarter space solutions that combine contemporary design with innovative functionality, giving you the freedom to go wherever your wonders.
Possibly the most innovative Class C motorhome on the market, the Unity RV gives you the freedom to explore. Built on the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cab, the Unity is available in six unique floor plans to fit your traveling lifestyle. HMB State Beach has four beautiful beaches, including Francis Beach, which is where we'll be camping. It's also the only campground in a state park that allows recreational vehicles on the coast of San Mateo County (or San Francisco County, in fact).
What makes traveling by motorhome so appealing are the three miles of pristine beaches and cliffs, the seven-mile coastal path, the proximity to the picturesque Main Street (shops and restaurants) and the iconic Pillar Point Harbor. There are always photographers here at any time of the day or night. I know this because I have photographed sunrises, sunsets and the Milky Way in this place more than once. The picturesque 1,140-foot long Pacifica Municipal Pier is close to the Sharp Park golf course and one of the best fishing piers in the state, where you can catch salmon and striped bass, as well as crabs.
No admission fee or fishing license is needed. The L-shaped pier was built in 1973 and is a spectacular place to watch the sunset and high wave conditions. Pacifica is about 16 miles from the camp. It boasts of having the most beautiful Taco Bell right on the beach. There's plenty of parking in case you're in the mood for a chalupa.
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. While Half Moon Bay's location along the coast offers natural advantages, it also presents certain logistical challenges. 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.
Along with business growth, addressing housing shortages in the region has been one of the top priorities of Half Moon Bay leaders. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Coast Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. 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. The park, located above a stream and under a parking lot, has long hosted the Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Company's annual festival. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay.
This crescent shaped bay was founded in the 1840s with its first name, San Benito, later it became known as Spanishtown and, finally, in 1874, it was renamed Half Moon Bay. For the 37th parallel north, Half Moon Bay's mild summer temperatures are unmatched across the board. The 1992 film Raising Cain, which takes place and was filmed on the San Francisco Peninsula, mentions a fictional swamp shaped like a crescent. 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.
As you stroll around town, stop for wine and cheese tasting at Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese, or visit Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen for sandwiches and home-brewed beer. 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. Like many communities, Half Moon Bay faced significant economic challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic. The small-town hospitality of this Old Town district promises to offer everything a visitor could want to experience in the special coastal city of Half Moon Bay.
