Town of ATHERTON

History

Atherton is located on the San Francisco peninsula between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Town stretches from the flatlands of the peninsula into the hills to the west, along Highway 280. The Town is bordered by areas of Menlo Park, Redwood City, Woodside, and unincorporated San Mateo County. The Town of Atherton desires, insofar as possible, “to preserve its character as a scenic, rural, thickly-wooded, residential area, with abundant open space.”

In 1866, Fair Oaks (Atherton) was a flag stop on the San Francisco-San Jose Railroad line for the convenience of estate owners living north of Menlo Park. The entire area was then called Menlo Park and had originally been part of the Rancho de las Pulgas, covering much of modern day San Mateo County. There were several attempts to incorporate Fair Oaks, one in 1874 and another in 1911. In 1923, Menlo Park wished to incorporate its lands to include the Fair Oaks lands. Fair Oaks property owners soon discovered that in order to maintain their community as a strictly residential area, they would have to incorporate separately. A town near Sacramento had already been named Fair Oaks, so the Town Committee decided to honor Faxton Dean Atherton, one of the first property owners in the southern peninsula and name the Town for him. Atherton was incorporated on September 12, 1923.

The town government was established with Edward E. Eyre as the first mayor. In 1928, the residents voted to build a Town Hall, which stands today. Early residents envisioned a residential town divided into large parcels that would not contain any businesses. Although the city still maintains its lack of industry, its large land holdings have been subdivided over time. Extensive subdivisions in the 1940’s and 1950’s led to many one-acre plots.

Atherton is still a “plain of oaks”. Native live oaks, white oaks, bays, redwoods, cedars, pines and other ornamental trees cover the six square miles of town. There are approximately 50 miles of roads “designed primarily as scenic routes rather than for speed of travel.” Beautiful foliage, elegant gardens and heritage trees dominate this quiet residential community. Holbrook-Palmer Park, a 22-acre park left to the town in 1958 by Olive Holbrook-Palmer offers recreational programs and has facilities for functions. The Menlo Circus Club is a private club with stables and a riding ring located within the town.

The town of Atherton operates under a council-manager form of government. The five-member elected council serves for four years. The council is responsible for appointing a clerk, full-time engineer, and town manager. They administer the council’s ordinances and policies. The council also appoints a town attorney and town planner, as part-time consultant. The council meetings are scheduled every third Wednesday each month.