Century Chronicles

Welcome to City of Belmont's Century Chronicles! In 2026, Belmont will proudly celebrate 100 years as an incorporated city! Each quarter, we'll dive into our City's rich 100-year history leading to our centennial celebrations, uncovering fascinating stories, milestones, and fun facts that have shaped our community. Join us as we explore the landmarks, events, and people that make our City truly special.

In 1928, Belmont, California, was a quiet, rural community nestled in the hills of the San Francisco Peninsula. The town was a far cry from the bustling suburban area it is today. Back then, Belmont was known for its sprawling orchards, dairy farms, and open spaces. The streets were unpaved and horse-drawn carriages were still a common sight, though automobiles were becoming more popular.

At the time, Belmont was a getaway for city dwellers, with its rolling hills, fresh air, and scenic views of the Bay making it a peaceful retreat from the rapidly growing urban areas nearby. The train station was a lifeline for the town, connecting it to San Francisco and other cities. The famous Ralston Hall, built in the 1860s by William Ralston, was a central landmark, standing as a symbol of the town's quiet elegance.

In the late 1920s, Belmont’s population remained small, but it was slowly growing, with families settling into newly built homes along the hills. Life in Belmont was simple and community-oriented, with neighbors often gathering for social events, enjoying the small-town feel while still being close to the thriving cities of the Bay Area.

Historical Tour

The Belmont Historical Society was founded in 1985 as a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting and preserving artifacts of Belmont's history. Take a tour back into time by exploring the photo album, audio clips, and photos and maps that the Belmont Historical Society has provided. 

Centennial Survey

To ensure our centennial celebrations truly reflect the spirit of Belmont, we invite our community members to get involved. Whether you have creative ideas for marking this milestone or are interested in volunteering, we want to hear from you! Please complete the survey or reach out to us at communications@belmont.gov.

Don't forget to bookmark this webpage—we’ll be updating it regularly with exciting news and details as our centennial plans take shape!

Supervisors Steer $18 Million To Affordable Housing

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to direct $18 million in federal funds to developing affordable housing, strengthening programs that relieve homelessness and protecting and improving lower-cost housing. 

Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in March 2021 to provide funding for state and local governments to build an equitable economic recovery from the devastating economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Belmont Family Apartments illustrates the impact of ARPA funding in creating new affordable housing in San Mateo County. The project, located at 803 Belmont Avenue, received a loan of $9.5 million in ARPA funds, enabling construction to start in April 2024. When complete, Belmont Family Apartments will provide 125 new affordable apartments on El Camino Real, close to the Belmont Caltrain station and shopping and services. Twenty of the new homes will be targeted to formerly homeless vets. The project is set to complete construction in the Fall of 2026.

GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The Finance Department is pleased to report that the City has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for Belmont’s FY 2024-25 Budget. GFOA is a national association that advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 22,500 members and the communities they serve. The award represents a significant achievement by the City and reflects the combined commitment of the City Council and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. Budget documents that receive this award are considered to be excellent examples for other governments throughout North America. This year marks the fourth consecutive year in Belmont’s history that the City has received this budget award.

Eucalyptus Tree Removal on Ralston

Fire Safe San Mateo County, in collaboration with the City of Belmont Parks Department, will be removing 12 large Eucalyptus trees along the south side of Ralston Avenue between Continental Way and Lyall Way on Nov. 4-15. Limb and trunk failures have become a common occurrence and these trees are overhanging power lines. Removals will be limited to Eucalyptus trees and the native Oaks will remain in place. Removing the non-native Eucalyptus trees near the power lines is a strategic ignition prevention project that has been prioritized by the department. There will be one lane traffic controls along the east bound lane of Ralston Ave. Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thank you to SMC Fire for their support and thank you in advance for your patience as we tackle this important work. 

Attend a Community Training from CORA 

The City of Belmont has partnered with CORA to offer a community training on domestic violence on Nov. 13 from 2-2:30 p.m. at 1 Twin Pines Lane. The 30-minute session will review the cycle of violence, characteristics of healthy vs. abusive relationships, warning signs, how to obtain resources, and what to say to someone that might be in an abusive situation. No registration is required. This is a free training that is open to all. 

Prepare Now to Reduce Winter Flooding Risks

With potential winter storms around the corner, being proactive can help reduce the impact of flooding on your property. By cleaning the gutters on your property, properly removing leaves and debris, and getting your fill-your-own sandbag ahead of time you can be better prepared for winter storms. For additional resources and information, visit www.belmont.gov/storms.