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Montara

Montara History

   Montara is part of a group of communities known as Coastside. These unincorporated towns are governed by San Mateo County and have no municipal governments or control over local ordinances.
   Coastside stretches along the Pacific for about 50 miles, on land originally inhabited by the Ohlone Indians. The region was ruled by Spain and Mexico until California became a state in 1850. At that point, the land along the San Mateo County coast was used primarily as ranchos for raising horses and cattle.
   Through the early 1900s, Coastside was isolated from the rest of the state. Only two roads led to the area until 1906, when the Ocean Shore Railway started a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Small seaside communities developed along the rail line, and existing towns grew to accommodate the new visitors.
   Montara is just a mile north of neighboring Moss Beach. It is located near several recreation areas and borders Montara State Beach.

Activities

   Montara State Beach is home to Montara Mountain, a northern spur of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The region's hiking trails offer a good workout and great views of the ocean, birds and rare plants. Keep your eyes open for the endangered red-legged frogs that live in the area.
   Montara State Beach is also a popular location for visitors to go surf fishing and explore the beach's tidepools. For a larger selection of tidepools, head to the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in nearby Moss Beach.
   Gray Whale Cove State Beach, located just north of Montara, has a sheltered cove surrounded by cliffs that drop sharply into the ocean. The cliffs are a great place to watch for whales, harbor seals and other marine life.
   The Point Montara Fog Signal and Light Station was established in 1875. The historic lighthouse now serves as a youth hostel, offering unique accommodations along the Pacific coast.

Montara Fast Facts

   Location: Montara is located on the Pacific coast, about 22 miles south of San Francisco
  *Total area: 3.93 square miles
  *Population: 2,950
  *Housing units: 1,034
   Average annual rainfall: 29.50 inches
   Average temperatures: 62ºF in summer, 50ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Schools

   There is one public school in Montara: Farallone View Elementary. Older students attend classes in neighboring communities.

Maps of Montara

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