Belmont, California

Etymology

The name is believed to derive from the Italian bel monte, meaning "beautiful mountain." The town was named for the "symmetrically rounded eminence" nearby.

Geography

Belmont is located at (37.518087, -122.291673).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a land area of 4.63 sqmi and 0.009 sqmi of water.

Demographics

2020

Belmont's population in 2020 was reported as 28,335. The population density was 6,119.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 14,248 (50.3%) White, 370 (1.3%) Black or African American, 102 (0.4%) American Indian and Alaska Native, 8,398 (29.6%) Asian, 148 (0.5%) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1,527 (5.4%) Some Other Race, and 3,542 (12.5%) two or more races. The largest mixed-race groups were White and Some Other Race (1,345, 4.7%) and White and Asian (1,312, 4.6%). 3,523 residents (12.4%) were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Among the residents who were not Hispanic or Latino, 13,572 were White, 348 were Black or African American, 22 were American Indian and Alaska Native, 8,330 were Asian, 132 were Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, 300 were of other races, and 2,108 were of two or more races. 2020 was the first recent census in which non-Hispanic White people were not the majority of the population in Belmont (47.9%). Among Hispanic and Latino residents, 676 identified their race as White, 22 Black or African American, 80 American Indian and Alaska Native, 68 Asian, 16 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1,227 Some Other Race, and 1,434 two or more races. 1,021 Hispanic or Latino residents identified their race as both White and Some Other Race.

There were 11,169 housing units, of which 10,705 were occupied and 464 were vacant.

722 people (2.5%) were living in group quarters, including 203 in nursing facilities, 339 in college/university student housing, and 180 in other facilities.

22,198 people (78.3%) were 18 years old or older, while 6,137 (21.7%) were younger than 18 years old.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $207,609, and the per capita income was $98,669. About 4.4% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Belmont had a population of 25,835. The population density was 5,579.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Belmont was 17,455 (67.6%) White, 420 (1.6%) African American, 72 (0.3%) Native American, 5,151 (19.9%) Asian, 198 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 964 (3.7%) from other races, and 1,572 (6.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,977 persons (11.5%).

The census reported that 25,321 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 394 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 120 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 10,575 households, 3,251 (30.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,630 (53.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 830 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband or wife present, 391 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife or husband present. There were 510 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 96 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,904 households (27.5%) were one person and 997 (9.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 6,851 families (64.8% of households); the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 5,395 people (20.9%) under the age of 18, 1,668 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 7,645 people (29.6%) aged 25 to 44, 7,284 people (28.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,843 people (14.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

There were 11,028 housing units at an average density of 2,381.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 6,280 (59.4%) were owner-occupied and 4,295 (42.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 16,473 people (63.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 8,848 people (34.2%) lived in rental housing units.

In May 2009, Belmont was ranked 11th on Forbes list of "America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well."

Government

Federal and state representation

In the California State Legislature, Belmont is in , and in .

Federally, Belmont is in .

According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Belmont has 15,827 registered voters. Of those, 7,678 (48.5%) are registered Democrats, 2,540 (16%) are registered Republicans, and 4,994 (31.6%) have declined to state a political party.

Facilities

The city is served by the Belmont Public Library of the San Mateo County Libraries, a member of the Peninsula Library System.

The city has a number of parks. This includes Twin Pines Park, Waterdog Lake Open Space, Semeria Park and Davey Glen Park.

Child education is provided by public and private facilities. Students in Belmont are eligible to receive public schooling through two school districts: Belmont-Redwood Shores School District (kindergarten through middle school) and Sequoia Union High School District (high school). There are also several private schools. The private Charles Armstrong School specializes in language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia.

The city's largest hotel is Hyatt House, which is an apartment hotel and caters mostly to a business clientele, due to its proximity to Oracle headquarters.

Smoking policy

In January 2009, Belmont adopted an ordinance that bans smoking in city parks, all businesses, and all multi-story apartments and condominiums. The policy, which has been described as perhaps the strictest anti-smoking law in the nation, was the result of a group of retirees lobbying the city to stop secondhand smoke from drifting into their apartments from neighboring places. Public health advocates consider the ordinance to be a new front in a national battle against tobacco; officials from the American Lung Association of California said "Belmont broke through this invisible barrier in the sense that it addressed drifting smoke in housing as a public health issue."

Education

Public schools

The public schools in Belmont are highly rated. The public schools in Belmont are run by the Belmont – Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD). The public high school in Belmont, Carlmont High School, however, is in Sequoia Union High School District.

Elementary schools

• Central Elementary School
• Cipriani Elementary School
• Fox
• Nesbit

Middle schools

• Ralston Middle School
• Nesbit (K-8)

High school

• Carlmont High School

Private schools

• Immaculate Heart of Mary School (preschool through 8th grade)
• Crystal Springs Uplands School Middle School Campus(6th through 12th grade)
• Merry Moppet Belmont Oaks Academy (preschool through 5th grade)
• Notre Dame High School
• Charles Armstrong School specializing in language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia

Colleges

• Notre Dame de Namur University

Transportation

Public transportation

SamTrans provides local bus service within Belmont as well as the entire county of San Mateo. Caltrain provides commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose including Belmont station in the city, and Hillsdale station in southern San Mateo city, near the border. Caltrain also goes as far south as Gilroy.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in 2021 were:

Sister city

• Belgium Namur, Belgium

References

References

1. "City Council - City of Belmont".
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{Cite GNIS. 1658029. Belmont
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5. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. (2021). "2021 National Places Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
8. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
9. (September 16, 2021). "2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files table P1. – Race for Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
10. (September 16, 2021). "2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files table P2. – Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by Race for Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
11. (September 16, 2021). "2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files table H1. – Occupancy Status (Housing) for Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
12. (September 16, 2021). "2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files table P5. – Group Quarters Population by Major Group Quarters Type for Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
13. (September 16, 2021). "2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files table P3. – Race for the Population 18 Years and Over for Belmont city, California". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Belmont city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles".
15. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Belmont city". U.S. Census Bureau.
16. Woolsey, Matt. "In Depth: America's Top 25 Towns To Live Well". Forbes.
17. "Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission".
18. {{Cite GovTrack. CA. 15
19. "CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019".
20. "Waterdog trail map".
21. "Belmont, CA Schools".
22. "Belmont-Redwood Shores School District".
23. "Sequoia Union High School District".
24. McKinley, Jesse. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/us/27belmont.html?_r=1&hp "Smoking Ban Hits Home. Truly."] ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 26, 2009. Retrieved on January 26, 2009.
25. "Living in Belmont".
26. "Belmont-Redwood Shores School District".
27. "Carlmont High School - Home".
28. "About Our Schools".
29. "Notre Dame Belmont".
30. "Notre Dame de Namur University {{!}} Opening Doors. Engaging Minds since 1851.".
31. [https://www.belmont.gov/home/showdocument?id=21099&t=637726522399178905 City of Belmont CAFR]
32. (April 25, 2023). "Belmont gets a visit from sister city".