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Atherton, California

Population: 7,194
Located in San Mateo County

The Charter of Atherton states; " The Town of Atherton desires, insofar as possible, to preserve its character as a scenic, rural, thickly-wooded, residential area, with abundant open space with streets designed primarily as scenic routes rather than for speed of travel." And this statement encapsulates all the city fathers and the current city officials try to preserve.

Atherton is a "plain of oaks". Native live oaks, white oaks, bay trees, redwood trees, cedars, pines and other ornamental trees cover the six square miles of land. Areas of Menlo Park, Redwood City, Woodside, and unincorporated San Mateo County border the Town.

Historical Significance:
There are a number of active community organizations; the Atherton Heritage Association, the Atherton Arts Committee, the Atherton Tree Committee, the Friends of the Atherton Community Library, the Holbrook-Palmer Park Foundation, the Atherton Dames, the Police Task force, and the Atherton Civic Interest League. There are also Home Owner's Associations. The Menlo Circus Club is a private club with stables and a riding ring located within the Town.

The town takes great pride in its trees - honoring well-maintained trees and asking residents to preserve the larger, native ones. The town incorporated in 1923 to fend off a perceived land grab by Menlo Park. The name Fair Oaks had already been claimed, so the town was named after Faxon Atherton and his daughter-in-law, writer Gertrude Atherton.

Population:
The current population stands at 7,194 with the mean household income at $355,800. The average house price is $2,050,000, which means that Atherton is mostly home to corporate executives and celebrities.

Atherton is a quiet town with historic and new mansions hidden down private lanes. The town has no commercial area, but residents gather at the public Holbrook-Palmer Park and the private Menlo Circus Club.

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