1. GENERAL POPULATION: Of the five Bay Area counties, San Mateo is
only larger than Marin County in total population. The county’s population has
increased by 62,294 residents or 9.6% to 649,623 between 1980 and 1990. According to the
latest population estimates by the State Department of Finance, San Mateo’s total
population as of January 1, 1993 is estimated at 680,900, a 4.8% increase since the 1990
U.S. Census.
2. GEOGRAPHIC SUBAREAS: The North County subarea is the most populous
subarea in the county with 35.6% of the population followed by the Central County subarea
with 30/5% of the county’s population. The cities of Daly City in the North subarea,
San Mateo in the Central subarea, and Redwood City in the South subarea contain largest
number of residents with 14.2%, 13.2% and 10.2% respectively. Within the next decade, the
greatest amount of population growth is expected in the South County subarea, especially
in the community of Redwood City.
3. AGE: Although, national trends depict a growing percentage of older
Americans, age group percentages in San Mateo show that both young and older age groups
are expected to increase at about the same percentage rate. The North County subarea,
being the most populous, contains the greatest number of children 17 years and younger. A
total of 38.4% of San Mateo’s children live within this subarea. The percent of
elderly are over represented in the Central subarea. The Central subarea residents
represent 30.5% of the county’s population but 37.2% of the county’s population.
4. ETHNICITY: Racial and ethnic minorities share of San Mateo’s
population increased from 21.9% in 1980 to 28.1% in 1990. Over the past decade,
Asian/Pacific Islanders were the fastest growing group as shown by an increase from 9.6%
to 16.8% of the population. Hispanics, the largest ethnic population in the county,
increased from 12.5% to 17.6% while Blacks, the third largest minority group in San Mateo
(Filipino’s are the second largest group) decreased from 6.0% to 5.4% of the
population. Racial diversity varies depending on county subareas. The North County subarea
is the most racially diverse in the county.
5. HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION: In 1990, there was a total of 241,914
households in San Mateo County, up by 3.8% since the 1988 estimates reflected in the 1990
United Way Needs Assessment Report. Of the 13,475 households living below or at poverty
level, non-family households (householder living alone or with non-relatives only)
comprise the highest percentage with 47.8% of the households living below or at the
poverty level. Female-headed households account for 21.2% of total households living below
or at the poverty level.
6. HOUSEHOLDS IN POVERTY: Of the total San Mateo households, 5.6% were
living below the poverty level in 1990, up by 2.2% since the 1988 estimates reflected in
the 1990 United Way Needs Assessment Report. Of the 13,475 households living below or at
poverty level, non-family households (householder living alone or with non-relatives only)
comprise the highest percentage with 47.8% of the households living below or at the
poverty level. Female-headed households account for 21.2% of total households living below
or at the poverty level.
7. EMPLOYMENT: San Mateo continues to have one of the lowest
unemployment rates in California. The civilian unemployment rate for San Mateo County in
1990 was 4.2%. The 1990 State rate was 6.3%.
8. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Looking at San Mateo County as a whole, 40,544
persons or 6.4% of the population were living in households with Public Assistance in
1990. The greatest concentration of persons receiving aid from San Mateo’s Human
Services Agency, as of March 1993, encompasses the zip codes 94303, East Palo Alto with
3,269 persons receiving AFDC, 6,086 receiving Medi-Cal, and 3,285 receiving Food Stamps;
and 94063, portion of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks with 1,839 persons receiving AFDC,
5,366 receiving Medi-Cal, and 2,066 receiving Food Stamps. Both of these zip codes are
located in the South County subarea giving South County the largest concentration of
persons receiving Public Assistance in San Mateo County.