Belmont has two clearly defined priorities for the coming years: balancing residential concerns with those of local businesses, and creating a distinct downtown.

The mid-sized city sits on the middle of the peninsula, equidistant between San Francisco and San Jose. It was once part of Rancho de las Pulgas, a Spanish land grant by King Charles III to Don Jose Arguello, an officer with the expedition led by Father Junipero Serra in 1776. The city incorporated in 1926.

The western part of town is quiet and serene, with large houses dotting the rolling hills. In the east, the city has attracted some major businesses to the Island Park area east of Highway 101, including the world headquarters for Oral B Laboratories, Hotel Sofitel and several auto dealers. In between, the city has no definable downtown area, but is working to change that. A super-Safeway anchors and attracts satellite businesses to the Ralston Avenue and El Camino Real area.

Belmont prides itself on maintaining its open space, and the city's centerpiece is Twin Pines Park, site of the historical society museum, the Senior and Community Center and free afternoon concerts each Sunday in the summer.

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[San Mateo County Community College District]