South San Francisco dates to 1908, and 3 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 35% of U.S. towns · #281 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of South San Francisco was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1965. 3 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 6 buildings. Below: maps from 1896 on and the census since 1910.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1895.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives South San Francisco’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, South San Francisco is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #281 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of South San Francisco’s overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so South San Francisco’s 1.1 sits above most of its state (76% of California towns have fewer) while its 7 historic buildings outnumber those of 73% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to B. The pre-1940 share (±1.1 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1908.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about South San Francisco’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of South San Francisco. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1896San Mateo sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of South San Francisco.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Another post office, Baden Station, opened and closed inside today’s town.
Hamlets and corners on the map
BadenRed Arrow Mobile Home ParkTanforanTreasure Island Mobile Home ParkWestborough
Gone or out of use
El Rancho Elementary Schoolschool
1cemetery inside South San Francisco
Orange Memorial Park
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Parts of what is now South San Francisco have been populated for more than 5,000 years. The northern San Francisco Peninsula was inhabited by the Ramaytush, a linguistic sub-group of Ohlone people. Their village of Urebure on San Bruno Creek was visited by the Gaspar de Portolà expedition in 1769; remains of long-term (5,000+ years) inhabitancy and seasonal encampments have been examined at the Siplichiquin and Buckeye shell-mounds on San Bruno Mountain. Charcoal-sampling indicates these ancient sites were actively occupied into the Spanish colonial period (late 1700s). The delta of Colma Creek was formerly an important habitat for the waterfowl known to be hunted by the Ramaytush in historic times, and archaeologic sites have been recorded near the creek. The city's plan recognizes the existing remains of a village (CA-SMA-299) along El Camino Real.
In 1908, according to Wikidata. South San Francisco’s post office opened in 1895, and the census of 1910 counted 1,989 people here.
How does South San Francisco rank for history?
South San Francisco is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #281 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in South San Francisco?
Three places: the South San Francisco Hillside Sign (listed 1996), the Martin Building (1997) and the Golden Gate National Cemetery (2016).
How old are the homes in South San Francisco?
7% of South San Francisco’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.1 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1965.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2022
