Introducing: Foster City

Foster City literally rose out of the marshes of the San Francisco Bay, on the eastern edge of San Mateo. The city was named after T. Jack Foster, a real estate tycoon who owned much of the land that was forged into the eventual city, and who played a key role in its design. His family firm, Foster Enterprises, is still active in Bay Area real estate today.

Despite being built on engineered landfill, Foster City maintains an extensive 218-acre lagoon that functions as a drainage system and keeps the city from flooding, even during the infamous El Niño rainstorms in the late 1990s. Meanwhile, surrounding cities experienced major drainage problems. (Keep reading for more on Foster City’s innovative flood protections.)

In 2009, Forbes ranked Foster City 10th on their list of America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well. Money magazine has also recognized Foster City as one of the Best Places to Live. Like most of Silicon Valley, it boasts a mild Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters.

Learn more in the Neighborhoods section of our website.