What is the history of Half Moon Bay, California?
Half Moon Bay began as a rural agriculture area, primarily used for grazing of cattle, horses, and oxen used by Mission San Francisco de Asis(established in June 1776). In the early nineteenth century land grants were given to Spanish settlers, who established farms and ranches. The community began to develop in the 1840s as the first real town in San Mateo County. Known originally as Spanishtown, the town attracted a thriving fishing industry, in addition to the continued importance of coastal agriculture. Spanishtown became a racially diverse community, settled by Canadians, Chinese, English, Germans, Irish, Italians, Scots, Portuguese, and Pacific Islanders. Regular stagecoach service was established with San Mateo; coaches also served the communities of Purissima, Lobitos, and San Gregorio. Levy Brothers opened a department store in downtown Half Moon Bay. Spanishtown was officially renamed Half Moon Bay in 1874. The area grew very slowly, even after the Ocean Shore Railroad began
