Redwood City highlight
San Mateo County seat
Redwood City is the county seat of San Mateo County, home to the county administrative offices and government center.
As the county seat of San Mateo County, Redwood City has served as the hub of local government administration since the early days of the county's establishment. The San Mateo County Government Center, a landmark mid-century building, sits on a hillside north of downtown and houses the offices of the Board of Supervisors, the County Clerk, the Assessor, and other county departments that serve the Peninsula's residents and businesses.
The Government Center campus, designed by architects Charles Bassignani and Alferd Farquhar, opened in 1963 and reflects the modernist architecture that defines the era. The complex has become a symbol of the county's governance and administration. County government handles crucial services: land use planning, vital records, social services, and public health programs that affect the daily lives of more than 750,000 people across the Peninsula.
When you think about the institutions that protect a city—schools, hospitals, government offices—you recognize that every adult in that city carries a responsibility. A term life policy sized to cover a mortgage, children's education, or years until retirement is the personal version of that same protection: a commitment to the people who depend on your income.