About Half Moon Bay, California (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Half Moon Bay is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,842 as of the 2000 census.

Half Moon Bay is located at 37°27′32″N, 122°26′13″W (37.458840, -122.436848)GR1, approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco, 10 miles west of San Mateo, California, and 45 miles north of Santa Cruz, California. Neighboring towns include Montara, Moss Beach, and El Granada to the north and San Gregorio and Pescadero to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.8 km² (6.5 mi²). 16.8 km² (6.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.31%) is water.

It sits on a bay of the same name. Major local industries include agriculture (houseplants, floriculture, Christmas trees, pumpkins, artichokes), fishing, and tourism. Historically, Half Moon Bay has been known as San Benito and Spanishtown.

A popular spot at Half Moon Bay is the 'Jetty,' or as it is sometimes called, 'The Breakwater.' This is a man-made break with unusual waves shaped by reflections from the breakwater at Pillar Point harbor.

The town is served by Half Moon Bay Airport. The local newspaper is the Half Moon Bay Review.

The Half Moon Bay School District made headlines in recent months when it outlawed the assigning of homework so as not to offend children who happened to be homeless. [citation needed]

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, overlooking Pillar Point Harbor, is the only brewpub on the San Mateo County coast.

Half Moon Bay is the home of the world famous Mavericks surf break where an invitation-only big wave surfing contest is held every winter.

Half Moon Bay hosts an annual "Art and Pumpkin Festival" on Main Street downtown. 250,000 people visit every October for the festival.

Cameron's Pub restaurant, located in Half Moon Bay, owns the "World's Only Double Decker Video Game Bus."

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