Sitting at the northern edge of San Mateo County, Millbrae occupies a compact four square miles between San Francisco International Airport and the foothills of the Peninsula, giving it a geographic specificity that shapes nearly everything about daily life here. The city traces its name to Darius Ogden Mills, who purchased the land in the 1860s and combined his surname with the Scottish word for rolling hills. That history still echoes in the quiet residential streets that run from the bay shoreline up toward the hills, where single-family neighborhoods give way to walkable corridors along El Camino Real.
Millbrae's economy benefits directly from its proximity to SFO and the broader Peninsula job market, making it a practical base for those working across San Mateo County or commuting north to San Francisco. The city covers a tight footprint, so most areas feel accessible and grounded rather than spread out.
