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The city of Millbrae dates back several hundred years. Largely settled by indigenous tribes, the modern location that came to be known as Millbrae is the first place European explorer Gaspar de Portola gazed upon the amazing site known as San Francisco Bay. His historic discovery took place on November 4, 1769.
California came under American rule in 1848 after the Mexican-American War. Statehood for California took place two years hence, in 1850.
In the 1860s, Darius Ogden Mills purchased a portion of Rancho Buri Buri from Jose de la Cruz Sanchez to build a country estate.
His family members built the original Sixteen Mile House, a rest stop and restaurant near the Mills Estate, which became an important early link to the beginning of Millbrae.
The Mills estate was bordered by today’s Skyline Boulevard, Highway 101, Millbrae Avenue and Trousdale Drive.
The actual name of Millbrae came from “Mills” and the Scottish word “brae,” which means rolling hills or hill slope.
An effort to save the original Sixteen Mile House in the 1970s was unsuccessful. However, this community effort, as well as a parallel effort to save the original Millbrae train depot, gave birth to the Millbrae Historical Society, which is housed in the actual train depot.
History buffs may recall that San Francisco International Airport’s original name was Mills Field, since the land was leased from the Mills Estate. The name was changed to San Francisco Airport in 1931.
Today, Millbrae’s population is around 25,000.
Everything else is just history
