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The birth of Daly City really begins outside of town in San Francisco. On April 18, 1906, shortly after 5 a.m., a massive earthquake struck just offshore near Mussel Rock. The quake was devastating.
However, the ensuing fires were far more devastating. Up to 80% of San Francisco was wiped out, leaving countless people homeless. More than 3,000 died.
Many fire victims left and headed to temporary housing just to the immediate south. A large piece of property owned by John Daly became the site where many temporary homes were set up.
Daly had become quite wealthy, having developed a large dairy farm in the area known as “Top of the Hill.”
In light of the vast amount of needy homeless people on his land, he and other local farmers donated milk and other dairy products to them. He later subdivided his land, from which several housing tracts developed.
With so many people settled on the land, the need for essential services became clear. There was also a fear the City of San Francisco would annex the land.
Another concern was the “center” of San Mateo County was too far south, and they would be ignored.
These concerns created a desire to become incorporated.
The first attempt to incorporate under the name of Vista Grande took place in 1908 but failed. Residents felt the proposal was too broad and also exposed rifts within the community. One concern was related to the local cemeteries, which were excluded from further incorporation plans. Back to the drawing board.
On January 16, 1911, a formal petition was filed with San Mateo County supervisors to incorporate it as Daly City. The city would have an estimated population of 2,900.
A special election took place on March 18, 1911. The vote to incorporate barely passed 132 to 130.
Daly City was officially born…
Everything else is just history
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