Burlingame highlight
Peninsula community near SFO
Incorporated in 1908 on the San Francisco Peninsula and named after 19th-century diplomat Anson Burlingame, the city sits among the closest residential neighborhoods to San Francisco International Airport.
Burlingame was incorporated on June 6, 1908, on land that had been part of Rancho San Mateo. The city takes its name from Anson Burlingame, a Massachusetts-born lawyer, politician and diplomat who purchased a ranch on the San Francisco Bay shore in the 1860s. Burlingame served as U.S. Minister to the Qing Dynasty and negotiated the Burlingame Treaty of 1868 to protect Chinese subjects' rights in Western nations. After his death, his ranch retained his name and eventually became the foundation of the city.
The community grew rapidly in the early 20th century, especially after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when hundreds of residents relocated to the peninsula. Today Burlingame is home to approximately 31,400 people and sits on the San Francisco Bay with direct access to public transit including Caltrain, BART and bus services. The city's location on the peninsula makes it among the closest residential areas to San Francisco International Airport, connecting residents and workers to the broader region.
A peninsula location and proximity to major employment centers mean many Burlingame families include commuters or multi-income households working to balance careers with childcare, schooling and home responsibilities. Life insurance in a 20- or 30-year term is often part of that balance, covering the mortgage years and childhood until children are independent and household income obligations decline.