Mill Valley

Nestled among redwoods and canyons, Mill Valley is only ten  minutes north of San Francisco, yet the quiet, wooded atmosphere feels very  rural. Whether you want to bird watch at Richardson Bay or hike the  trails of Mt. Tamalpais, this charming town offers something for everyone.

The history of Mill Valley’s name derives from an actual  lumber mill. In 1834, John Thomas Reed was assigned the first Mexican land  grant on the Marin peninsula. This grant encompassed the wilderness areas of  Tiburon, Belvedere, and parts of Corte Madera and Mill Valley. He established a  mill in 1892 to provide lumber for the new military post being built in the  Presidio, across the bay in San Francisco.

During the 1830’s-80’s, Mill Valley was primarily used as a Ranchero, with the  abundant and desirable coastal redwood harvested for lumber, and the open,  rolling hills used for grazing dairy cattle. The years of 1889-99 marked an era  of considerable expansion of Mill Valley. Two main forces in the development of  the area were the Tamalpais Land and Water Company and the extension of the  railroad. In 1889 the railroad was lengthened into downtown and caused a  further expansion in the number of day visitors, hotels, businesses, and  immigrants to the area. The town was incorporated in 1900.

Mill Valley is surrounded by national state parks such as an  ancient coast redwood forest, Muir Woods. Blithedale and Cascade are the two  canyons that make Mill Valley a valley. The downtown area centers around Lytton  Square which is surrounded by many boutique stores, the Book Dept Café,  outstanding restaurants, and is an excellent place to people watch and spend  time with friends.

Community Sites

Chamber of Commerce: http://www.millvalley.com/
City Data: http://www.city-data.com/city/Mill-Valley-California.html
City Information: http://www.cityofmillvalley.org/

Click here for a statistical overview of Mill Valley, including demographics, weather, and education

Community Phone  Numbers

Chamber of Commerce: 415-388-9700
City Hall: 415-388-4033
Fire Department: 415-389-4130
Library: 415-389-4292
Parks and Recreation: 415-383-1370
Police Department: 415-389-4100
Post Office: 415-388-8656
School District: 415- 389-7700

More Utilities Information

Schools

Mill Valley School District: http://www.mvschools.org/
Marin Public Schools: http://www.marinschools.org/
Marin Private Elementary Schools: http://marincountyprivateschools.com/Elementaryschools.html
Marin Private High Schools: http://marincountyprivateschools.com/template.html

School Scores