Welcome to Kentfield
The residents of Kentfield live in one of the most beautiful cities, in one of the most beautiful counties, in one of the most beautiful states in America, and they know it. Amazing residential neighborhoods is the primary industry in Kentfield. Kentfield isn’t worried about commercial development or economic progress. They have never even seen a need for an organized local government. As long as they have scenic views and uninterrupted natural beauty, the residents haven’t found much to complain about.
Lay of the Land
Kentfield is located 14 miles north of San Francisco, pressed against the eastern side of Mount Tamalpais in the heart of Marin County. The 6,485 residents of Kentfield have left the town unincorporated, which means major decisions are handled by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Even though it is only a short jaunt outside of the booming Bay Area, Kentfield is surrounded by undeveloped wilderness, including the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve and the King Mountain Open Space Preserve. The homes in Kentfield are generally large and isolated, which has led to average home values of just under 1 million dollars. The affluent area is supported by average household incomes of $168,722.
Transportation
Marin County is not known for its public or private transportation infrastructure. Kentfield is located 3 miles west of Highway 101 which provides north and south access to the rest of the county and across the Golden Gate into the Bay Area. Public transportation is limited to a series of bus services which run to the outskirts of the county and into San Rafael. Fortunately, San Rafael is home to a regional transit center which provides busses and trains to numerous locations in the area, such as the Oakland International Airport and the San Francisco International Airport.
Local Highlights
Marin County is not an area known for its plethora of strip malls and national chain locations. Large scale ventures like these are kept out of the Kentfield area by a combination of resident apathy and strict business guidelines put in place by the county itself. However, Kentfield is extremely welcoming when it comes to retail services and restaurants that connect to the town’s ambiance and overall attitude. This includes a collection of ethnically themed restaurants and dining locations with a relaxed atmosphere, aesthetics that meet the standards of the community, and a focus on sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices.
However, the main focus of the town is always going to be on the natural beauty of the area and the maintenance of the sterling residential areas. The vast majority of the homes in the area are designed and landscaped in such a way as to offer minimal intrusion into the natural aesthetics of the area. This includes low profile roofs, recessed driveways, and spacious lots that take advantage of the naturally occurring redwood, pine and manzanita trees in order to camouflage the homes.
The northwestern section of the community is primarily occupied by the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve. The 193 acre preserve is home to numerous plant and animal species. The extensive hiking trail system is one of the primary attractions of the preserve, offering visitor’s miles of walking lanes that connect to numerous additional trails in many of the neighboring preserves and the main fire roads on the northern slopes of Mount Tamalpais. Like most of the preserves in California, it also features a host of activities supported by the state and the local community. These range from general educational events to organized beautification and maintenance projects.
At 108 acres, King Mountain Open Space Preserve, on the eastern edge of the area, is slightly smaller. Like most preserves in the state, King Mountain supports hiking, horseback riding, and various non-intrusive naturalist pursuits. However, it also features numerous volunteers, known locally as the “Green Gorillas”, working to rid the area of various invasive, non-native plant species.
