Welcome to Tiburon
Just north of San Francisco, jutting into the Bay on a slender peninsula, sits the city of Tiburon. Tiburon isn’t the largest city in the region nor does it have the most storied history or oldest buildings. What it does have however, is unmatched character. It has miles of rolling hills pushed up against the Bay, dotted with classic mansions and modern architectural wonders. It has miles of walking trails connecting neighborhoods and nature preserves. It has restaurants, and boutiques, and art galleries, and schools, and every single one of them is among the best in the county, and the region, and the state.
Lay of the Land
Located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Tiburon is one of the southern most cities in Marin County. The Tiburon Peninsula actually holds both the city of Tiburon and the small, adjacent community of Belvedere. The two cities share a rich history and numerous modern community services. To the immediate west and north of the city are numerous smaller communities, including Mill Valley, Corte Madera, Larkspur and Greenbrae. Its population of 9,179 puts it near the middle of the pack for the county, well above the average for the smaller western communities, but still below San Rafael and Novato by a wide margin. It is also one of the most affluent cities in the region, with an average household income of $140,120 and average home prices well into the millions.
Transportation
Marin County in general is limited when it comes to transportation infrastructure and public transportation services. This is an intentional decision on the part of the county as it seeks to preserve the natural beauty of the region and minimize large scale development. Tiburon is just east of Highway 101 which progresses north into the remainder of the county and south to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. It is also served by Golden Gate Transit which provides bus services to the eastern and central sections of the county. Finally, ferry services are available to both the nearby Angel Island and San Francisco.
Local Highlights
The most arresting feature of Tiburon is its natural beauty. It provides residents and visitors alike with picturesque, uninterrupted views of the San Francisco Bay. These views are possible in large part thanks to local ordinances and zoning laws which limit development along the rolling hills bordering the Bay. However, despite the desire to protect the natural beauty of the community, unlike other cities in Marin County, Tiburon isn’t opposed to development in general.
Nothing in the community speaks to the fusion of natural scenery and development quite like the biking and hiking trails in the city. Trails of all sorts meander across the entire peninsula, taking hikers and bikers through residential neighborhoods, past historical buildings, around shopping centers, and into open space preserves. These offer visitors a view of not just the city itself, but in the case of Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Preserve and Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve, elevated views of the entire Bay Area.
When it comes to eating, Tiburon has a little bit of something for everyone. Walking down Main Street, diners have their pick of everything from organic ice cream shops, to sushi bars, or fine Italian dining establishments. One thing that each of the eateries has in common however, is a uniquely Tiburon vibe and a desire for sustainability and the utilization of green businesses practices.
Finally, unlike many of the communities in Marin County, Tiburon features several shopping centers and dedicated retail locations. However, shoppers won’t find national retail locations on Main Street, Tiburon Boulevard, or in the Boardwalk Shopping Center. Instead, they will find specialty shops like the world famous Schoenberg Guitars or one of the many local furniture stores featuring items handcrafted by local artisans. They will also discover a wide range of boutiques and locally owned service locations providing basic goods and services with a uniquely Marin Twist.
Schools
The Reed School District is an elementary school district that includes Reed School, Bel Aire School, and Del Mar Middle School. The three facilities provide services for kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade, and sixth grade through eighth grade, respectively. The schools serve students in Tiburon, Belvedere, and a section of eastern Corte Madera. However, all three locations are physically located within the city of Tiburon.
Tiburon students attending public high school do so in the Tamalpais Union High School District. The Tamalpais Union High School District serves numerous communities in Marin County. It consists of three separate traditional high schools and two alternative education high schools. Many students also choose to attend high school at one of the numerous private schools in Marin County or in San Francisco.
One thing that all of the public schools that serve Tiburon have in common is a history of excellence. Each of the schools consistently ranks among the top performing schools in the state. Performance indicators include numerous state level awards and achievement designations as well as top scores on the California Annual Performance Index.
