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A history of fueling the local economy
In the Gold Rush era of Northern California, a booming development industry sparked the building of new homes, storefronts and entire towns –and an abundance of local redwood logs, milled into lumber for construction, met those needs. In 1851 loggers discovered a waterway that transported the long redwood timber down to San Francisco Bay much more quickly than trekking them over land, down the mountain and through the forest by wagon. Thus, Redwood Creek emerged as a thriving business corridor, and with it, sprouted the Port of Redwood City, positioned perfectly on the channel where the creek meets the Bay.
The Port offered a crucial connection between local industry and convenient access to the South end of San Francisco Bay, helping Redwood City flourish, along with other towns in the region, such as Belmont, San Carlos and San Mateo. In 1882, the Port became a federally approved shipping channel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a critical step in securing future funds to keep our waters navigable and commerce moving. The importance of the Port’s role in regional construction strengthened in 1906 when an earthquake devastated San Francisco. The Port of Redwood City served in rebuilding San Francisco.
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During World War I, a cement-hulled steamship, the first of its kind, was built here on our waterfront. The war ended before its life in combat, however after its commissioning in 1917 it delivered a cargo load of salt and copper ore on its maiden voyage, deepening the Port’s role in manufacturing and development. Today the Port still maintains a strategic role in emergency response and rebuilding, as designated by FEMA as a federal staging area for natural disasters and other major incidents.
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In 1937, the City of Redwood City incorporated the Port with the appointment of the first five-member Board of Port Commissioners. The life of the Port further evolved during WWII when it was commandeered by the U.S. Government for two years to support US Navy freight needs. During the 1950s, the Port transported a historic 27 million tons of cargo, partially enabled by long-awaited support of federal dredging funds. By the end of the decade, the Port welcomed the addition of a recreational marina to the waterfront in 1959.
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In 1993, the Port underwent a major renovation of that marina to the waterfront, expanding the commercial recreation business taking shape throughout the 80s. The Port of Redwood City celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017, followed by back-to-back record-breaking years of cargo tonnage movement, and revenue.
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As an original catalyst for business growth in the region, and a long-standing contributor to the region’s construction industry, the Port of Redwood City is well poised to usher in a long and prosperous future serving the maritime and recreation needs of Silicon Valley over the next 150 years.
Historical timeline
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1882
APPROVAL AS FEDERAL PROJECT
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognize the Port as a federally approved shipping channel for maritime commerce
1917
CEMENT-HULLED STEAMSHIP “FAITH” BUILT
The world’s first cement-hulled ocean-going vessel locally built
1937
BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS FORMED
The Port of Redwood City was formally and officially recognized, and a five-member board appointed
1944
US NAVY TAKEOVER DURING WWII
The military commandeered the Port for two years to unload as part of their overseas freight terminals
1959
MARINA ADDED TO WATERFRONT
The Redwood City Marina opened on the waterfront, a commitment to balancing community recreation with industry
2018-19
BACK-TO-BACK RECORD-BREAKING CARGO MOVEMENT
2.3 and 2.65 million tons of cargo resulted in $8.6 million and $9.3 million in revenue respectively
2020
PORT RELEASES 2020 VISION PLAN
First of its kind long-term 25-year vision plan released to guide the next quarter century of development
1851
DISCOVERY OF REDWOOD CREEK
Loggers discovered this waterway running through the peninsula emptying into South San Francisco Bay, delivering affordable transport of redwood logs
1906
PIVOTAL IN REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO
Following earthquake devastations, lumber moved through the Port rebuilt the “City”
1912
REDWOOD CITY HARBOR COMPANY FOUNDED
Business interests recognized the value and potential of a deep water South Bay port
1936
VOTERS APPROVE PORT DEPARTMENT
An amendment to the city charter established a new department to control, operate and manage development of the Port
1950s
GOLDEN YEARS OF CARGO
Over 27 million tons of cargo moved across Port docks, and long-awaited dredging funds were appropriated by Congress
2012
WHARVES 1 AND 2 ARE REBUILT
The Port invests over $17 million to rebuild wharves, upgrading the ability to withstand sea-level rise and natural disasters to support resiliency
2017
FEMA DESIGNATION FOR EMERGENCY STAGING
Federal Emergency Management Administration designates Port as a Federal Staging Area (FSA) to support regional emergency response
2017
OFFICIAL 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Federal Emergency Management Administration designates Port as a Federal Staging Area (FSA) to support regional emergency response
2019
PUBLIC ART ADDED TO WATERFRONT
Inviting the community to the waterfront with the launch of public art
