Larkspur and Corte Madera: twin jewels of Marin County

Main Street in Larkspur/Behzad Zandinejad

The two towns of Larkspur and Corte Madera represent the best of Marin County. Located just 14 miles north of San Francisco, these small twin towns are, in many ways, the spiritual heart of the area. They are home to breathtaking beauty, world-class shopping, one of the best high schools in the country and charming, historic old town areas.

History

Corte Madera was once a logging outpost where the wood from redwood groves was shipped across the Bay to build San Francisco. Most early settlers came to the Corte Madera and Larkspur areas as part of either the Gold Rush or the later expansion of the Union Pacific Railroad. Larkspur was incorporated in 1908 and Corte Madera was incorporated in 1916.

Larkspur/Behzad Zandinejad

People

With a combined population of just over 21,000, Corte Madera and Larkspur manage to balance the best of small town life with access to amazing shopping, infrastructure, and education. The median household income is $95,471 for the area.

Recreation

Larkspur and Corte Madera sit at the base of Mount Tamalpais. For many residents, access to hiking through majestic redwood trails, world-famous mountain biking trails and other forms of outdoor recreation is just a matter of walking or driving a few minutes from their homes.

Every year, the twin cities host a popular Fourth of July celebration in the Old Town area that draws thousands of visitors from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Larkspur’s restored Art Deco Lark Theater is a popular destination for history buffs and film aficionados, especially during the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Education

The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District is home to nationally acclaimed Redwood High School. Redwood High School is consistently listed as one of the best high schools in the country, and is a big reason many families move to the area. The district’s middle schools and elementary schools have also been designated as among the best in state of California.

Shopping and Entertainment

Corte Madera is home to two large malls, The Village at Corte Madera and Corte Madera Town Center, that provide most of the shopping for Marin County. In addition to high-end, name-brand stores at these malls, both Larkspur and Corte Madera are home to a variety of trendy boutiques and local shops selling unique items and apparel.

Corte Madera Town Centre/Behzad Zandinejad

After a busy day of shopping, many locals head to a variety local restaurants and bistros in the downtown area.

Real Estate

While the area was once known a source of lumber over a century ago, today these twin cities are home to a variety of beautiful estates and exclusive neighborhoods. The Madrone Canyon neighborhood in Larkspur is located in the middle of a lush redwood grove. The average home price for the area is $1.4 million.

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Larkspur and Corte Madera are only a short drive across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. However, sitting in the shadow of Mount Tamalpais in the midst of gorgeous redwood tree groves, these two cities couldn’t be farther spiritually or aesthetically from the big city. There’s a reason many residents of these cities first came to the area as visitors, and once they experienced what the heart of Marin County had to offer, they never wanted to leave.

Behzad Zandinejad is Marin County real estate broker associate with Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty.