Kentfield, along with its residential community Kent Woodlands, is located in the heart of Marin County. It offers a small town lifestyle, outdoor recreation, and the convenience of a central location. It is minutes away from Larkspur Landing ferries, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge, yet sits at the base of towering Mount Tamalpais and next to Baltimore Canyon Preserve and Creekside Park. Hiking, biking, picnicking, and walking are all activities enjoyed by the 7,423 residents that call Kentfield home. Property in Kentfield is generally set well back from the streets, which meander among pine, redwood and manzanita trees. The low-profile roofs of these spacious homes, mostly set on large and lush lots, are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings and offer a wooded, country feeling. This gives the area a feeling of modernism with all of its amenities but also offers a sense of nature with an appreciation for the surrounding environment. Kentfield is home to nationally renowned schools and this too makes Kentfield an excellent place to raise a family. Look no further than to Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty to find the perfect home in Kentfield.
Kentfield History
In 1857, James Ross (1812-1862) bought Rancho Punta de Quentin. Ross, a Scot who had arrived in San Francisco from Australia in 1848 and made his fortune in the wholesale liquor business, set up a trading post called "Ross Landing." Steamers would travel up Corte Madera Creek to the Landing. Albert Emmet Kent bought the land from the Ross estate in 1871. Kent built an estate called Tamalpais, later applied to the settlement by the railroad. The named was changed to Kent in the 1890s, and finally to Kentfield with the opening of the first post office in 1905. The family of Albert Kent, a Chicago meat packer who, along with his wife Adaline, settled in the area in 1872. Adaline donated twenty-three acres of land for a community recreation center; which later became the site for the College of Marin, which is part of the California Community College system. Albert and Adaline's son, William, who became a U.S. congressman and an ardent conservationist, donated Muir Woods as a national park.
Location, Climate, and Weather in Kentfield
Kentfield is an unincorporated town located in the County of Marin, California approximately 16 miles north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. Kentfield is 3.0 square miles and has 6,485 residents. Kentfield's town center includes the College of Marin and a charming commercial area.
Experiencing a Mediterranean climate, Kentfield's temperature ranges from an average low of 41 degrees to a high of 84 degrees. The rainfall averages 48 inches per year. This temperate weather and amazing location is perfect for outdoor recreation.
Kentfield Real Estate
Kentfield is located in the heart of Marin and has become one of the most sought after locales in Marin partly due to the nationally renowned schools and coveted upscale homes surrounded by lush greenery. Overall, Kentfield is a great place to raise a family or make a real estate investment.
Kentfield Schools
Kentfield students attend schools in the Kentfield School District, which is a highly rated public school district. A.G. Bacich Elementary School is a California Distinguished School that hosts Kindergarten to 4th Grade and A.E. Kent Middle School is a California Distinguished School that hosts grades 5 to 8.
Marin Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic co-educational college preparatory, grades 9 to 12. The administrators, faculty and staff of Marin Catholic work hard to maintain a dynamic, student-centered environment, one that affords its young women and men every opportunity to achieve excellence.
Residents of Kentfield are also fortunate to attend Redwood High School, for it is nationally ranked and recognized as one of the premier high schools in the nation with some of the State's highest test scores, rates of graduation and college acceptance. Please visit the Quick Links section for additional information.
The main campus for the College of Marin is in Kentfield, and is across the street from Kent Middle School. College of Marin is well known for its theater department, with the highest transfer acceptance to Juilliard of any junior college in the state.
Transportation and Commuting from Kentfield
Kentfield has commuter buses to speed you into downtown San Francisco in 45 minutes. Estimated drive time is 30 minutes without commute traffic. Alternatively, the Larkspur Ferry Terminal is located just down the road in Larkspur Landing. The ferry ride takes 40 minutes to cross the Bay to San Francisco. For bus and ferry schedules and fares, please visit the Golden Gate Transit site or more details.
Outdoor Recreation and Parks in Kentfield
Kentfield has easy access to Mount Tamalpais' many hiking and biking trails. Phoenix Lake is a lovely walk along its shore with views of the surrounding hills. Bicycling is ideal in Kentfield's gently rolling landscape. For the more adventurous the many bike trails on the Mountain are celebrated worldwide. The Corte Madera Creek meanders through Kentfield and offers access to the Bay for kayaks and rowers.
Best Restaurants in Kentfield
Family friendly dining can be found in Kentfield. Everyone's favorite is the Half Day Cafe, family-owned and operated since 1986, serving breakfast and lunch and featuring fresh local ingredients. Guesthouse offers inspired cocktails and local ingredients and wood-fired favorites with West Coast charm. Please visit this page's Quick Links for more information.