Colma, California, a small town located just south of San Francisco, is famously known as the "City of the Dead" due to its unusual demographic situation wherein the deceased population significantly surpasses that of the living. Established as a necropolis in 1924, Colma came into existence primarily as a response to San Francisco's ban on further burials within city limits and the subsequent requirement to relocate existing cemeteries, to make space for the living as the city expanded.
The town occupies an area of about 2 square miles but houses an estimated 1.5 million graves. With only around 1,500 living residents, the ratio of the dead to the living is indeed stark, making cemeteries the most prominent feature of the landscape. This ratio has resulted in a town that is uniquely characterized by its vast and meticulously maintained burial grounds, rather than the bustling streets and residential districts found in typical cities.
Colma's cemeteries serve as the final resting place for many prominent individuals, including famous entrepreneurs, politicians, and even local celebrities like Joe DiMaggio. As such, the town has become something of a tourist destination for those interested in the histories of these individuals or the art and architecture commonly found in historic cemeteries.
Despite its reputation and unique demographic, Colma is a fully functional town. It boasts a small but vibrant community, complete with residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, and local government. Residents often remark on the peacefulness of their town and the beauty of the lush, well-kept gardens and monuments that define their unusual surroundings.
The town also engages with its unique identity in interesting ways, celebrating its history through museum exhibits and public tours that explain its origin and development. Local culture in Colma is marked by a profound respect for the past, a characterization that underlines everyday life in this extraordinary little town. This exceptional setup not only gives Colma its peculiar charm but also serves as a poignant reminder of the city’s historical and ongoing relationship with San Francisco, connected deeply through the narratives of life, death, and memory.
