Dr. Foster (Josh Radnor) says his wife wants to go out west, as she has family near Redwood City. The other man in the conversation confirms this is in California. Redwood City, CA was not incorporated until 1867, and certainly would not have been for "rich people" back then. The Civil War ended in 1865. The city was not incorporated until 1867 but it did exist as a port town during the Gold Rush and became the County Seat of the newly incorporated San Mateo County in 1856.