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Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos, California

Bonadelle Ranchos and Madera Ranchos are a pair of communities in Madera County, California, United States. They are part of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. Prior to 2020, the communities were part of the Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos Census Designated Place, with a population of 8,569 at the 2010 census. For the 2020 census, the area was split into two CDPs, Bonadelle Ranchos and Madera Ranchos.

General information
The Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos community is located at 36.93639°N, -119.88667°W (36.936378, -119.886723).

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2010 the CDP had a total area of 11.6 sqmi, all of it land.

Environment
The Bonadelle Ranchos is often regarded as a Valley-Foothill transitional zone, because its elevation is higher than average for valley but slightly too low to be considered part of the Sierra foothills. About 7 mi to the northeast lie the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. Its environment corresponds, showing qualities of a transition zone. The northeast portion of the area is the highest in elevation, and small tabletop hills are present: most notably Adobe Hill, with an elevation of 640 ft. Throughout the area there are large, rolling hills. Multiple creeks run through the area, but none are large enough to bring constant flow. The creeks include Little Dry Creek, Bonadelle Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Root Creek. Many of these waterways flow in the winter months, when rainfall and snow filter down from the nearby foothills. There are many seasonal ponds in the area, but most are too small and short-lived to offer recreational activities. Much of the wildlife is typical for this type of environment. Mammals include foxes, ground squirrels, coyotes, raccoons, skunks and occasionally bobcats and mountain lions. Dove, crows, ravens, ducks, Scrub jays, California woodpeckers, egrets, red tailed hawks, turkey vultures, and geese can be found as well.

Climate
The climate in this area is noticeably different than the nearby cities, often 3 to 10 F-change cooler during the winter months. Because of the openness of the surrounding areas, wind and storm systems can often become a temperature factor.

The climate in the area varies drastically throughout the year. Spring in the area is warm and mild, starting in March and ending in May. Temperatures generally reach the high 60s (in March). April-Mays highs reach the 70s and 80s, and nightly lows can still be in the mid 30s (in April), although the average low is 45 to 50 F. Many trees often begin to bloom as early as March.

Summer in the area is very hot and starts in June, lasting until early October. Temperatures regularly reach over 100 F. Sun is constant with essentially no clouds. Nightly lows in the area generally are in the high 50s and 60s, although some extremes have even reached the high 40s. Because of the virtual absence of rainfall, drought is constant through summer, and the risk of fire is high.

Fall in the area is mild, with highs in the 60s and 70s (°F), although some late fall patterns have highs still in the 80s. Fall is usually short lived, only encompassing mid-October until the end of November. That is typically when winter weather starts to move in. Nightly lows can greatly vary this time of year. Lows are generally 35 to 50 F, but in some cases can reach as low as 32 F.

Winters are generally mild, although variances can occur. The area experiences thick Tule fog, which is extremely dense fog that limits visibility to 500 ft in some cases. Tule fog can last all day, although this is not a very common occurrence. The area experiences rain from November to March. Snow is never present in any measurable amount, but in some cases precipitation and temperature can coincide and bring flurries. They are short and nearly impactless. Winter lows can dip down quite low for California standards, as lows have been known to drop down to the high teens and 20s, although most winter lows are in the 30s and frost is quite prevalent. Highs in winter are in the 40s–50s, and most days are sunny with high-altitude clouds. Very windy days are present every winter, and these patterns may last for weeks at a time.

History
The Bonadelle Ranchos has a relatively long history, but not much is known about it. John Bonadelle, the founder of the area, was a landowner and owned most of the properties in the area. Many of the streets were named by him. Street names were often sold to people in Hollywood, who sometimes named them after themselves. Settlement began as early as 1940, but the movement trend boomed in the 1970s and continued on.

Bonadelle originally purchased the land from one of the three Smith family siblings that split the land into thirds once their father had passed. Currently, Kirby Smith still owns a comparable amount of land to the Bonadelle Ranchoes, which lies to the east and continues until Highway 41.

2010
At the 2010 census Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos had a population of 8,569. The population density was 739.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos was 7,034 (82.1%) White, 114 (1.3%) African American, 120 (1.4%) Native American, 207 (2.4%) Asian, 4 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 811 (9.5%) from other races, and 279 (3.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,305 persons (26.9%).

The census reported that 8,564 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 5 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 2,804 households, 1,076 (38.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,034 (72.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 218 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 141 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 107 (3.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 14 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 318 households (11.3%) were one person and 120 (4.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.05. There were 2,393 families (85.3% of households); the average family size was 3.27.

The age distribution was 2,126 people (24.8%) under the age of 18, 737 people (8.6%) aged 18 to 24, 1,841 people (21.5%) aged 25 to 44, 2,862 people (33.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,003 people (11.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

There were 2,937 housing units at an average density of 253.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,521 (89.9%) were owner-occupied and 283 (10.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 7,564 people (88.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,000 people (11.7%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 7,300 people, 2,327 households, and 2,047 families in the CDP. The population density was 627.6 PD/sqmi. There were 2,381 housing units at an average density of 204.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.42% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 7.67% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. 18.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,327 households 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.0% were non-families. 8.3% of households were one person and 2.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.30.

The age distribution was 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.

The median household income was $58,764 and the median family income was $60,793. Males had a median income of $41,220 versus $31,011 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,478. About 2.7% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Community
The Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos community is considered rural. There are two different areas in the Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos. The first area is Madera Ranchos, which is considered the business and urban area of the community. The community is roughly 6.5 mi in length from Kensington Drive north to Highway 145. There are three gas stations, as well as the Madera Ranchos Market, a primary shopping location and business for the local populations. A local library, daycare and several other small shops and stores are also present in the community. Recently the Madera Ranchos has added a Dollar General. Homes in the area are generally on 1/2-1 acre, and are on a local community well. The second area is Bonadelle Ranchos, which extends roughly from Avenue 13 north to Highway 145. This is the most rural part of the community. The majority of the homes in this area are on 2+ acres, and all have their own wells for water. The Bonadelle 9 Volunteer Fire Station is located in this area and serves as the main fire fighting force in the community.

Government
In the California State Legislature, the two communities are in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Bondadelle and Madera Ranchos are in.


text:
Chowchilla, California

Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. The city's population was 19,039 at the 2020 census. Chowchilla is located 16 mi northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 ft.

The city is the location of two prisons: Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison.

History
The word "Chowchilla" is an anglicized spelling of chaushila, the name of an indigenous Yokuts people who, historically, inhabited the areas in and around Madera County.

The first post office at Chowchilla opened in 1912 and the city incorporated eleven years later, in 1923.

1976 bus kidnapping
Chowchilla made national news on July 15, 1976, when 26 children and their school bus driver were kidnapped and held in a buried moving van at a quarry in Livermore, California. The driver and some of the children were able to escape and notify the quarry guard. All the victims returned unharmed. The quarry owner's son and two friends were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Geography
Chowchilla is located in California's Central Valley. Via California Route 99, it is 16 mi northwest of Madera, the county seat, and 18 mi southeast of Merced. It is 39 mi northwest of Fresno and 256 mi north of Downtown Los Angeles.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 sqmi, of which 0.05 sqmi, or 0.41%, are water. Ash Slough, a tributary of the Fresno River, runs along the northern edge of the city.

Climate
The climate of Chowchilla is Mediterranean. It receives an average of about 12 inches of precipitation per year. The wettest months are December, January, and February, with January being the wettest. Chowchilla has dry, hot summers, and mild to cool, rainy winters. Chowchilla experiences frequent fog from November to March and overcast days are common, especially in January. In 2005, Chowchilla had 20 consecutive cloudy, rainy days. There are days with moderate to heavy rain during the winter months. In January, the high temperature may drop as low as 45 °F (7 °C). During the summer, when there is usually no rain, the temperature may reach as high or higher than 110 °F (43 °C). Snow in Chowchilla is rare.

Demographics
Official population figures include inmates of two prisons.

Chowchilla is part of the Madera metropolitan statistical area.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 11,127 people in 2,562 households, including 1,908 families, in the city. The population density was 1,567.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 381.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 63.46% White, 10.26% Black or African American, 2.60% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 16.16% from other races, and 5.94% from two or more races. Of the population, 28.20% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,562 households 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families; 21.9% of households were one person and 12.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.42.

The age distribution was 22.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 42.8% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 51.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 39.8 males.

The median household income was $30,729 and the median family income was $35,741. Males had a median income of $32,306 versus $20,538 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,927. About 16.5% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010
At the 2010 census Chowchilla had a population of 18,720, including the prisons' inmates. The population density was 2,443.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Chowchilla was 11,533 (61.6%) White, 2,358 (12.6%) African American, 376 (2.0%) Native American, 395 (2.1%) Asian, 37 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 3,313 (17.7%) from other races, and 708 (3.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7,073 persons (37.8%).

The census reported that 11,311 people (60.4% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7,403 (39.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,673 households, 1,693 (46.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,932 (52.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 586 (16.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 260 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 275 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 24 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 721 households (19.6%) were one person and 293 (8.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.08. There were 2,778 families (75.6% of households); the average family size was 3.52.

The age distribution was 3,583 people (19.1%) under the age of 18, 2,048 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 7,343 people (39.2%) aged 25 to 44, 4,429 people (23.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,317 people (7.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 42.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 33.3 males.

There were 4,154 housing units at an average density of 542.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,966 (53.5%) were owner-occupied and 1,707 (46.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%. 5,920 people (31.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,391 people (28.8%) lived in rental housing units.

Economy
The city is the location of two California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities, the Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison. Central California Women's houses the state's female death row.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Chowchilla is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Chowchilla is in.

Education
Three public school districts serve the residents of Chowchilla and the surrounding area, as well as one private school. Chowchilla Elementary School District (Grades K to 8th) and Chowchilla Union High School District (9th to 12th grade) make up the local public school system of the city proper. Alview-Dairyland Union School District (Grades K to 8th) serves nearby rural communities including Dairyland.

Chowchilla Elementary School District is made up of five school campuses and typically enrolls city residents, as well as residents from the nearby community of Fairmead. The Alview-Dairyland Union School District is composed of two rural area school campuses, and serves residents that reside outside of town. Upon completing 8th grade, students from both elementary districts are enrolled in the town's comprehensive high school, Chowchilla Union High School. The Chowchilla Union High School District also operates Gateway Continuation school and an Independent Study program.

The Chowchilla Elementary School District operates five schools, with student population distributed by grade level. Stephens School [Kindergarten], Fuller School [Grades 1 and 2], Ronald Reagan School [Grades 3 and 4], and Fairmead School [Grades 5 and 6] are elementary schools, and Wilson School [Grades 7 and 8] is the middle school.

Alview-Dairyland Union School District operates Alview Elementary School [Grades K through 3] and Dairyland Elementary School [Grades 4 through 8].

There is also a private school, Chowchilla Seventh Day Adventist, serving K-8, located 4 mi south of town.

Airport
The Chowchilla Airport, a municipal airport used for general aviation, is located southeast of the main part of the city.

Roads
Chowchilla is located along the Golden State Highway (California State Route 99 [SR 99]), which runs northwest–southeast, just northeast of the main part of the city. The community is also served by California State Route 233 (Robertson Boulevard), which runs southwest from SR 99 for nearly 4 mi to end at California State Route 233 (which runs east–west about 2.5 mi south of Chowchilla).

Bus
Public transportation within the city of Chowchilla is provided by Chowchilla Area Transit (CATX), which is a dial-a-ride demand-responsive service with no fixed routes. CATX operates on weekdays with the exception of selected holidays. Inter-city connections are provided by the county via Madera County Connection, which operates one fixed route connecting Chowchilla with the county seat in Madera.

High-speed rail
Chowchilla Wye is planned to be the point where the California High-Speed Rail's main spine splits into two northern branches: one traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area, and the other continuing north to Sacramento.

Notable people

 * Henry Farrell, screenwriter and novelist best known for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
 * Ronald D. Moore, screenwriter and television producer best known for his work on Star Trek and the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series
 * Cameron Worrell, former NFL player for the Chicago Bears

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Chowchilla, California


text:
Madera, California

Madera (Spanish for "Wood") is a city and county seat of Madera County, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 66,224.

History
The town was named after the Spanish term for lumber. The town was laid out by the California Lumber Company in 1876. From 1876 to 1931, a 63 mi water flume carried lumber from the mountains to Madera, where the lumber was shipped by train.

The first post office at Madera opened in 1877. On May 16, 1893, Madera County officially became a county of the state of California and the town incorporated as the City of Madera on March 27, 1907. One of the city's first African Americans to hold an elected office was Rev. Naaman N. Haynes, who was voted in as a Madera Unified School District school board trustee in the 1960s.

Landmarks include the historic Madera County Courthouse, the notable Madera water tower, and a fully operational drive-in movie theater.

Geography
Madera is located at 36.96139°N, -120.06083°W. The geographic center of California is 38 mi east of Madera. Via California Route 99, the city is 23 mi northwest of Fresno and 72 mi southeast of Modesto. According to the United States Census Bureau, Madera has a total area of 16.5 sqmi, all of it recorded as land. The Fresno River, a tributary of the San Joaquin River, passes through the city north of downtown.

Madera is the location of the Madera AVA wine region.

Climate
Madera has a steppe climate (Köppen: BSk), in the central zone of this climatic subtype. Annually, there are an average of 108.6 afternoons with highs of 90 F or higher, 29.6 afternoons reaching or exceeding 100 F, and an average of 25.1 mornings with lows of 32 F or lower. The record high temperature was 116 F, recorded on July 13, 1961. The record low temperature was 15 F, recorded on January 10, 1949.

The average annual rainfall is 10.79 in and there are an average of 59.3 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983, with 22.13 in and the driest was 2013, with 4.49 in. The most rainfall in one month was 7.11 in, in March 1991. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 1.98 in, on November 21, 1978. Although snowfall is rare, 4.0 in fell in January 1962.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Madera had a population of 61,416. The population density was 3,889.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Madera was 30,640 (49.9%) White, 2,069 (3.4%) African American, 1,933 (3.1%) Native American, 1,369 (2.2%) Asian, 72 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 22,603 (36.8%) from other races, and 2,730 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race accounted for 47,103 people (76.7% of the population).

The Census reported that 60,825 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 418 (0.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 173 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 15,938 households, out of which 9,003 (56.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,521 (53.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,917 (18.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,450 (9.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,323 (8.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 97 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,374 households (14.9%) were made up of individuals, and 1,077 (6.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.82. There were 12,888 families (80.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.09.

The population was spread out, with 21,338 people (34.7%) under the age of 18, 7,732 people (12.6%) aged 18 to 24, 17,287 people (28.1%) aged 25 to 44, 10,407 people (16.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,652 people (7.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.3 males.

There were 17,049 housing units at an average density of 1,079.8 /sqmi, of which 8,096 (50.8%) were owner-occupied, and 7,842 (49.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 28,785 people (46.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 32,040 people (52.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,207 people, 11,978 households, and 9,438 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,515.3 PD/sqmi. There were 12,521 housing units at an average density of 1,018.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 48.2% White, 3.9% African American, 2.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 38.0% from other races, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 67.8% of the population.

There were 11,978 households, out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57 and the average family size was 3.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 35.4% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,033, and the median income for a family was $31,927. Males had a median income of $29,776 versus $23,210 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,674. About 25.6% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Current estimates
According to estimates by the US Census Bureau from July 1, 2019, the total population for the City of Madera was 65,860, and the median household income was $42,581.

Government
Madera is governed by a mayor, elected at large, and six city council members, elected by the voters within their respective districts. Madera is the county seat of the County of Madera. In the California State Legislature, Madera is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Madera is in.

Education

 * School districts
 * Madera Unified School District (K-12)
 * High schools
 * Madera High School
 * Madera South High School
 * Matilda Torres High School
 * Alternative Education Schools
 * Furman Independent Study
 * Mountain Vista High School
 * Ripperdan Community Day School
 * Madera County Superintendent of Schools
 * Endeavor/Voyager
 * Madera County Independent Academy
 * Pioneer Technical Center
 * Private schools
 * Saint Joachim School (preK-8)
 * Crossroads Christian School (preK-8)
 * Higher education
 * Madera Community College
 * San Joaquin Valley College Madera (for-profit)
 * Public libraries
 * Madera County Public Library

Transportation
Within the city, State Route 99 carries traffic in a generally northwest–southeast orientation. East of the city, State Route 41 can be accessed via either eastbound county roads or via State Route 145, the latter of which turns from a northeast–southwest bearing to a directly southern orientation within the city. The eastern terminus of State Route 152 is located 10 mi to the north of the city, on State Route 99.

Just north of Madera is the Madera Amtrak station. A California High-Speed Rail stop is also planned.

There is a Greyhound bus station located downtown.

The City of Madera provides local intracity public transportation services under the Madera Metro branding. Madera residents can travel conveniently from neighborhoods to shopping centers, local schools, medical offices and work sites on the Madera Metro fixed-route transit services. Madera County Connection, a county agency, provides intercity bus services to other communities in Madera County.

Madera Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport owned and operated by the City of Madera. It is situated on approximately 524 acre on the northwest edge of the city and is supervised by the Madera Public Works Department. Madera residents also have access to the nearby Yosemite International Airport, located in Fresno.

Notable people
Noteworthy persons from Madera include:
 * Frank Bergon, author of four novels, including Jesse's Ghost (2011) which is set in Madera
 * Connor Brogdon, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
 * Dwayne Crump, defensive back for the St. Louis Cardinals
 * Lee Evans (1947–2021), Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder in track and field
 * Zoila Frausto Gurgel, women's mixed martial arts champion
 * Lavar Johnson, American mixed martial artist who competed as a heavyweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
 * Jack W. Kelso (1934–1952), Medal of Honor recipient
 * Oswaldo Lopez, winner of the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon
 * Frank McNally, all-pro football player
 * Wally O'Connor, four-time Olympian in water polo & swimming and 1924 gold medalist
 * Jeannine Riley, actress and star of Petticoat Junction
 * Martha Baird Rockefeller, concert pianist, philanthropist, and wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr.
 * Kathryn Grove Shipp (1904–1977), explosives expert; raised in Madera
 * Avery Stafford, gospel and R&B vocalist
 * Virginia Stroud, painter and former Miss Indian America
 * La Schelle Tarver, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox
 * Lorin Whitney, organist and recording artist
 * Leroy Zimmerman, All-Pro professional football player, Hall of Fame softball pitcher, and teacher

Sister cities

 * 🇹🇼 Yilan City, Yilan County, Taiwan (1994)

title: Madera, California


text:
Madera Acres, California

Madera Acres (Madera, Spanish for "wood") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States. It is part of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,162 at the 2020 census, virtually unchanged from 2010.

Geography
Madera Acres is located at 37.01917°N, -120.06694°W. It is bordered to the south by the city of Madera, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.3 sqmi, all of it land.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Madera Acres had a population of 9,163. The population density was 1,259.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Madera Acres was 5,838 (63.7%) White, 241 (2.6%) African American, 161 (1.8%) Native American, 114 (1.2%) Asian, 5 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,448 (26.7%) from other races, and 356 (3.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,985 persons (65.3%).

The Census reported that 9,154 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,411 households, out of which 1,246 (51.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,668 (69.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 273 (11.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 192 (8.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 136 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 14 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 204 households (8.5%) were made up of individuals, and 82 (3.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.80. There were 2,133 families (88.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.95.

The population was spread out, with 2,906 people (31.7%) under the age of 18, 934 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 2,265 people (24.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,279 people (24.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 779 people (8.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

There were 2,540 housing units at an average density of 349.0 /sqmi, of which 1,967 (81.6%) were owner-occupied, and 444 (18.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%. 7,149 people (78.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,005 people (21.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,741 people, 2,122 households, and 1,894 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,018.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,188 housing units at an average density of 287.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 60.16% White, 3.57% African American, 2.17% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 27.44% from other races, and 5.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.88% of the population.

There were 2,122 households, out of which 50.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.7% were non-families. 7.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.62 and the average family size was 3.76.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,438, and the median income for a family was $45,633. Males had a median income of $34,731 versus $22,734 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,003. About 7.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Madera Acres is in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Madera Acres is in.

title: Madera Acres, California


text:
Oakhurst, California

Oakhurst (formerly Fresno Flats) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States, 14 mi south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. At an elevation of 2,274 ft, Oakhurst is situated at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 49, marking the southern end of California's Gold Country. It is part of the Madera metropolitan statistical area.

Oakhurst originated in 1858 as Fresno Flats, evolving from a ranching community to a hub for the timber industry and later, tourism. The town was renamed Oakhurst in 1912 following a secret petition by a resident after a local stagecoach robbery. The area was historically a meeting ground for the Miwok, Yokut, and Mono tribes. However, the enactment of the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians in 1850 led to the displacement of many Native Americans, catalyzing the Mariposa War, the first battle of which was fought near present-day Oakhurst.

From 1981 to 1999, Oakhurst was home to Sierra On-Line, a pioneer in the computer game industry, known for creating the first 3D adventure game and the first dedicated online gaming network.

Geography
Oakhurst is located 3 mi south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, along the Fresno River, and sits at an elevation of 2274 ft.

Surrounded by mountains in the upper Sierra Nevada foothills, Oakhurst acts as a significant geographic crossroads. It is bordered by the Fresno River to the west and north. To the south, there are roads leading to the San Joaquin Valley, and to the east, paths extend to Crane Flat and the High Sierra. Historically, this strategic positioning made Oakhurst an important meeting location for Native American tribes across Central California. Today, Oakhurst remains a critical hub, connecting mountain routes that lead in all four compass directions.

Oakhurst is positioned at the southern end of California's Gold Country, on Highway 49. It bridges the San Joaquin Valley and the Yosemite Valley via Highway 41. Nearby communities include Ahwahnee, Coarsegold and Bass Lake. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 33.5 sqmi, of which 0.007 sqmi, or 0.02%, are water.

Native people
Oakhurst was a common meeting ground for the Miwoks, Yokuts, and Monos before the time of the California Gold Rush.

Many Native Californians were displaced by white settlers following the enactment of the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians in 1850. This act facilitated the removal and displacement of Native Californian Indians from their traditional lands, and led to the Mariposa War, the first battle of which was fought near present-day Oakhurst on January 11, 1851. By June 1851, most Native Americans in the region had been relocated to the Fresno River Farm Reservation, opening the region to the first permanent white settlers.

Fresno Flats
Oakhurst's existence began in 1858 as "Fresno Flats," named for the Spanish word for ash trees and flat, a colloquial term for a mountain meadow.

Fresno Flats founding was not precipitated by the discovery of precious metals, unlike most other nearby towns founded in the nineteenth century along what came to be known as the Golden Chain Highway.

John Robert Nichols, a rancher, was likely the first Anglo settler in Fresno Flats in 1858. Others joined him, raising livestock and planting orchards, establishing the area permanently. Post-gold rush, the first Chinese family settled by a creek flowing into the Fresno River. As more Chinese families used it, the creek was named China Creek, which remains its name.

Fresno Flats opened its first post office in 1873. The following year, the Madera Flume and Lumber Company started building a log flume by the Fresno River, sparking the local timber industry. By 1876, a wagon road from Madera to Yosemite was complete, shifting the area's main economic focus to tourism. Fresno Flats grew into a key station on this road to Wawona, boasting hotels, stores, a blacksmith, a skating rink, a dancehall, a schoolhouse, and saloons by 1884. The first school, made of logs, was built in 1871, and by 1884, it had an average attendance of 26.9 students with one teacher.

Name change
Fresno Flats lost its name in 1912 after a resident secretly petitioned the town be renamed over fear that the town's reputation was forever tarnished because of a local stagecoach robbery. The town was renamed Oakhurst by an Act of Congress that took most people in town by surprise.

Highway Era
Oakhurst's decline started with the mining industry collapse, the end of stagecoach travel to Yosemite, and the 1931 closure of the Madera Sugar Pine Company. The All-Year Highway, opened in 1926, rerouted Yosemite bound auto traffic via California State Route 140 through Merced, further reducing visitor numbers and economic activity in Oakhurst. A new highway route to Yosemite came to fruition in the 1930s with the Fresno-Yosemite road, known today as California State Route 41. This route shortened the trip from Fresno to Yosemite Valley by 35 miles.

Over 1.2 million people annually enter Yosemite National Park through its south gate, predominantly passing through Oakhurst on Highway 41. Tourism significantly affects Oakhurst, especially during summer. This season sees the highest traffic on Highway 41, full hotel occupancy, and a peak in jobs serving visitors, including lodging, dining, retail, and transportation services. The total sales for accommodation and food services in 2017 were $36.5 million dollars. In contrast, these activities and related employment decrease in winter due to reduced off-season activities in Yosemite and surrounding areas.

Sierra On-Line
The pioneering computer game developer Sierra On-Line was based in Oakhurst from 1981 to 1999. The company achieved many industry firsts, including the development of the first 3D adventure game (King's Quest, 1984) and one of the first online gaming networks (The Sierra Network, 1989).

Demographics
Oakhurst, California, has experienced notable demographic and socio-economic transformations between the 2000 and 2020 census periods. The population more than doubled from 2,868 to 5,945, with a significant increase in households and a shift towards a younger age demographic. While remaining predominantly White, the community saw fluctuations in its Hispanic or Latino population, rising from 9.94% in 2000 to 16.7% in 2010, and then slightly decreasing to 12.0% by 2020.

Socio-economic developments included a substantial rise in median household income from $27,679 to $73,333, alongside high rates of educational attainment and technological adoption. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in areas such as poverty and health insurance coverage, reflecting the evolving character of this dynamic community.

2020
According to the 2020 census, the CDP has a population of 5,945 across 2,180 households. The community is diverse, with distinct demographic segments: children under five make up 3.1% of the population, those under 18 comprise 18.2%, and seniors 65 and older represent 25.6%. Women are the majority, making up 56.5% of the residents.

Racially, 87.8% of the population is White. Other groups include Black or African American (0.3%), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.2%), Asian (1.8%), and those identifying with two or more races (7.7%). Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.0%, with non-Hispanic Whites at 83.0%.

The community includes 357 veterans and has a 5.7% foreign-born population, highlighting some cultural diversity. Housing predominantly consists of owner-occupied units, with a 79.9% ownership rate and a median value of $369,900. Monthly housing costs average $2,189 for owners with mortgages and $637 for those without. Median rent is $1,303.

Households average 2.29 persons, with 87.2% of residents living in the same house for at least one year. Additionally, 10.5% of households speak a non-English language at home.

Technological use is widespread, with 92.4% of households owning a computer and 85.9% having broadband internet. Education levels are high: 91.3% have a high school diploma, and 29.4% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Regarding health, 18.1% of those under 65 have a disability, and 8.3% lack health insurance. Employment is robust, with 57.9% of those 16 and older in the workforce, showing equal participation by women.

Financially, the median household income is $73,333, with a per capita income of $44,763. The poverty rate is at 16.2%.

Government and politics
In the California State Legislature, Oakhurst is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Oakhurst is in.

On February 5, 2008 residents voted on Measure C, a proposal to incorporate Oakhurst as a city. The measure failed with 56% voting against and 44% in favor.

Honorary mayor
Oakhurst, an unincorporated area, does not have an official mayor. Instead, an Honorary Mayor is selected annually through a fundraising competition where candidates generate funds for selected non-profits, with each dollar equating to one vote. The top fundraiser is named Honorary Mayor, a tradition that has supported local charities by raising significant amounts over the years.

Education
Oakhurst is home to Yosemite High School and the headquarters for the Yosemite Unified School District. Many primary schools across eastern Madera County feed into the high school.

Oakhurst Community College Center is a two-year institution that offers programs in two-year degrees and general education for transfer. Founded in the 1980s, it is located on Road 426 off Highway 41, near the local Madera County Library branch. The State Center Community College District Board of Trustees approved plans to relocate the college to a new 30-acre site along Highway 49. Construction is estimated to cost $25 million and be completed by spring 2022.

The Talking Bear
Celebrated as both a local landmark and roadside attraction, the Talking Bear is a prominent fiberglass grizzly bear statue located at the intersection of Highway 41 and Road 426. Known for its distinctive design and cultural significance, the statue has become a notable feature in the area since it was installed in 1965. Visitors press a button to hear a recorded message about the California Grizzly Bear. Hugh Schollenbarger installed the bear which was made by Alpine's Fiberglass Menagerie Co.

Historic Buildings
The Little Church on the Hill was built in 1894 and moved from Chapel Hill to its current location in Oakhill Cemetery in 1957. Built from sugar pine lumber from the local mills, it was the first house of worship in Fresno Flats and met the needs of all denominations for over 50 years. The church and cemetery were designated as California Point of Historical Interest in 1994.

Many original pioneer structures are on display at the Fresno Flats Historical Village and Park including the 1869 Taylor Log House, where Boot Taylor, one of the first Sierra National Forest rangers was raised, the two-story Laramore-Layman House, built in the 1870s, the Raymond Jail built in 1890, and several single-room schoolhouses.

Sierra Mountaineer Days
Sierra Mountaineer Days, an annual festival established in 1964, became a significant event, drawing over 10,000 visitors each year at its peak. The three-day event featured a parade, barbecue, rodeo, and beauty pageant, celebrating the region's history. It focused on the 19th-century miners' lifestyle and the importance of the logging industry, highlighting the area's rich heritage.

In the late 1990s, the festival experienced a revival and was renamed Mountain Heritage Day, now held at Fresno Flats Historic Village. This modern version of the event continues to honor the area's unique cultural and historical background.

Transportation
Highway 41 connects Oakhurst to Fresno and Yosemite. Highway 49 has its southern terminus at Highway 41 in Oakhurst and connects to Mariposa.

Oakhurst is served by the YARTS Highway 41 bus route between Fresno and Yosemite, and by the Madera County Connection bus system, which travels to Madera and Bass Lake.

Utilities
Cable television services for the town of Oakhurst are contracted to Vyve Broadband.

Sierra Telephone Company, which serves northern Madera County and much of adjoining Mariposa County, is based in Oakhurst.

Notable people

 * Peter Ledger, artist
 * Ted Lilly, MLB pitcher; attended Yosemite High School in Oakhurst
 * Lori Martin, actress
 * From Indian Lakes, indie rock band

title: Oakhurst, California


text:
Parksdale, California

Parksdale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States. It is part of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,234 at the 2020 census, up from 2,621 in 2010.

Geography
Parksdale is located in the Central Valley of California at 36.94722°N, -120.02306°W. It is bordered to the northwest by the city of Madera, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.7 sqmi, all of it land.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Parksdale had a population of 2,621. The population density was 1,447.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Parksdale was 1,155 (44.1%) White, 56 (2.1%) African American, 65 (2.5%) Native American, 18 (0.7%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,231 (47.0%) from other races, and 93 (3.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,278 persons (86.9%).

The Census reported that 2,621 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 569 households, out of which 347 (61.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 345 (60.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 104 (18.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 51 (9.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 52 (9.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 48 households (8.4%) were made up of individuals, and 13 (2.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.61. There were 500 families (87.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.76.

The population was spread out, with 959 people (36.6%) under the age of 18, 335 people (12.8%) aged 18 to 24, 651 people (24.8%) aged 25 to 44, 502 people (19.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 174 people (6.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.9 males.

There were 614 housing units at an average density of 339.0 /sqmi, of which 366 (64.3%) were owner-occupied, and 203 (35.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 1,596 people (60.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,025 people (39.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,688 people, 594 households, and 513 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,498.2 PD/sqmi. There were 628 housing units at an average density of 350.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 32.11% White, 3.01% African American, 3.16% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 53.91% from other races, and 7.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 81.77% of the population.

There were 594 households, out of which 55.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.53 and the average family size was 4.69.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 40.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,821, and the median income for a family was $28,287. Males had a median income of $26,181 versus $24,219 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $7,129. About 30.8% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Parksdale is in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Parksdale is in.

title: Parksdale, California


text:
Parkwood, California

Parkwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States. It is part of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,307 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Parkwood is located at 36.92694°N, -120.04472°W. It is bordered to the north by the city of Madera, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, all of it land.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Parkwood had a population of 2,268. The population density was 3,251.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Parkwood was 1,138 (50.2%) White, 123 (5.4%) African American, 48 (2.1%) Native American, 22 (1.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 814 (35.9%) from other races, and 123 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,784 persons (78.7%).

The Census reported that 2,259 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 564 households, out of which 317 (56.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 295 (52.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 130 (23.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 53 (9.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 58 (10.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 61 households (10.8%) were made up of individuals, and 28 (5.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.01. There were 478 families (84.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.24.

The population was spread out, with 793 people (35.0%) under the age of 18, 277 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 592 people (26.1%) aged 25 to 44, 438 people (19.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 168 people (7.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

There were 601 housing units at an average density of 861.5 /sqmi, of which 316 (56.0%) were owner-occupied, and 248 (44.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 1,175 people (51.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,084 people (47.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,119 people, 559 households, and 465 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,980.2 PD/sqmi. There were 580 housing units at an average density of 542.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 44.64% White, 5.33% African American, 1.98% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 42.85% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 65.22% of the population.

There were 559 households, out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.8% were non-families. 13.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75 and the average family size was 4.09.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 37.1% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,018, and the median income for a family was $33,411. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $24,167 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,997. About 19.0% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Parkwood is in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Parkwood is in.

Infrastructure
In 2014 during the drought, Parkwood was one of 28 small California communities that cycled onto and off of a list of "critical water systems" that the State Water Resources Control Board determined could run dry within 60 days.

title: Parkwood, California


text:
Belvedere, California

Belvedere is a residential incorporated city located on the San Francisco Bay in Marin County, California, United States. Consisting of two islands and a lagoon, it is connected to the Tiburon Peninsula by two causeways. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,126. The per capita (per person) income of Belvedere residents in 2000 was $250,000, but currently the average income is $283,000, making it one of the highest-income cities in California and the eighth highest-income community in the United States (highest with a population of over 1,000 residents). Belvedere and Tiburon share a post office and the 94920 ZIP code.

Location
Belvedere is located at 37.87278°N, -122.46444°W, about 4 mi north of San Francisco.

Belvedere's two islands are Belvedere Island and Corinthian Island. Corinthian Island is shared with Tiburon.

Belvedere Lagoon is situated between the two causeways (Beach Road and San Rafael Avenue) that connect Belvedere Island to the town of Tiburon.

Belvedere has a total area of 2.42 sqmi, of which 0.54 sqmi is land and 1.89 sqmi (78%) is water.

History
Belvedere incorporated as a city in 1896. Its first post office was opened in 1897.

Belvedere's City Hall was originally a Presbyterian Church. It was moved to its present location on San Rafael Avenue in 1949.

Actress Vivian Vance, who played Ethel on I Love Lucy, died in Belvedere in 1979 at the age of 70.

In 2017, Belvedere became a twin city with Portofino, Italy.

Houses
Depending on where their homes are located, residents of Belvedere enjoy views of San Francisco, Angel Island, Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco and Richardson Bays, and Mount Tamalpais.

Houses on Belvedere and Corinthian Islands encompass a range of periods and architectural styles from Victorian to Mediterranean to post-and-beam "mid-century modern". Many are "cliff-hangers". Houses on the Belvedere Lagoon were designed by architects in the 1950s and 1960s. Houses on the lagoon have their own boat docks. Many of the homes on Belvedere and Corinthian Islands have docks with access to San Francisco Bay.

A number of Belvedere homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; e.g.,the Valentine Rey House designed by Willis Polk  and built in 1893. Notable designers of homes in Belvedere have included Joseph Esherick, Albert Farr, who designed the Belvedere Land Company building and cottages, Henry Gutterson, and Charles Warren Callister.

New construction has become a contentious issue as residents have become frustrated with large projects that they believe are negatively affecting the character of the community. Belvedere is a residential community. The nearby town of Tiburon provides services, shops and eateries.

Two yacht clubs are located in Belvedere: the San Francisco Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Belvedere had a population of 2,068. Population density was 859.2 people per square mile (331.7 per km2). 1,940 residents (93.8%) were White, 3 (0.1%) African-American, 58 (2.8%) Asian, 7 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 18 (0.9%) from other races, and 42 (2.0%) from two or more races. 72 residents (3.5%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 928 households. 228 (24.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 542 (58.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 54 (5.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 15 (1.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 27 (2.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 6 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships.

276 households (29.7%) were made up of individuals, and 187 (20.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23. There were 611 families (65.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.76.

443 residents (21.4%) were under the age of 18, 45 (2.2%) were aged 18 to 24, 277 13.4%) were aged 25 to 44, 650 (31.4%) were aged 45 to 64, and 653 (31.6%) were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

There were 1,045 housing units, with an average density of 434.2 units per square mile (167.6 per km2), of which 695 (74.9%) were owner-occupied and 233 (25.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 1,614 residents (78.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 454 residents (22.0%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics
As of January 2, 2018, Belvedere had 1,425 registered voters. Of these, 587 (41.2%) were registered as Democrats, while 416 (29.2%) were registered as Republicans. 371 (26.0%) declined to state. 51 were registered with other parties.

Twin City

 * 🇮🇹 Portofino, Liguria, Italy

Education
Belvedere is in Reed Union School District and the Tamalpais Union High School District.

title: Belvedere, California


text:
Black Point-Green Point, California

Black Point-Green Point is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California, United States. It is unincorporated, sitting between the city of Novato to the southwest and the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay to the northeast. The population was 1,431 at the 2020 census.

History
Black Point was part of the Rancho de Novato land grant. The 1880 History of Marin County by Alley, Bowen and Co. mentions "a man by name of Day" who "settled on an island in Novato township which has since borne his name" in 1851. This island is still known as Day Island. According to the book, several more settlers moved into the area in 1853. Some of them owned land there, while others were squatters, a problem common across the county. Lumber that came from Black Point was used to build part of the USS Saginaw, a steamer built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. It served in the navy until 1870, when it ran aground on a reef not far from Ocean island. Deer Island, a former island east of Olive Avenue, actually was an island in the early 1900s. The house on the island, owned by Antonio DeBorba, whose shop on Grant Avenue is still intact, was completely encompassed by water, and his house was only accessible by boat. When both the county and the state refused to build a levee, he spent a small fortune deepening the creek and taking water out of the marsh. Once that was done, he donated the land that is now Highway 37.

The first Black Point post office operated from 1865 to 1891. The Grandview post office opened in 1905, changed its name to Black Point in 1944, and closed in 1952. Black Point-Green Point is located along the Brazos Railroad Subdivision, with Northwestern Pacific running trains through twice a week. Trains passing through Black Point-Green Point cross the Black Point Railroad Bridge, built in 1911. The fields to the south of Black Point were used for the location of the Black Point Communications Annex, an antenna array that was used to communicate with the Hamilton Air Force Base.

Geography
Black Point-Green Point is 4 mi east of the center of Novato and 11 mi north of San Rafael, the Marin county seat. The Petaluma River, which forms the northeast edge of the community, is the Sonoma County line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.9 sqmi, of which 0.07 sqmi, or 2.42%, are water. Black Point-Green Point is also located near various public lands, such as the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve and the Vince Mulroy Wildlife Prerserve.

Commercial activity
There are several businesses in Black Point-Green Point, such as Rossi's Deli (an old gas station built in the 1930s), Penske Truck Rental, Kelleher Lumber, and two self-storages. There used to be an inn built during the 1890s, but it burned down in the spring of 1976. Black Point also used to have a train station and a freight depot near the lumberyard. Both the Northwestern Pacific Railroad and the Black Point Aggregates company used to operate a quarry in Black Point to produce ballast and fills for the railroad, as well as shipment abroad. The steep scars are still visible, although the flattened area is now part of the Stonetree Golf Course.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Black Point-Green Point had a population of 1,306. The population density was 484.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Black Point-Green Point was 1,185 (90.7%) White, 7 (0.5%) African American, 6 (0.5%) Native American, 45 (3.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 28 (2.1%) from other races, and 35 (2.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 112 persons (8.6%).

The Census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 578 households, out of which 109 (18.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 315 (54.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 30 (5.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 22 (3.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 45 (7.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 9 (1.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 148 households (25.6%) were made up of individuals, and 48 (8.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26. There were 367 families (63.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.

The population was spread out, with 197 people (15.1%) under the age of 18, 69 people (5.3%) aged 18 to 24, 199 people (15.2%) aged 25 to 44, 550 people (42.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 291 people (22.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

There were 615 housing units at an average density of 227.9 /mi2, of which 79.9% were owner-occupied and 20.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 83.5% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 16.5% lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,143 people, 479 households, and 331 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 619.5 PD/sqmi. There were 503 housing units at an average density of 272.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP in 2010 was 85.5% non-Hispanic White, 0.5% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 479 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 41.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $92,729, and the median income for a family was $104,531. Males had a median income of $76,782 versus $50,769 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $52,372. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Black Point-Green Point, California


text:
Bolinas, California

Bolinas is an unincorporated coastal community and census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 1,483. It is located on the California coast, approximately 13 mi (straight line distance) northwest of San Francisco, and 27 mi by road.

The community is known for its reclusive residents. It is only accessible via unmarked roads; any road sign along State Route 1 that points the way into town has been torn down by local residents, to the point where county officials offered a ballot measure to which the voters responded by stating a preference for no more signs.

History

Prior to the European colonization of California, the Coast Miwok lived in the area, possibly calling the area "Bali-N".

Bolinas and present-day Stinson Beach were once encompassed by Rancho Las Baulines, a Mexican land grant given by Governor Pío Pico to Gregorio Briones in 1846.

The first post office in the town of Bolinas opened in 1863. The post office closed on March 3, 2023, leaving the town more isolated. The town's residents have petitioned for it to reopen.

In 1927, a 300. acre former dairy farm on the Big Mesa was subdivided into a grid of streets and 5,336 lots measuring 20. x. Many of these lots were sold for $69.50 by the San Francisco Bulletin as a subscription promotion. Portions of the mesa, including sections of Ocean Parkway, have since eroded into the sea. A few streets on the mesa are paved and maintained by the county, but many are unpaved, and either maintained by adjoining property owners or completely unmaintained. The Big Mesa has no sewer system, and houses on the mesa have individual septic systems.

The Bolinas beaches were hit hard by the 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill, with the community coming together to clean the beach of crude oil.

The Bolinas Museum was founded in 1983. Today, it contains five galleries featuring contemporary art, historical information, and works from local artists. Today, it puts on auctions and events for locals and visitors alike.

Geography
Bolinas sits at an elevation of 36 ft above sea level. It is bound on the northeast by Bolinas Lagoon and Kent Island, on the south by Bolinas Bay and Duxbury Point, on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and on the northwest by Point Reyes National Seashore. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.8 sqmi, all of it land. The GNIS has cited archaic alternate town-names, including "Ballenas", "Baulenas", "Baulings", and "Bawlines".

Bolinas' downtown is located on the eastern side of town along Wharf Road, which ends at Bolinas Lagoon. The downtown buildings were mostly built between 1850 and 1920. Brighton Avenue connects downtown to the south-facing Brighton Beach. In the southeast corner of town is the Little Mesa. The Big Mesa, also known as the Gridded Mesa, lies to the west, with Agate Beach at its western end.

By air, Bolinas is just 10 mi west-southwest of San Rafael, and 13 mi northwest of San Francisco. While located just 2 mi from State Route 1, the area is not very accessible by car. The driving time from San Rafael is roughly 52 minutes, and it takes over an hour to drive to downtown San Francisco.

Bolinas lies west of the San Andreas Fault, which runs the length of Bolinas Lagoon and continues northward through Olema Valley and Tomales Bay. Bolinas and the Point Reyes peninsula are on the Pacific Plate, moving north relative to Stinson Beach and the North American Plate at an average rate of about 1 in per year.

Point Reyes National Seashore borders Bolinas to the northwest. Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area encompasses Bolinas' western shoreline.

Climate
Bolinas experiences warm (occasionally hot) and dry summers, with some average monthly days in summer months above 77.1 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bolinas has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Like much of the California coast, summer afternoons are often cool and windy (and sometimes foggy) as winds blow in off the ocean. It receives more rain than other coast cities in the San Francisco Bay Area in this latitude with 1034.70 mm of rain.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that the Bolinas CDP (Census-designated place) had a population of 1,620. The population density was 278.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Bolinas was 1,406 (86.8%) White, 27 (1.7%) African American, 10 (0.6%) Native American, 17 (1.0%) Asian, 14 (0.9%) Pacific Islander, 64 (4.0%) from other races, and 82 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 260 people (16.0%).

The census reported that 88.4% of the population lived in households and 11.6% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 698 households, 144 (20.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 259 (37.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 54 (7.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 32 (4.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 49 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and nine (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. There were 280 households (40.1%) made up of individuals, and 98 (14.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.05. There were 345 families (49.4 % of all households); the average family size was 2.65.

The age distribution was 234 people (14.4%) under the age of 18, 76 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 385 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 642 people (39.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 283 people (17.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 49.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.6 males.

There were 986 housing units at an average density of 169.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 57.4% were owner-occupied and 42.6% were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 54.1% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34.3% lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 1,246 people in 486 households, including 260 families, in the CDP. The population density was 900.6 PD/sqmi. There were 629 housing units at an average density of 454.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP in 2000 was 77.7% non-Hispanic White, 0.5% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. 16.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 486 households 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. Of all households, 32.1% were one person and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 40.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median household income was $53,188 and the median family income was $56,111. Males had a median income of $48,281 versus $40,417 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,973. About 5.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 2.8 percent of those age 65 or over.

The much larger area defined by the Census Bureau as Zip Code Tabulation Area 94924, which includes Horseshoe Hill, Dogtown, and Five Brooks, had a 2000 population of 1,560 people (see map).

Education
Bolinas is in the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District, the Tamalpais Union High School District, and the Marin Community College District. Students in primary grades (kindergarten – grade 2) attend Stinson Beach School, while elementary grade students (grades 3–8) attend Bolinas School. Bolinas is included in the attendance area of Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley.

In 1951, Ford Times identified Bolinas as the first in its series of "Tom Sawyer Towns... a good place for boys and girls to live and grow... its school days, its summer vacations, its vast adventures in fishing, swimming, baseball, basking and dreaming in the sun. Such a place is Bolinas."

Government
Bolinas is unincorporated, receiving general government services from Marin County, including law enforcement, land use planning, public health, and code enforcement. Two special districts provide local services. The Bolinas Community Public Utility District provides water and wastewater service and contracts for garbage and recycling collection. The Bolinas Fire Protection District provides fire protection, emergency medical care, and disaster management services.

Bolinas Community Public Utility District
In 1967, the Bolinas Community Public Utility District was formed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. It merged two local water districts, the Bolinas Beach Public Utility District which served the Big Mesa, and the Bolinas Public Utility District which served the Downtown and Little Mesa, with the Marin County Sanitary District #3, formed in 1908 to provide sewer service in the downtown. The BCPUD provides water service and solid waste pickup throughout Bolinas, and sewer service to the Downtown and Little Mesa.

In November 1971, the Bolinas Community Public Utility District instituted a moratorium on new water permits, which halted the construction of new homes. The moratorium was based on the limited local water supply during the summer months and in drought years, and also serves to limit new development in Bolinas. In 1990, the BCPUD enacted a moratorium on new sewer connections, to address the limited capacity of the sewage collection system. Many lots, especially on the Big Mesa, remain undeveloped.

In 2003, Bolinas voters adopted Measure G, authored by Bolinas artist Jane "Dakar" Blethen. The advisory measure called for the following language to be adopted as a policy of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District:

"Vote for Bolinas to be a socially acknowledged nature-loving town because to like to drink the water out of the lakes to like to eat the blueberries to like the bears is not hatred to hotels and motor boats. Dakar. Temporary and way to save life, skunks and foxes (airplanes to go over the ocean) and to make it beautiful."

Regional recreation and marine protected areas
Besides the public access beach near the downtown area, there is a county park, Agate Beach, which contains extensive tide pools that are protected as part of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The town also hosts the Marin-Bolinas Botanical Gardens, and borders on the Point Reyes National Seashore to the north. Alamere Falls, one of only two beach waterfalls in the continental U.S., is on the California Coastal Trail from Palomarin Trailhead at the end of Mesa Road.

Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area lies offshore from Bolinas. Like an underwater park, this marine protected area helps conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

In popular culture
Bolinas and its reclusive reputation are featured in the 1981 novel Ecotopia Emerging by Ernest Callenbach.

Wildflowers, a 1999 film starring Daryl Hannah, was partly filmed in Bolinas.

Stickers that say "Radio Free Bolinas" were subtly put on a couple of the Y-wing pilot helmets seen in Return of the Jedi. Radio Free Bolinas was a pirate radio station that was founded in 1978, and was shut down by the FCC sometime after the station had a call from San Francisco, over 10 miles away and out of their broadcast range. This sticker was put on by the prop makers as they were likely in or around the area listening to the station while making the helmets.

title: Bolinas, California


text:
Corte Madera, California

Corte Madera (Spanish for "Chop Wood") is an incorporated town in Marin County, California. Corte Madera is located 3.25 mi south of San Rafael, at an elevation of 39 feet (12 m). The population was 10,222 at the 2020 census. The town was named after the Spanish imperative command "chop wood", as the area was famous for producing redwood tree lumber which was used in the construction of the city of San Francisco.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 sqmi, of which 3.2 sqmi of it is land and 1.2 sqmi of it (28.19%) is water.

History
The first post office in Corte Madera opened in 1878, and closed in 1880. The Adams post office opened in 1902, and changed its name later that year to Corte Madera. The name Adams honored Jerry Adams, its first postmaster. Corte Madera incorporated in 1916.

The town of Corte Madera is situated on a portion of Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio granted to John Reed in 1834 by Mexican Governor José Figueroa. Reed quickly took to the lumber industry, logging the area's immense supply of redwoods and shipping the lumber to San Francisco by way of Corte Madera Creek — some of this wood was used to build the Presidio in San Francisco; the town's growth continued.

In 1850, California joined the Union, and the Gold Rush, by then a year old, brought more settlers to the area. By 1875, the North Pacific Coast Railroad set its tracks through Corte Madera, allowing flatcars to haul lumber, and later, passenger trains to service commuters to and from San Francisco, aided in its early stages by the Sausalito ferry. A few of those commuters significantly influenced the formation of Old Town.

In 1885, a New England lawyer, Frank Morrison Pixley, was guaranteed a title for 160 acre from Reed's daughter, Hilarita. (Pixley later practiced law in San Francisco, became involved in local politics and founded an esteemed magazine called The Argonaut, whose writers included Mark Twain and Ambrose Bierce.) The Pixley family was credited with creating Corte Madera's first subdivision and with developing downtown. The population continued to grow (eventually exploding after construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937).

The first business structure in Corte Madera was a hotel and tavern just south of the train station, built by Jerry Adams of Switzerland in 1898. The three-story building still exists today on First Street, between Corte Madera Avenue and Montecito Drive, and these days houses a beauty salon, an architectural sheet metal firm and a number of residential apartments. A smaller barn-like building constructed around that time behind the Adams's hotel went through its evolution as a hardware store, a mattress place, an antique shop, a design studio, a gallery and a neighborhood video store. Today it is a textile arts studio and Swedish textile home products store.

Across from the railroad station, a huge barn was built in 1898, and was used as a livery stable, handy for horses to haul goods from nearby mines and for local freight delivery from the trains. In 1906, it then operated as Buckley & Co. general store for the next 50 years. After renovations, the barn exists today at the corner of Tamalpais Drive and Serra Street as a luxurious spa and full-service beauty salon.

In 1905, Del Mahood came to Corte Madera to be the railroad agent and stationmaster. He was also a telegrapher and, along with his brother Foster, Del operated the local telephone agency, the post office and a sweets shop in their building next to the Episcopal Church. The Mahoods' building still stands, over a century later, on Redwood Avenue. Other buildings remain from that era: the dramatic triangular-peaked Holy Innocents church built in 1901 at the northeastern corner of Old Corte Madera Square still stands, as does the Presbyterian Church built on the old road above the square around the same time. Across from the Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, two stucco structures were built in the early 1900s. That property, featuring a creamery and an automobile repair shop, now exists as a yoga studio. Most of the remaining buildings around the historical village square went up in the 1920s and 1930s.

The square around the train station was the original center of Corte Madera, around which everything bloomed. Established in 1916 and preserved by the Women's Club, Railroad Park is located in the northwest quadrant of the old train station square. It was renamed Menke Park in the early 1950s after the town leased the property from the railroad and took over maintenance of the land. Several homes constructed during that time pay tribute to the New England-influenced architecture of the late 1880s, and can still be seen in the Old Square's surrounding neighborhoods.

The hill at the base of Corte Madera is called Christmas Tree Hill because the early street lights (and later, the lighted homes) on the hill leading up to Mt. Tamalpais create the shape of a lighted Christmas tree.

Community festivals
The Fourth of July celebration—joining Corte Madera and its "twin city", Larkspur—draws thousands of spectators and residents from all over the Bay Area. The event includes a parade through Old Town, as well as festivities and a picnic in the nearby Town Park. During the Parade, winning baseball teams are in the parade, such as the minors Indians, in 2015

From the 1950s until the early 1970s, Holy Innocents Episcopal Parish held an Epiphany pageant with all of the church's younger members costumed and singing, followed by a Christmas tree bonfire in the triangle outside of the church. Residents would drop off their trees after Christmas and the fire department would supervise the burning on the twelfth day of Christmas (Epiphany). In some years, the church handed out candles to attendees. The rector of the church, Reverend Todd Ewald, chose to discontinue the bonfire in the early 1970s, saying he wanted to do it voluntarily before the growing environmental movement forced the change.

2010
The 2010 U.S. Census, reported that Corte Madera had a population of 9,253. The population density was 2,100.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Corte Madera was 7,808 (84.4%) White, 87 (0.9%) African American, 15 (0.2%) Native American, 625 (6.8%) Asian, 29 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 262 (2.8%) from other races, and 427 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 772 persons (8.3%).

The Census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 3,793 households, out of which 1,346 (35.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,012 (53.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 377 (9.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 131 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 147 (3.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 31 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,027 households (27.1%) were made up of individuals, and 461 (12.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44. There were 2,520 families (66.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.99.

The population was spread out, with 2,332 people (25.2%) under the age of 18, 390 people (4.2%) aged 18 to 24, 2,039 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 3,009 people (32.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,483 people (16.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

There were 4,026 housing units at an average density of 913.9 /sqmi, of which 2,653 (69.9%) were owner-occupied, and 1,140 (30.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 6,668 people (72.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,585 people (27.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,100 people, 3,776 households, and 2,473 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,873.3 PD/sqmi. There were 3,850 housing units at an average density of 1,215.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town in 2010 was 79.6% non-Hispanic White, 0.9% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 6.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. 8.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,776 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town. the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $79,839, and the median income for a family was $95,471. Males had a median income of $70,968 versus $50,380 for females. The per capita income for the town was $46,326. About 2.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Charles Lee is the mayor of Corte Madera. In 1980 the town merged its police department with that of its neighboring town of Larkspur to become the Twin Cities Police Authority, which subsequently merged in 2013 with the police department of San Anselmo to form the Central Marin Police Authority.

Federal and state
In the United States House of Representatives, Corte Madera is in. From 2008 to 2012, Huffman represented Marin County in the California State Assembly.

In the California State Legislature, Corte Madera is in:
 * , and

Politics
In 2017, Corte Madera had 6,267 registered voters in total, with 3,553 (56.7%) registered as Democrats, 961 (15.3%) registered as Republicans, and 1,528 (24.4%) decline-to-state voters.

Economy
Restoration Hardware and Il Fornaio are headquartered in Corte Madera.

The Village at Corte Madera and Town Center at Corte Madera are the local shopping malls.

The Old Corte Madera Town Square, surrounding Piccolo Pavilion, is home to the historic buildings mentioned in this article as well as local shops including hair salons, consignment stores, arts classrooms, and Swedish textile products.

Education
The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District serves most of Corte Madera for elementary and middle school. Neil Cummins Elementary School and Hall Middle School serve both Corte Madera and Larkspur. Neil Cummins serves grades K to 5, while Hall serves grades 6 to 8. The former San Clemente Elementary School has been reopened as The Cove School. In lieu of an extensive retrofit of the existing structures, new buildings have been built on the same site. This school will serve neighborhoods currently served by Neil Cummins Elementary, mostly to the west of Highway 101, and new developments in the area.

A portion of Corte Madera is in the Reed Union Elementary School District. Tamalpais Union High School District serves all parts of Corte Madera for high school. Redwood High School in Larkspur serves Corte Madera.

Marin Country Day School is a local private school.

A primary campus of the Lycée Français de San Francisco was formerly located in Corte Madera, until the campus moved to nearby Sausalito in 2013.

title: Corte Madera, California


text:
Dillon Beach, California

Dillon Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California, United States. It is located 3.25 mi west of Tomales, at an elevation of 89 ft. The population was 246 at the 2020 census. Dillon Beach was named after the founder, George Dillon, who settled there in 1858. The area includes a public access beach, as well as a private beach resort, the only private beach in California.

Geography
Dillon Beach is located at Bodega Bay (near the mouth of Tomales Bay), at 38.25083°N, -122.96528°W.

The Estero de San Antonio State Marine Recreational Management Area is a marine protected area located 1.5 mi north of Dillon Beach. Like an underwater park, this marine protected area helps conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.98 sqmi, all of it land.

History
The Coast Miwok people had a presence in the area around Dillon Beach long before Europeans arrived in the Americas. It is thought that a few of their villages were located within the greater Dillon Beach area, including one around the feature known locally as the Sand Point.

In the 1850s, local historical figure Tom Wood operated in the area, employing the natives in harvesting of grain to be milled nearby. He would attempt to ensure that they were not taken advantage of by the British, French, or American traders who frequented the coast. Hides and tallow were traded for various manufactured goods, among them whiskey. Despite Wood's efforts, many of them succumbed to alcoholism. Today, while a few individuals claim descent from the local Coast Miwoks, no full-blooded members are alive. Tom's Point, immediately south of Dillon Beach on the eastern shore of the bay, is named for Tom Wood, and Wood resided there with the small village he ingratiated himself into.

Irishman George Dillon and wife Mathilda arrived at what is now Dillon Beach from the eastern U.S. in 1868. When his friends and family showed interest in the area, he thought to capitalize on it; in 1888, he built an 11 bedroom hotel, restaurant, and general store. This is the Dillon Beach Resort in operation today. Visitors would explore the area on their way up the coast toward the redwood forests, strolling the beach, fishing, or digging clams from the nearby clam bars of Tomales Bay.

In 1903, Dillon sold out to John Keegan with the agreement that the beach would always be named Dillon Beach. Keegan also built cottages, one of which still stands along the road to the beach. Keegan ran a stagecoach from Dillon Beach to Tomales where it met the train.

Keegan sold the holdings to the California Eucalyptus Plantation Company in 1911. They planted the area with eucalyptus trees, a few of which still stand, but continued to operate the resort, and redoubled these efforts as the eucalyptus crop proved to warp easily and was effectively worthless. Under the subsidiary of the Dillon Beach Company, they operated the resort, ferried guests from the train in Tomales, ran a charter boat, and created Portola Beach, a subdivision along Cliff Street. Try as they might, their Dillon Beach operations were failing.

When regular visitors and Woodland ranchers Sylvester and Carrie Lawson offered to lease the property, the California Eucalyptus Plantation Company promptly agreed. Different portions of the business and land were leased or purchased by the Lawson family, and by 1942 Dillon Beach was firmly in Lawson hands. Sylvester and Carrie's older son, Howard, and his wife, Winifred, owned and ran the resort, while the younger son, Walter, and his wife, Nita, ran the southern side of the property, operating it as a ranch and opening Lawsons Landing on it. The Landing is operated by Walter's descendants to this day as a campground with a store and boating access to Tomales Bay.

During World War II, fears of a Japanese invasion of the West Coast were considered well founded, especially along sparsely populated Marin and Sonoma counties, where enemy forces could conceivably make landfall and prepare for a larger invasion of San Francisco Bay. The military commandeered many cottages and monitored the water from outposts on the surrounding hills supported by ground patrols. The sand dunes on the Lawsons Landing property were also a site for rifle and grenade practice, and the Lawson family recalls at least one instance of an armored vehicle's .50 caliber machine gun being fired around their cows, resulting in a tense conversation between soldiers and ranchers. One soldier reportedly sighted a Japanese submarine off the beach, prompting the garrison to scramble to nearby Marshall to requisition its civilian fishing boats for use in a counterattack, several of which were run by their respective owners. It took several hours to coordinate the operation, and once the soldiers finally arrived at the area of the supposed sighting, armed only with small arms, the submarine had departed, if it had been there at all.

The College of the Pacific operated from 1933 until some time in the 1980s. It stood between Portola Beach and Lawsons Landing, offering a hands-on experience for a small number of marine biology students. The concrete foundation is all that remains today, hinting at what was there before to passersby today.

During the 1960s, Oceana Marin was developed north of town by John Keegan's grandson, James Keegan of Wells Fargo Bank and Henry Trione of Sonoma County Mortgage. Fancy modern coastal houses were built on the hillsides overlooking the quaint town of small cottages, giving it a unique appeal.

The resort, day use beach, and restaurant were sold to Fred Cline in 1990 by the Lawsons. He would sell in 2018 to the group of investors owning it today.

Dillon Beach Resort
Between 2001 and 2018, Dillon Beach Resort was owned and operated by Fred and Nancy Cline of Sonoma Valley, California. In April 2018, Mike Goebel purchased the resort. It is the only private beach in California.

2010
At the 2010 census, Dillon Beach had a population of 283. The population density was 94.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Dillon Beach was 266 (94.0%) White, 3 (1.1%) Native American, 4 (1.4%) Asian, and 10 (3.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9 people (3.2%).

The census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 147 households, 20 (13.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 79 (53.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6 (4.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2 (1.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 6 (4.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 (2.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 48 households (32.7%) were one person and 26 (17.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.93. There were 87 families (59.2% of households); the average family size was 2.37.

The age distribution was 28 people (9.9%) under the age of 18, 7 people (2.5%) aged 18 to 24, 44 people (15.5%) aged 25 to 44, 127 people (44.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 77 people (27.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 57.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

There were 440 housing units at an average density of 147.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 125 (85.0%) were owner-occupied and 22 (15.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 59.3%. 84.5% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 15.5% lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census, there were 319 people, 155 households, and 103 families in the CDP. The population density was 107/sq mi (41.5/km$2$). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 140/sq mi (54/km$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP in 2010 was 90.8% non-Hispanic White, 1.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 3.5% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 155 households 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 10.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.47.

The age distribution was 14.4% under the age of 18, 1.3% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 43.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% 65 or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median household income was $47,679 and the median family income was $52,000. Males had a median income of $40,714 versus $37,083 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $39,475. None of the families and 1.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under-eighteens and none of those over 64.

title: Dillon Beach, California