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Atascadero, California

Atascadero (Spanish for "Mire") is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, located on U.S. Route 101. Atascadero is part of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses the extents of the county. Atascadero is farther inland than most other cities in the county, and as a result, usually experiences warmer, drier summers, and cooler winters than other nearby cities such as San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach. The main freeway through town is U.S. 101. The nearby State Routes 41 and 46 provide access to the Pacific Coast and the Central Valley of California.

Founded by E. G. Lewis in 1913, the city grew to 29,773 people as of 2020. Atascadero State Hospital is located in the city.

History

The Spanish word loosely means "bog" or "mire", from the verb, which means "to become stuck or hindered". On the other hand, in the Obispeño language, the site was named tsɨskikiye, which translates into a "place of much water".

The area was originally home to the Chumash and Salinan Native Americans. Between 1769 and 1823, the Spanish Franciscans established 21 missions along the California coast, including the nearby Mission San Miguel Arcángel and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain, and California became the Mexican province of Nueva California (later Alta California). In 1833, the Mexican government secularized the mission lands. Mexican governor Juan Alvarado granted Rancho Atascadero to Trifon Garcia in 1842, and Pio Pico granted Pedro Estrada Rancho Asuncion in 1845. Patrick Washington Murphy held ownership of 61000 acre at one time.

Edward Gardner Lewis, a magazine publisher from the East, founded Atascadero in 1913 as a utopian, planned colony. He had previously created such a community at University City, Missouri. After purchasing the Atascadero Ranch in 1912, Lewis put together a group of investors, paid J.H. Henry 37.50 $/acre, and celebrated acquisition of the ranch on July 4, 1913. As investors came to homestead the land that they had bought with their down payments, the area was transformed into a "tent city", with tents situated on land now occupied by Century Plaza and Bank of America. Lewis employed the services of experts in agriculture, engineering and city planning to develop his dream colony for the anticipated 30,000 residents. In 1914, the land was surveyed and subdivided. Beginning with the 1914 deed, sale of all land in Atascadero was restricted to only whites. Thousands of acres of orchards were planted, a water system was installed, and construction began on an 18 mi road (now Highway 41 west) through the Santa Lucia Mountains to the ocean (Morro Bay), where Lewis built cottages and a beachfront hotel called the Cloisters.

The first civic building in Atascadero, the Atascadero Press Building, had the first rotogravure presses west of Chicago. Lewis then published the Atascadero News newspaper and the Illustrated Review, a photo/news magazine. The centerpiece of Lewis' planned community was an Italian Renaissance-style building, which was the home to Atascadero City Hall and the Museum until it was damaged in the 2003 earthquake. After significant upgrades and renovations, the building was reopened in August 2013. Built between 1914 and 1918 with bricks made from local clay, this unique and beautiful building has become one of California's Historical Landmarks (No. 958).

Founded in 1913 by Edward Gardner Lewis and incorporated in 1979, the Atascadero Colony as it was known at the time was originally envisioned as a model community. Little evidence of Atascadero's original architecture and urban design remain, as historic buildings and homes have been torn down to make way for more modern developments and the Sunken Gardens bisected by U.S. Route 101. One of the few surviving examples of original urban design can be found, however, in the Rotunda Building located near the junior high school on Palma Avenue in the Sunken Gardens public park. Designed by Walter D. Bliss of San Francisco, construction was completed in 1918 at a cost of $180,000. It was the headquarters for the Atascadero Colony, built of reinforced concrete and locally produced brick, it had also served as a private school for boys, a veteran's memorial building, and county offices. At 6500 Palma Ave., this building was purchased by San Luis Obispo County in the 1950s as a Memorial Building. The building housed the county library, Atascadero Historical Social Museum and then the city offices following incorporation in 1979. The historic city hall is adorned with a 40 ft dome atop the third story, originally intended to house the library. The building was designated a California Historical Landmark. The city hall was damaged by the magnitude 6.5 San Simeon earthquake on the morning of December 22, 2003.

Another example of Atascadero's early architecture is the Carlton Hotel, built in 1929, located just west of the Sunken Gardens on El Camino Real, the city's main commercial street. Vacant since 1987, the building was rejuvenated, costing an estimated $15 million and completed in 2003.

The Skytherm house was developed in Atascadero. This private home pioneered solar powered cooling and heating using an integrated rooftop water system. Solar roof ponds are unique solar heating and cooling systems developed by Harold Hay in the 1960s. A basic system consists of a roof-mounted water bladder with a movable insulating cover. This system can control heat exchange between interior and exterior environments by covering and uncovering the bladder between night and day. When heating is a concern the bladder is uncovered during the day allowing sunlight to warm the water bladder and store heat for evening use. When cooling is a concern the covered bladder draws heat from the building's interior during the day and is uncovered at night to radiate heat to the cooler atmosphere. The Skytherm house in Atascadero uses a prototype roof pond for heating and cooling.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.1 mi2, of which 25.6 mi2 is land and 0.5 mi2, or 1.87 percent, is water. Atascadero is geographically the largest city in San Luis Obispo County. Atascadero is near the Carrizo Plain.

Climate
Atascadero experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean (Köppen: Csa) climate, with a high degree of diurnal temperature variation.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Atascadero had a population of 28,310. The population density was 1,083.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Atascadero was 24,457 (86.4%) White, 585 (2.1%) African American, 295 (1.0%) Native American, 685 (2.4%) Asian, 57 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 1,205 (4.3%) from other races, and 1,026 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,429 persons (15.6%).

The Census reported that 26,986 people (95.3% of the population) lived in households, 224 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,100 (3.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 10,737 households, out of which 3,428 (31.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,681 (52.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,185 (11.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 538 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 661 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 112 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,497 households (23.3%) were made up of individuals, and 879 (8.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51. There were 7,404 families (69.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.94.

The population was spread out, with 6,068 people (21.4%) under the age of 18, 2,280 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 7,244 people (25.6%) aged 25 to 44, 9,032 people (31.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,686 people (13.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.

There were 11,505 housing units at an average density of 440.3 /sqmi, of which 6,827 (63.6%) were owner-occupied, and 3,910 (36.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 17,470 people (61.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,516 people (33.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
According to the 2000 census, there were 26,411 people, 9,531 households, and 6,814 families residing in the city. The population density was 987.8 PD/sqmi. There were 9,848 housing units at an average density of 368.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 88.79% White, 2.36% African American, 0.94% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 3.19% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.54% of the population.

There were 9,531 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,725, and the median income for a family was $55,009. Males had a median income of $41,692 versus $29,740 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,029. About 6.9% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Atascadero is a general law city, governed by a city council. The council consists of five members, elected at-large: a mayor (who serves a two-year term) and four council members (who serve four-year terms).

In the California State Legislature, Atascadero is located in, and.

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

Freeways and highways
Atascadero is at the intersection of U.S. 101 and State Route 41, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on U.S. 101 with direct eastbound access to the San Joaquin Valley and Interstate 5. Atascadero is serviced by one freeway and one highway:

 * US 101 (1961 cutout).svg U.S. Route 101 (US 101) is the most heavily used road transportation arterial for the city of Atascadero and serves as its north–south gateway. US 101 runs in a north–south direction and bisects the city (along with the Salinas River) into western and eastern portions. Traveling northward from the city, US 101 runs up to San Jose, San Francisco, and continues on along the coast up through Northern California, Oregon, and finally ends near Olympia in Washington state. Traveling southward from the city, US 101 heads down to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and on to Los Angeles, ending at the East Los Angeles Interchange.
 * California 41.svg State Route 41 (SR 41) is a major north–south highway in the State of California and runs in a northeast–southwest direction through the city. Traveling southbound, SR 41 leaves the city and gradually climbs up and over the Santa Lucia Coastal Range, where it then quickly descends and meets the Pacific Ocean, in the city of Morro Bay at its southern terminus where it meets SR 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway). Traveling northbound, SR 41 leaves the city and intersects with SR 229. After traveling through rolling countryside for about 25 mi, it climbs up the Temblor Range and San Andreas Fault and overlaps with SR 46. About 25 mi later, it crosses SR 33 and eventually Interstate 5 in the Central Valley before continuing toward Fresno.

Rail transportation
The Union Pacific Railroad Coast Line between Burbank (Los Angeles) and San Jose runs through Atascadero, carrying Amtrak's Coast Starlight passenger train through the city.

The Atascadero Transit Center, at 6000 Capistrano Avenue, connects to the closest passenger railroad stations being Paso Robles station and San Luis Obispo station via Amtrak Thruway.

Amtrak Thruway 18 provides a daily connection to Visalia on the east, and Santa Maria on the west, with several stops in between.

Airports
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (IATA: SBP, ICAO: KSBP, FAA LID: SBP), also known as McChesney Field, is an airport located in San Luis Obispo serving San Luis Obispo County. The airport is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by three commercial airlines. Located just south of the City of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport serves areas as far north as southern Monterey County and as far south as northern Santa Barbara County. The airport is also home to full-service general aviation and corporate facilities.

Education
The Atascadero Unified School District contains seven elementary schools, two middle/junior high schools, two high schools, one college, and five or more miscellaneous school sites and programs.

Elementary schools

 * Monterey Road Elementary (K-5)
 * San Benito Road Elementary (K-5)
 * Santa Rosa Road Elementary (K-5)
 * San Gabriel Road Elementary (K-5)
 * Atascadero Fine Arts Academy (4-8)
 * North County Christian School (K-6) (Not in Atascadero Unified)
 * Santa Margarita Elementary (K-6) (In Atascadero Unified School District, but outside of city limits)
 * Creston Elementary (K-6) (In Atascadero Unified School District, but outside of city limits)
 * Carissa Plains Elementary (K-6) (In Atascadero Unified School District, but outside of city limits)

Middle schools

 * Atascadero Middle School (6-8)
 * Atascadero Fine Arts Academy (4-8)
 * North County Christian School (7-8)

High schools

 * Atascadero High School (9-12)
 * Paloma Creek High School (9-12)
 * North County Christian School (9-12)

Colleges

 * San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) - Atascadero Campus

Sports and recreation
Atascadero Colony Park Community Recreational Center

Lake Nacimiento is an 18 mi lake located about 23 mi northwest of the city, up in the Santa Lucia Range. In addition to fishing and swimming, the lake provides ample room for waterskiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, and other water-related activities.

Parks

 * Apple Valley Park
 * Colony Park
 * Atascadero Lake Park
 * Joy Park (all-inclusive, fenced park)
 * Paloma Creek Park
 * A-town Park (ramps and features for scooters and skateboards)
 * Stadium Park
 * Sunken Gardens
 * Heilmann Regional Park
 * Chalk Mt. park and Golf course
 * Dove Creek Park
 * "Little" Park

Atascadero City Hall
The Atascadero City Hall, also known as the Rotunda, was constructed in 1918 per the founder E.G. Lewis's vision for the Utopian community of Atascadero. In 2003, the historic building was damaged by the magnitude 6.6 San Simeon earthquake. The city took over a bowling alley for use as a temporary city hall while the building underwent extensive renovations and retrofitting. In August 2013, after ten years of closure, the original city hall building was reopened and remains in service.

Atascadero Fire Department
The Atascadero City Fire Department is an "all risk" fire department that responds to emergencies such as medical aid, structure fires, wildland fires, vehicle traffic collisions, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues and public service assists. The fire department operates from two fire stations.

Colony Park Community Center
The 18,000 ft2 community center includes a full-size gymnasium, teen center, café, arts and crafts center, dance room, conference rooms and restrooms.

Paramedic and ambulance services
San Luis Ambulance and Atascadero Fire Department.

In popular culture
Atascadero is the setting for the novel Pay It Forward.

In the movie The Grifters (1990), Atascadero is mentioned as the place a former partner-in-crime of Myra Langtry, played by Annette Bening, has retired to — insinuating that he became an inmate in Atascadero State Hospital for the criminally insane.

The 1990 film My Blue Heaven uses the City Hall exterior to depict a courthouse and the police department lobby (which was in the City Hall at the time) to film Steve Martin's character signing paperwork after being bailed out of jail.

In the 2017 Netflix series Godless, main character Roy Goode's older brother lives in Atascadero.

title: Atascadero, California


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Cambria, California

Cambria is a seaside village in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles along California State Route 1 (Highway 1). The name Cambria, chosen in 1869, is the Latin name for Wales. Cambria is situated amidst Monterey pines in one of only three such native forests. The town previously had gone by the names of Slabtown, Rosaville, San Simeon, and Santa Rosa.

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the unincorporated community as a census-designated place (CDP). The CDP of Cambria had a population of 5,678 at the 2020 census, down from 6,032 at the 2010 census.

Name
A tribal site on present-day Cambria was named tsɨtkawayu, Obispeño for "Place of the horses". The American settlement was originally known as Slabtown, with the town later known as Cambria centered at the Leffingwell cove of today's northern Moonstone Beach, which beach also featured a wharf. .

Because lumber production, ranching activities and mercury mining increased in the area, the village adopted the more dignified name of Cambria. Locals seem to agree that the name was contributed by a local surveyor from Cambria County, Pennsylvania, because the local topography and flora reminded him of that place.

However this differs from Onomastic data published in several other sources. A 1960 study of California place names, often contemporarily quoted elsewhere states "A Welshman named Llewellyn dubbed his shop 'The Cambria Carpenter Shop,' and in 1869, the good folks adopted it as the official name." Forty-three years prior to that, the History of San Luis Obispo County and environs contains a similar account:

"The first name applied to the settlement was Slabtown. Others wanted it named Santa Rosa and Roseville. It remained, however, for a decided old Welshman to name it for all time. While others were squabbling over the name, he hung out his sign, 'Cambria Carpenter Shop.' This man from Wales, Llewellyn by name, persistently spoke of the town as 'Cambria' (Wales) ; and when it came to a show-down with the postal authorities, 'Cambria' stood the test and became the town's official name."

Local tribes
The earliest human settlement of this area is known to be associated with prehistoric habitation by the Native American Chumash peoples, who harvested along the coastal area, with emphasis upon sites that were close to rivers.

Although recorded history of the tribes in this region does not begin until the explorers and missionaries arrived, there is evidence of many tribal settlements in the area later known as Cambria. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 people inhabited the area in the time (some 1,000 years) before the Spanish arrived. Experts believe these tribes to have been migratory and used Cambria as a seasonal settlement; other scientists are convinced that they lived there permanently. Most agree that they fed themselves with shellfish and seafood, as well as obtaining food from travels inland to hunt and gather seeds.

A variety of artistically-crafted implements have been discovered, including spears points and arrowheads made from obsidian; basalt, sandstone, and granite were used to make mortars and pestles; soapstone kettles and stone hammers were also found. These early inhabitants were skilled basket and net makers and fashioned jewelry from crab claws, abalone shells, and the teeth of sharks and whales. The presence of soapstone (steatite) provides evidence that they traded with the Catalina Island tribes, whereas the lack of metals and glass indicates that they did not trade with Europeans or Asians.

Early settlers and quicksilver
The first recorded visit by Europeans took place in 1769 when the Portola expedition, coming overland from the south, visited the area. The Spanish explorers camped near the present site of the Coast Union High School, on Santa Rosa Creek, on September 10, 1769, and again on December 24–25, spending the first Christmas in what later became known as Cambria. The Spanish soldiers named the site El Osito, because the local Chumash people offered them a young pet bear (which they politely refused). Gifts of food (pinole and fish) were particularly welcome on their return journey, because food supplies were running short.

Cambria is located on the Rancho Santa Rosa Mexican land grant given in 1841 to Julian Estrada.

Settlers were drawn to the area because of the fertile land, streams, and lumber. Additionally, miners were attracted to the area by the 1862 discovery of cinnabar, an ore from which mercury can be extracted. For a while, Cambria was a boom town, with $280,000 worth of mercury shipped out of San Simeon between 1867 and 1870.

During several years Cambria was a booming mine town, and prospectors flooded the area. More than 150 claims were filed in the early 1870s. The most successful of these claims, the Oceanic Quicksilver Mining Company, at one time employed 300 and was the largest mine in the area and the sixth largest in the world. Three furnaces were built, seven tunnels completed, and their stock price jumped to $30.00 per share. Hopes were high, and Cambria residents dreamed of imminent wealth. Unfortunately, by 1878, mercury prices started to fall and Cambria's first economic boom ended. As mercury prices fluctuated, Cambria's mining thrived and dwindled. During the boom of 1876, $282,832 worth of quicksilver was produced; four years later, production had decreased to only $6,760. A devastating fire in 1889 virtually ended the mercury business and Cambria settled into a quiet dairy community.

Hearst Castle and SS Montebello

Cambria has benefited greatly from the building of Hearst Castle. During the high unemployment years of the Great Depression, many Cambria citizens found welcome employment in construction. Additionally, Cambria provided supplies, services, and accommodations for many who came to build the Castle, creating prosperity in Cambria in an otherwise less prosperous decade.

War affected Cambria when the 8,000 ton Union Oil tanker SS Montebello was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine in the early morning of 23 December 1941. Cambria citizens rallied to the rescue and all six crewmen were saved. According to the captain, Olaf Eckstrom, these citizens of Cambria were real heroes: "God Bless 'em — they performed like American seamen, orderly, efficient, without hysteria." The historic Old Santa Rosa Chapel, which was built in 1870, and as one of the oldest churches in the county of San Luis Obispo, held Catholic mass until 26 May 1963. The church fell into neglect until 1978, when the chapel and cemetery were restored.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.5 sqmi, all of it land.

Climate
Cambria has a warm-summer (csb) Mediterranean climate typical for the coastal regions of southern California, experiencing an Indian summer with the warmest days in August and September. Winters are cool and wet with mild days, chilly nights, and great rainfall. Summers are warm and dry with sometimes hot days, cool nights, and almost no rainfall. Fog is common.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Cambria had a population of 6,032. The population density was 708.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Cambria was 5,166 (85.6%) White, 18 (0.3%) African American, 47 (0.8%) Native American, 78 (1.3%) Asian, 14 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 557 (9.2%) from other races, and 152 (2.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,187 persons (19.7%).

The Census reported that 6,031 people (100% of the population) lived in households; only 1 (0%) was known to live in non-institutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.

There were 2,762 households, out of which 442 (16.0%) had children under the age of 18 living with them; 1,483 (53.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 200 (7.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 75 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 130 (4.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 31 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 804 households (29.1%) were made up of individuals, and 422 (15.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 persons. There were 1,758 families (63.6% of all households); the average family consisted of 2.61 persons.

The population was spread out, with 858 people (14.2%) under the age of 18, 281 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 865 people (14.3%) aged 25 to 44, 2,116 people (35.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,912 people (31.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

There were 4,062 housing units at an average density of 477.4 per square mile (184.3/km$2$), of which 1,985 (71.9%) were owner-occupied, and 900 (28.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.1%. 4,030 people (66.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,001 people (33.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,232 people, 2,816 households, and 1,881 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 727.1 people per square mile (280.8/km$2$). There were 3,752 housing units at an average density of 437.7 per square mile (169.0/km$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.08% White, 0.35% African American, 0.99% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 4.03% from other races, and 2.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.02% of the population.

There were 2,816 households, out of which 18.6% had children under age 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present; 33.2% were non-families; 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.63 persons.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.4% aged 18 years or younger; 5.4% aged 18–24; 18.0% aged 25–44; 33.5% aged 45–64, and 26.6% aged 65 years or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,000, and the median income for a family was $55,745. Males had a median income of $36,193 versus $24,594 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,620. About 8.3% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism
The primary economic activity of Cambria is tourism. Located on the Pacific Ocean, the area has both rocky cliffs and beaches. The town and adjacent hills are known for the extensive Monterey pines that give the area a particular character. The 2012–2014 drought severely affected the forests, with estimates that as many as 40% of the trees were dying.

There are many bed and breakfast inns and hotels, especially along Moonstone Beach Drive. One visiting author described seeing "many impressive homes of highly imaginative design" and encouraged a casual tour of the residential district. The beach is home to various sea life such as seals and sea otters and tide pools filled with sea anemones, sea urchins, sea stars, crabs, snails, and more. The beach was named after the moonstones that wash ashore there. Moonstone Beach Boardwalk is a 1.5 miles walk with several beach access points and benches to allow for sea life observation and beach combing.

Hearst Castle is located approximately six miles north, and the Northern elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas is some fifteen miles to the north. Cambria is home to the Cambria Historical Museum in the historic East Village and to the California State Historical Landmark No 939, Nitt Witt Ridge.

Parks and recreation
Cambria offers a variety of recreational activities such as bicycling and hiking. Local beaches offer a venue to boogie board, surf, and skimboard. Ocean fishing is conducted off area beaches. Local kayak fishing tours are available.

Protected areas
The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (formerly known as the East-West Ranch) is a 430 acre park that separates Cambria's East and West Villages; it protects over a mile of spectacular Pacific Ocean coastline. The Fiscalinis were pioneering Italian Swiss dairymen, who moved into the Cambria region in the 1880s; they acquired a number of dairy farms, including what they called the Town Ranch. The Fiscalini family donated small plots of the Town Ranch as building sites for the Cambria public library, the Veterans Memorial, and a museum. By the 1970s, the Fiscalini heirs, facing an inheritance tax of over one million dollars, sought a buyer, preferably a non-profit organization. None came forth, and in 1979 they sold the property to a developer, who went bankrupt in 1989 after failing to win approval of his ambitious development plans. The Fiscalini property was then sold for three million dollars to wealthy investors in the early 1990s. However, their development plans were also rejected, and in 2000 they sold the property to the American Land Conservancy. The park is managed by the Cambria Community Services District.

Marine protected areas
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area and White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area are marine protected areas off the coast of Cambria. Much like other underwater parks, the marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

Geology
Cambria is built on the Cambria Slab, a 5,000 ft. thick late-Cretaceous sandstone in a rather enigmatic geologic setting, completely surrounded by Franciscan Formation rocks, mostly mélange. The Cambria Slab extends from Villa Creek in Estero Bluffs State Park to San Simeon Creek, holding up the high coastal ridge between Cayucos and San Simeon State Park. The sandstones are massively bedded. Bedding is only occasionally visible, as at the Leffingwell Landing bridge on Moonstone Beach. Compositionally, they are a feldspathic graywacke. The rocks in places are distorted and sheared (for example, below the high bluff at the north end of Moonstone Beach), and in a few areas injected by Franciscan mélanges and serpentinites (as on the beach below the high bluff at the north end of the Bluff Trail in the Fiscalini Ranch preserve). The Slab was deposited in an area of active subduction during the plate-tectonic assembly of today's coastal California.

Government
In the state legislature Cambria is in, and in.

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

Education
Cambria is home to the Coast Unified School District. The Coast Unified has one K-5 elementary school, one 6–8 middle school, one traditional 9–12 high school, Coast Union High School, and one alternative high school. The District also serves the communities of San Simeon to the north and Cayucos to the south (grades 9–12) as well as the surrounding rural areas.

Coast Union High School
Coast Union High School, home of the Broncos, is a very small public high school located on the farmland of Cambria. It typically enrolls around 150 students, all active in FFA, school clubs, athletics, and many other school activities.

Athletics
Although known for its very small enrollment, Coast Union does perform well in sports. The girls volleyball team has won two CIF Southern Section Championships: in 1993's Division VI and 2011's Division 5A. CUHS also won the sectional 1978 title in the 8-man football division. The school has also won numerous league championships.

Two of the town's most recent NCAA Division I products include Quentin Cate, a former Horizon League Baseball Player of the Week, and Jeb Heavenrich, a football player for Princeton.

Infrastructure
The community gets its water supply from wells that tap San Simeon and Santa Rosa creeks. The area is vulnerable to shortages due to the reliance on an unstable network of creeks, lakes and State Water Project allocations. The Cambria Community Services District is building a treatment plant to treat brackish water and return it to the aquifer. The water is a combination of groundwater, percolated wastewater treatment plant effluent, mixed with fresh water and salt water. The $9.13 million water treatment plant has critics who contend it will damage the delicate ecosystem, particularly San Simeon Creek lagoon, and burden ratepayers for years.

Notable people

 * Bradford Angier, survivalist writer
 * Red Holloway, saxophonist
 * Peter Horton, actor, producer
 * Catherine Ryan Hyde, author
 * Jude Johnstone, singer-songwriter (former resident)
 * Warren Leopold, architect and painter
 * Christopher Moore, author
 * S.J. Main Muñoz, director
 * George Papashvily, author, sculptor
 * Nehemiah Persoff, actor
 * Charlie Shoemake, vibraphonist
 * Kath Soucie, cartoon voice actress
 * Paul Squibb, Founder of Midland School, Los Olivos, California

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

title: Cambria, California


text:
Cayucos, California

Cayucos (Spanish for "Canoe") is an unincorporated coastal town in San Luis Obispo County, California, along California State Route 1 between Cambria to the north and Morro Bay to the south. The population was 2,505 at the 2020 census, down from 2,592 at the 2010 census.

History
The area was settled by the Chumash people approximately 11000 to 10000 BC. It included a large village to the south of Cayucos at Morro Creek.

The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, camped in the vicinity of today's Cayucos on September 9, 1769. Coming from the previous campsite near Morro Bay, Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespi noted in his diary that "In the four hours that we traveled, making at the most three leagues, we encountered eight arroyos by which the water from the mountains runs to the sea, along whose edge we traveled. We halted at the eighth watering place in a moderately broad valley, into which enters an estuary fed by an arroyo of good water coming from the mountains." Crespi translator Herbert Bolton noted the camp location as Ellysley Creek (further along the coast to the northwest), but the description sounds more like Cayucos.

Cayucos is named for the cayuco, a Spanish name for a small canoe. It was named after the canoes used by the Chumash people to fish in the bay, particularly in the rich kelp beds just north of the current Cayucos pier. The town took its name from the old Rancho Moro y Cayucos, a Mexican land grant awarded in 1842 that includes the present area of the town.

In 1867, Captain James Cass settled on 320 acre of this land, and founded the town of Cayucos. Cass began developing the area with his business partner, Captain Ingals. Cass built a 900-foot pier and a warehouse to house cargo bound for San Francisco or Los Angeles. Eventually Cass returned to life on the sea and in 1875 real estate developer C.H. Phillips subdivided and sold the remaining portions of Rancho Moro y Cayucos. The original pier was swept away by a storm but has since been rebuilt.

On December 7, 1987, Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771, bound from Los Angeles International Airport to San Francisco, was cruising above the central California coast when a recently terminated disgruntled USAir employee aboard the plane shot his ex-supervisor, both pilots, a flight attendant and presumably PSA's chief pilot, before deliberately inducing a steep nosedive with the aircraft. The aircraft slammed into a hillside just east of Cayucos at 770 mph. All 43 passengers and crew aboard perished.

In October 2009, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine listed Cayucos as one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America".

Geography
Cayucos is located at 35.43833°N, -120.89056°W (35.438390, -120.890647).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 sqmi, of which, 3.1 sqmi of it is land and 0.4 sqmi of it (10.85%) is water.

Cayucos is home to Cayucos State Beach.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Cayucos had a population of 2,592. The population density was 745.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Cayucos was 2,366 (91.3%) White, 6 (0.2%) African American, 12 (0.5%) Native American, 54 (2.1%) Asian, 8 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 57 (2.2%) from other races, and 89 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 207 persons (8.0%).

The Census reported that 2,592 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,314 households, out of which 214 (16.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 578 (44.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 105 (8.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 45 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 76 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 10 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 471 households (35.8%) were made up of individuals, and 195 (14.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97. There were 728 families (55.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.53.

The age of the population was spread out, with 337 people (13.0%) under the age of 18, 169 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 488 people (18.8%) aged 25 to 44, 946 people (36.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 652 people (25.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

There were 2,354 housing units at an average density of 677.0 /sqmi, of which 781 (59.4%) were owner-occupied, and 533 (40.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.8%. 1,555 people (60.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,037 people (40.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,943 people, 1,405 households, and 809 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 954.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,284 housing units at an average density of 740.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.82% White, 6.80% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 2.17% from two or more races, 2.11% from other races, 1.26% Asian, 0.37% Native American, 0.24% African American, and 0.03% Pacific Islander.

There were 1,405 households, out of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.62.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,841, and the median income for a family was $53,594. Males had a median income of $35,333 versus $31,359 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,525. About 2.4% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Cayucos is in the 17th State Senate District and the 35th Assembly District.

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

Economy
Tourism plays a big role in the downtown Cayucos economy.

The Cayucos Pier is a popular surf spot and one of the best in the county, attracting many beachgoers.

Cayucos has its own Chamber of Commerce and website.

Cayucos is home to many small businesses, such as Cayucos Collective and restaurants, such as The Hidden Kitchen and Schooners.

title: Cayucos, California


text:
Grover Beach, California

Grover Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 12,701 at the 2020 census, down from 13,156 in 2010. Grover Beach is the location of the Pacific Crossing cable Landing station. This is where trans-pacific submarine communications cables come ashore and interface with the North American telecom network.

History
Grover Beach was originally known as Town of Grover, which was founded on August 1, 1887. The town was named for its founder, D.W. Grover.

Grover filed his plans at the San Luis Obispo County Court House and eventually founded what was to be known as City of Grover City. There was a popular vote that allowed incorporating on December 21, 1959, as City of Grover City. However, the name seemed redundant so some people sought better names, especially ocean-oriented names. In 1992, there was another popular vote, in which the town's name was officially changed from "City of Grover City" to "Grover Beach" to emphasize the seaside location.

Geography
Grover Beach is part of the 5 Cities Metropolitan Area. The "5 Cities" includes 3 cities; Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, and Arroyo Grande along with Oceano and Shell Beach (part of Pismo Beach). The city extends from Arroyo Grande in the east to Pismo State Beach.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 sqmi, of which 99.81% is land and 0.19% is water.

Climate
This region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Grover Beach has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010
At the 2010 census, Grover Beach had a population of 13,156. The population density was 5,684.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Grover Beach was 9,964 (75.7%) White, 146 (1.1%) African American, 186 (1.4%) Native American, 542 (4.1%) Asian, 35 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,582 (12.0%) from other races, and 701 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,840 persons (29.2%).

The census reported that 12,967 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 185 (1.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4 (0.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,111 households, 1,656 (32.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,178 (42.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 735 (14.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 335 (6.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 428 (8.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 54 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,330 households (26.0%) were one person and 439 (8.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54. There were 3,248 families (63.5% of households); the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 2,928 people (22.3%) under the age of 18, 1,264 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,809 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 3,603 people (27.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,552 people (11.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

There were 5,748 housing units at an average density of 2,483.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,390 (46.8%) were owner-occupied and 2,721 (53.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 5,719 people (43.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,248 people (55.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census, there were 13,067 people in 5,023 households, including 3,305 families, in the city. The population density was 5,637.4 PD/sqmi. There were 5,382 housing units at an average density of 2,321.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 79.75% White, 1.03% African American, 1.69% Native American, 3.75% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 9.23% from other races, and 4.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.51%.

Of the 5,023 households 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 24.6% of households were one person and 8.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median household income was $38,087 and the median family income was $41,859. Males had a median income of $31,045 versus $26,506 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,812. About 8.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Grover Beach is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Grover Beach is in.

Transportation
The Grover Beach station is the only rail station in the five cities area, and is located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and State Highway 1, adjacent to Pismo State Beach.

Amtrak Thruway 18 provides a daily connection to Visalia on the east, and Santa Maria on the west, with several stops in between. These buses depart from the stop situated directly across the tracks. A recent expansion of the station has moved the bus stop to the west side of the tracks, adjacent to the station building.

San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority operates additional bus lines that run from Grover Beach to most cities in San Luis Obispo county, as well as Santa Maria.

title: Grover Beach, California


text:
Lake Nacimiento, California

Lake Nacimiento is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern San Luis Obispo County, California, United States.

The population of Lake Nacimiento was 2,956 at the 2020 census, up from 2,411 at the 2010 census.

Geography
The community of Lake Nacimiento is located at Lake Nacimiento reservoir, in the Santa Lucia Mountains, at 35.7375°N, -120.88139°W (35.737585, -120.881328).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.3 sqmi, 99.77% of it land and 0.23% of it water. The lake is often referred to as Dragon Lake, due to its unusual but distinct shape.

Climate
The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csb" (Mediterranean Climate).

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Lake Nacimiento had a population of 2,411. The population density was 234.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lake Nacimiento was 2,153 (89.3%) White, 12 (0.5%) African American, 44 (1.8%) Native American, 24 (1.0%) Asian, 5 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 75 (3.1%) from other races, and 98 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 256 persons (10.6%).

The Census reported that 2,411 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,006 households, out of which 272 (27.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 581 (57.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 67 (6.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 45 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 66 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 237 households (23.6%) were made up of individuals, and 69 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40. There were 693 families (68.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.83.

The population was spread out, with 489 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 163 people (6.8%) aged 18 to 24, 549 people (22.8%) aged 25 to 44, 865 people (35.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 345 people (14.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

There were 1,776 housing units at an average density of 172.6 /mi2, of which 771 (76.6%) were owner-occupied, and 235 (23.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 1,784 people (74.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 627 people (26.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,176 people, 904 households, and 676 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 293.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,283 housing units at an average density of 172.8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.52% White, 0.32% African American, 1.33% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 1.06% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.31% of the population.

There were 904 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% 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 2.74.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,958, and the median income for a family was $57,206. Males had a median income of $41,447 versus $34,219 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,798. About 2.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Lake Nacimiento is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lake Nacimiento is in.

title: Lake Nacimiento, California


text:
Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay (Morro, Spanish for "Hill")  is a seaside city in San Luis Obispo County, California. Located on the Central Coast of California, the city population was 10,757 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,234 at the 2010 census. The town overlooks Morro Bay, a natural embayment with an all-weather small craft commercial and recreational harbor.

History
The prehistory of Morro Bay relates to Chumash settlement, particularly near the mouth of Morro Creek. At least as early as the Millingstone Horizon thousands of years before present, there was an extensive settlement along the banks and terraces above Morro Creek. A tribal site on present-day Morro Bay was named tsɨtqawɨ, Obispeño for "Place of the Dogs".

The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolá expedition, came down Los Osos Valley and camped near today's Morro Bay on September 8, 1769. Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespí noted in his diary that "we saw a great rock in the form of a round morro".

The first recorded Filipinos to visit America arrived at Morro Bay on October 18, 1587, from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza; one of whom was killed by local Native Americans while scouting ahead.

While governed by Mexico, large land grants split the surrounding area into cattle and dairy ranchos. These ranchos needed shipping to bring in dry goods and to carry their crops, animals, and other farm products to cities.

The town of Morro Bay was founded by Franklin Riley in 1870 as a port for the export of dairy and ranch products. He was instrumental in the building of a wharf which has now become the Embarcadero. During the 1870s, schooners could often be seen at the Embarcadero picking up wool, potatoes, barley, and dairy products.

A subspecies of butterfly, the "Morro Bay Blue" or " Morro Blue" (Icaricia icarioides moroensis) was first found at Morro beach, by the entomologist Robert F. Sternitzky, in June 1929.

During World War II, there was a U.S. Navy base, Amphibious Training Base Morro Bay on the north side of Morro Rock where sailors were trained to operate LCVPs. The breakwater on the southwest side of the Rock was built in 1944–45 to protect the LCVPs entering and leaving the harbor. Soldiers from Camp San Luis Obispo would come to Morro Bay and practice loading into the LCVPs. Many of those men were at Normandy on D-Day.

In the 1940s, Morro Bay developed an abalone fishing industry; it peaked in 1957, and stocks of abalone have declined significantly due to overfishing. Halibut, sole, rockfish, albacore, and many other species are still caught by both commercial and sport vessels. In addition, oysters are aquacultured in the shallow back bay.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company built the Morro Bay Power Plant in the early 1950s, which created jobs and increased the tax base. The city incorporated in 1964. The plant closed in February 2014.

Geography
Morro Bay is the name of the large estuary that is situated along the northern shores of the bay itself. The larger bay on which the local area lies is Estero Bay, which also encompasses the communities of Cayucos and Los Osos. The city of Morro Bay is 20 km northwest of San Luis Obispo and is located on Highway 1. Los Osos Creek discharges into Morro Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 sqmi, of which, 5.3 sqmi of it is land and 5.0 sqmi of it (48.63%) is water.

Morro Rock
Morro Rock is a 576 foot high volcanic plug located at the entrance to the harbor. The descriptive term morro is common to the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian languages, and the word is part of many place names where there is a distinctive and prominent hill-shaped rock formation. Originally, it was surrounded by water, but the northern channel was filled in to make the harbor. It was quarried from 1889 to 1969, and in 1968, it was designated a Historical Landmark.

The area around the base of Morro Rock is open to visitors, with parking lots and paths. Climbing the rock is prohibited due to risk of injury, and because it is a peregrine falcon reserve.

Morro Rock is one in a series of similar plugs that stretch in a line inland called the Nine Sisters.

Morro Bay Harbor
Morro Bay is a natural embayment with an artificial harbor constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is the only all-weather small craft commercial and recreational harbor between Santa Barbara and Monterey. Morro Rock was originally surrounded by water, but the Army built a large artificial breakwater and road across the north end of the harbor, linking Morro Rock and the mainland. Some of the rock used for this and for the artificial breakwaters was quarried from Morro Rock itself. Other rock was imported by barge from Catalina Island. The bay extends inland and parallels the shore for a distance of about 6.4 km south of its entrance at Morro Rock. Morro Bay is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy.

There is usually a small summer colony of otters in the kelp near the harbor entrance.

Climate
Morro Bay experiences a mild warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) characteristic of coastal California featuring dry, warm summers and wet, mild winters. The city is located next to the Pacific Ocean, which helps moderate temperatures and create an overall pleasant mild year-round climate, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers compared with places farther inland, such as Atascadero. Summers in Morro Bay are cool for a city located on the 35th parallel north latitude, with July averaging around 60 °F. Winters are mild, with January averaging at 55 °F with around 8 days of measurable precipitation.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Morro Bay had a population of 10,234. The population density was 991.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Morro Bay was 8,909 (87.1%) White, 44 (0.4%) African American, 92 (0.9%) Native American, 258 (2.5%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 613 (6.0%) from other races, and 309 (3.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,526 persons (14.9%).

The Census reported that 10,073 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 36 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 125 (1.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 4,844 households, out of which 919 (19.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,972 (40.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 405 (8.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 217 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 330 (6.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 35 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,808 households (37.3%) were made up of individuals, and 783 (16.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08. There were 2,594 families (53.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.

The population was spread out, with 1,530 people (15.0%) under the age of 18, 815 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 2,264 people (22.1%) aged 25 to 44, 3,200 people (31.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,425 people (23.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

There were 6,320 housing units at an average density of 612.3 /mi2, of which 2,583 (53.3%) were owner-occupied, and 2,261 (46.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. 5,218 people (51.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,855 people (47.4%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,350 people, 4,986 households, and 2,612 families residing in Morro Bay. The population density was 2,006.9 PD/sqmi. There were 6,251 housing units at an average density of 1,212.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 89.44% White, 0.68% African American, 0.95% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.43% of the population.

There were 4,986 households, out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. Of all households 38.0% were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,379, and the median income for a family was $43,508. Males had a median income of $31,073 versus $25,576 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,687. About 8.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Morro Bay High School and Del Mar Elementary offer education for grades K−5 and 9−12.

Economy
Tourism is the city's largest industry, coexisting with the town's commercial fishery. A number of tourist attractions are found along the shoreline and the streets closest to it, especially the Embarcadero, including restaurants, shops and parks. Further, hospitality is the cornerstone of Morro Bay's economy. The city heavily relies on visitors staying at hotels as tax revenues from those stays make up a significant portion of the city's General Fund. The importance of travelers staying in hotels is solidified by the number and variety of accommodations. Hotels, motels, and inns within Morro Bay continuously adapt to accommodate visitors by investing in their amenities, accommodations, and conditions.

The most popular beach is on the north side of Morro Rock, north of the harbor. There are also excellent beaches north and south of the town, Morro Strand State Beach and Morro Bay State Park, respectively.

Power plant

The power plant has played a large role in Morro Bay, and in providing electricity to the Central Coast and the Central Valley of California (primarily Fresno and Bakersfield). The plant was built in the 1950s. The plant was staffed with 44 employees. A portion of the city's budget came from taxes on the natural gas the plant burned. Previously owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.(PG&E), Duke Energy, and LSPower (PG&E), Dynegy had hoped to modernize it with a new combined cycle plant. The plant was operating at relatively low capacity factors (approximately 5%) under contract with PG&E, due primarily to economics.

Continued operation would have required expensive upgrades by 2015. The 650-megawatt plant operated around the clock during the energy crisis of 2000, but the plant had been operating at just one-sixth of that capacity in the recent years preceding its closure. The modernization proposal was rejected, and the plant closed in February 2014.

In 2018, a joint venture of German energy company EnBW and Seattle-based Trident Winds announced its plan to obtain the power plant's grid connection to connect a 650 MW floating offshore wind park comprising up to 100 floating wind turbines and a floating substation situated some 30. mi off the coast.

In 2021, the city council of Morro Bay voted 4–1 to take down the power plant's smoke stacks by 2028. The city estimated that maintaining the smoke stacks would cost around a million dollars per year. Vistra Corp agreed to tear down the stacks and plans to build a $600 MW$ lithium-ion battery installation.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Morro Bay is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Morro Bay is in California's 24th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +4 and is represented by.

Notable people

 * James Horvath, children's author and illustrator
 * Jack LaLanne, American fitness, exercise, nutritional expert and motivational speaker
 * Jerome Long, NFL defensive lineman
 * Kent Nagano, conductor and opera administrator, grew up in Morro Bay and graduated from Morro Bay High School
 * Mel Queen, professional baseball player, coach, scout and executive
 * Gladys Walton, silent film actress

In popular culture

 * Morro Bay served as the primary setting for Pixar's 2016 film Finding Dory, in which it was revealed that Dory's childhood home was the Marine Life Institute, known as "The Jewel of Morro Bay, California".
 * Murder by Numbers was filmed on the Morro Bay Embarcadero, as well as in Los Osos and San Luis Obispo.
 * The track scenes in the 1982 film Personal Best were filmed at Morro Bay High School, with other filming throughout San Luis Obispo County.
 * Morro Bay is an album by indie pop band Brazzaville, released in 2013. It also included a self-titled song.
 * Morro Bay is mentioned with other Californian sights and locations in the Beach Boys song "California Saga: California", released 1973 on the album Holland.
 * Morro Bay provides the setting for episode five, season four of television drama series The Affair (2018).
 * Morro Bay is the location of the fictional Night City in the Cyberpunk role-playing game franchise, including the CD Projekt Red video game Cyberpunk 2077.
 * There is a fictional version of the town called Paleto Bay in 2013's Grand Theft Auto V by Rockstar Games.

title: Morro Bay, California


text:
Nipomo, California

Nipomo (Chumash: Nipumuʔ) is an unincorporated town in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 16,714 for the 2010 census and grew to 18,176 for the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Nipomo as a census-designated place (CDP).

Name
The name is the Spanish transliteration of the Obispeño Chumash place name Nipumuʔ, meaning "place of the big house" or "village".

History

The original settlers of Nipomo were the Chumash Indians, who have lived in the area for over 9,000 years. Rancho Nipomo (the Chumash word ne-po-mah meant "foot of the hill") was one of the first and largest of the Mexican land grants in San Luis Obispo County. William G. Dana of Boston, a sea captain whose travels led him to California, married Maria Josefa Carrillo of Santa Barbara. In 1837, the 38000 acre Rancho Nipomo was granted to Captain Dana by the Mexican governor. The Dana Adobe, created in 1839, served as an important stop for travelers on El Camino Real between Mission San Luis Obispo and Mission Santa Barbara. The adobe was a stage coach stop and became the exchange point for mail going between north and south in the first regular mail route in California. The Danas had several children, thirteen of whom reached adulthood. They learned both English and Spanish, as well as the language of the Chumash natives.

In 1846, U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont and his soldiers stopped at the rancho on their way south to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Captain Dana hosted a barbecue and gave Fremont's men 30 fresh horses. By the 1880s the Dana descendants had built homes on the rancho and formed a town. Streets were laid out and lots were sold to the general public. The Pacific Coast Railway (narrow gauge) came to town in 1882, and trains ran through Nipomo until The Great Depression in the 1930s. By the end of 1942, the tracks had been removed for the World War II war effort.

Thousands of Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees were planted on the Nipomo Mesa in 1908 by two men who formed the Los Berros Forest Company with the idea of selling the trees as hardwood. Groves of these non-native trees still exist in rows as they were originally planted.

Nipomo Mesa is the location of one of the most famous photographs of the Great Depression, "Migrant Mother", by Dorothea Lange.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 14.9 sqmi, virtually all of it land.

Climate
This region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Nipomo has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2020
At the 2020 census Nipomo had a population of 18,176. The population density was 1,205.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Nipomo was 12,669 (69.7%) White, 327 (1.8%) African American, 218 (1.2%) Native American, 291 (1.6%) Asian, 50 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,527 (8.4%) from other races, and 3,090 (17.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,233 persons (50.8%). 2,945 (16.2%) persons were 65 years or older and 4,791 (25.6%) were minors (under 18 years of age).

The census reported that 67.9% of the population lived in owner-occupied households with the average home value bring $594,800. The Median gross rent from 2017 to 2021 was $1,640.

There were 5,667 households, 3,353 where the average household size was 3.25.

2010
At the 2010 census Nipomo had a population of 16,714. The population density was 1,125.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Nipomo was 12,281 (73.5%) White, 177 (1.1%) African American, 200 (1.2%) Native American, 421 (2.5%) Asian, 33 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,821 (16.9%) from other races, and 781 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,645 persons (39.8%).

The census reported that 16,703 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 11 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 5,474 households, 2,258 (41.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,353 (61.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 686 (12.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 326 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 338 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 49 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 807 households (14.7%) were one person and 346 (6.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.05. There were 4,365 families (79.7% of households); the average family size was 3.35.

The age distribution was 4,422 people (26.5%) under the age of 18, 1,531 people (9.2%) aged 18 to 24, 4,058 people (24.3%) aged 25 to 44, 4,593 people (27.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,110 people (12.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

There were 5,759 housing units at an average density of 387.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,898 (71.2%) were owner-occupied and 1,576 (28.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%. 11,583 people (69.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,120 people (30.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 12,626 people, 4,035 households, and 3,316 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,106.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,146 housing units at an average density of 363.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.9% White, 0.6% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.0% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.6%.

Of the 4,035 households 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 13.5% of households were one person and 6.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.42.

The age distribution was 30.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median household income was $49,852 and the median family income was $54,338. Males had a median income of $41,288 versus $25,509 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,824. About 5.6% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation
Nipomo Community Park is 74 acre and includes hiking, horseback riding, a dog park, and a skate park.

The Dana Adobe is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire Rancho Nipomo is listed as a California Historical Landmark.

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

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

Colleges and universities

 * Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria
 * Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo
 * California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)

School district

 * Lucia Mar Unified School District
 * Elementary
 * Nipomo Elementary (K-6) 190 E Price, Nipomo. Attended primarily by students living east of US 101.
 * Dana Elementary (K-6) 920 W. Tefft St., Nipomo. For students west of US 101 living nearby.
 * Dorothea Lange Elementary (K-6) 1661 Via Alta Mesa, Nipomo. Attended by other Nipomo area students living west of US 101.
 * Middle school
 * Mesa Middle School (7th-8th) 2555 Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande. Located within original Rancho Nipomo boundaries.  Stresses character education, and competes in basketball, volleyball, wrestling, track, and soccer.  Also known for drama and music programs.
 * High school
 * Nipomo High School (9th-12th) 525 N. Thompson Road, Nipomo. It was opened in 2002. Before that students attended Arroyo Grande High School.
 * Central Coast New Tech High School (9th-12th). Is a public charter school opened in 2012 with a freshman class. The school added a freshman class each year, reaching all four classes in the 2015–2016 school year.

Notable people

 * Casey Alexander (b 1975) screenwriter (SpongeBob SquarePants, Uncle Grandpa)
 * Akeem King (b 1992) is a former NFL player for the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
 * Mike Lamond (b 1987), more commonly known by his online alias Husky or HuskyStarcraft, is a former sports commentator, YouTuber, director, and voice actor.
 * Jeff McNeil (b 1992), is a professional baseball player for the New York Mets.
 * Leigh Rubin - creator of the syndicated comic strip Rubes
 * Florence Owens Thompson (1903–1983) was an American woman who was the subject of Dorothea Lange's photograph Migrant Mother (1936)
 * Don Siegel (1912–1991) was an American film and television director and producer

Infrastructure
The Nipomo Community Services District, a Special-purpose district, provides a majority of the town with water with the rest of the community being services by Golden State Water.

title: Nipomo, California


text:
Oceano, California

Oceano (Spanish: Océano, meaning "Ocean") is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 7,183 at the 2020 census, down from 7,286 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Oceano is located at 35.10278°N, -120.61139°W (35.102680, -120.611471).

Oceano is part of the 5 Cities Metropolitan Area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.5 sqmi, of which, 1.5 sqmi of it is land and 0.02 sqmi of it (0.98%) is water.

Oceano's beach is the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, a 1500 acre coastal sand dune. As the only state park in California where visitors may drive vehicles on the beach, tourists are attracted from all over the United States. Activities on this beach include riding the sand dunes on all-terrain-vehicles, swimming, clamming, camping, surfing, surf fishing, hiking, and bird watching.

2010
At the 2010 census Oceano had a population of 7,286. The population density was 4710.2 PD/sqmi. The ethnic makeup of Oceano was 5,105 (70.1%) White, 62 (0.9%) African American, 120 (1.6%) Native American, 165 (2.3%) Asian, 7 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,509 (20.7%) from other races, and 318 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,484 persons (47.8%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 2,603 households, 904 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,147 (44.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 360 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 197 (7.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 197 (7.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 38 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 680 households (26.1%) were one person and 266 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80. There were 1,704 families (65.5% of households); the average family size was 3.39.

The population was spread out, with 1,738 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 747 people (10.3%) aged 18 to 24, 2,028 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,870 people (25.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 903 people (12.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

There were 3,117 housing units at an average density of 2,015.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,355 (52.1%) were owner-occupied and 1,248 (47.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 3,444 people (47.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,842 people (52.7%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 7,260 people, 2,447 households, and 1,722 families in the CDP. The population density was 4,774.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,762 housing units at an average density of 1,816.4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.73% White, 1.12% African American, 1.29% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 21.78% from other races, and 5.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.63%.

Of the 2,447 households, 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.0% of households were one person, and 9.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.50.

The age distribution was 29.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The median household income was $38,014 and the median family income was $39,254. Males had a median income of $28,180 versus $21,310 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,561. About 14.1% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

History
The environs of Oceano were the home of "Halcyon," a utopian religious community established in 1903 by the theosophical Temple of the People, based in Syracuse, New York. The group, which believed in channeling unseen electromagnetic forces in an effort to attain human perfection, constructed a number of buildings in association with their colonizing effort, including the Blue Star Memorial Temple and the Halcyon Hotel and Sanatorium.

In 1948, Oceano, was the site of the founding by Catherine Nimmo (a registered nurse and Doctor of Chiropractic who had recently moved there from the Netherlands ) and Rubin Abramowitz (an engineer) of the U.S. Vegan Society, the first vegan society in the United States. The Society lasted from 1948 to 1960 and was a predecessor to the American Vegan Society.

Culture

 * Irish poet and Celtic mythologist Ella Young's final years were spent in Oceano (she died there in 1956).

Government
The Oceano Community Services District provides the following services: fire and emergency, water, wastewater collection, solid waste, parks and recreation, and limited street lighting.

As an unincorporated town in San Luis Obispo County, Oceano is in the Board of Supervisors 4th District.

In the state legislature Oceano is in, and in.

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

title: Oceano, California


text:
Pismo Beach, California

Pismo Beach (Chumash: Pismuʔ) is a city in the southern portion of San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. Its estimated population was 8,072 at the 2020 census, up from 7,655 in the 2010 census. It is part of the Five Cities area, a cluster of cities in that area. The Five Cities area historically is made up of Arroyo Grande, Grover City (now Grover Beach), Halcyon, Fair Oaks, and Nipomo. Now most people refer to the Five Cities as Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach (which is actually a part of Pismo Beach), Arroyo Grande, and Oceano (which is unincorporated county land serviced by the Oceano Community Services District).

History

The Chumash people are the historic inhabitants of the region, with indigenous peoples having lived along the California coast for at least 11,000 years. The name Pismo comes from the Chumash language word for tar, pismuʔ, which was gathered from tar springs in Price Canyon near Pismo Beach. The tar was a valuable product, which the Chumash used to caulk their seagoing canoes, called tomol, which traveled along the coast and out to the Channel Islands. The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolá expedition, passed through the area, traveling up Price Canyon from Pismo Beach, where they camped on September 4, 1769. Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespí noted in his diary that they found a Chumash village near the creek.

Pismo Beach is located on the Rancho Pismo Mexican land grant made to José Ortega, grandson of José Francisco Ortega, in 1840. In 1846, José Ortega sold Rancho Pismo to Isaac Sparks. John Michael Price bought most of the rancho from Sparks. Price established the town of Pismo Beach in 1891. His homestead is now Price Historical Park. His home is a registered historical landmark. Pismo is known as the clam capital of the world. Nearly over 2.5 million people visit Pismo Beach.

The first wharf at Pismo was built in 1882, followed by a full-length pier built in 1924 that was financed and constructed by William Woodrow Ward, who allowed full use of it by the public. After it suffered considerable storm damage, the pier was renovated again in 1985. Pismo State Beach is named for the city of Pismo Beach.

The neighborhoods of Shell Beach and Sunset Palisades were the site of a Chumash village, and significant archeological sites are located in both areas. Shell Beach became agricultural land, mostly pea fields. Developer Floyd Calvert bought and developed the area in 1926. At first, it was a local resort area; after World War II, it became primarily residential. Sunset Palisades, originally called Oilport, was the site of an oil refinery from 1907 until after World War II; it is now residential.

Clams
The Pismo clam was named for the long, wide beach where so many were once found, once in such abundance that they were harvested with plows. Clamming once drew thousands of clammers to Pismo during low tides, and is still legal, but due to overharvesting by humans and the protected sea otter (which feasts on clams), few clams are now to be found.

Pismo Beach adopted the name "Clam Capital of the World" in the 1950s, though this motto is no longer used. The city still holds the Clam Festival every October, complete with clam chowder competitions and a clam-themed parade.

At the southern end of Price Street upon first entering Pismo Beach is a gigantic concrete clam statue. The 8 in shell of a Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) is on display at the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 sqmi, of which 9.9 sqmi (73.29%) is covered by water.

Pismo Creek enters the Pacific Ocean at Pismo Beach. The southern end of Pismo Beach runs alongside sand dunes, which are followed by eucalyptus trees that attract thousands of migrating monarch butterflies every November through February.

Meadow Creek is a short creek that runs through the Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve and hosts a variety of wildlife despite its urban surroundings, including beaver (Castor canadensis).

Climate
Pismo Beach has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb). Despite the subtropical latitude (the same as Cape Hatteras, North Carolina,) summers are quite cool and the change in seasonal temperatures is quite small. The hardiness zone is 9b/10a, which is a full zone higher than Cape Hatteras.

2010
The 2010 United States census reported that Pismo Beach had a population of 7,655. The population density was 568.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Pismo Beach was 91.1% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. About 9.3% were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

The census reported that 7,642 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 13 (0.2%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.

Of the 3,834 households, 16.1% had children under 18 living in them, 44.6% were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.1% were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1.0% were same-sex married couples or partnerships. In all, 35.8% of the households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.99. Of the 2,079 families (54.2% of all households), the average family size was 2.55.

The age distribution was 13.3% under 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 34.5% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% were 65 or older. The median age was 51.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The 5,585 housing units had an average density of 414.4 /sqmi, of which 60.9% were owner-occupied, and 39.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%; 60.8% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 39.0% lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, 8,551 people, 4,230 households, and 2,322 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,366.0 PD/sqmi. The 5,496 housing units had an average density of 1,520.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% White, 0.60% African American, 0.71% Native American, 2.92% Asian, 1.71% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.89% of the population.

Of the 4,230 households, 17.4% had children under 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were not families; 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.02, and the average family size was 2.58.

In the city, the age distribution was 15.3% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,396, and for a family was $61,036. Males had a median income of $48,606 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income made for the city was $30,835. About 6.3% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

The population had a wave of expansion starting in the 1980s, after completion of wastewater-treatment facilities expansion; this lack of infrastructure had previously limited population growth.

Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Government
Incorporated on April 25, 1946, Pismo Beach is a general-law city governed by a five-member council. The city council consists of a mayor (who serves a two-year term) and four councilmembers (who serve four-year terms). All five are elected at-large.

In the California State Legislature, Pismo Beach is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Pismo Beach is in.

Education

 * Shell Beach Elementary School
 * Judkins Middle School

Infrastructure
Water is provided by a wells in the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin, Lopez Lake, and the State Water Project.

In popular culture
The city is mentioned in the films Clueless (a reference is made to a fictitious "Pismo Beach disaster") and A Night at the Roxbury, the TV show United States of Tara, and the animated series Futurama (episode "Raging Bender"), Robot Chicken (episode "Rodiggity"), and The Critic (episode "Lady Hawke").

The W. C. Fields comedy The Bank Dick (1940), set in Lompoc, includes a character listed in the film's credits as "A. Pismo Clam".

In the 1957 Merrie Melodies short Ali Baba Bunny, Bugs Bunny and his traveling companion Daffy Duck emerge from a tunnel, with Bugs believing they have arrived at Pismo Beach "and all the clams we can eat".

In the TV movie Dragnet 1966 (1969), Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) takes disability retirement and moves to Pismo Beach. After eight months and three weeks of eating Pismo Beach clam chowder, Bill's health returns, his teeth stop falling out, and he is able to be reinstated with the LAPD. Explaining to Joe Friday (Jack Webb) the reason for his restored health, he states, "The clams, Joe. The clams."

In "Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner", the fifth episode of the first season of The New Scooby-Doo Movies (aired October 7, 1972), when the mystery gang makes an unsuccessful escape from Captain Moody's mansion, Shaggy says they must have made a wrong turn at Pismo Beach.

In The Monkees TV series episode "The Wild Monkees" (aired November 13, 1967), Pismo Beach is mentioned a few times. Mike Nesmith states, "You remember the Massacre at Pismo Beach?" when told that the Black Angels motorcycle gang will be staying at the hotel where they are working. The rest of the group replies "Pismo Beach?"

In the I Love Lucy TV series episode "Lucy Gets in Pictures" (aired February 21, 1955), Lucy (Lucille Ball) mentions Pismo Beach as one of the locations that her best friend, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), and she want to visit.

Pismo Beach is mentioned in the Coen Brothers' film The Big Lebowski (1998). This shout-out inspired the title of the Labradford song "Up to Pizmo", from the band's 2001 album Fixed::Context.

title: Pismo Beach, California