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Pacifica, California
Aerial view of Linda Mar District in Pacifica
Aerial view of Linda Mar District in Pacifica
Official logo of Pacifica, California
Seal
Location in San Mateo County and the state of California
Location in San Mateo County and the state of California
Pacifica, California is located in California
Pacifica, California
Pacifica, California
Location in California
Pacifica, California is located in the United States
Pacifica, California
Pacifica, California
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County San Mateo
Incorporated November 22, 1957
Area
 • Total 12.59 sq mi (32.61 km2)
 • Land 12.58 sq mi (32.59 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)  0.01%
Elevation
82 ft (25 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 38,640
 • Density 3,069.1/sq mi (1,184.9/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
94044, 94045
Area code 650
FIPS code 06-54806
GNIS feature IDs 277613, 2411351

Pacifica (Spanish: [Pacífica] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), meaning "Peaceful") is a city in San Mateo County, California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.

Overview

The City of Pacifica is spread along a six-mile (9.7-kilometre) stretch of coastal beaches and hills in north central California. The city comprises several small valleys spread between Sweeney Ridge in the east, Montara Mountain to the south, and the Pacific Ocean's rocky bluffs to the west.

RockawayBeachSurferPacifica
Surfing at Rockaway Beach, Pacifica

Pacifica is well known regionally as a popular surfing destination. Surfers and families often visit Linda Mar Beach. Rockaway Beach is a scenic location and offers recreation, shopping and dining. 2005 marked the opening of the top ranked Pacifica Skateboard Park. Pacifica is also a popular mountain biking destination, with many trails crossing the hillsides that surround the city, including Pedro Mountain Road, Sweeney Ridge, and areas of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Fishermen frequent the local beaches and the Pacifica Pier, often catching Striped Bass and Salmon. Pacifica is also a popular place to hike, with many trails that wind along the beaches and bluffs, including Mori Point, San Pedro Valley County Park, the Sanchez Adobe, Milagra Ridge, and the privately owned Pacifica quarry. For live local theater and performing arts, Pacifica Spindrift Players is a local and popular favorite, in addition to Pacifica Performances which regularly provides both musical presentations and performing arts as well. Pacifica is also home to the Sharp Park Golf Course, which was designed in 1931 by architect Alister MacKenzie. The world class bromeliad nursery, Shelldance Orchid Gardens is located just off Highway 1 in Pacifica, adjacent to the Sweeney Ridge hiking trailhead.

Neighborhoods

Pacifica is divided into roughly twelve distinct neighborhoods from north to south:

Pacifica California aerial view
Aerial view of the Linda Mar (San Pedro Valley) neighborhood of Pacifica, California. View is looking west.
  1. Fairmont
  2. Westview (Pacific Highlands)
  3. Pacific Manor (Manor)[1]
  4. Edgemar
  5. Sharp Park [2]
  6. Fairway Park [3]
  7. Vallemar
  8. Rockaway Beach
  9. Pedro Point [4] and Shelter Cove[5] in the south west,
  10. Linda Mar, Linda Mar Valley, (formerly Pedro Valley or San Pedro Valley) in the south.
  11. Park Pacifica in south east portions of the city (called the Back of the Valley).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 20,995
1970 36,020 71.6%
1980 36,866 2.3%
1990 37,670 2.2%
2000 38,390 1.9%
2010 37,234 −3.0%
2020 38,640 3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010

At the 2010 census Pacifica had a population of 37,234. The population density was 2,941.1 people per square mile (1,135.6/km2). The racial makeup of Pacifica was 55.6% white, 16.8% (6,243) Hispanic or Latino of any race, 976 (2.6%) African American, 206 (0.6%) Native American, 7,230 (19.4%) Asian, 315 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 1,703 (4.6%) from other races, and 2,638 (7.1%) from two or more races.

The census reported that 37,052 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 64 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 118 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 13,967 households, 4,511 (32.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,385 (52.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,592 (11.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 709 (5.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 869 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 237 (1.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,126 households (22.4%) were one person and 1,098 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65. There were 9,686 families (69.3% of households); the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 7,707 people (20.7%) under the age of 18, 2,842 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 10,011 people (26.9%) aged 25 to 44, 12,155 people (32.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,519 people (12.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

There were 14,523 housing units at an average density of 1,147.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 9,545 (68.3%) were owner-occupied and 4,422 (31.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 26,567 people (71.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,485 people (28.2%) lived in rental housing units.

Demographic profile 2010
Total Population 37,234 - 100.0%
One Race 34,596 - 92.9
Not Hispanic or Latino 30,991 - 83.2
White alone 20,703 - 55.6%
Black or African American alone 902 - 2.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 123 - 0.3
Asian alone 7,045 - 18.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 285 - 0.8%
Some other race alone 155 - 0.4%
Two or more races alone 1,778 - 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 6,243 - 16.8%

2000

At the 2000 census there were 38,390 people in 13,994 households, including 9,655 families, in the city. The population density was 3,038.9 people per square mile (1,173.6/km2). There were 14,245 housing units at an average density of 1,127.6 per square mile (435.5/km2).

Of the 13,994 households 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 21.2% of households were one person and 6.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.21.

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,737, and the median family income was $48,361 (these figures had risen to $52,000 and $62,463 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,761 versus $40,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,183. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

The oldest person to ever live in Pacifica is Rose G. Rosenthal who was born on April 8, 1901, and died December 27, 2008.

The Reverend Herschell Harkins Memorial pier was constructed in 1973 and was designed to carry sewage piping out to sea. It was closed in 1992 due to corrosion of some of the structure. Since then the pier has been repaired and is a well known fishing spot; on July 8–9, 1995, over 1,000 salmon were caught from the pier.

Geography

Pacifica, California - aerial view
An aerial view of Pacifica's geography. Pacifica State Beach is just left of center.

Topography

Pacifica straddles San Pedro Creek which flows from the western slope of Sweeney Ridge. The far eastern portion of Pacifica includes San Andreas Creek which flows down the eastern slope of Sweeney Ridge. The Portola expedition followed these two creeks in the discovery of San Francisco Bay. Calera Creek runs through Pacifica Quarry and is protected as ESHA Environmentally Sensitive Habitat.

Climate

Erosion and spring in Pacifica
Erosion and spring

Pacifica has a cool summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb) typical of coastal areas of California. The National Weather Service has maintained a cooperative weather station in Pacifica since November 1, 1983. Based on those records, average January temperatures range from 45.8 °F (7.7 °C) to 56.7 °F (13.7 °C) and average September temperatures range from 53.9 °F (12.2 °C) to 71.8 °F (22.1 °C). There are an average of 3.0 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 0.2 day with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The highest temperature on record was 102 °F (39 °C) on October 5, 1987, and the lowest temperature was 23 °F (−5 °C) on December 22, 1990. Annual precipitation averages 30.29 inches (769 mm) and has ranged from 15.88 inches (403 mm) in 1990 to 43.17 inches (1,097 mm) in 1996. The most rainfall in one month was 18.05 inches (458 mm) in February 1998 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.00 inches (127 mm) on December 27, 2004. There are an average of 66 days annually with measurable precipitation, most of which falls from October through May. Summer fogs often produce light drizzle in the night and morning hours. Condensation from the fogs also produces fog drip from trees overnight. No measurable snowfall has been recorded since records began. The southeastern portions of the municipality, such as Park Pacifica, are known to be much sunnier than the rest of the city.

History

Before European settlers arrived, Pacifica was home to two significant Ohlone Indian villages: Pruristac located at San Pedro Creek near present-day Adobe Drive, and Timigtac on Calera Creek in the Rockaway Beach neighborhood.

Pacifica is the location of the oldest European discovery of the San Francisco Bay. An expedition led by Gaspar de Portolà sighted the bay by climbing the hills of Sweeney Ridge in Pacifica on October 31, 1769. Before then, earlier Spanish maritime explorers of the California coast (such as Juan Cabrillo and Sebastian Vizcaino) had missed the San Francisco Bay because heavy fog so frequently shrouded the entrance of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean (the Golden Gate). Sighting the San Francisco Bay accelerated the Spanish colonization of Alta California because it was the only large, safe, centrally located harbor on the Alta California coast. The Spanish had used Monterey Bay up until then as their main harbor, but it was much more dangerous than San Francisco Bay. In the Spanish era, Pacifica was the site of the San Pedro Valley Mission Outpost (1786–1793) of Mission Dolores. This was dissolved when a newly independent Mexico secularized the mission system. Pacifica is also the site of the still extant Mexican-era Sánchez Adobe built in 1846. The city is located on a part of the Mexican land grant Rancho San Pedro given to Francisco Sanchez in 1839.

SanchezAdobe2006
Located in Pacifica, the Sanchez Adobe is the oldest structure in San Mateo County.

Pacifica was incorporated in 1957, relatively recently in the history of San Mateo County, as the union of nine previously separate, unincorporated communities, including Edgemar, Sharp Park, Pacific Manor (or just Manor), Vallemar, Rockaway Beach and San Pedro Terrace-By-The-Sea, stops on the short lived Ocean Shore Railroad. The name "Pacifica" was chosen by vote. A close runner-up was the name "Coastside". In 1960, the city seal was designed by resident Ralph Barkey, who was inspired by Ralph Stackpole's towering "Pacifica" statue produced for the 1939–1940 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Pacifica School District 499
2 City of Pacifica 282
3 Safeway 262
4 Jefferson Union High School District 137
5 Oceana Market 55
6 Ace Hardware 36
7 Recology of the Coast 35
8 Rite Aid 34
9 Ross 31
10 North Coast County Water District 22

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The public elementary and middle school district, known as Pacifica School District, (formerly the Laguna Salada School District), consists of Vallemar, Cabrillo, Ingrid B. Lacy, Sunset Ridge, Ortega, Linda Mar and Ocean Shore schools, and also a home schooling program. The administration office is located at 375 Reina del Mar Avenue, adjacent to Vallemar School. Each school enrolls about 550-600 students. There are two private K-8 schools, Good Shepherd School and Pacific Bay Christian School, a K-12 school which was founded as a segregation academy.

Pacifica has one private high school and two public high schools which are part of the Jefferson Union High School District. Oceana High School in the central part of the city while Terra Nova High School and Pacific Bay Christian School are in the south. Many students in the northern part of Pacifica attend Jefferson High School or Westmoor High School nearby in adjacent Daly City. Oceana's teaching paradigm is geared toward longer classes, senior exhibitions, and mandated community service. Much larger Terra Nova is a more traditional institution, featuring numerous sports, clubs, and a broad-based and enriching educational experience.

High Schools in Pacifica
Ohsp pan1
Oceana High School
Terra Nova High Pacifica Front 1
Terra Nova High School

Public libraries

San Mateo County Libraries, a member of the Peninsula Library System, operates the Pacifica-Sanchez Library and the Pacifica-Sharp Park Library.

Notable residents

  • Keith Hernandez MVP Baseball player and World Series Champion for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.
  • Bruce White Notable Oakland Police Officer, grew up in Pacifica.
  • Rob Schneider grew up in Pacifica. In 1997, he formed the Rob Schneider Music Foundation to support its school music program, and has since donated approximately $2 million.
  • In 1971, Pacifica gained worldwide attention as the popular St. Peter's Catholic priest, Father Bob Duryea, was excommunicated, after a defiant confrontation with the church, for being married.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pacífica (California) para niños

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