Pacific Grove, California
Encyclopedia
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California
, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census. Pacific Grove is located between Point Pinos and Monterey
, at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m).
Often referred to as one of America's last hometowns, Pacific Grove is known for its Victorian homes, Asilomar State Beach
, its artistic legacy and the annual migration of the Monarch butterflies
. The city is endowed with more Victorian
houses per capita than anywhere else in America; some of them have been turned into bed and breakfast
inns.
The city is also known as the location of the Point Pinos Lighthouse
, the oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the West Coast, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
, located in the historic downtown, the Stowitts Museum & Library
and one of the filming locations for Roger Spottiswoode's 1989 film Turner and Hooch.
were one of the linguist
ically distinct Ohlone
groups of the Monterey Bay Area who inhabited the area now known as Pacific Grove. This tribe subsisted with hunting
, fishing
and gathering in what has been deduced as a biologically rich Monterey Peninsula
.
Pacific Grove was founded in 1875 by a group of Methodists who modeled the town after Ocean Grove, New Jersey
. In time, the butterflies, fragrant pines and fresh sea air brought others to the Pacific Grove Retreat to rest and meditate. The initial meeting of the Pacific Coast branch of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was held in Pacific Grove in June 1879. Modelled after the Methodist Sunday school teachers’ training camp established in 1874 at Lake Chautauqua, N.Y., this location became part of a nationwide educational network.
In November 1879, after the summer campers returned home, Robert Louis Stevenson
wandered into the deserted campgrounds: "I have never been in any place so stinky. Indeed, it was not so much like a deserted town as like a scene upon the stage by daylight, and with no one having any fun." Today, Stevenson School
in nearby Pebble Beach is named after the author.
The Pacific Grove post office opened in 1886, closed later that year, and was re-opened in 1887. Pacific Grove incorporated in 1889.
Pacific Grove, like Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey
, became an artists' haven in the 1890s and subsequent period. Artists of the En plein air
school in both Europe and the United States were seeking an outdoor venue which had natural beauty, so that Pacific Grove was a magnet for this movement. William Adam
was an English painter who first moved to Monterey and then decided on Pacific Grove for his home in 1906. At about the same time Eugen Neuhaus, a German painter, arrived in Pacific Grove with his new bride. Charles B. Judson was an artist of aristocratic lineage who painted in Pacific Grove over a long period of time beginning in 1907; Judson's mural
s decorate the halls of the California Academy of Sciences
.
For a number of years, John Steinbeck
lived in a cottage in Pacific Grove owned by his father, Ernest, who was Monterey County Treasurer. The cottage still stands on a quiet side street, without any plaque or special sign, virtually overlooked by most Steinbeck fans. In Steinbeck's book Sweet Thursday
, a chapter is dedicated to describing a (probably fictional) rivalry that arose among the town's residents over the game of roque
.
Local traditions include a Butterfly Parade, in which elementary schoolchildren dress in various costumes and march through town, and the Feast of Lanterns, a Chinese-styled pageant in which a high school girl and her companions act out a melodrama.
In the 1980s, Pacific Grove was the site of the pioneering microcomputer software house Digital Research
.
In recent years, Pacific Grove has seen a decrease in its population of young people with children, due to the high cost of housing and the mismatch between housing prices and the incomes available from the primarily tourist-centered local economy.
On October 12, 1997, John Denver
died when he crashed into the Pacific Ocean
off Pacific Grove in his personal plane.
is situated in the southern part of town imbedded in residential neighborhoods in mixed oak forests. These Monarchs migrate 2000 miles to reach Pacific Grove after their summer in Canada
, often soaring as high as 3000 meters. The black-and-orange butterflies spend much of the fall and winter in the local Monterey Pine trees, roughly from Halloween until Valentine's Day. Residents of Pacific Grove help the butterfly's habitat by planting purple and yellow flowers, such as lantara, yellow aster, Pride of Madera, and Mexican Sage, in what are called Butterfly Gardens. City Ordinance No. 352 makes it a misdemeanor to kill or threaten a butterfly, punishable by a $1000 fine.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area, Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
, Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
and Asilomar State Marine Reserve
are marine protected areas in the waters around Pacific Grove. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
The principal noise source in Pacific Grove is State Route 68
. There are approximately 800 residents exposed to sound levels of 60 CNEL or above, making Pacific Grove noticeably more quiet than its neighbor Monterey, which has more tourist traffic and more through traffic (Hogan, 1980).
The town sits between its two well known neighbors, Pebble Beach
and Monterey
. Carmel-by-the-Sea
is the next city, five miles to the south, and the community of Big Sur
is 30 miles south. Pacific Grove is a favorite vacation getaway for San Francisco Bay Area
residents, located two and a half hours south of San Francisco.
The town does not allow development on the waterside of the ocean-front street, so that the beaches and scenic points are unobstructed. Plans for the one private residential parcel on the waterside of the street about one half mile north of Asilomar State Beach
were the center of local controversy several years ago.
Pacific Grove is located at 36°37′9"N 121°55′16"W (36.619065, -121.921025). That places it on the Pacific Ocean between Monterey and Pebble Beach, about 40 miles south of Santa Cruz
and about 100 miles south of San Francisco. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²). 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (28.42%) is water. Asilomar
, Lovers Point and the intervening coastline afford surfing, which is challenging due to near shore rocks
, albeit waves are typically moderate in height.
Pacific Grove's climate is mild throughout the year, essentially the same as in neighboring Monterey, with most of the rain falling from November through April. Extreme temperatures are rare and fog is common, especially in the late night and early morning, all year. (See Monterey
for more details.)
was 3,758.1 people per square mile (1,451.0/km²). The racial makeup of Pacific Grove was 12,710 (84.5%) White, 199 (1.3%) African American, 78 (0.5%) Native American, 872 (5.8%) Asian, 49 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 469 (3.1%) from other races
, and 664 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,615 persons (10.7%).
The Census reported that 14,686 people (97.6% of the population) lived in households, 140 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 215 (1.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 7,020 households, out of which 1,526 (21.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,934 (41.8%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 653 (9.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (3.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 349 (5.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 58 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,609 households (37.2%) were made up of individuals and 1,012 (14.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09. There were 3,820 families
(54.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.74.
The population was spread out with 2,479 people (16.5%) under the age of 18, 988 people (6.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,466 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 4,864 people (32.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,244 people (21.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.1 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
There were 8,169 housing units at an average density of 2,041.1 per square mile (788.1/km²), of which 3,205 (45.7%) were owner-occupied, and 3,815 (54.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 7,071 people (47.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,615 people (50.6%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 15,522 people, 7,316 households, and 3,972 families residing in the city. The population density
was 5,399.2 people per square mile (2,088.2/km²). There were 8,032 housing units at an average density of 2,793.9 per square mile (1,080.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.04% White, 1.14% African American, 0.55% Native American, 4.50% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races
, and 3.73% from two or more races. 7.14% of the population were Hispanic.
There were 7,316 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.75. The age distribution is: 17.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,254, and the median income for a family was $59,569. Males had a median income of $43,897 versus $35,924 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $31,277. About 3.0% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Local radio stations include KAZU-FM - 90.3
. Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Local newspapers include the Monterey County Herald.
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census. Pacific Grove is located between Point Pinos and Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m).
Often referred to as one of America's last hometowns, Pacific Grove is known for its Victorian homes, Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach is a state park unit of California, USA, providing public access to rocky coast and dune habitat on the Monterey Peninsula. The property includes the Asilomar Conference Grounds, a conference center built in 1913 that is now a National Historic Landmark...
, its artistic legacy and the annual migration of the Monarch butterflies
Monarch butterfly
The Monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly , in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Since the 19th century, it has been found in New Zealand, and in Australia since 1871 where it is called the Wanderer...
. The city is endowed with more Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
houses per capita than anywhere else in America; some of them have been turned into bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
inns.
The city is also known as the location of the Point Pinos Lighthouse
Point Pinos Lighthouse
Point Pinos Lighthouse was built in 1855 to guide ships on the Pacific coast of California. It is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States and even the lens is original. Alcatraz Island Lighthouse preceded Point Pinos by 8 months, but was replaced in 1909...
, the oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the West Coast, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum located on Central Avenue in Pacific Grove, California, USA. It incorporates permanent exhibits which display local plants, animals, geology, and native human populations, as well as a temporary exhibit which changes every few...
, located in the historic downtown, the Stowitts Museum & Library
Stowitts Museum & Library
The Stowitts Museum & Library in Pacific Grove, California, USA, is dedicated to the work and legacy of the art of the American painter Hubert Julian Stowitts and other 20th century overlooked and neglected fine arts painters.-External links:*...
and one of the filming locations for Roger Spottiswoode's 1989 film Turner and Hooch.
History
In prehistoric times the RumsenRumsen
Rumsen is one of eight language divisions of the Ohlone Native American people of Northern California...
were one of the linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
ically distinct Ohlone
Ohlone
The Ohlone people, also known as the Costanoan, are a Native American people of the central California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the area along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley...
groups of the Monterey Bay Area who inhabited the area now known as Pacific Grove. This tribe subsisted with hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and gathering in what has been deduced as a biologically rich Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
.
Pacific Grove was founded in 1875 by a group of Methodists who modeled the town after Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Ocean Grove is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Neptune Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. It had a population of 3,342 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean Jersey Shore, between Asbury Park to the north and Bradley Beach to the south...
. In time, the butterflies, fragrant pines and fresh sea air brought others to the Pacific Grove Retreat to rest and meditate. The initial meeting of the Pacific Coast branch of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was held in Pacific Grove in June 1879. Modelled after the Methodist Sunday school teachers’ training camp established in 1874 at Lake Chautauqua, N.Y., this location became part of a nationwide educational network.
In November 1879, after the summer campers returned home, Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
wandered into the deserted campgrounds: "I have never been in any place so stinky. Indeed, it was not so much like a deserted town as like a scene upon the stage by daylight, and with no one having any fun." Today, Stevenson School
Stevenson School
Stevenson School is a private, coeducational PK–12 school for boarding and day students...
in nearby Pebble Beach is named after the author.
The Pacific Grove post office opened in 1886, closed later that year, and was re-opened in 1887. Pacific Grove incorporated in 1889.
Pacific Grove, like Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, became an artists' haven in the 1890s and subsequent period. Artists of the En plein air
En plein air
En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism...
school in both Europe and the United States were seeking an outdoor venue which had natural beauty, so that Pacific Grove was a magnet for this movement. William Adam
William Adam (artist)
William Constable Adam was an English born oil and watercolour painter who spent the last 33 years of his life in California, United States....
was an English painter who first moved to Monterey and then decided on Pacific Grove for his home in 1906. At about the same time Eugen Neuhaus, a German painter, arrived in Pacific Grove with his new bride. Charles B. Judson was an artist of aristocratic lineage who painted in Pacific Grove over a long period of time beginning in 1907; Judson's mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s decorate the halls of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
.
For a number of years, John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
lived in a cottage in Pacific Grove owned by his father, Ernest, who was Monterey County Treasurer. The cottage still stands on a quiet side street, without any plaque or special sign, virtually overlooked by most Steinbeck fans. In Steinbeck's book Sweet Thursday
Sweet Thursday
Sweet Thursday is a 1954 novel by John Steinbeck. It is a sequel to Cannery Row and set in the years after the end of World War II. According to the author, "Sweet Thursday" is the day after Lousy Wednesday and the day before Waiting Friday....
, a chapter is dedicated to describing a (probably fictional) rivalry that arose among the town's residents over the game of roque
Roque
Roque is an American variant of croquet played on a hard, smooth surface. Popular in the first quarter of the 20th century and billed "the Game of the Century" by its enthusiasts, it was an Olympic sport in the 1904 Summer Games, replacing croquet from the previous games.-Roque court and...
.
Local traditions include a Butterfly Parade, in which elementary schoolchildren dress in various costumes and march through town, and the Feast of Lanterns, a Chinese-styled pageant in which a high school girl and her companions act out a melodrama.
In the 1980s, Pacific Grove was the site of the pioneering microcomputer software house Digital Research
Digital Research
Digital Research, Inc. was the company created by Dr. Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related products. It was the first large software company in the microcomputer world...
.
In recent years, Pacific Grove has seen a decrease in its population of young people with children, due to the high cost of housing and the mismatch between housing prices and the incomes available from the primarily tourist-centered local economy.
On October 12, 1997, John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
died when he crashed into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
off Pacific Grove in his personal plane.
Environmental features and geography
Pacific Grove contains several habitat types including marine, littoral, pine forest and mixed oak woodland. The famed breeding habitat for the Monarch butterflyMonarch butterfly
The Monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly , in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Since the 19th century, it has been found in New Zealand, and in Australia since 1871 where it is called the Wanderer...
is situated in the southern part of town imbedded in residential neighborhoods in mixed oak forests. These Monarchs migrate 2000 miles to reach Pacific Grove after their summer in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, often soaring as high as 3000 meters. The black-and-orange butterflies spend much of the fall and winter in the local Monterey Pine trees, roughly from Halloween until Valentine's Day. Residents of Pacific Grove help the butterfly's habitat by planting purple and yellow flowers, such as lantara, yellow aster, Pride of Madera, and Mexican Sage, in what are called Butterfly Gardens. City Ordinance No. 352 makes it a misdemeanor to kill or threaten a butterfly, punishable by a $1000 fine.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area, Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass . The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries...
, Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area and Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area are two of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four areas...
and Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Asilomar State Marine Reserve is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass . The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries...
are marine protected areas in the waters around Pacific Grove. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
The principal noise source in Pacific Grove is State Route 68
California State Route 68
State Route 68 is a state highway that runs from Pacific Grove to Salinas in Monterey County. It is about long.-Route description:This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System. However, only the part from SR 1 to the Salinas...
. There are approximately 800 residents exposed to sound levels of 60 CNEL or above, making Pacific Grove noticeably more quiet than its neighbor Monterey, which has more tourist traffic and more through traffic (Hogan, 1980).
The town sits between its two well known neighbors, Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It lies at an elevation of 3 feet . Pebble Beach is a small coastal resort destination, home to the famous golf course, Pebble Beach Golf Links....
and Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
is the next city, five miles to the south, and the community of Big Sur
Big Sur
Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
is 30 miles south. Pacific Grove is a favorite vacation getaway for San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
residents, located two and a half hours south of San Francisco.
The town does not allow development on the waterside of the ocean-front street, so that the beaches and scenic points are unobstructed. Plans for the one private residential parcel on the waterside of the street about one half mile north of Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach is a state park unit of California, USA, providing public access to rocky coast and dune habitat on the Monterey Peninsula. The property includes the Asilomar Conference Grounds, a conference center built in 1913 that is now a National Historic Landmark...
were the center of local controversy several years ago.
Pacific Grove is located at 36°37′9"N 121°55′16"W (36.619065, -121.921025). That places it on the Pacific Ocean between Monterey and Pebble Beach, about 40 miles south of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
and about 100 miles south of San Francisco. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²). 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (28.42%) is water. Asilomar
Asilomar
Asilomar can refer to a number of things:* Asilomar State Beach – a beach in California, home to the Asilomar Conference Grounds* Asilomar International Conference on Climate Intervention Technologies in March 2009...
, Lovers Point and the intervening coastline afford surfing, which is challenging due to near shore rocks
Rocky shore
A rocky shore is an intertidal area of seacoasts where solid rock predominates. Rocky shores are biologically rich environments, and make the ideal natural laboratory for studying intertidal ecology and other biological processes...
, albeit waves are typically moderate in height.
Pacific Grove's climate is mild throughout the year, essentially the same as in neighboring Monterey, with most of the rain falling from November through April. Extreme temperatures are rare and fog is common, especially in the late night and early morning, all year. (See Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
for more details.)
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Pacific Grove had a population of 15,041. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,758.1 people per square mile (1,451.0/km²). The racial makeup of Pacific Grove was 12,710 (84.5%) White, 199 (1.3%) African American, 78 (0.5%) Native American, 872 (5.8%) Asian, 49 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 469 (3.1%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 664 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,615 persons (10.7%).
The Census reported that 14,686 people (97.6% of the population) lived in households, 140 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 215 (1.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 7,020 households, out of which 1,526 (21.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,934 (41.8%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 653 (9.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (3.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 349 (5.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 58 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,609 households (37.2%) were made up of individuals and 1,012 (14.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09. There were 3,820 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(54.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.74.
The population was spread out with 2,479 people (16.5%) under the age of 18, 988 people (6.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,466 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 4,864 people (32.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,244 people (21.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.1 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
There were 8,169 housing units at an average density of 2,041.1 per square mile (788.1/km²), of which 3,205 (45.7%) were owner-occupied, and 3,815 (54.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 7,071 people (47.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,615 people (50.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,522 people, 7,316 households, and 3,972 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,399.2 people per square mile (2,088.2/km²). There were 8,032 housing units at an average density of 2,793.9 per square mile (1,080.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.04% White, 1.14% African American, 0.55% Native American, 4.50% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.73% from two or more races. 7.14% of the population were Hispanic.
There were 7,316 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.75. The age distribution is: 17.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,254, and the median income for a family was $59,569. Males had a median income of $43,897 versus $35,924 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $31,277. About 3.0% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Ernest K. BramblettErnest K. BramblettErnest King Bramblett was a Republican United States Congressman from California. He was elected to the U.S. House in the 1946 Republican landslide when he ousted Democratic incumbent Rep. George Outland.-Biography:...
, politician - Eleanor CameronEleanor CameronEleanor Frances Butler Cameron was a Canadian children's author. Her first book was The Unheard Music, published in 1950.-Life:...
, author - Joseph CampbellJoseph CampbellJoseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
, mythologist - Paul FleischmanPaul FleischmanPaul Fleischman is an American author of children's books. Both he and his father, children's author Sid Fleischman, have won the Newbery Medal. Paul is the 2012 US author nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award.-Early life:...
, author - Ben Jealous, NAACP President (2008–present)
- Slim KeithSlim KeithNancy "Slim" Keith, Lady Keith was a New York socialite and fashion icon during the 1950s and 1960s, exemplifying the American jet set...
, socialite and fashion icon - Gary KildallGary KildallGary Arlen Kildall was an American computer scientist and microcomputer entrepreneur who created the CP/M operating system and founded Digital Research, Inc....
, scientist and founder of Digital ResearchDigital ResearchDigital Research, Inc. was the company created by Dr. Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related products. It was the first large software company in the microcomputer world... - Ward MooreWard MooreWard Moore was the working name of American author Joseph Ward Moore. Moore grew up in New York City, and later moved to Chicago, and then to California....
, science fiction writer - Arthur PorgesArthur PorgesArthur Porges [pórdžIs], was an American author of numerous short stories, most notably in the 1950s and 1960s, though he continued to write and publish stories until his death.-Life:...
, science fiction writer - Gina Prince-BythewoodGina Prince-BythewoodGina Prince-Bythewood is an American film director and writer. Her primary credits as a director include the films Disappearing Acts and Love & Basketball, produced by Spike Lee and starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan, which won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.Bythewood...
, film director and writer - Clark Ashton SmithClark Ashton SmithClark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
, fantasy fiction writer - John SteinbeckJohn SteinbeckJohn Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
, author - Bill Walsh, American football coach
- Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, composer - Laurence YepLaurence Yep-Background:Chinese-American, Yep was born in San Francisco, California to Yep Gim Lew and Franche. His older brother, Thomas named him after studying a particular saint in a multicultural neighborhood that consisted of mostly African Americans. Growing up, he often felt torn between both...
, children's book author
Media
- See also: Media in Monterey CountyMedia in Monterey CountyMedia in Monterey County is a designated market area or media market that includes print media and broadcast media in Monterey County, California....
Local radio stations include KAZU-FM - 90.3
KAZU
KAZU is an NPR-member radio station, licensed in Pacific Grove, California, United States. The station is currently owned and operated by the California State University, Monterey Bay.-Established:...
. Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Local newspapers include the Monterey County Herald.
See also
- Pacific Grove High SchoolPacific Grove High SchoolPacific Grove High School is a public high school located in Pacific Grove, California, between Carmel and Monterey.-History:The City of Pacific Grove formed the Pacific Grove Unified School District in 1895. On June 32, 1896 the City passed a bond issue to build the town's first high school...
- Coastal CaliforniaCoastal CaliforniaCoastal California refers to the coastal regions of the US state of California. The term is not primarily geographical as it also describes an area distinguished by sociological, economical and political attributes...
- List of school districts in Monterey County, California
- Monterey county attractionsMonterey county attractionsMonterey County is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. As of 2000, the population was 401,762. The coastline includes Big Sur, State Route 1, and the 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula. The city of...
External links
- Pacific Grove Official Website
- Pacific Grove Tourism Information (official Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau website)
- History of Pacific Grove (Pacific Grove Heritage Society)
- Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Pacific Grove- at Beach California