Pajaro, California
Encyclopedia
Pajaro is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Monterey County
, California
, United States
. Pajaro is located on the south bank of the Pajaro River
5 miles (8 km) northeast of its mouth, at an elevation of 26 feet (8 m). The population was 3,070 at the 2010 census, down from 3,384 at the 2000 census. The school district is in Santa Cruz County
.
The town, the name of which is derived from pájaro (bird in Spanish
), is in the Pajaro Valley on the Pajaro River, which divides the city from Watsonville
and Santa Cruz County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
This town was heavily flooded in 1995 and 1998.
The oldest building in the community of Pajaro is the Porter-Vallejo Mansion. Constructed in the 1840s and remodeled multiple times, it was acquired in 1991 by then-Monterey County Supervisor Marc Del Piero and converted into a public library/senior citizen center. Additionally, it also houses a day-care facility for the children of migrant farm workers.
was 3,312.2 people per square mile (1,278.8/km²). The racial makeup of Pajaro was 1,451 (47.3%) White, 15 (0.5%) African American, 78 (2.5%) Native American, 53 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,281 (41.7%) from other races
, and 192 (6.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,889 persons (94.1%).
The Census reported that 2,979 people (97.0% of the population) lived in households, 91 (3.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 621 households, out of which 444 (71.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 409 (65.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 86 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 57 (9.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 41 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 3 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 46 households (7.4%) were made up of individuals and 19 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.80. There were 552 families
(88.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.82.
The population was spread out with 1,067 people (34.8%) under the age of 18, 432 people (14.1%) aged 18 to 24, 970 people (31.6%) aged 25 to 44, 471 people (15.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 130 people (4.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.6 years. For every 100 females there were 124.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.3 males.
There were 655 housing units at an average density of 706.7 per square mile (272.8/km²), of which 141 (22.7%) were owner-occupied, and 480 (77.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%. 620 people (20.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,359 people (76.8%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 3,384 people, 634 households, and 571 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 3,614.1 people per square mile (1,390.0/km²). There were 667 housing units at an average density of 712.4 per square mile (274.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 42.94% White, 0.47% African American, 1.65% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.35% Pacific Islander, 48.29% from other races
, and 4.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.24% of the population.
There were 634 households out of which 66.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.9% were non-families. 6.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.28 and the average family size was 5.25.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 39.6% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 10.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 119.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,315, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $17,384 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $9,893. About 20.4% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Some public services in the Community of Pajaro are provided by the Pajaro-Sunny Mesa Community Services District (PSMCSD) which was organized by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1984. PSMCSD, a non-profit, governmental agency, provides public water services, public sewer services, park services, and street lighting services to the community. PSMCSD has also significantly expanded its service areas to provide water services to the Prunedale, Elkhorn, and Moss Landing communities of North Monterey County.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Monterey County
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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Pajaro is located on the south bank of the Pajaro River
Pajaro River
The Pajaro River is a river in Northern California, forming part of the border between Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and between San Benito County and Santa Clara County.-History:...
5 miles (8 km) northeast of its mouth, at an elevation of 26 feet (8 m). The population was 3,070 at the 2010 census, down from 3,384 at the 2000 census. The school district is in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
.
The town, the name of which is derived from pájaro (bird in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
), is in the Pajaro Valley on the Pajaro River, which divides the city from Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
and Santa Cruz County.
Geography
Pajaro is located at 36°54′15"N 121°44′55"W.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 CDP has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
History
The Pajaro post office operated from 1872 to 1873 and from 1882 to 1888.This town was heavily flooded in 1995 and 1998.
The oldest building in the community of Pajaro is the Porter-Vallejo Mansion. Constructed in the 1840s and remodeled multiple times, it was acquired in 1991 by then-Monterey County Supervisor Marc Del Piero and converted into a public library/senior citizen center. Additionally, it also houses a day-care facility for the children of migrant farm workers.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Pajaro had a population of 3,070. 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 3,312.2 people per square mile (1,278.8/km²). The racial makeup of Pajaro was 1,451 (47.3%) White, 15 (0.5%) African American, 78 (2.5%) Native American, 53 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,281 (41.7%) 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 192 (6.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,889 persons (94.1%).
The Census reported that 2,979 people (97.0% of the population) lived in households, 91 (3.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 621 households, out of which 444 (71.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 409 (65.9%) 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, 86 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 57 (9.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 41 (6.6%) 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 3 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 46 households (7.4%) were made up of individuals and 19 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.80. There were 552 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...
(88.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.82.
The population was spread out with 1,067 people (34.8%) under the age of 18, 432 people (14.1%) aged 18 to 24, 970 people (31.6%) aged 25 to 44, 471 people (15.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 130 people (4.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.6 years. For every 100 females there were 124.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.3 males.
There were 655 housing units at an average density of 706.7 per square mile (272.8/km²), of which 141 (22.7%) were owner-occupied, and 480 (77.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%. 620 people (20.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,359 people (76.8%) 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 3,384 people, 634 households, and 571 families residing in the CDP. 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 3,614.1 people per square mile (1,390.0/km²). There were 667 housing units at an average density of 712.4 per square mile (274.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 42.94% White, 0.47% African American, 1.65% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.35% Pacific Islander, 48.29% 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 4.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.24% of the population.
There were 634 households out of which 66.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.9% were non-families. 6.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.28 and the average family size was 5.25.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 39.6% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 10.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 119.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,315, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $17,384 versus $17,917 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 CDP was $9,893. About 20.4% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Some public services in the Community of Pajaro are provided by the Pajaro-Sunny Mesa Community Services District (PSMCSD) which was organized by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1984. PSMCSD, a non-profit, governmental agency, provides public water services, public sewer services, park services, and street lighting services to the community. PSMCSD has also significantly expanded its service areas to provide water services to the Prunedale, Elkhorn, and Moss Landing communities of North Monterey County.