Byron, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Byron is a census-designated place (CDP) in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 916 at the 2000 census.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Byron Hot Springs 4 External links

[edit] Geography

Byron is located at 37°52′18″N, 121°38′21″W (37.871675, -121.639028)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 916 people, 286 households, and 203 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 139.2/km² (360.1/mi²). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 47.0/km² (121.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.00% White, 4.37% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 14.74% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 25.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 286 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 129.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,938, and the median income for a family was $44,306. Males had a median income of $42,639 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,231. About 15.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Byron Hot Springs

Byron, California is also home to the somewhat well-known and historical Byron Hot Springs, an abandoned resort which was a famous retreat that attracted many famous moviestars and athletes in the early 1900's. The first hotel was built in 1889 and was a three-story wood building, with a few cottages scattered nearby, as well as a laundry, gas plant and ice plant, all of which were destroyed by fire on July 25, 1901. A second hotel, also three stories, but made of stucco was constructed 1901-1902. The third and final hotel, a four-story brick structure was built in 1913 after another fire that took place the previous year. In 1938 it closed, due to a series of lawsuits, probably brought about by the Great Depression, but was purchased by the government in 1941 and became a military interrogation camp housing both German and Japanese prisoners of war, known as Camp Tracy, until 1945, when orders were sent to dismantle it. The Byron Hot Springs property was put up for sale and purchased by the Greek Orthodox Church for a sum of $105,000. It served as the Monastery St. Paul for several years. It then changed hands several times both as a resort, country club and private residence. It is currently privately owned. As with each new owner, plans have materialized to rebuild Byron Hot Springs, as stated at byronhotsprings.com, but recent visits have shown no progress, likely due to high costs regarding restoration. An Arcadia Publishing company book on Byron Hot Springs will be released Christmas 2006. In 2005, a Victorian-era carriage house on the property was burned to the ground. The hotel itself sustained some fire damage, but still stands.

[edit] External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 37.871675° -121.639028°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

"Byron Hot Springs" http://www.byronhotsprings.com The book on Byron Hot Springs has, since January 1, 2007, been published. One heck of a good book!!