Nipomo, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nipomo as seen from the Dana Adobe
Nipomo as seen from the Dana Adobe

Nipomo is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 12,626 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Location of Nipomo, California

Nipomo is located at 35°1′48″N, 120°29′24″W (35.030027, -120.490032)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 29.6 km² (11.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 12,626 people, 4,035 households, and 3,316 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 427.3/km² (1,106.1/mi²). There were 4,146 housing units at an average density of 140.3/km² (363.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.89% White, 0.60% African American, 1.32% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 16.01% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.55% of the population.

There were 4,035 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the CDP was $49,852, and the median income for a family 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.

[edit] Schools

The entrance to Nipomo High School
The entrance to Nipomo High School
  • 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. NHS has become known for high scholastic standards, outstanding drama and musical productions, strong girl's volleyball and boy's wrestling teams, golf and swim teams, and its agriculture dept. The enthusiastic boosters organization promotes both academics and athletics simultaneously. The community has created scholarships for college-bound graduates.

[edit] Interesting facts

  • "Nipomo is on a scenic stretch of US 101" - AAA Tourbook
  • It is located in an area designated by the "Places Rated Almanac" as having the best climate in the nation, with a perfect score of 100.
  • Commercial nurseries deliver cut flowers to florists around the world. Other agriculture includes citrus farms, strawberry and vegetable fields, vineyards, and cattle ranches.
  • It is also famous for its Santa Maria style steakhouse, Jocko's Restaurant.
  • The circa 1886 Barber Shop, complete with hitching post in front, is still open for business.
  • The Kaleidoscope Inn (130 E. Dana), a Bed and Beakfast Inn, was also originally built (as a residence) in 1886.
  • The Olde Towne Nipomo Association works to create a quaint village of shops and eateries in the original center of town. It has accomplished infrastructure improvements and the installation of old-fashioned street lights so far.
  • The Cypress Ridge golf course was rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest (only Pebble Beach rates higher in California). There are two other 27-hole golf resorts, Blacklake and Monarch Dunes.
  • Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Preserve is part of the 18-mile stretch of coastal dunes. The dunes complex has been designated as part of a National Natural Landmark (NNL) by the Department of Interior (National Park Service).
  • The Dana Adobe is a California State Historic Landmark and is currently being restored by the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos (DANA).
  • A majority of the township of Nipomo is located on the Nipomo Mesa.

[edit] History

Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother, depicts destitute pea pickers in California, centering on a mother of seven children, age 32, in Nipomo, California, March 1936.
Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother, depicts destitute pea pickers in California, centering on a mother of seven children, age 32, in Nipomo, California, March 1936.
  • The original settlers of Nipomo were the Chumash Indians, who have lived in this area for over 9,000 years.
  • The founder of present day Nipomo, William G. Dana of Boston, was a sea captain. Dana's travels led him to California where he married Maria Josefa Carrillo of Santa Barbara.
  • Rancho Nipomo (the Indian 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. In 1837, the 38,000-acre Rancho Nipomo was granted to Captain Dana by the Mexican Govenor.
  • The Dana Adobe, which was started in 1839 by Captain Dana, served as an important stop for travelers on El Camino Real, "The Kings' Highway," between missions San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. It was the exchange point for mail going between north and south in the first regular mail route in California, and a stage coach stop. <http://www.danaadobe.org>
  • The Danas had children, of which 13 reached adulthood. They learned both English and Spanish, as well as the language of the Chumash natives. The Danas celebrated fiestas that brought people together.
  • U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont and his soldiers stopped at the rancho on their way south to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles in 1846. 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 Railroad (narrow gauge) came to town in 1882. Trains stopped running through Nipomo in the depression of the 1930's. By the end of 1942, the tracks were removed for the war effort.
  • Thousands of Blue Gum Eucalyptuses 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.
  • Nipomo is the location of one of the most famous photographs of the American Depression, "Migrant Mother" [1], taken by Dorothea Lange.
  • Thompson Road was originally US highway 101, on which Dorothea Lange no doubt traveled. The current US 101 freeway was constructed in the late 1950's.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  v • d • e San Luis Obispo County, California
County Seat: San Luis Obispo
Incorporated
places

Arroyo Grande • Atascadero • Grover Beach • Morro Bay • Paso Robles • Pismo Beach • San Luis Obispo
CDPs

Baywood-Los Osos • Cambria • Cayucos • Lake Nacimiento • Nipomo • Oceano • San Miguel • Shandon • Templeton
Other
unincorporated
communities

Avila Beach • California Valley • Cholame • Halcyon • Harmony • Los Osos • Pozo • San Simeon • Santa Margarita
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/i/p/Nipomo%2C_California_5b7d.html"