Bodega Bay, California

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Bodega Bay, California
Location in Sonoma County and the state of California
Location in Sonoma County and the state of California
Coordinates: 38°19′28″N 123°2′19″W / 38.32444, -123.03861
Country United States
State California
County Sonoma
Area [1]
 - Total 8.38 sq mi (21.7 km²)
 - Land 8.38 sq mi (21.7 km²)
 - Water 0 sq mi (0 km²)  0%
Elevation [2] 56 ft (17 m)
Population (2000)[1]
 - Total 1,423
 - Density 169.7/sq mi (65.5/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 94923
Area code(s) 707
FIPS code 06-07260
GNIS feature ID 1658093

Bodega Bay is a town, and US census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,423 at the 2000 census. The town is on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast.

The Alfred Hitchcock-directed film, The Birds, was filmed in Bodega Bay. The town markets itself with the film in many ways, including its Birds-themed Visitors' Center. The location was also featured in the cult horror movie Puppet Master.

Bodega Bay is located at 38°19′28″N, 123°2′19″W (38.324356, -123.038591)[3].

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.38 square miles (21.7 km²), all of it land. The town lies on the edge of Bodega Harbor. Bodega Bay itself extends south along the coast to Tomales Bay. North of town lies a long coastal exposure of alternating rock outcrops and sandy beaches which is known as Sonoma Coast State Beach.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,423 people, 669 households, and 432 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 169.7/sq mi (65.6/km²). There were 1,144 housing units at an average density of 136.4/sq mi (52.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.52% White, 0.35% African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 9.07% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.18% of the population.

There were 669 households out of which 14.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.47.

The village of Bodega Bay on Bodega Harbor
The village of Bodega Bay on Bodega Harbor

In the CDP the population was spread out with 12.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $56,818, and the median income for a family was $60,750. Males had a median income of $27,778 versus $28,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $37,226. About 2.0% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.

[edit] Politics

In the state legislature, Bodega Bay is located in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Pat Wiggins, and in the 1st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Patty Berg. Federally, Bodega Bay is located in California's 6th congressional district.

[edit] Film locations

Bodega Bay has served as a location for several major films:[4][5]

  • The Birds (1963) Except for a short sequence at the beginning filmed in San Francisco, involving purchase of a pair of love birds and a brief on-screen appearance by Hitchcock led by two white Sealyham terriers (his own pets), the film was filmed entirely around the two towns of Bodega (a small inland village) and Bodega Bay (a larger village on the bay). Special sites used for shooting included Potter School, the Bay, the two towns which were made to appear as one, and the home and barn across the bay from the town of Bodega Bay.
  • The Pack (1977) Filmed around Bodega Bay.
  • The Fog (1980)
  • The Goonies (1985) Some scenes filmed along the Sonoma Coast, Bodega Bay (and Astoria OR, and Cannon Beach OR).
  • Puppet Master (1989) Setting is Bodega Bay for the first two, fourth and fifth films.
  • Sleepwalkers (1992) Opening scene filmed in Bodega Bay.

[edit] Other facilities

A branch of the University of California operates a marine lab at Bodega Bay, the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory.

A nuclear power plant had been planned for Bodega Bay in the 1960s but was abandoned after both local and statewide protests and the discovery of an earthquake fault across the proposed site. Excavation for the site began at Bodega Head, and when the project was abandoned the area has been referred to by locals as "The Hole in the Head."[citation needed]

[edit] Notable residents

Bodega Bay was the hometown of Nicholas Green, the little American boy shot dead during a robbery by highwaymen in Italy where his family was on vacation. Nicholas and his family became famous when almost every harvestable organ or body part was donated to those in need following his death.[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links