| Gorda | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
| The view of the Pacific Ocean from Gorda. | |
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Gorda
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey County |
| Elevation[1] | 148 ft (45 m) |
Gorda is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California.[1] It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Cape San Martin,[2] at an elevation of 148 feet (45 m).[1] It is one of the three small settlements of gas stations, restaurants, and motels located along State Route 1 on the Big Sur coast. The ZIP Code is 93920, but mail must be addressed to Big Sur,[3] and the community is inside area code 805.
The fresh springs in Gorda were used by Native American tribes. The first settlement by Westerners was in 1878, when a stagecoach stop was built in Gorda. The settlement expanded with the Gold Rush of the 1880s.[4] The town is now the location of the Gorda Springs Ocean Side Resort.
A post office operated at Gorda from 1893 to 1923, moving in 1910.[2]
As of April 26, 2008, Gorda had the highest gas prices in the United States at $5.40 per gallon. Part of this cost goes to subsidize the 100 gallon per day diesel generator fuel bill for the town.[5][6][7]