Stinson Beach, California

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Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California, United States. The population was 751 at the 2000 census.

Stinson Beach is about a 30-minute drive on California's Highway 1 from the Golden Gate Bridge, as one departs San Francisco. It is near to important attractions such as Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, and Mount Tamalpais. It has a long beach with occasional opportunities for surfing, although the water is cold and fog is common throughout the year.

In 2002, a surfer was attacked by a 12-15 foot-long great white shark, while surfing off Stinson Beach. The young man survived, but received more than 100 stitches to close his wounds. The attack was the second in Stinson Beach since 1998, and the 13th in Marin County since 1952. The surf off Stinson Beach is within an area known as the Red Triangle, where there have been an unusually high number of shark attacks.[1]

Stinson Beach is a popular day-trip for people from the San Francisco Bay Area and for tourists visiting northern California. Although most visitors arrive by private car, Stinson Beach is linked to Marin City by a weekend bus service, and the network of hiking trails around Mount Tamalpais also reaches the town.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Annual Events
5 Popular Media
6 External links

[edit] History

In 1870, the first road was built along the Pacific coast from Sausalito, California, and a tent settlement sprang up amongst the willow trees at the beach, which gave rise to the town's original name, Willow Camp. The Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railroad opened in 1896, making Willow Camp more accessible. Visitors could ride the train to West Point Inn and then hike or arrange a stagecoach to take them to the beach. In 1906, refugees from the San Francisco earthquake came to the area and built some of the area's first businesses. Stinson Beach became the official town name in 1916, in honor of the largest landowners, Rose and Nathan Stinson.

In 1939, the beach was sold to Marin County, was transferred to the State of California in 1950, and was eventually transferred to the National Park Service in 1977.

[edit] Geography

Stinson Beach is located at 37°54′9″N, 122°38′44″W (37.902620, -122.645440)^GR1.

Stinson Beach is east of Bolinas, California.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²). 2.7 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.87%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 751 people, 374 households, and 178 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 273.5/km² (711.7/mi²). There were 693 housing units at an average density of 252.4/km² (656.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.87% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.93% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.60% of the population.

There were 374 households out of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.4% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 16.9% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 39.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $87,679, and the median income for a family was $105,827. Males had a median income of $58,750 versus $56,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $62,452. About 3.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.4% of those sixty five or over.