San Simeon, California
Encyclopedia
San Simeon is a census-designated place
on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California
. Its position along State Route 1
is approximately halfway between Los Angeles
and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 mi (370 km) away. A key feature of the area is Hearst Castle
, a hilltop mansion built by William Randolph Hearst
in the early 20th century that is now a tourist attraction. The area is also known for a large elephant seal
population.
.
San Simeon is located on the Rancho Piedra Blanca
Mexican land grant given in 1840 to José de Jesús Pico. In 1865, Pico sold part of the rancho to George Hearst
, the father of William Randolph Hearst.
, the CDP covers an area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
was 579.9 people per square mile (223.9/km²). The racial makeup of San Simeon was 270 (58.4%) White, 4 (0.9%) African American, 5 (1.1%) Native American, 9 (1.9%) Asian, 2 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 160 (34.6%) from other races
, and 12 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 258 persons (55.8%).
The Census reported that 461 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 1 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 197 households, out of which 53 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 94 (47.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 14 (7.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 13 (6.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 5 (2.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 67 households (34.0%) were made up of individuals and 30 (15.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 121 families
(61.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.00.
The population was spread out with 106 people (22.9%) under the age of 18, 31 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 112 people (24.2%) aged 25 to 44, 130 people (28.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 83 people (18.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
There were 301 housing units at an average density of 377.8 per square mile (145.9/km²), of which 87 (44.2%) were owner-occupied, and 110 (55.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%. 143 people (31.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 318 people (68.8%) lived in rental housing units.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
. Its position along State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
is approximately halfway between Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 mi (370 km) away. A key feature of the area is Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark mansion located on the Central Coast of California, United States. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947 for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. In 1957, the Hearst Corporation donated the property to...
, a hilltop mansion built by William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
in the early 20th century that is now a tourist attraction. The area is also known for a large elephant seal
Elephant seal
Elephant seals are large, oceangoing seals in the genus Mirounga. There are two species: the northern elephant seal and the southern elephant seal . Both were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century, but numbers have since recovered...
population.
History
Prehistorically the local area was inhabited by the Chumash people, who settled the coastal San Luis Obispo area approximately 10,000 to 11,000 BC, including a large village to the South of San Simeon at Morro CreekMorro Creek
Morro Creek is a coastal stream in San Luis Obispo County, California, USA. This watercourse discharges to the Pacific Ocean at the city of Morro Bay.-Natural history:...
.
San Simeon is located on the Rancho Piedra Blanca
Rancho Piedra Blanca
Rancho Piedra Blanca was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José de Jesús Pico. The name means "white rock" and refers to rocks painted white by its bird population...
Mexican land grant given in 1840 to José de Jesús Pico. In 1865, Pico sold part of the rancho to George Hearst
George Hearst
George Hearst was a wealthy American businessman and United States Senator, and the father of newspaperman William Randolph Hearst.-Early life and education:...
, the father of William Randolph Hearst.
Geology
San Simeon also refers to some geologic structures of the local area, particularly elements of the coastal Jurassic Age landforms and ophiolite mineral formations of this region.Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Simeon had a population of 462. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 579.9 people per square mile (223.9/km²). The racial makeup of San Simeon was 270 (58.4%) White, 4 (0.9%) African American, 5 (1.1%) Native American, 9 (1.9%) Asian, 2 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 160 (34.6%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 12 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 258 persons (55.8%).
The Census reported that 461 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 1 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 197 households, out of which 53 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 94 (47.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14 (7.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 13 (6.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 5 (2.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 67 households (34.0%) were made up of individuals and 30 (15.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 121 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(61.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.00.
The population was spread out with 106 people (22.9%) under the age of 18, 31 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 112 people (24.2%) aged 25 to 44, 130 people (28.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 83 people (18.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
There were 301 housing units at an average density of 377.8 per square mile (145.9/km²), of which 87 (44.2%) were owner-occupied, and 110 (55.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%. 143 people (31.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 318 people (68.8%) lived in rental housing units.