San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo County, officially the County of San Luis Obispo, is a county on the Central Coast of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 269,637.[4] The county seat is San Luis Obispo.[6]

San Luis Obispo County
County
County of San Luis Obispo
Images, from top down, left to right: Cerro San Luis (Mountain) in San Luis Obispo, a vineyard in Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Mission San Miguel Arcángel, Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle, Morro Rock
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Not For Ourselves Alone"
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country United States
State California
RegionCalifornia Central Coast
IncorporatedFebruary 18, 1850[1]
Named forSaint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse
County seatSan Luis Obispo
Largest citySan Luis Obispo
Government
 • BodySan Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
 • Supervisors
 • AssemblymemberJordan Cunningham (R)[2]
 • State senatorJohn Laird (D)[2]
Area
 • Total3,616 sq mi (9,370 km2)
 • Land3,299 sq mi (8,540 km2)
 • Water317 sq mi (820 km2)
Highest elevation5,109 ft (1,557 m)
Population
 • Total269,637
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
283,111
 • Density86/sq mi (33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code(s)805
Websitewww.slocounty.ca.gov
The entrance lobby and belfry of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. A statue of Fray Junípero Serra stands outside the church.
Robert Jack House, built c. 1882

Junípero Serra founded the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772 and downtown San Luis Obispo grew around the Mission. The small size of the county's communities, scattered along the beaches, coastal hills, and mountains of the Santa Lucia range, provides a wide variety of coastal and inland hill ecologies to support fishing, agriculture, and tourist activities.

California Polytechnic State University has almost 20,000 students. Tourism, especially for the wineries, is popular. Grapes and other agriculture products are an important part of the economy. San Luis Obispo County is the third largest producer of wine in California, surpassed only by Sonoma and Napa counties. Strawberries are the largest agricultural crop in the county.[7]

The town of San Simeon is located at the foot of the ridge where newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst built Hearst Castle. Other coastal towns (listed from north to south) include Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, and Los Osos -Baywood Park. These cities and villages are located northwest of the city of San Luis Obispo. To the south are Avila Beach and the Five Cities region. The Five Cities originally were: Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach (then known as Grover City), Oceano, Fair Oaks and Halcyon. Today, the Five Cities region consists of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano and Halcyon (basically the area from Pismo Beach to Oceano). Just south of the Five Cities, San Luis Obispo County borders northern Santa Barbara County. Inland, the cities of Paso Robles, Templeton, and Atascadero lie along the Salinas River, near the Paso Robles wine region. San Luis Obispo lies south of Atascadero and north of the Five Cities region.

History

The prehistory of San Luis Obispo County is strongly influenced by the Chumash people. There has been significant settlement here at least as early as the Millingstone Horizon thousands of years ago. Important settlements existed in coastal areas such as Morro Bay and Los Osos.[8][9]

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772 in the area that is now the city of San Luis Obispo. The namesake of the mission, city and county is Saint Louis of Toulouse, the young bishop of Toulouse (Obispo and Tolosa in Spanish) in 1297.

San Luis Obispo County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.

The Salinas River Valley, a region that figures strongly in several John Steinbeck novels, stretches north from San Luis Obispo County. The remote California Valley near Soda Lake is the region most untouched by modernity. Travels through this area and the hills east of Highway 101 during wildflower season often include wine tasting at numerous wineries.

Geography
San Luis Obispo
Sand dunes - Oceano CA
Morro Bay Docks

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,616 square miles (9,370 km2), of which 3,299 square miles (8,540 km2) is land and 317 square miles (820 km2) (8.8%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties
Areas adjacent to San Luis Obispo County, California

National protected areas

Marine Protected Areas
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area, an elephant seal rookery.

Demographics

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that San Luis Obispo County had a population of 269,637. The racial makeup of San Luis Obispo County was 222,756 (82.6%) White, 5,550 (2.1%) African American, 2,536 (0.9%) Native American, 8,507 (3.2%) Asian (1.0% Filipino, 0.6% Chinese, 0.4% Japanese, 0.3% Indian, 0.3% Korean, 0.2% Vietnamese), 389 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 19,786 (7.3%) from other races, and 10,113 (3.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 55,973 persons (20.8%); 17.7% of San Luis Obispo County is Mexican, 0.3% Puerto Rican, and 0.2% Salvadoran.[18]

2000
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850336—
18601,782430.4%
18704,772167.8%
18809,14291.6%
189016,07275.8%
190016,6373.5%
191019,38316.5%
192021,89312.9%
193029,61335.3%
194033,24612.3%
195051,41754.7%
196081,04457.6%
1970105,69030.4%
1980155,43547.1%
1990217,16239.7%
2000246,68113.6%
2010269,6379.3%
2019 (est.)283,111[5]5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21]
1990–2000[22] 2010–2015[4]

As of the census[23] of 2000, there were 246,681 residents, 92,739 households, and 58,611 families in the county. The population density was 75 people per square mile (29/km2). There were 102,275 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.2% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 16.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.4% English, 9.7% Irish, 6.1% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.7% spoke English and 10.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 92,739 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,428, and the median income for a family was $52,447. Males had a median income of $40,726 versus $27,450 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,864. About 6.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Clubhair mariposa lily near SLO city, 2014

The mainstays of the economy are California Polytechnic State University with its almost 20,000 students, tourism, and agriculture.

San Luis Obispo County's economy is primarily a service economy. Service jobs account for 38% of the County's jobs, government jobs accounts for 20.7%, and manufacturing jobs represent 6% of the County's jobs.

San Luis Obispo County is the third largest producer of wine in California, surpassed only by Sonoma and Napa counties. Wine grapes are the second largest agricultural crop in the county (after strawberries),[7] and the wine production they support creates a direct economic impact and a growing wine country vacation industry.

The county led the state in hemp cultivation in 2018 as hundreds of acres of the crop were grown in research partnerships.[24] In 2019, nine agricultural research permits were still active. Sixteen commercial permits were issued before a temporary ban on new applications running through June 2020 was passed by the Board of Supervisors.[25]

Politics

Voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

San Luis Obispo County leaned toward the Republican Party in presidential and congressional elections during the most of the 20th century; it has, however, become more Democratic during the 2000s and 2010s. In 2008, Barack Obama won the county with 51.2 percent of the vote.[27] Prior to 2008, the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964, although Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992. In 2012, Obama again won the county, this time with a slim plurality of the vote.

Presidential election results
San Luis Obispo County vote
by party in presidential elections[28]
Year GOP DEM Others
2020 42.2% 67,436 55.3% 88,310 2.5% 3,968
2016 40.9% 56,164 48.9% 67,107 10.2% 13,931
2012 47.6% 59,967 48.6% 61,258 3.8% 4,741
2008 45.9% 61,055 51.2% 68,176 3.0% 3,924
2004 52.7% 67,995 45.5% 58,742 1.8% 2,313
2000 52.2% 56,859 40.9% 44,526 6.9% 7,501
1996 46.5% 46,733 40.2% 40,395 13.3% 13,372
1992 34.8% 36,384 38.4% 40,136 26.9% 28,099
1988 55.9% 46,613 42.7% 35,667 1.4% 1,187
1984 63.7% 49,035 35.0% 26,946 1.3% 969
1980 55.6% 38,631 29.5% 20,508 14.9% 10,388
1976 51.2% 27,785 45.9% 24,926 2.9% 1,587
1972 56.0% 28,566 40.7% 20,779 3.3% 1,688
1968 51.3% 19,420 41.8% 15,828 7.0% 2,633
1964 40.1% 14,906 59.8% 22,252 0.1% 28
1960 54.0% 17,862 45.3% 14,975 0.7% 218
1956 58.5% 16,223 41.1% 11,407 0.4% 118
1952 65.4% 17,716 33.9% 9,174 0.8% 213
1948 53.5% 10,325 42.1% 8,135 4.4% 844
1944 48.9% 7,793 50.6% 8,068 0.5% 75
1940 45.3% 7,204 53.4% 8,499 1.4% 217
1936 37.3% 4,812 61.1% 7,889 1.6% 205
1932 28.6% 3,449 65.8% 7,933 5.6% 680
1928 60.8% 5,425 37.4% 3,336 1.8% 159
1924 49.0% 3,804 9.4% 731 41.6% 3,226
1920 61.3% 4,123 23.9% 1,606 14.8% 996
1916 40.2% 2,854 49.9% 3,539 10.0% 706
1912 0.2% 13 40.5% 2,248 59.3% 3,292
1908 50.8% 2,008 34.9% 1,381 14.3% 567
1904 55.0% 2,015 31.8% 1,167 13.2% 485
1900 45.8% 1,564 50.2% 1,713 4.0% 137
1896 43.7% 1,671 53.8% 2,056 2.4% 93
1892 38.1% 1,433 31.89% 1,199 30.0% 1,129
1888 49.7% 1,689 46.6% 1,585 3.7% 126
1884 51.4% 1,233 44.6% 1,069 4.0% 95
1880 47.8% 830 42.0% 729 10.2% 177

County voters supported Republican Meg Whitman in 2010 and Democrat Jerry Brown in 2014. The previous Democrat to carry the county in a gubernatorial election was Gray Davis in 1998.

With respect to the United States House of Representatives, San Luis Obispo County is in California's 24th congressional district, represented by Democrat Salud Carbajal.[29] From 2003 until 2013, the county was split between the Bakersfield-based 22nd district, which was represented by Republican Kevin McCarthy and included Paso Robles and most of the more conservative inland areas of the county, and Lois Capps' 23rd district, a strip which included most of the county's more liberal coastal areas as well as coastal areas of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

With respect to the California State Senate, the county is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat John Laird. With respect to the California State Assembly, the county is in the 35th Assembly District, represented by Republican Jordan Cunningham.

In April 2008, the California Secretary of State reported that there were 147,326 registered voters in San Luis Obispo County. Of those voters, 61,226 (41.6%) were registered Republicans, 52,586 (35.7%) were registered Democratic, 8,030 (5.4%) are registered with other political parties, and 25,484 (17.3%) declined to state a political preference. The cities of Grover Beach, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo had pluralities or majorities of registered Democratic voters, whereas the rest of the county's towns, cities, and the unincorporated areas have a plurality or majority of registered Republican voters.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

San Luis Obispo County is served by Amtrak trains and Greyhound Lines buses. The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority provides countywide service along US 101 as well as service to Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cambria and San Simeon.

The cities of San Luis Obispo, Atascadero and Paso Robles operate their own local bus services; all of these connect with SLORTA routes.

Oceano County Airport in 2013

Intercity service is provided by Amtrak trains, Greyhound and Orange Belt Stages buses.

Airports

Future

In the future, SR 46 may be considered for a possible westward expansion of Interstate 40 via SR 58 from Barstow to Bakersfield, from Bakersfield to I-5 via Westside Parkway, and then following SR 46 to Paso Robles.[33] SR 46 is slowly being upgraded to Interstate standards, minus overpasses between Interstate 5 and US Route 101.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities
Pair of Bat stars near Los Osos

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of San Luis Obispo County.[34]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † San Luis Obispo City 45,119
2 Paso Robles (El Paso de Robles) City 29,793
3 Atascadero City 28,310
4 Arroyo Grande City 17,252
5 Nipomo CDP 16,714
6 Los Osos CDP 14,276
7 Grover Beach City 13,156
8 Morro Bay City 10,234
9 Templeton CDP 7,674
10 Pismo Beach City 7,655
11 Oceano CDP 7,286
12 Cambria CDP 6,032
13 Cayucos CDP 2,592
14 Lake Nacimiento CDP 2,411
15 San Miguel CDP 2,336
16 Avila Beach CDP 1,627
17 Los Ranchos CDP 1,477
18 Shandon CDP 1,295
19 Callender CDP 1,262
20 Santa Margarita CDP 1,259
21 Blacklake CDP 930
22 Los Berros CDP 641
23 Woodlands CDP 576
24 San Simeon CDP 462
25 Garden Farms CDP 386
26 Oak Shores CDP 337
27 Whitley Gardens CDP 285
28 Edna CDP 193
29 Creston CDP 94

See also

Notes
  1. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
  4. For statistical purposes, defined by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).

Footnotes
  1. "Chronology". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  2. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  3. "Caliente Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  5. "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. Settevendemie, Marty. "2012 Crop Report" (PDF). San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture.
  8. Terry L. Jones and Kathryn Klar (2007) California Prehistory: Colonization, Culture, and Complexity, Published by Rowman Altamira ISBN 0-7591-0872-2, 408 pages
  9. C.Michael Hogan (2008) Morro Creek, ed. by A. Burnham
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  18. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  19. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  20. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  21. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  22. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  23. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. Vaughan, Monica (June 18, 2019). "Hemp could be big money for SLO County farmers. Did politicians scare away investors?". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  25. Wilson, Nick (October 31, 2019). "SLO County hemp harvest is in full swing, but here's why it's not as big as it could be". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  26. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  27. Map of Election Results, County-by-County: The New York Times
  28. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  29. "California's 24th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  30. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  31. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  32. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  33. Report on the Status of the Federal-Aid Highway Program. United States Senate. April 15, 1970. p. 89.
  34. https://www.census.gov/2010census/

Ashlynn was known for hating Nick. She passed away from long cancer on October 2019

Further reading

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