Pismo Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County,
California, United States. The
population was 8,551 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Pismo Beach is located at 35°8′54″N, 120°38′53″W (35.148336,
-120.648054)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 34.8 km² (13.4 mi²). 9.3 km² (3.6 mi²) of it is
land and (9.8 mi²) 25.5 km² of it (73.09%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 8,551 people, 4,230 households, and 2,322 families residing
in the city. The population density was 914.6/km² (2,366.0/mi²). There were 5,496
housing units at an average density of 587.8/km² (1,520.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% White, 0.60% African American, 0.71% Native American, 2.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.89% of the population.
There were 4,230 households out of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were
non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.58.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from
45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,396, and the median income for a family was $61,036. Males had a median
income of $48,606 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$30,835. About 6.3% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
The population had a wave of expansion starting in the 1980s, after completion of waste water treatment facilities expansion
designed by Kennedy Jenks Engineers; this lack of infrastructure had previously limited population growth.
Schools
Public Schools
- Shell Beach Elementary School, 2100 Shell Beach Rd., Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (Grades K-6)
- Judkins Middle School, 680 Wadsworth, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (Grades 7-8)
- High school students attend Arroyo Grande High School, 495 Valley Road,
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Colleges and Universities:
Other facts
- Pismo Beach is the Clam Capital of the World. The city holds the "Clam Festival" every October, complete with
clam chowder competitions and a clam-themed parade. At the southern end of Price Street
upon first entering Pismo Beach, a gigantic concrete clam statue greets visitors. Clamming
is restricted, due to over harvesting by humans and the protected sea otters.
- Pismo means "tar" in the language of the native Chumash Indians.
- Pismo Beach hosts one of the largest gatherings of custom and classic cars every June, on Father's Day weekend.
- Quads and dirt bikes for
recreational use are run at the Pismo OHV dunes.
- Pismo Beach is well known for being the place Bugs Bunny was headed to when he took that
wrong left turn at Albuquerque.
- The codename for the last revision of Apple Computer's PowerBook G3 is "Pismo", named after Pismo Beach. (The previous PowerBook, "Lombard", takes its name from
San Francisco's Lombard Street.)
- In the film Clueless, relief supplies were sent to Pismo Beach due to the
fictitious Pismo Beach disaster.
- Mentioned at the end of The Big Lebowski.
- In the cartoon Futurama episode "Raging Bender", Bender's final opponent is referred
to as "The Gizmo Of Pismo...Beach."
Images
Taken from the Sea Crest Resort Motel
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Taken of the coast at sunset in the August of 2004
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Taken of the pier at night in June of 2005.
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View from hill overlooking Pismo Beach
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Houses in Pismo Beach, built up the hillside.
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Taken from pier facing northwest.
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External links
Coordinates:
35.148336° N 120.648054°
W
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