Stinson Beach, California
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.
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.
Experience the Universe under the Stars while strolling on the Beach by the vast Pacific. Share in the telling of the Stinson Beach Coast history, of its ethnic diversity of explorers, pirates, 49ers and settlers over breakfast at the Redwoods: being part of the Spanish then Mexican Rancho of Baulinas; Bolinas establishment of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church & Graveyard in 1850, walk amongst the tombstones of Spanish-Mexican-Portugese-Italian-Irish-Modern Era waves of continued immigration; Discovery and Claim of the West Marin Coastline of Drakes Bay for Queen Elizabeth of England by Sir Francis Drake; 1800's Russian exploration and colonization of the Coast. Colony at Fort Ross and further Russian Settlements extending as far south as Nicasio; 49er Gold Rush from the Pacific Ocean via the Bolinas Lagoon & neighboring Bolinas, to the Goldfields; Ship Transport of English Pub Bar to Wharf Road in Bolinas, to Smileys Schooner Saloon, http://coastalpost.com/smileys/. The California Historical Society lists Smiley's as one of the only fourteen bars in the state to be in continuous existence for over 100 years. The saloon is believed to have been built in 1851 for the energetic young Captain Isaac Morgan, who arrived in Bolinas (or Jugville as it was known then) in 1849; Building of the Laffalot[original name of the Redwoods Haus-Beach, Bed & Breakfast in Stinson Beach, http://www.stinson-beach.com] by Norwegian Ship Cobbler Nielson, who used by mule and brace, to drag pier logs for foundation of the Laffalot, that had fallen into the SF Bay during the 1906 Earthquake. The Laffalot, 1910 Beachgoers Inn, catered to beachgoers, reknown for its accomodations, homemade jams/cooking/smoked salmon/brews, tales of piracy/ debauchery/pillaging on the 7 seas; Route of the Gravity Train over Mt Tamalpais, beachgoers, after disembarking, hired horse and buggy drivers/stagecoach to bring them to the Laffalot; Smuggling into Bolinas fom the Pacific of Duty free goods of the 1800's, Al Capones Prohibition Alcohol from British Columbia and 60's Contraband from the Golden Triangle-Nepalese Buddhist Temple Balls Hashish and Thai Stick; the colorful history of the Laffalot-[1910-1920 being an inn, 1920-speakeasy until repeal of prohibition, 1930-WWII Casino & Bordello, 1945-60's Original Owners family getaway, 1970-1988 change of ownership, "The Edge", rock & roll band, popular T.V. Commercials/studio recording/stage performers, 1988-present Full Service Lodging outreach to International Travelers emphasizing German/Bavarian/Swiss/Austrian Cultural Hospitality & Outreach, preserving the past Norwegian/Scandinavian customs of offering to the wayfarer- communal warmth, unrivaled buffet portions, tall tales, Seasonal smoked & barbequed local salmon/oysters/duck/hare/lamb & organic fruits/vegetables raised/grown in Bolinas{Tschiarra Organic Meat/Poulty & Dirks Organic Vegetables}. Present Location of Stinson Beach Community Network[Sustainable Commerce & Local Ecological/Environmental issues], http://www.stinson-beach.net, 415 868-1330 & the Stinson Beach Chamber of Commerce, http://www.stinson-beach.org,415 868-1330, SW Marin Outreach/Visitor Information/SW Marin News & Media Consolidated Source, supported by the Redwoods Haus-Beach, Bed & Breakfast in Stinson Beach & hosted by the Seventh World, http://www.seventhworld.com; neighbor to the 60's migration of the Psychedelic Counterculture of the Haight-Ashbury with the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane to Bolinas; the Artistry/Openness of Opinion and Environmental/Non-developmental Concerns of our Community of SW Marin.
Geography
Stinson Beach is located at 37°54′9″N 122°38′44″W / 37.90250°N 122.64556°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (37.902620, -122.645440)Template:GR.
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.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR 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.
Annual Events
Every summer, the town hosts an annual outdoor Shakespeare festival on the beach (see http://www.shakespeareatstinson.org).
On the second Sunday of June, the town serves as the ending point for the annual running of the Dipsea Race.
Popular Media
Stinson Beach has been the setting and filming location for several movies:
The town was mentioned in an episode of M*A*S*H.
External links
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Municipalities and communities of Marin County, California, United States | ||
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| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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