Map of Big Sur

Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the central California, United States coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The terrain offers stunning views, making Big Sur a popular tourist destination. Big Sur's Cone Peak is the highest coastal mountain in the lower 48 states, ascending nearly a mile (5,155 feet/1.6 km) above sea level, only three miles (4.8 km) from the ocean.^[1] Big Sur is a region of the central California coast. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 454 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (536 × 707 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/png) slight modification of previous file version - added location of Cambria Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 454 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (536 × 707 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/png) slight modification of previous file version - added location of Cambria Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 170 km to San Luis Obispo. ... Tourist redirects here. ...

Although Big Sur has no specific boundaries, many definitions of the area include the 90 miles (145 km) of coastline between the Carmel River and San Carpoforo Creek, and extend about 20 miles (32 km) inland to the eastern foothills of the Santa Lucias. Other sources limit the eastern border to the coastal flanks of these mountains, only three to 12 miles (4.8-19 km) inland. The Carmel River is a river on the central coast of Monterey County, California. ... Big Sur San Carpofóro Creek flows through San Carpofóro Canyon. ... The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles (170 km) to San Luis Obispo. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ...

The northern end of Big Sur is about 120 miles (193 km) south of San Francisco, and the southern end is approximately 245 miles (394 km) north of Los Angeles. This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...

History

Aerial photo of Big Sur in the 1930s

Image File history File linksMetadata BigSur_1930s. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BigSur_1930s. ...

Aboriginal Americans

Three tribes of aboriginal Americans—the Ohlone, Esselen, and Salinan—were apparently the first people to inhabit the area now known as Big Sur. Archaeological evidence shows that they lived in Big Sur for thousands of years, leading a nomadic, hunter-gatherer existence.^[2] Aboriginal Americans (or alternatively, American Aborigines) are the aboriginal (original residents) peoples of the Americas. ... For the college of the same name, see Ohlone College. ... Esselen The Esselen were the Native American inhabitants of what is now known as Big Sur on the Central Coast of California. ... The Salinan Native Americans lived in what is now Northern California, in the Salinas Valley. ...

Few traces of their material culture have survived. Their arrow heads were made of obsidian and flint, which indicates trading links with tribes hundreds of miles away, since the nearest sources of these rocks are in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the northern California Coast Ranges. This article is about a type of volcanic glass. ... This article is about the sedimentary rock. ... This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ...

They followed local food sources seasonally, living near the coast in winter to harvest rich stocks of mussels, abalone and other sea life, and moving inland at other times to harvest oak acorns. Bedrock mortars, which are large exposed rocks that these people hollowed out into bowl shapes to grind the acorns into flour, can be found throughout Big Sur. The tribes also used controlled burning techniques to increase tree growth and food production.^[3] Mussels A mussel is a bivalve shellfish that can be found in lakes, rivers, creeks, intertidal areas, and throughout the ocean. ... Species Many, see species section. ...

Spanish Exploration and Settlement

The first Europeans to see Big Sur were Spanish mariners led by Juan Cabrillo in 1542, who sailed up the coast without landing. Two centuries passed before the Spanish attempted to colonize the area. In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portolà were the first Europeans known to set foot in Big Sur, in the far south near San Carpoforo Canyon.^[4] Daunted by the sheer cliffs, his party avoided the area and pressed far inland. The European peoples are the various nations and ethnic groups of Europe. ... The Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, CA João Rodrigues Cabrilho, (ca 1499 – January 3, 1543) was a Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America while sailing for Spain. ... Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira (1716 – 1784), a soldier, governor of Baja and Alta California (1767–1770), explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey. ... Big Sur San Carpofóro Creek flows through San Carpofóro Canyon. ...

Portolà landed in Monterey Bay in 1770, and with Father Junìpero Serra, who helped found most of the missions in California, established the town Monterey, which became the capital of the Spanish colony Alta California. The Spanish gave Big Sur its name during this period, calling the region el país grande del sur (the Big Country of the South) which was often shortened to el sur grande, because it was a vast, unexplored, and impenetrable land south of their capital at Monterey. For the village in Queensland, see 1770, Queensland. ... Blessed Junípero Serra (November 24, 1713 - August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan who founded the California mission chain. ... Postcard of the reconstructed Mission Santa Bárbara The California missions are a series of settlements established by Spanish Catholic Franciscans, to Christianize the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier land. ... The Customs House at Monterey View of Monterey Bay and its kelp A sea lion rookery at the marina Museum interior with ship models and equipment Kelp Forest display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey is a city near the Pacific coast in northern California. ...

The Spanish colonization devastated the aboriginal population. Most tribe members died out from European diseases or forced labor and malnutrition at the missions in the eighteenth century, while many remaining members assimilated with Spanish and Mexican ranchers in the nineteenth century.^[5]

Ranchos and Homesteads

Along with the rest of California, Big Sur became part of Mexico when it gained independence from Spain in 1821. In 1834, the Mexican governor José Figueroa granted a 9000 acre (36 km²) rancho in northern Big Sur to Juan Bautista Alvarado, and his uncle by marriage, Captain J.B.R Cooper, soon after assumed ownership. The oldest surviving structure in Big Sur, the so-called Cooper Cabin, was built in 1861 on the Cooper ranch^[6]. Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo (February 14, 1809–July 13, 1882) was a Californio and Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1842. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

In 1848, as a result of the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California to the United States. After passage of the federal Homestead Act in 1862, a few hardy pioneers moved into Big Sur, drawn by the promise of free 160 acre (0.6 km²) parcels. Many local sites are named after the settlers from this period: Gamboa, Pfeiffer, Post, Partington, Ross and McWay are common place names. Consistent with the Anglo-Hispanic heritage of the area, the new settlers mixed English and Spanish and began to call their new home "Big Sur." Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Zachary Taylor Winfield Scott Stephen W. Kearney Antonio López de Santa Anna Mariano Arista Pedro de Ampudia José Mariá Flores Strength 78,790 soldiers 25,000–40,000 soldiers Casualties KIA: 1733 Total dead: 13,271 Wounded: 4,152 AWOL: 9,200+ 25,000... The Homestead Act is a piece of U.S. legislation which gave one quarter of a section of a township (160 acres, or about 65 hectares) of undeveloped land in the American West to any family head provided he lived on it for five years, or allowed the family head...

Industrial Era and Gold Rush

Bixby Landing in 1911

From the 1860s through the turn of the twentieth century, lumbering cut down most of the coast redwoods. Along with industries based on tanoak bark harvesting, gold mining, and limestone processing, the local economy provided more jobs and supported a larger population than today. In the 1880s, a gold rush boom town, Manchester, sprang up at Alder Creek in the far south. The town boasted a population of 200, four stores, a restaurant, five saloons, a dance hall, and a hotel, but it was abandoned soon after the turn of the century and burned to the ground in 1909.^[7] There were no reliable roads to supply these industries, so local entrepreneurs built small boat landings at a few coves along the coast, such as Bixby Landing pictured here.^[8] None of these landings remain today, and few other signs of this brief industrial period are visible to the casual traveler. The rugged, isolated terrain kept out all but the sturdiest and most self-sufficient settlers. A 30 mile (50 km) trip to Monterey could take three days by wagon, over a rough and dangerous track.^[9] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1263x945, 618 KB) Bixby landing in 1911. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1263x945, 618 KB) Bixby landing in 1911. ... // The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Binomial name Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. ... Binomial name Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... For other meanings, see Gold rush (disambiguation) A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Before and After Highway 1

After the industrial boom faded, the early decades of the twentieth century passed with few changes, and Big Sur remained a nearly inaccessible wilderness. As late as the 1920s, only two homes in the entire region had electricity, locally generated by water wheels and windmills.^[10] Most of the population lived without power until connections to the California electric grid were established in the early 1950s. Big Sur changed rapidly when Highway 1 was completed in 1937 after eighteen years of construction, aided by New Deal funds and the use of convict labor. Highway 1 dramatically altered the local economy and brought the outside world much closer, with ranches and farms quickly giving way to tourist venues and second homes. Even with these modernizations, Big Sur was spared the worst excesses of development, due largely to residents who fought to preserve the land. The Monterey County government won a landmark court case in 1962, affirming its right to ban billboards and other visual distractions on Highway 1.^[11] The county then adopted one of the country's most stringent land use plans, prohibiting any new construction within sight of the highway. State Route 1, often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along a large length of the Pacific coast of the U.S. State of California. ... The New Deal was the title President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to the series of programs he initiated between 1933 and 1938 with the goal of providing relief, recovery, and reform (3 Rs) to the people and economy of the United States during the Great Depression. ... Unfree labour is a generic or collective term for forms of work, especially in modern or early modern history, in which adults and/or children are employed without wages, or for a minimal wage. ...

Big Sur Artists and Popular Culture

In the early to mid-twentieth century, Big Sur's relative isolation and natural beauty began to attract a different kind of pioneer - writers and artists, including Robinson Jeffers, Henry Miller, Edward Weston, Richard Brautigan, Hunter S. Thompson, and Jack Kerouac. Jeffers was among the first of these. Beginning in the 1920s, his poetry introduced the romantic idea of Big Sur's wild, untamed spaces to a national audience, which encouraged many of the later visitors. Henry Miller lived in Big Sur from 1944 to 1962. His 1957 novel Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch described the joys and hardships that came from escaping the "air conditioned nightmare" of modern life. The Henry Miller Memorial Library, a cultural center devoted to Miller's life and work, is a popular attraction for many tourists. Hunter S. Thompson worked as a security guard and caretaker at Big Sur Hot Springs for eight months in 1961, just before it became the Esalen Institute. While there, he published his first magazine feature in the nationally distributed Rogue magazine, about Big Sur's artisan and bohemian culture. Jack Kerouac spent a summer in Big Sur in the early 1960's, and wrote a novel titled Big Sur based on his experience there. John Robinson Jeffers (January 10, 1887–January 20, 1962) was an American poet, known for his work about the central California coast. ... Henry Miller photo taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1940 Henry Valentine Miller (December 26, 1891 – June 7, 1980) was an American writer and, to a lesser extent, painter. ... Edward Weston (March 24, 1886 - January 1, 1958) was an American photographer, and co-founder of Group f/64. ... Richard Gary Brautigan (January 30, 1935 – September 14 (?),[1] 1984) was an American writer, best known for the novel Trout Fishing in America. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. ... Jack Kerouac (pronounced ) (March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969) was an American novelist, writer, poet, and artist. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Esalen Institute is a center for humanistic alternative education, a nonprofit organization devoted to multidisciplinary studies ordinarily neglected by traditional academia. ... This article is about a magazine, for other uses of the term see Rogue. ... An artisan, also called a craftsman,[1] is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft. ... Bohemians are inhabitants of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. ... Big Sur, a 1962 novel by Jack Kerouac. ...

The area's increasing popularity and cinematic beauty soon brought the attention of Hollywood. Orson Welles and his wife at the time, Rita Hayworth, bought a Big Sur cabin on impulse during a trip down the coast in 1944. They never spent a single night there, and the property is now the location of a popular restaurant. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, featuring many location shots of Big Sur, and a dance party scene on a soundstage built to resemble the same restaurant. The Sandpiper was one of the very few major studio motion pictures ever filmed in Big Sur, and perhaps the only one to use real Big Sur locales as part of the plot. The DVD, released in 2006, includes a Burton-narrated short film about Big Sur, quoting Robinson Jeffers poetry. Another film based in Big Sur was the 1974 Zandy's Bride, starring Gene Hackman and Liv Ullman.^[12]. An adaptation of The Stranger in Big Sur by Lillian Bos Ross, the film portrayed the 1870s life of the Ross family and their Big Sur neighbors. This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Rita Hayworth (October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987), was an American actress who reached fame during the 1940s as the eras leading sex symbol. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named Elizabeth Taylor, see Elizabeth Taylor (disambiguation). ... For other persons named Richard Burton, see Richard Burton (disambiguation). ... // Events Top grossing films North America Mary Poppins The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews Goldfinger My Fair Lady Whats New Pussycat? Shenandoah The Sandpiper Father Goose Academy Awards Best Picture: The Sound of Music - Argyle, Twentieth Century-Fox Best Actor: Lee Marvin - Cat Ballou Best Actress: Julie Christie... The Sandpiper is a 1965 film starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, and directed by Vincente Minnelli. ... See also: 1973 in film 1974 1975 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in USA May 1 - George Lucas creates the first draft of what would eventually become Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ... Eugene Allen Gene Hackman[1] (born January 30, 1930) is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Liv Ullmann (born December 16, 1939) is a Norwegian actress, author and film director. ...

Big Sur also became home to centers of study and contemplation - a Catholic monastery, the New Camaldoli Hermitage in 1958, the Esalen Institute, a workshop and retreat center in 1962, and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, a Buddhist monastery, in 1966. Esalen hosted many figures of the nascent "New Age," and in the 1960s, played an important role in popularizing Eastern philosophies, the "human potential movement," and Gestalt therapy in the United States. Big Sur acquired a bohemian reputation with these newcomers. Henry Miller recounted that a traveler knocked on his door, looking for the "cult of sex and anarchy."^[13] Apparently finding neither, the disappointed visitor returned home. New Camaldoli Hermitage is a rural Camaldoli Benedictine hermitage in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Big Sur, California that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. ... Esalen Institute is a center for humanistic alternative education, a nonprofit organization devoted to multidisciplinary studies ordinarily neglected by traditional academia. ... The Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the first Japanese Buddhist Sōtō Zen monastery in the United States, was established by Shunryu Suzuki in 1966 in the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. ... New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Gestalt Therapy is an existential and experiential psychotherapy that focuses on the individuals experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts in which these things take place, and the self-regulating adjustments people make as a result of the overall situation. ...

Big Sur Today

Big Sur remains sparsely populated, with about 1000 inhabitants, according to the 2000 US Census. The people of Big Sur today are a diverse mix: descendants of the original settler and rancher families, artists and other creative types, along with wealthy home-owners from the worlds of entertainment and commerce. Real estate costs are as impressive as the views, with most homes priced above $2 million. There are no urban areas, although three small clusters of gas stations, restaurants, and motels are often marked on maps as "towns": Big Sur, in the Big Sur River valley, Lucia, near Limekiln State park, and Gorda, on the southern coast. The economy is almost completely based on tourism. Much of the land along the coast is privately owned or has been donated to the state park system, while the vast Los Padres National Forest and Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation encompass most of the inland areas. The mountainous terrain, environmentally conscious residents, and lack of property available for development have kept Big Sur almost unspoiled, and it retains an isolated, frontier mystique. 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... View into the Los Padres backcountry, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California: everything in this picture is within the Los Padres National Forest Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to... Fort Hunter Liggett, named after General Hunter Liggett, is a United States Army fort in southern Monterey County, California, about 250 miles (400 km) north of Los Angeles and 150 miles south of San Francisco. ... A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary, or of a different nature. ...

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 270 pixel Image in higher resolution (2318 × 783 pixel, file size: 397 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A series of photographs that I took of Big Sur, California, and then stitched together using Autostitch [1]. I, the creator of this...

Climate

Pictures taken on afternoons in June (upper) and December (lower). The summer picture shows a typical fog bank nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) thick.

It is impossible to generalize about the weather in Big Sur, because the jagged topography causes many separate microclimates. This is one of the few places on Earth where redwoods grow within sight of cacti. Still, Big Sur typically enjoys a mild climate year-round, with a sunny, dry summer and fall, and a cool, wet winter. Coastal temperatures vary little during the year, ranging from the 50s at night to the 70s by day (Fahrenheit) from June through October, and in the 40s to 60s from November through May. Farther inland, away from the ocean's moderating influence, temperatures are much more variable. Annual precipitation in the Big Sur Valley is about 40 inches (100cm), diminishing further to the south to about 25 inches. More than 70% of the rain falls from December through March, while the summer brings drought conditions. Snow is uncommon during the winter months on the coast, although the mountaintops can receive heavy snowfalls. The abundant winter rains cause rock and mudslides that can cut off portions of Highway 1 for days or weeks, but the road is usually quickly repaired. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 453 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (906 × 1200 pixel, file size: 500 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) My own work, taken six months apart at Post Ranch Inn, December 2005 and June 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 453 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (906 × 1200 pixel, file size: 500 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) My own work, taken six months apart at Post Ranch Inn, December 2005 and June 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the... For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see Terrain. ... Microclimate on rock located in intertidal zone on rock at Sunrise-on Sea Tree ferns thrive in a protected dell at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, in Cornwall, England, latitude 50° 15N A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... This entry refers to the geological term landslide. ... Mudslide in La Conchita, California A mudslide is a landslide of mud. ...

Along with much of the central and northern California coast, Big Sur often has dense fog in summer. The summer fog and summer drought have the same underlying cause: a massive, stable seasonal high pressure system that forms over the north Pacific Ocean. The high pressure cell inhibits rainfall and generates northwesterly airflows. These prevailing summer winds from the northwest push the warm ocean surface water to the southeast, away from the coast, and frigid deep ocean water rises in its place. The water vapor in the air contacting this cold water condenses into fog. ^[14] The fog usually moves out to sea during the day and closes in at night, but sometimes heavy fog blankets the coast all day. Fog is an essential summer water source for many Big Sur coastal plants. Most plants cannot take water directly out of the air, but the condensation on leaf surfaces slowly precipitates into the ground like rain. For other uses, see Fog (disambiguation). ...

Flora

The many climates of Big Sur result in an astonishing biodiversity, including many rare and endangered species such as the wild orchid Piperia yadonii. Arid, dusty chaparral-covered hills exist within easy walking distance of lush riparian woodland. The mountains trap most of the moisture out of the clouds; fog in summer, rain and snow in winter. This creates a favorable environment for coniferous forests, including the southernmost habitat of the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which grows only on lower coastal slopes that are routinely fogged in at night. The redwoods are aggressive regenerators, and have grown back extensively since logging ceased in the early twentieth century. The rare Santa Lucia fir (Abies bracteata), as its name suggests, is found only in the Santa Lucia mountains. A common "foreign" species is the Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), which was uncommon in Big Sur until the late 19th century, when many homeowners began to plant it as a windbreak. There are many broad leaved trees as well, such as the tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica). In the rain shadow, the forests disappear and the vegetation becomes open oak woodland, then transitions into the more familiar fire-tolerant California chaparral scrub. Rare species is an organism which is very uncommon or scarce. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... Orchid re-directs here; for alternate uses see Orchid (disambiguation) Genera Over 800 See List of Orchidaceae genera. ... Piperia yadonii, also known as Yadon’s Piperia, is an endangered perennial herb, endemic to a narrow range of coastal habitat in northern Monterey County, California. ... Chaparral is a shrubland plant community found primarily in California, USA, that is shaped by a Mediterranean climate (mild, wet winters and hot dry summers) and wildfire. ... A riparian zone schematic from the Everglades. ... For other uses, see Cloud (disambiguation). ... This article is about a community of trees. ... Binomial name Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. ... Binomial name Abies bracteata (D. Don) A. Poit. ... Binomial name Pinus radiata D.Don Pinus radiata (family Pinaceae) is known in English as Monterey Pine in some parts of the world (mainly in the USA, Canada and the British Isles), and Radiata Pine in others (primarily Australia, New Zealand and Chile). ... Binomial name Quercus agrifolia The Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, also called the California live oak, is an evergeen oak, highly variable and often shrubby, found in the coastal regions of southwestern North America from Mendocino County, California south to northern Baja California in Mexico. ... Binomial name Umbellularia californica Umbellularia californica is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family. ... For the television series see Rain Shadow. ...

Demographic estimate

The United States does not define a census-designated place called Big Sur, but it does define a Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), 93920. Because Big Sur is contained roughly within this Zip Code Tabulation Area, it is possible to obtain Census data from the United States 2000 Census for the area even though data for "Big Sur" is unavailable. A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAsâ„¢) are a new statistical entity developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. ... ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAsâ„¢) are a new statistical entity developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. ... The United States Census of year 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ...

According to the US 2000 census, there were 996 people, 884 households, and 666 housing units in the 93920 ZCTA. The racial makeup of this area was 87.6% White, 1.1% African American, 1.3% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.6% of the population. The United States Census of year 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

In the 93920 ZCTA, the population age is widely distributed, with 20.2% under the age of 19, 4.5% from 20 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 37.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43.2 years.

The median income for a household in 93920 ZCTA is $41,304, and the median income for a family is $65,083.

Tourism

Bixby Bridge, shown here looking southwest, is a popular attraction in Big Sur

Although some Big Sur residents catered to adventurous travelers in the early twentieth century,^[15] the modern tourist economy began when Highway 1 opened the region to automobiles, and only took off after World War II-era gasoline rationing ended in the mid-1940s. Most of the 3 million tourists who visit Big Sur each year never leave Highway 1, because the adjacent Santa Lucia mountain range is one of the largest roadless areas near a coast in the lower 48 states. The highway winds along the western flank of the mountains mostly within sight of the Pacific Ocean, varying from near sea level up to a thousand-foot sheer drop to the water. Because gazing at the views while driving is inadvisable, the highway features many strategically placed vista points allowing motorists to stop and admire the landscape. The section of Highway 1 running through Big Sur is widely considered as one of the most scenic driving routes in the United States, if not the world. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1664x2496, 531 KB) Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California, USA, viewed from Old Coast Rd. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1664x2496, 531 KB) Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California, USA, viewed from Old Coast Rd. ... A view of the Bixby Bridge from its northern end, looking SSE Viewed from the other side of Cabrillo Highway Bixby Bridge is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge in Big Sur, California, 120 miles south of San Francisco along Cabrillo Highway (CA-1). ... The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 170 km to San Luis Obispo. ...

The land use restrictions that preserve Big Sur's natural beauty also mean that tourist accommodations are limited, often expensive, and fill up quickly during the busy summer season. There are fewer than 300 hotel rooms on the entire 90 mile (140 km) stretch of Highway 1 between San Simeon and Carmel, only three gas stations, and no chain hotels, supermarkets, or fast-food outlets^[16]. The lodging options are rustic cabins, motels, and campgrounds, or costly, exclusive five-star resorts, with little in between. Most lodging and restaurants are clustered in the Big Sur River valley, where Highway 1 leaves the coast for a few miles and winds into a redwood forest, protected from the chill ocean breezes and summer fog. San Simeon (ZIP Code: 93452) is a settlement on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California notable in two respects: Its position along Cabrillo Hwy is almost precisely halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those towns being roughly 230 mi (370 km) away. ... “Carmel, California” redirects here. ...

Besides sightseeing from the highway, Big Sur offers hiking, mountain climbing, and other outdoor activities. There are a few small, scenic beaches that are popular for walking, but usually unsuitable for swimming because of unpredictable currents and frigid temperatures. Big Sur's nine state parks have many points of interest, including one of the few waterfalls on the Pacific Coast that plunges directly into the ocean, the ruins of a grand stone cliffside house that was the region's first electrified dwelling, and the only complete nineteenth century lighthouse complex open to the public in California, set on a lonely, windswept hill that looks like an island in the fog. Two hikers in the Mount Hood National Forest Eagle Creek hiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... An open crevasse. ... Eddystone Lighthouse, one of the first wavewashed lighthouses For other uses, see Lighthouse (disambiguation). ...

List of state parks (north to south)

California State Parks Articles

• Carmel River State Beach
• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Garrapata State Park
• Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• John Little State Reserve
• Limekiln State Park

List of state parks (Wikipedia articles)

• Carmel River State Park
• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Garrapata State Park
• Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• John Little State Reserve
• Limekiln State Park

Federal Parks

• Ventana Wilderness

A wave breaks onto Carmel River State Beach Carmel River State Beach and Park is mile-long beach with a lagoon formed by the Carmel River. ... Whalers Cove in Point lobos Point Lobs state reserve commonly referred to as simply Point Lobos is a sea side state reserve south of Monterey, California. ... Garrapata State Park is a California State Park operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation which has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific. ... Point Sur, Lightstation on top The Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park is located on the Big Sur coastline of Monterey County, 19 miles south of Carmel. ... Andrew Molera State Park is a state park located in Monterey County, United States. ... Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a state park in Monterey County, California near the town of Big Sur on the states Central Coast. ... Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (Palm not native) McWay falls and Saddle Rock Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a state park in Big Sur, located in Monterey County, California. ... John Little State Reserve is a protected area on the Big Sur coast of Monterey County in California. ... Limekiln State Park is a state park in California. ... The Ventana Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast of California. ...

Gallery

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Big Sur viewed from summit of Cone Peak. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Conepeak_135711. ...	Looking west from Nacimiento-Ferguson Road Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,872 × 2,592 pixels, file size: 1. ...	Fog comes in off the Pacific on a typical June day. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1704x1134, 544 KB) Big Sur and fog on a typical day in June. ...	Big Sur Coast looking south. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x819, 325 KB) Photographed by Doug Dolde along the Big Sur coastline in California. ...
The author Henry Miller lived in Big Sur from 1944-1962. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1000x651, 535 KB) The Henry Miller museum, in the middle of a Red Wood tree forest on the Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur, California. ... Henry Miller photo taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1940 Henry Valentine Miller (December 26, 1891 – June 7, 1980) was an American writer and, to a lesser extent, painter. ...	McWay Cove and falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 175 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	McWay Cove again. The former owners planted non-native palms for an exotic garden in the mid-20th century. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 798 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Big Sur Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to...	Coastline with the McWay Rocks in foreground. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 858 KB) Picture of central Californias coastline looking south from the shoulder of the Pacific Coast Highway (Rt. ...
Big Sur River in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (4048x3040, 4549 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Hurricane Point looking north. Bixby Bridge is visible in the middle distance. Image File history File linksMetadata Bigsur_hurricanepoint2004. ...	Sunset over Big Sur on the north-western edge of Andrew Molera State Park. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 358 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 458 pixel, file size: 72 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sunset over Big Sur, on the north-western edge of Andrew Molera State park. ...	A view down from Bixby Bridge Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3456 × 2304 pixel, file size: 4. ...
View of the coastline from Lucia Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...	Coastline 20 miles (30 km) south of Carmel Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...	Big Sur, early evening Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...	Highway one runs through Big Sur Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Suggested Reading

• Big Sur, Jack Kerouac, Penguin Books, Reprint edition (1962, reprinted 1992), 256 pages, ISBN 0-14-016812-5
• Big Sur: A Battle for the Wilderness 1869-1981, John Woolfenden, The Boxwood Press (1981), 143 pages, ISBN 0-910286-87-6
• Big Sur: Images of America, Jeff Norman, Big Sur Historical Society, Arcadia Publishing (2004), 128 pages, ISBN 0-7385-2913-3
• Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, Henry Miller, New Directions Publishing Corp (1957), 404 pages, ISBN 0-8112-0107-4
• Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur, Analise Elliott, Wilderness Press (2005), 322 pages, ISBN 0-89997-326-4
• The Natural History of Big Sur, Paul Henson and Donald J. Usner, University of California Press (1993), 416 pages, ISBN 0-520-20510-3
• A Wild Coast and Lonely: Big Sur Pioneers, Rosalind Sharpe Wall, Wide World Publishing, (1989, reprinted April 1992), 264 pages, ISBN 0-933174-83-7

Big Sur, a 1962 novel by Jack Kerouac. ...

References

1. ^ Henson, Paul and Usner, Donald. The Natural History of Big Sur 1993, University of California Press; Berkeley, California; page 11
2. ^ Elliott, Analise. Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur 2005, Wilderness Press; Berkeley, California; page 21
3. ^ Henson and Usner, pages 269-270
4. ^ Ibid., page 272
5. ^ Ibid., pages 264-267
6. ^ Big Sur Cabin - Davis, Kathleen - California Department of Parks & Recreation website
7. ^ Woolfenden, John. Big Sur: A Battle for the Wilderness 1869-1981 1981, The Boxwood Press; Pacific Grove; page 72
8. ^ Wall, Rosalind Sharpe. A Wild Coast and Lonely: Big Sur Pioneers 1989, Wide World Publishing; San Carlos, California; pages 126-130
9. ^ Eliott, page 24
10. ^ Henson and Usner, page 328; Woolfenden, page 64
11. ^ National Advertising Co. v. County of Monterey, 211 Cal.App.2d 375, 1962
12. ^ Movies Made in Monterey - Z
13. ^ Miller, Henry. Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch 1957, New Directions Publishing; New York; page 45
14. ^ Henson and Usner, pages 33-35
15. ^ Woolfenden, page 10
16. ^ Lodging Guide to Big Sur, Big Sur Chamber of Commerce website

Berkeley is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in northern California, in the United States. ... Berkeley is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in northern California, in the United States. ... Pacific Grove, California city hall. ... This article is about the state. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Big Sur

• A Short History of Big Sur From the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
• A Guide to California's Big Sur: A comprehensive visitor's guide to the Big Sur region
• "The Big Sur cabin": Dating the earliest cabin in Big Sur, 1861
• Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance: Wilderness conservation and hiking trails info in the Big Sur area
• Google Map of Big Sur
• Microsoft Live Map of Big Sur
• Hiking In Big Sur Hiking In Big Sur
• Esselen Tribe Website Esselen Tribe of Monterey County
• Big Sur on the Central Coast Big Sur on the Central Coast

	v • d • e State of California Sacramento (capital)
Topics	Climate | Culture | Districts | Economy | Elections | Geography | Government | Early History | Modern History | Politics | Californians Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_California. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Sacramento redirects here. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... The culture of California is a Western culture and most clearly has its roots in the culture of the United States. ... There are several different types of districts in California. ... The number of elections in California varies by year. ... Californias Yosemite Valley. ... This article continues the history of California in the years 1900 and later; for events through 1899, see History of California to 1899. ... The recent and current politics of the U.S. state of California are complex and involve a number of entrenched interests. ... This is a partial list of well-known people from California. ...
Regions	Antelope Valley | Big Sur | Cascade Range | Central Coast | Central Valley | Channel Islands | Coachella Valley | Conejo Valley | Cucamonga Valley | Death Valley | East Bay (SF) | Eastern California | Emerald Triangle | Gold Country | Great Basin | Greater Los Angeles | Inland Empire | Lake Tahoe | Los Angeles Basin | Mojave | North Bay (SF) | North Coast | Northern California | Owens Valley | The Peninsula | Pomona Valley | Redwood Empire | Russian River | Sacramento Valley | San Bernardino Valley | San Fernando Valley | San Francisco Bay Area | San Joaquin Valley | Santa Clara Valley | Santa Clarita Valley | Shasta Cascade | Sierra Nevada | Silicon Valley | South Bay (SF) | Southern California | Tech Coast | Tri‑Valley | Wine Country | Yosemite This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... A truck passes eastbound along the busy Highway 58 through the Antelope Valley. ... “Cascades” redirects here. ... The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, extending from Santa Cruz in the north to Santa Barbara in the south, but centering primarily on Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. ... This article is about Californias Central Valley. ... The Channel Islands of California, also called the Santa Barbara Islands, are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwestern Los Angeles County in Southern California. ... The Cucamonga Valley is a region between the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas, in San Bernardino County and Riverside County, of California, USA. It is located east of the Pomona Valley and it is a major site of wine production. ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... A satellite image of the East Bay The East Bay is a subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States and is comprised of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. ... Eastern California is not a well-defined term. ... The Emerald Triangle is a collection of three counties in Northern California, consisting of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity. ... Gold Country (also Mother Lode Country) is a region of northeastern California famed for the mines and mineral deposits which so famously brought the 49ers west for the California Gold Rush. ... Drainage map showing the Great Basin in orange Various Definitions of the Great Basin (NPS) Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. ... The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, (not to be confused with the Los Angeles Metro Area which only includes Los Angeles and Orange Counties) is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the county of Los Angeles, California, United States. ... The Inland Empire and its regions within The Inland Empire refers to the region in Southern California located in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in the United States. ... Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. ... The Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the peninsular and transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles. ... For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave. ... San Francisco is in the foreground in this picture looking north. ... The North Coast of the U.S. state of California is a mostly rural coastline on the Pacific Ocean stretching from the city of San Francisco to the border of Oregon characterized by cliffs, hills, and tide pools. ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Owens Valley is the arid ranching valley of the Owens River in southeastern California in the United States. ... USGS Satellite photo of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... The Pomona Valley, a part of the Inland Empire (the Pomona Valley is its own georgraphical area, and should not be bundled in with the Inland Empire. ... The Redwood Empire (also Redwood Coast or North Coast) is a region of California that stretches from San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon coast. ... The Russian River downstream of Duncans Mills The Russian River rises in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County, north of Ukiah, in Northern California. ... The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. ... The San Bernardino Valley is the hub of Southern Californias Inland Empire. ... San Fernando Valley from its southwestern edge. ... Bay Area redirects here. ... The Central Valley of California The San Joaquin Valley (English pronunciation in IPA: [sæn wɑˈkin]) refers to the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Stockton. ... The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. ... The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. ... The Shasta Cascade region of California is located in the northeastern and north-central sections of the state bordering Oregon and Nevada, north of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. ... This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ... For the Nintendo 64 game, see Space Station Silicon Valley. ... The South Bay is a subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States and is roughly synonymous with Silicon Valley and the Santa Clara Valley. ... This article is about the region of Southern California. ... Tech Coast is the nickname given to the Southern California region extending from Santa Barbara in the north to San Diego in the south. ... The Tri-Valley region of California is based around the San Francisco Bay Area cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and San Ramon in the three valleys from which it takes its name: Amador Valley, Livermore Valley and San Ramon Valley. ... Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain with background of the Mayacamas Mountains Wine Country is a region of Northern California in the United States that is known world-wide[1] as a premium wine-growing region since the mid-19th century. ... Yosemite redirects here. ...
Metro areas	Bakersfield | Chico | El Centro | Fresno | Los Angeles–Long Beach–Glendale | Madera | Modesto | Merced | Napa | Oakland–Fremont–Hayward | Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura | Redding | Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario | Sacramento–Roseville | Salinas | San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos | San Francisco–San Mateo–Redwood City | San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara | Santa Ana–Anaheim–Irvine | Santa Barbara–Santa Maria | Santa Cruz–Watsonville | Santa Rosa–Petaluma | Stockton | Vallejo–Fairfield | Visalia–Porterville | Yuba City In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... Bakersfield redirects here. ... Nickname: Location of Chico in California Coordinates: , Country State County Butte Settled 1843 Founded 1860 Incorporated January 8, 1872 Government  - Mayor Andrew Holcombe  - City Council Scott Gruendl Steve Bertagna Larry Wahl Ann Schwab Mary Flynn Tom Nickell  - City Manager Area  - Total 27. ... El Centro is the county seat of Imperial County, California, United States. ... Fresno redirects here. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles County Government  - Mayor Bob Foster Area  - City  65. ... Nickname: Location of Glendale within Los Angeles County and the State of California. ... Madera is the county seat of Madera County, California. ... Modesto is the county seat of Stanislaus County in the U.S. state of California. ... Merced (pronounced Mer-SED), is the county seat of Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. ... Napa is the county seat of Napa County, California. ... Oakland redirects here. ... For the unincorporated community in Yolo County, California, see Fremont, Yolo County, California. ... Hayward is a city located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area in Alameda County. ... Nickname: Location in Ventura County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Ventura Government  - Mayor Dr. Thomas E. Holden Area  - City  36. ... Location in Ventura County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Ventura Settled 1875 Incorporated September 29, 1964 Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Andrew P. Fox  - City manager Scott Mitnick Area [1]  - Total 55. ... Coordinates: Country United States State California County Ventura Mayor Carl Morehouse Area    - City 84. ... Nickname: Location Redding in Shasta County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Settled 1873 Incorporated October 4, 1887 Government  - Mayor Dick Dickerson  - City Council Rick Bosetti Ken Murray Patrick H. Jones  - City Manager Kurt Startman Area  - City 154. ... Nickname: Location in the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Riverside Government  - Mayor Ron Loveridge Area  - City  78. ... San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Sacramento redirects here. ... Location in Placer County Coordinates: , County Incorporated April 10, 1909 Government  - Mayor Jim Gray[1] Area  - City 79. ... Nickname: Location of Salinas, California Country State County Monterey Government  - Mayor Dennis Donohue Area  - City 19 sq mi (49. ... San Diego redirects here. ... Location of Carlsbad within San Diego County, California. ... San Marcos is a city located in the northern portion of San Diego County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,977. ... San Francisco redirects here. ... San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Redwood City is a suburb located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. ... For other uses, see San José. Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Clara Government  - Mayor Otto Lee Area  - City 22. ... Location of Santa Clara within Santa Clara County, California. ... Location of Santa Ana within Orange County, California. ... Anaheim redirects here. ... Motto: Innovation. ... Nickname: Location in Santa Barbara County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Barbara Government  - Mayor Marty Blum Area  - Total 41. ... Santa Maria is the largest city in Santa Barbara County, California. ... For other uses, see Santa Cruz. ... Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. ... Location in Sonoma County and the state of California Country State County Sonoma Area  - City 40. ... Aerial view of Petaluma, California. ... Nickname: Motto: Stocktons Great, Take A Look! Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County San Joaquin Incorporated 1850 Government  - Mayor Edward J. Chavez  - City Manager J. Gordon Palmer, Jr. ... Vallejo (pronounced IPA: in English; in the original Spanish) is a city in Solano County, California, United States. ... The Welcome to Fairfield roadside sign Fairfield Courthouse Fairfield is a city located northeast of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, USA. it is approximately 45 miles from both San Francisco and Sacramento. ... Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately 230 miles southeast of San Francisco and 190 miles north of Los Angeles. ... Porterville is a city in Tulare County, California, United States. ... Town Square located in downtown Yuba City. ...
Counties	Alameda | Alpine | Amador | Butte | Calaveras | Colusa | Contra Costa | Del Norte | El Dorado | Fresno | Glenn | Humboldt | Imperial | Inyo | Kern | Kings | Lake | Lassen | Los Angeles | Madera | Marin | Mariposa | Mendocino | Merced | Modoc | Mono | Monterey | Napa | Nevada | Orange | Placer | Plumas | Riverside | Sacramento | San Benito | San Bernardino | San Diego | San Francisco | San Joaquin | San Luis Obispo | San Mateo | Santa Barbara | Santa Clara | Santa Cruz | Shasta | Sierra | Siskiyou | Solano | Sonoma | Stanislaus | Sutter | Tehama | Trinity | Tulare | Tuolumne | Ventura | Yolo | Yuba The U.S. state of California is divided into 58 counties. ... Official website: http://www. ... Alpine County is the smallest county, by population, in the U.S. state of California. ... jay is gay Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. ... Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. ... Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. ... Colusa County is a county located in Californias Central Valley, northwest of Sacramento. ... Contra Costa County is a suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. ... Del Norte County is the northwesternmost county in the U.S. state of California, located on the Pacific coast south of Oregon. ... El Dorado County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California, in the Sierra Nevada. ... Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. ... Glenn County is a county located in the California Central Valley north of Sacramento County. ... Humboldt County is a county located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific Ocean. ... Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, and borders both Arizona and Mexico. ... Inyo County is a county located in east-central California, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada south of Yosemite National Park. ... Kern County is a county located in the southern Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. ... Kings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, southeast of Fresno County. ... Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Lassen County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. ... Madera County is a county of California, located in the Central Valley north of Fresno County. ... Marin County (pronounced muh-RIN) is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. ... Mariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. ... Islands off Mendocino A Beach in the City of Elk Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma County and west of the Central Valley. ... Merced County is a county located in Californias Central Valley, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. ... Modoc County is a county located in the far northeast corner of the U.S. state of California, bounded by the state of Oregon to the north and the state of Nevada to the east. ... Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. ... Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. ... Napa Valley redirects here. ... Nevada County is a county located in Californias Sierra Nevada, in the Mother Lode country. ... Cities in Orange County Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. ... Placer County is a county located in California, USAs Sierra Nevada, in the Gold Country. ... Plumas County is a county located in Californias Sierra Nevada. ... Riverside County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of California, stretching from Orange County to the Colorado River, which is the border with Arizona. ... Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. ... San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. ... San Bernardino County is the largest county in the contiguous United States by area, containing more land than each of nine states. ... San Diego County is a county located on the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of the U.S. state of California, United States along its border with Mexico. ... San Francisco redirects here. ... San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... San Luis Obispo County is a county located on the central Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. ... San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. ... Santa Barbara County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, just west of Ventura County. ... Santa Clara County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. ... Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, it forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. ... Shasta County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, in the Cascade Mountains. ... Sierra County is a county located in Californias Sierra Nevada, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. ... Siskiyou County is a county located in the far northernmost part of the U.S. state of California, in the Shasta Cascade region on the Oregon border. ... Solano County is a county located in central part of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. ... Sonoma County is on the northwest coast of California, one of the northernmost parts of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Its population at the 2000 census was 458,614. ... Stanislaus County is a county located in Californias California Central Valley, between Stockton and Fresno. ... Sutter County is a county located along the Sacramento River in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. ... Tehama County (pronounced teh-HAY-muh) is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. ... Trinity County is a county located in northwestern California, along the Trinity River and among the Klamath Mountains. ... Tulare County is a county located in U.S. state of Californias Central Valley, south of Fresno. ... Tuolumne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Californias Sierra Nevada. ... Ventura County . ... Yolo County is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. ... Yuba County is located in the U.S. state of Californias Central Valley, north of Sacramento, along the Feather River. ...

Coordinates: 36°06′27″N, 121°37′33″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...