Editing Larkspur, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Larkspur, California
 | official_name            = City of Larkspur
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
 | image_skyline            = Larkspur City Hall 400 Magnolia Ave Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 1-56-19 PM.JPG
 | image_caption            = Larkspur City Hall in 2010
 | image_seal               = Seal of Larkspur, California.png
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    = 
 | image_map                = File:Marin County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Larkspur Highlighted 0640438.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location of Larkspur in Marin County, California
 | pushpin_map              = USA
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
 | pushpin_relief           = 1
 | coordinates              = {{coord|37|56|03|N|122|32|07|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
 | coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis />
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
 | subdivision_name1        = California
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Marin County, California|Marin]]
 | established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date         = March 1, 1908<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc  |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date  |format=Word  |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s  |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc  |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = [[Marin County Board of Supervisors|County Board]]
 | leader_name              = Katie Rice (District 2)<br>Dennis Rodoni (District 4)
 | leader_title1            = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name1             = Gabe Paulson<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabe Paulson, Mayor |url=http://www.ci.larkspur.ca.us/794/Gabe-Paulson-Mayor |website=www.ci.larkspur.ca.us |access-date=July 5, 2023}}</ref>
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 8.40
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 3.24
 | area_land_km2            = 7.84
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 3.02
 | area_water_km2           = 0.57
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.22
 | area_water_percent       = 6.66
 | area_metro_sq_mi         = 
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis>{{Cite gnis|1658942|Larkspur}}</ref>
 | elevation_ft             = 43
 | population_total         = 13064
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name=quif>{{Cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/larkspurcitycalifornia| title=Larkspur (city) QuickFacts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref>
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | population_est           = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
 | postal_code              = 94939
 | area_code                = [[Area codes 415 and 628|415/628]]
 | area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
 | website                  = {{URL|www.ci.larkspur.ca.us}}
 | leader_title2            = [[City Manager]]
 | leader_name2             = Dan Schwarz
 | leader_title3            = [[California State Legislature|State Leg.]]
 | leader_name3             = [[California State Senate|Sen.]] {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sleader}} <br/> [[California's 10th State Assembly district|Asm.]] {{Representative|caad|10|fmt=sleader}}
 | leader_title4            = [[California's 2nd congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
 | leader_name4             = {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref>
 | timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
 | utc_offset               = −08:00
 | timezone_DST             = PDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = −07:00
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|40438}}
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
 | blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1658942}}, {{GNIS 4|2411627}}
 | population_density_km2   = auto
}}
[[File:Blue Rock Larkspur.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|View of Larkspur at sunrise as seen from the Blue Rock Inn, formerly Hotel Merwin built in 1895]]

'''Larkspur''' is a city in [[Marin County, California|Marin County]], [[California]], United States. Larkspur is located directly south of [[Kentfield, California|Kentfield]] and {{convert|3|mi|km}} south of [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]],<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|652}}</ref> at an elevation of {{convert|43|ft|m}}.<ref name=gnis /> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city's population was  
13,064. Larkspur's Police Department is shared with that of the neighboring [[Corte Madera, California|Corte Madera]] and town of [[San Anselmo, California|San Anselmo]] as the [[Central Marin Police Authority]].

The city's main thoroughfare is Magnolia Avenue, which runs through the [[Larkspur Downtown Historic District]]. Madrone Canyon, a residential area amidst a [[Sequoia sempervirens|redwood]] [[Grove (nature)|grove]], traces scenic [[Larkspur Creek]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.24|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on}}, of which  {{convert|3.03|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.22|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on}} (6.66%) is water.

==History==
[[File:Blue Rock Inn, Larkspur, CA.jpg|thumb|The former Blue Rock Inn]]
Charles W. Wright laid out the town in 1887.<ref name="CGN" /> The first post office opened in 1891.<ref name="CGN" /> Larkspur [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1908.<ref name="CGN" />
[[Larkspur Downtown Historic District|Larkspur's Downtown Historic District]], known also as Old Downtown Larkspur, is a historic district that was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1982. The restored [[Art Deco]] [[Lark Theater]] is part of this downtown district. The historic Blue Rock building, originally opened in the 1890's,<ref>{{Cite web |last=correspondent |first=Scott Fletcher {{!}} IJ |date=2020-07-06 |title=Marin history: How Larkspur came to be |url=https://www.marinij.com/2020/07/06/marin-history-larkspurs-origins/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Marin Independent Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> is currently home to popular restaurant The Left Bank.

==Communities==
Murray Park is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] in Larkspur.
[[Escalle, Larkspur, California|Escalle]] is named after a 19th-century French immigrant.

==Government==
===Federal and state===
In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Larkspur is in {{representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref> From 2008 to 2012, Huffman represented Marin County in the [[California State Assembly]].

In the [[California State Legislature]], Larkspur is in:
*  {{representative|caad|12|fmt=adistrict}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly}}</ref>
*  {{representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}}.

According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 10, 2019, Larkspur has 8,871 registered voters. Of those, 4,944 (55.7%) are registered [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]], 1,250 (14.1%) are registered [[California Republican Party|Republicans]], and 2,324 (26.2%) have [[Decline to State|declined to state]] a political party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2019/politicalsub.pdf|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019|website=ca.gov|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 594
|1920= 612
|1930= 1241
|1940= 1558
|1950= 2905
|1960= 5710
|1970= 10487
|1980= 11064
|1990= 11070
|2000= 12014
|2010= 11926
|2020= 13064
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Larkspur had a population of 11,926. The population density was {{convert|3,677.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Larkspur was 10,311 (86.5%) White, 186 (1.6%) African American, 26 (0.2%) Native American, 563 (4.7%) Asian, 13 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 343 (2.9%) from other races, and 484 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 918 people (7.7%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0640438|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715030546/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0640438|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Larkspur city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 11,803 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 42 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 81 (0.7%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,908 households, 1,314 (22.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,266 (38.4%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 433 (7.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 197 (3.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 329 (5.6%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 74 (1.3%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 2,502 households (42.3%) were one person and 1,009 (17.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.00. There were 2,896 families (49.0% of households); the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 2,176 people (18.2%) under the age of 18, 466 people (3.9%) aged 18 to 24, 2,620 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 4,103 people (34.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,561 people (21.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

There were 6,376 housing units at an average density of 1,966.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,898 (49.1%) were owner-occupied and 3,010 (50.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 6,494 people (54.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,309 people (44.5%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 12,014 people in 6,142 households, including 2,899 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,833.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,413 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,046.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city in 2010 was 82.1% non-Hispanic White, 1.5% non-Hispanic African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.7%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

Of the 6,142 households 19.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.8% were non-families. 43.1% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.69.

The age distribution was 16.4% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median household income was $66,710 and the median family income was $104,028. Males had a median income of $83,252 versus $49,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $56,983. About 1.8% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
===Ferry service===
[[File:Larkspur Landing 3018 01.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1|Ferries docked at the [[Larkspur Landing]] in Larkspur, California.]]

Larkspur is the location for one of [[Golden Gate Transit]]'s [[Larkspur Landing]], the main ferry terminal for its commuter passenger ferry service between Marin County and the [[San Francisco Ferry Building]] and job centers in the [[Financial District, San Francisco, California|Financial District]]. This [[Golden Gate Ferry]] portals and has a ridership of over 8,500 per day, on average. There is special direct ferry service from [[Larkspur Landing|the Larkspur Ferry Terminal]] to [[Oracle Park]] for [[San Francisco Giants]] games.

===Rail service===
The [[Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit]] [[commuter rail]] service was extended to [[Larkspur station]] in 2019. The line provides daily trips as far north as [[Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport]] and is eventually planned to extend to [[Cloverdale station]].

The [[North Pacific Coast Railroad]] (later absorbed by the [[Northwestern Pacific Railroad]]) provided [[interurban]] services to Larkspur until 1941.

==Education==
[[Larkspur-Corte Madera School District]] serves much of Larkspur for elementary and middle school.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06041_marin/DC20SD_C06041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marin County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 28, 2023}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06041_marin/DC20SD_C06041_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> [[Neil Cummins Elementary School (Corte Madera, California)|Neil Cummins Elementary School]] and [[Hall Middle School (Larkspur, California)|Hall Middle School]] serve both Corte Madera and Larkspur. Neil Cummins serves grades K to 5, while Hall serves grades 6 to 8. The former San Clemente Elementary School was reopened as The Cove School in 2014. In lieu of extensive retrofit to the existing structures, new buildings have been built on the same site.   This school serves neighborhoods currently served by Neil Cummins Elementary, mostly to the west of Highway 101, and new developments in the area.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

A portion of Larkspur is in the [[Kentfield Elementary School District]].<ref name=CensusSDMap2020/>

The [[Tamalpais Union High School District]], which serves most of Larkspur (the Larkspur-Corte Madera and Kentfield district portions),<ref name=CensusSDMap2020/> comprises five high schools that serve the region.

A portion of Larkspur is in the San Rafael Elementary School District and the San Rafael High School District, jointly operated as [[San Rafael City Schools]].<ref name=CensusSDMap2020/> Residents of the San Rafael high school district may choose either [[San Rafael High School]] or [[Terra Linda High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.srcs.org/myschool|title=School Attendance Boundary Information|publisher=[[San Rafael City Schools]]|accessdate=April 29, 2023|quote=What about High School?[...]}}</ref>

Marin Primary and Middle School is a local private school.

==In popular culture==
Scenes in the 1949 film noir ''[[Impact (1949 film)|Impact]]'' featured several areas around Larkspur, including the home and gas station of the Probert family, in the location now occupied by Perry's Larkspur restaurant.<ref name="Larkspur Past and Present">{{cite book | title=Larkspur Past and Present: A History and Walking Guide | publisher=Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-615-39511-1}}</ref> In the film, the town is frequently mentioned as being in Idaho.

The final scenes of Clint Eastwood's 1971 movie ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' were filmed in Larkspur at the old Hutchison Gravel Quarry (now [[Larkspur Landing]]).<ref name="ggf_history">{{cite web|title=Ferry History|url=http://goldengateferry.org/researchlibrary|publisher=[[Golden Gate Ferry]]|access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="dirtyharryfilminglocations">{{cite web|url=http://dirtyharryfilminglocations.wordpress.com/finale-hutchinson-co-quarry-larkspur-landing-ca/|title=FINALE – Hutchinson Co. Quarry, Larkspur Landing, CA « Dirty Harry Filming Locations|access-date=November 15, 2012|date=May 2009}}</ref><ref name="poskanzer">{{cite web|last=Poskanzer|first=Jef|url=http://www.acme.com/jef/photos/20sep2002_dirty_harry/mvc-3540.html|title=20sep2002 Dirty Harry / mvc-3540|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>

==Town twinning==
* {{flagicon|US}} [[Corte Madera, California]] ("twin city")
* {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shangyu]], [[Zhejiang]], China ([[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21998011/china-delegation-visits-marin-schools-health-care-institutions | title=China delegation visits Marin schools, health care institutions | newspaper=Marin Independent Journal | date=November 15, 2012 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Jason, Will}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Jake Curhan]] (born 1998), [[American football]] [[offensive tackle]] for the [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)
*[[Matt Doyle (actor)|Matt Doyle]], Broadway actor.
*[[Leonard Gardner]], author of the novel ''[[Fat City (novel)|Fat City]]'', lives in Larkspur.
*[[Erin Gray]], television actress.
*[[Janis Joplin]]'s last known residence was located in Larkspur at 380 West Baltimore Avenue.<ref>{{cite news|journal=Marin Independent Journal|url=http://www.marinij.com/ci_8136414  |title=County to buy slice of Janis Joplin's former Larkspur estate
|author=Brad Breithaupt|date=   January 31, 2008 <!-- 11:59:59 PM PST --> }}</ref>
*[[Charles S. Kilburn]], U.S. Army brigadier general<ref name="Ousted">{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 18, 1947 |title=Ousted General Given Ovation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86061555/ousted-general/ |work=[[The San Bernardino Sun]] |location=San Bernardino, CA |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Ki Longfellow]] grew up in Larkspur's Madrone Canyon: 201 Madrone Avenue, (''The Illustrated Vivian Stanshall, a Fairytale of Grimm Art'', [[Eio Books]], 2018)
*[[Gavin Newsom]], California Governor, lived in Larkspur in his youth.<ref>{{cite news|journal=San Francisco Chronicle|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gonzalez-Newsom-What-makes-them-run-From-2510021.php  |title=Gonzalez, Newsom: What makes them run / From modest beginnings, Newsom finds connections for business, political success
|author=Julian Guthrie|date=December 7, 2003}}</ref>
*[[Steve Perry]], former lead singer of rock band Journey.
*[[Michael Savage]], conservative broadcaster.
*[[Leon Uris]] wrote his acclaimed first novel, ''[[Battle Cry (Leon Uris novel)|Battle Cry]]'' (1953), in Larkspur.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Judy |date=April 25, 1953 |title=Rave Reviews For War Novel By Ex-Marine PFC Of Larkspur |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/70359258 |work=Daily Independent Journal |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
*[[Corinne West]], singer/songwriter.

==Gallery==
<!-- reduce to 5-6 per MoS / too many graphics-pics-->
<gallery class="center" widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="6">
File:Alexander-Acacia Bridge Alexander Ave & Acacia Ave Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 1-20-18 PM.JPG|Alexander-Acacia Bridge, Larkspur
File:Larkspur Fire Department May 2013.jpg|Fire Department, Larkspur
File:Downtown Larkspur, California 2011 B - Stierch.jpg|Downtown Larkspur
File:Larkspur Library entrance, Larkspur, CA.jpg|entrance to Larkspur Library in city hall, Larkspur
File:St. Patrick's Church, Larkspur, CA.jpg |St. Patrick's Church, across from Larkspur City Hall
File:Dolliver House 58 Madrone Ave Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 2-06-23 PM.JPG|Dolliver House in Madrone Canyon, Larkspur
File:Lark Theater, Larkspur, California.jpg|Lark Theater on Magnolia St., Larkspur
File:Larkspur 100 years banner.jpg|street banner celebrating the 100th anniversary of Larkspur
File:Larkspur post office, Larkspur, California.jpg|U.S. post office in Larkspur
File:Blue Rock Inn, Larkspur, CA.jpg|the Blue Rock Inn (formerly the Blue Rock Hotel) on Magnolia St., Larkspur
File:Green Brae Brick Yard 125 E Sir Francis Drake Blvd Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 2-30-23 PM.JPG|Greenbrae Brick Yard, Larkspur
File:Larkspur Landing 3020 03.JPG|Larkspur Landing
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
*[[Larkspur Landing]]
*[[List of people from Marin County, California]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Larkspur}}
*[http://www.ci.larkspur.ca.us/ Larkspur, California home page]

{{Marin County, California}}
{{SF Bay Area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Larkspur, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Marin County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]