Editing Morro Bay, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{distinguish|Moro Bay, Arkansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage.-->
<!-- Basic info -->| name               = Morro Bay
| official_name      = City of Morro Bay
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| other_name         = 
| nickname           = "Three Stacks and a Rock"
| motto              = Come Get Salty in Morro Bay <ref name=“morrobay.org”>{{cite web
|url= https://www.morrobay.org/| title=City of Morro Bay Official Page}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = Morrow Bay 2012 2.jpg
| image_caption      = Morro Bay viewed from [[Morro Rock]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Morro Bay, California.png
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Morro-Bay-City-Seal.gif
| seal_size          = 
| image_map          = San Luis Obispo County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Morro Bay Highlighted 0649362.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location in [[San Luis Obispo County]] and the state of [[California]]
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| named_for          = [[Morro Rock]]
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map_label = Morro Bay
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1870
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = July 17, 1964{{r|LAFCO}}
<!-- Politics -->| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]<ref name=MBCC>{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.morro-bay.ca.us/267/Mayor-City-Council
 |title       = Mayor & City Council
 |publisher   = City of Morro Bay
 |access-date = November 2, 2018}}</ref>
| governing_body     = Morro Bay City Council
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Carla Wixom<ref name=MBCC />
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = Yvonne Kimball<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.morrobayca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=387 |title=Staff Directory: Yvonne Kimball |website=City of Morro Bay |access-date=March 29, 2025 }}</ref>
| leader_title2      = [[City Council|Council Members]]<ref name=MBCC />
| leader_name2       = {{Collapsible list
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |list_style = text-align:left;
 |'''[[Mayor Pro Tem]]''':<br />{{spaces|9|hair}}
|• Zara Landrum {{spaces|9|hair}}
|• Laurel Barton 
|• Cyndee Edwards
|• Jen Ford}}
| leader_title3      = [[California's 30th State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
| leader_name3       = {{Representative|caad|30|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd>{{cite web
   | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
   | title = Statewide Database
   | publisher = UC Regents
   | access-date = November 18, 2014
   | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
   | archive-date = February 1, 2015
   | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
| leader_title4      = [[California's 17th State Senate district|State Senator]]
| leader_name4       = {{Representative|casd|17|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd/>
<!-- Area -->| 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_sq_mi   = 10.32
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.33
| area_water_sq_mi   = 5.00
| area_total_km2     = 26.74
| area_land_km2      = 13.80
| area_water_km2     = 12.94
| area_water_percent = 48.63
| area_note          = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1661062|Morro Bay|access-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 62
| elevation_m        = 19
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=quif>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/morrobaycitycalifornia|title=Morro Bay (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
| population_total   = 10757
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| population_est     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = <!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset         = −08:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −07:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|22|02|N|120|50|48|W|type:city_region:US-CA|display=it}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 93442–93443
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 805|805]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|49362}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1661062}}
| website            = {{URL|www.morrobayca.gov}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
}}

'''Morro Bay''' (''Morro'', [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Hill")<ref>[https://www.morro-bay.ca.us/383/Morro-Rock-Beach City of Morro Bay - Morro Rock Beach]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ONBPh_GM1UgC&q=morro&pg=PP7 1000 California Place Names]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ibMwDwAAQBAJ&q=morro&pg=PR9 California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names]</ref> is a seaside city in [[San Luis Obispo County, California]], United States. Located on the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast]] of [[California]], the city's population was 10,757 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 10,234 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. The town overlooks Morro Bay, a natural [[embayment]] with an all-weather, small-craft, commercial and recreational harbor.

==History ==
[[File:Morro Rock - 1883 (2619478125).jpg|thumb|Morro Rock in 1883]]

The prehistory of Morro Bay relates to [[Chumash people|Chumash]] settlement, particularly near the mouth of [[Morro Creek]]. At least as early as the [[Millingstone Horizon]] thousands of years before present, an extensive settlement existed along the banks and terraces above Morro Creek.<ref>C. Michael Hogan (2008). "[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 Morro Creek]". ed. by A. Burnham.</ref> A tribal site on present-day Morro Bay was named ''tsɨtqawɨ'', [[Obispeño language|Obispeño]] for "Place of the Dogs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/ytt |title=yakʔitʸutʸu resources - University Housing - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo |publisher=Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo University Housing |access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref>

The [[Landing of the first Filipinos|first]] recorded [[Filipinos]] to visit America arrived at Morro Bay on October 18, 1587, from the Spanish galleon [[Pedro de Unamuno|''Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza'']];<ref>{{cite book |title=Manila Men in the New World: Filipino Migration to Mexico and the Americas from the Sixteenth Century |last=Mercene |first=Floro L. |year=2007 |publisher=The University of the Philippines Press |isbn=978-971-542-529-2 |pages=38–42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSqhZphG_gQC&pg=PA38|access-date=July 1, 2009}}</ref> one of whom was killed by local Native Americans while scouting ahead.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Valerie Ooka Pang|author2=Li-Rong Lilly Cheng|title=Struggling To Be Heard: The Unmet Needs of Asian Pacific American Children|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wZyIYK1M1ikC&pg=PA166|year=1998|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3839-8|page=166}}</ref>

The first European land exploration of [[Alta California]], the Spanish [[Portolá expedition]], came down Los Osos Valley and camped near today's Morro Bay on [[Timeline of the Portolá expedition|September 8, 1769]]. [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] missionary and expedition member [[Juan Crespí]] noted in his diary, "we saw a great rock in the form of a round morro".<ref>{{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert E. |pages=185–186 |year=1927 |title=Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769–1774 |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000288788 |publisher=HathiTrust Digital Library |access-date=June 18, 2017}}</ref>

While governed by Mexico, large [[land grant]]s split the surrounding area into cattle and dairy ''ranchos'', which needed shipping to bring in dry goods and to carry their crops, animals, and other farm products to cities.

The town of Morro Bay was founded by Franklin Riley in 1870 as a port for the export of dairy and ranch products. He was instrumental in the building of a wharf, which has now become the Embarcadero.<ref>{{cite book|author=Carina Monica Montoya|title=Pacific Coast Highway in California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZJRDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA84|date=April 9, 2018|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-1-4671-2751-6|page=84}}<br />{{cite book|author1=Gene L. Gerdes|author2=Edward R. J. Primbs|author3=Bruce M. Browning|title=Natural Resources of Morro Bay: Their Status and Future|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sE4QAQAAIAAJ|year=1974|publisher=State of California, Department of Fish and Game|page=27}}</ref> During the 1870s, [[schooner]]s could often be seen at the Embarcadero, picking up wool, potatoes, barley, and dairy products.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}}

A subspecies of butterfly, the "Morro Bay Blue" or " Morro Blue" (''[[Icaricia icarioides moroensis]]'') was first found at Morro Beach by entomologist [[Robert F. Sternitzky]], in June 1929.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sternitzky |first1=Robert F. |author-link1=Robert F. Sternitzky |title=A New Subspecies of ''Plebejus icarioides'' Bdv. |journal=Pan-Pacific Entomologist |date=1930 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=93–94 |url=https://archive.org/details/panpacificentom7vand/page/93 }}</ref>

During [[World War II]], a U.S. Navy base, [[Amphibious Training Base Morro Bay]], was on the north side of Morro Rock, where sailors were trained to operate [[LCVP (United States)|LCVPs]]. The breakwater on the southwest side of the rock was built in 1944–45 to protect the LCVPs entering and leaving the harbor. Soldiers from [[Camp San Luis Obispo]] came to Morro Bay and practice loading into the LCVPs. Many of those men were at [[Normandy]] on [[D-Day]].

In the 1940s, Morro Bay developed an [[abalone]]-fishing industry; it peaked in 1957; stocks of abalone had declined significantly due to overfishing.<ref>{{cite report|first1=Susan |last1=McBride  |first2=Fred F. |last2=Conte |url=http://aqua.ucdavis.edu/dbweb/outreach/aqua/ASAQ-A10.PDF |title=California Abalone Aquaculture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116150434/http://aqua.ucdavis.edu/dbweb/outreach/aqua/ASAQ-A10.PDF |archive-date=January 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |date=January 16, 2009 |publisher=California Aquaculture, University of California |location=Davis}}</ref> [[Halibut]], [[Sole (fish)|sole]], [[sebastidae|rockfish]], [[albacore]], and many other species are still caught by both commercial and sport vessels. In addition, [[oyster]]s are grown by [[aquaculture]] in the shallow back bay.

In the 1950s, the [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]] built the Morro Bay Power Plant, which created jobs and increased the tax base and led to the city acquiring the nickname "Three Stacks and a Rock".{{r|NYT 2022-06-17}} The city incorporated in 1964.<ref name="LAFCO">{{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> The plant closed in February 2014.{{r|SFG 2022-05-03}}

==Geography==
[[File:Morro Rock In The Morning (107469109).jpeg|thumb|[[Morro Rock]]]]

Morro Bay is the name of the large estuary situated along the northern shores of the bay itself. The larger bay on which the local area lies is [[Estero Bay (California)|Estero Bay]], which also encompasses the communities of [[Cayucos, California|Cayucos]] and [[Los Osos, California|Los Osos]]. The city of Morro Bay is {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest of [[San Luis Obispo]] and is located on [[California State Route 1|Highway 1]]. [[Los Osos Creek]] discharges into Morro Bay.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|10.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|5.0|sqmi|km2}} (48.63%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Morro Rock===
[[Morro Rock]] is a 576-ft-high (176 m) [[volcanic plug]]<ref name="Fodor's2010">{{cite book|author=Fodor's|title=Fodor's Northern California 2011: With Napa, Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco & Lake Tahoe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORayPYO-TvcC&pg=PA95|access-date=December 25, 2011|date=December 21, 2010|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4000-0503-1|page=80}}</ref> located at the entrance to the harbor. The descriptive term ''morro'' is common to the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian languages, and the word is part of many place names where a distinctive and prominent hill-shaped rock formation exists.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Gudde
| first = Erwin G.
| title = California Place Names
| url = https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen0000gudd
| url-access = registration
| year = 1969
| location = Berkeley
| publisher = University of California Press
| page = [https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen0000gudd/page/212 212] }}</ref> Originally, it was surrounded by water, but the northern channel was filled in to make the harbor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://morro-bay.com/historical/photos/mby/old-photo-gallery.htm|title=Photo Gallery|publisher=Historical Morro Bay|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> It was [[quarry|quarried]] from 1889 to 1969,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marquesv.com/MorroRock.html|title=Morro Rock|publisher=Marquis Publishing|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> and in 1968, it was designated a Historical Landmark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/821|title=Morro Rock|publisher=Office of Historic Preservation|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref>

The area around the base of Morro Rock is open to visitors, with parking lots and paths. Climbing the rock is prohibited<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tolosapressnews.com/rock-climber-rescued/|title=Rock Climber Rescued|publisher=Tolosa Press|date=March 4, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/2-tribes-clash-over-climbing-Morro-Rock-6143308.php|title=2 tribes clash over climbing Morro Rock|newspaper=SF Gate|date=March 18, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> due to risk of injury, and because it is a [[peregrine falcon]] reserve.<ref name="Fodor's2010"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morro-bay.ca.us/383/Morro-Rock-Beach|title=Morro Rock Beach|publisher=City of Morro Bay|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> Morro Rock is one in a series of similar plugs that stretch in a line inland called the [[Nine Sisters]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Morro Bay Harbor===
[[File:Fishing vessel Irenes Way Makes Port in Morro Bay, CA. (4062667361).jpg|thumb|Morro Bay Harbor]]
Morro Bay is a natural [[embayment]] with an artificial harbor constructed by the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]]. It is the only all-weather, small-craft, commercial and recreational harbor between [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]. Morro Rock was originally surrounded by water, but the Army built a large artificial [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] and road across the north end of the harbor, linking Morro Rock and the mainland. Some of the rock used for this and for the artificial breakwaters was quarried from Morro Rock itself. Other rock was imported by barge from [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Catalina Island]]. The bay extends inland and parallels the shore for a distance of about {{cvt|6.4|km|abbr=on}} south of its entrance at Morro Rock. Morro Bay is recognized for protection by the [[California Bays and Estuaries Policy]].<ref name="swrcb">State Water Resources Control Board ''Water Quality Control Policy for the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California'' (1974) State of California</ref> A small summer colony of otters ususally can be seen in the kelp near the harbor entrance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccnha.org/awn/about_june.html |title=Otter Information Station |access-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231946/http://www.ccnha.org/awn/about_june.html |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Climate===
Morro Bay experiences a mild [[Mediterranean climate#warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] [[Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|''Csb'']]) characteristic of coastal California, featuring dry, warm summers and wet, mild winters. The city is located next to the [[Pacific Ocean]], which helps moderate temperatures and create an overall pleasant, mild, year-round climate, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers compared with places farther inland, such as [[Atascadero, California|Atascadero]]. Summers in Morro Bay are cool for a city located at [[35th parallel north|35°N]] latitude, with July averaging around {{convert|60|°F}}. Winters are mild, with January averaging at {{convert|55|°F}} with around eight days of measurable precipitation.

<div style="width:85%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Morro Bay, CA (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 89
|Feb record high F = 87
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 100
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 86
|Jul record high F = 92
|Aug record high F = 94
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 106
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 81
|year record high F = 106
|Jan avg record high F = 74.9
|Feb avg record high F = 76.0
|Mar avg record high F = 78.4
|Apr avg record high F = 81.5
|May avg record high F = 78.8
|Jun avg record high F = 72.7
|Jul avg record high F = 76.4
|Aug avg record high F = 79.0
|Sep avg record high F = 83.4
|Oct avg record high F = 89.4
|Nov avg record high F = 80.1
|Dec avg record high F = 72.8
|year avg record high F = 91.7
|Jan high F = 65.1
|Feb high F = 65.4
|Mar high F = 66.0
|Apr high F = 67.3
|May high F = 66.9
|Jun high F = 66.4
|Jul high F = 67.2
|Aug high F = 69.7
|Sep high F = 71.5
|Oct high F = 72.5
|Nov high F = 69.1
|Dec high F = 64.6
|year high F = 67.6
|Jan mean F = 55.7
|Feb mean F = 56.6
|Mar mean F = 57.3
|Apr mean F = 58.3
|May mean F = 59.3
|Jun mean F = 60.0
|Jul mean F = 61.8
|Aug mean F = 63.2
|Sep mean F = 63.7
|Oct mean F = 63.5
|Nov mean F = 59.7
|Dec mean F = 55.4
|year mean F = 59.5
|Jan low F = 46.4
|Feb low F = 47.8
|Mar low F = 48.6
|Apr low F = 49.2
|May low F = 51.7
|Jun low F = 53.6
|Jul low F = 56.5
|Aug low F = 56.8
|Sep low F = 56.0
|Oct low F = 54.4
|Nov low F = 50.2
|Dec low F = 46.2
|year low F = 51.5
|Jan avg record low F = 36.2
|Feb avg record low F = 36.3
|Mar avg record low F = 38.7
|Apr avg record low F = 39.2
|May avg record low F = 43.1
|Jun avg record low F = 45.6
|Jul avg record low F = 50.0
|Aug avg record low F = 49.9
|Sep avg record low F = 48.2
|Oct avg record low F = 44.6
|Nov avg record low F = 39.1
|Dec avg record low F = 34.9
|year avg record low F = 32.6
|Jan record low F = 23
|Feb record low F = 22
|Mar record low F = 28
|Apr record low F = 31
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 39
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 40
|Sep record low F = 41
|Oct record low F = 36
|Nov record low F = 31
|Dec record low F = 22
|year record low F = 22
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.64
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.62
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.19
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.99
|May precipitation inch = 0.42
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.20
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.07
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.02
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.09
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.68
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.33
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.75
|year precipitation inch = 17.00
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.0
|Feb precipitation days = 8.2
|Mar precipitation days = 7.0
|Apr precipitation days = 4.1
|May precipitation days = 1.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0.4
|Jul precipitation days = 0.4
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 0.7
|Oct precipitation days = 2.1
|Nov precipitation days = 3.4
|Dec precipitation days = 6.9
|year precipitation days = 
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NCDC>{{cite web
| url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lox
| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = September 27, 2015
| archive-date = July 11, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150711032124/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lox
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=NOAAtxt>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USC00045866.normals.txt
| title = CA Morro Bay Fire Dept
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = September 27, 2015}}</ref>
|date=September 2014
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 1659
|1960= 3692
|1970= 7109
|1980= 9064
|1990= 9664
|2000= 10350
|2010= 10234
|2020= 10757
|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===
[[File:Morro bay museum of natural history.jpg|thumb|[[Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History]]]]

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0649362|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715031831/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0649362|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Morro Bay city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Morro Bay had a population of 10,234. The population density was {{convert|991.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of Morro Bay was 87.1% White, 0.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races, and 3.0%from two or more races. About 14.9% of the residents were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The census reported that 98.4% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and 1.2% were institutionalized.

Of the 4,844 households, 19.0% had children under 18 living in them, 40.7% were opposite-sex married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present; 6.8% were [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 0.7% were [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. Of the 1,808 households, 37.3% were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.08. About 53.6% of all households were families; the average family size was 2.70.

The city's age distribution was 15.0% under 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The 6,320 housing units had an average density of {{convert|612.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 53.3% were owner-occupied and 46.7% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. About 51.0% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 47.4% lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
[[File:Retro deco building, Route 41, Morro Bay, CA.jpg|thumb|upright|Antique shop in Morro Bay]]

As of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]],<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> 10,350 people, 4,986 households, and 2,612 families resided in Morro Bay. The population density was {{convert|2,006.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 6,251 housing units at had average density of {{convert|1,212.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 89.44% White, 0.68% African American, 0.95% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.43% of the population.

Of the 4,986 households, 16.7% had children under 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were not families. About 38.0% were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city, the age distribution was 15.1% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the city was $34,379, and for a family was $43,508. Males had a median income of $31,073 versus $25,576 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,687. About 8.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.9% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.

Morro Bay High School, Los Osos Middle School, and Del Mar Elementary offer education for grades 9-12, grades 6-8, and kindergarten through grade 5, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mbhs.slcusd.org/index.php|title=Morro Bay High School|publisher=San Luis Coastal Unified School District|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Morro Bay Kite Festival, 26 April 2014.jpg|thumb|Morro Bay Kite Festival]]

Tourism is the city's largest industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranahan |first=Jared |date=January 15, 2023 |title=Morro Bay: California's Hottest Winter Birding Destination |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredranahan/2023/01/15/morro-bay-californias-hottest-winter-birding-destination/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> coexisting with the town's commercial fishery. A number of tourist attractions are found along the shoreline and the streets closest to it, especially the Embarcadero, including restaurants, shops and parks. Further, hospitality is the cornerstone of Morro Bay's economy. The city heavily relies on visitors staying at hotels, as tax revenues from those stays make up a significant portion of the city's General Fund.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2019/07/19/morro-bay-plans-100-million-makeover-to-attract-more-visitors/ | title=Morro Bay plans $100 million makeover to attract more visitors &#124; Pacific Coast Business Times | date=July 20, 2019 }}</ref> The importance of travelers staying in hotels is solidified by the number and variety of accommodations. Hotels, motels, and inns within Morro Bay continuously adapt to accommodate visitors by investing in their amenities, accommodations, and conditions.

The most popular beach is on the north side of Morro Rock, north of the harbor. Also, excellent beaches are found north and south of the town, at [[Morro Strand State Beach]] and [[Morro Bay State Park]], respectively.

===Power plant===
[[File:Morro Bay Power Plant.jpg|thumb|Power plant, ''circa'' 2016]]

The [[power plant]] has played a large role in Morro Bay, and in providing electricity to the [[Central Coast of California|Central Coast]] and the Central Valley of California (primarily [[Fresno]] and [[Bakersfield]]). It was built by [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company|PG&E]] in the mid-1950s<ref name="NYT 2022-06-17"/><ref name=Trib>{{cite news |first=David |last=Middlecamp |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/photos-from-the-vault/article252188613.html |title=Morro Bay Power Plant has been a landmark since 1950s. Here's the story behind the stacks |newspaper=San Luis Obispo Tribune |date=June 19, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Branson-Potts |first=Hailey |date=August 11, 2022 |title=In a coastal California town, three iconic smokestacks are coming down. A community mourns |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-11/la-me-morro-bay-california-coast-climate-change-energy |access-date=August 11, 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times }}</ref> to a design by architect [[William Gladstone Merchant]], and was expanded in the 1960s.<ref name=Hist>{{cite web |url=https://www.historycenterslo.org/uploads/1/2/5/3/125313011/october_2_2020.pdf |title=Morro Bay Power Plant |website=History Center of San Luis Obispo County |date=October 2, 2020 |access-date=March 29, 2025 }}</ref> A portion of the city's budget came from taxes on the [[natural gas]] the plant burned.<ref name=Trib/> In 1997, PG&E sold the plant to [[Duke Energy]] under a state law requiring energy producers to reduce their assets.<ref name=Trib/> 

The 650-[[megawatt]] plant employed more than 100 workers at its peak and operated around the clock during the energy crisis of 2000, but by the mid-2010s, when it was owned by [[Dynegy]], it had become uneconomical and was operating at 5% of capacity, primarily during periods of peak energy demand. It would have required expensive upgrades by 2015 to conform to state law.<ref name=Trib-closes>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Wilson |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article39467643.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722134018/http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/02/05/2910352/dynegy-officially-closes-morro.html |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |title=Dynegy officially closes the Morro Bay Power Plant |newspaper=San Luis Obispo Tribune |date=February 5, 2014 }}</ref> Duke had proposed modernizing the plant by converting it to [[combined cycle]] power generation,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/project_pages/OTC/engineering%20study/Chapter_7I_Morro_Bay_Power_Plant.pdf |title=California's Coastal Power Plants: Alternative Cooling System Analysis |chapter=Morro Bay Power Plant |publisher=California Ocean Protection Council |volume=1 |year=2008 |page=1-1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dean |last=Higuchi |url=https://www.epa.gov/archive/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/2206c3604c881149852574cf00760d27.html |title=EPA air permit for Morro Bay power plant reduces emissions, protects air quality: Modernization project will also increase power generation |website=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=September 25, 2008 |type=press release }}</ref> but the modernization was not carried out,<ref name=Trib/><ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Farrell |url=https://esterobaynews.com/featured-stories/city-vistra-settle-lawsuit/ |title=City-Vistra Settle Lawsuit |newspaper=Estero Bay News |date=June 17, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Farrell |url=https://esterobaynews.com/featured-stories/morro-bay-power-plant-a-life-after-people-relic/ |title=Morro Bay Power Plant a 'Life After People' Relic |newspaper=Estero Bay News |date=July 30, 2022 }}</ref> and Dynegy closed the plant in February 2014.<ref name=Trib-closes/><ref name="SFG 2022-05-03">{{Cite news |last=Pridgen |first=Andrew |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Why Morro Bay residents love their dormant smokestacks |url=https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/Why-Morro-Bay-is-struggling-to-remove-one-of-17141902.php |access-date=May 15, 2022 |work=SFGate }}</ref>

In 2018, a joint venture of German energy company EnBW and Seattle-based Trident Winds announced its plan to obtain the power plant's grid connection to connect a 650 MW floating [[Offshore wind power|offshore wind park]] comprising up to 100 floating wind turbines and a floating substation situated some {{convert|30.|mi}} off the coast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2018/06/11/enbw-dives-deep-into-us-offshore-wind/|title=EnBW Dives Deep Into US Offshore Wind|date=June 11, 2018|website=Offshore Wind|access-date=April 26, 2019}}</ref> In 2022, [[TotalEnergies]], a French energy company, entered the joint venture with Trident Winds and took over the shares previously held by EnBW.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2022-03-18 |title=TotalEnergies Enters Castle Wind JV to Explore 1GW Development of Offshore Wind in Central California |url=https://corporate.totalenergies.us/news/totalenergies-enters-castle-wind-jv-explore-1gw-development-offshore-wind-central-california |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=TotalEnergies in the U.S. }}</ref>

In 2021, the city council of Morro Bay voted 4–1 to take down the power plant's smokestacks by 2028.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Angel |date=November 1, 2021 |title=The Morro Bay smokestacks are coming down. Here's how that could impact the city |work=KCBX |url=https://www.kcbx.org/kcbx-stories/2021-11-01/the-morro-bay-smokestacks-are-coming-down-heres-how-that-could-impact-the-city |access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref> The city estimated that maintaining the smoke stacks would cost around a million dollars per year. [[Vistra Corp|Vistra Energy]], which had purchased Dynegy, agreed to tear down the stacks and plans to build a {{val|600|u=MW}} [[lithium-ion battery]] installation.<ref name="NYT 2022-06-17">{{Cite news |last=Karlamangla |first=Soumya |date=June 17, 2022 |title=The Iconic Morro Bay Smokestacks Are Coming Down |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/us/morro-bay-smokestacks.html |access-date=June 18, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bertola |first=Alexa |date=February 18, 2021 |title=World's largest energy storage system proposed in Morro Bay |work=KSBY |url=https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/worlds-largest-energy-storage-system-proposed-in-morro-bay |access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kaytlyn |last=Leslie |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article250313134.html |title=World's largest battery storage plant could be built in Morro Bay. Here are 5 things to know |newspaper=San Luis Obispo Tribune |date=April 6, 2021 |access-date=March 29, 2025 }}</ref>
[[File:Morro Bay Harbor Department - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch.jpg|thumb|alt=A photograph of a white pickup truck with "Harbor Patrol" written on the side in yellow letters.|Morro Bay Harbor Patrol vehicle in 2023.]]

==Government==
In the [[California State Legislature]], Morro Bay is in {{Representative|casd|17|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|30|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/
 | title = Final Maps
 | publisher = State of California
 | access-date = June 27, 2023
}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Morro Bay is in [[California's 24th congressional district]], which has a [[Cook Partisan Voting Index|Cook PVI]] of D +4<ref>{{cite web | title = Cook Political Report | publisher = Cook Political Report | url=http://cookpolitical.com/story/5604 | access-date = September 1, 2014}}</ref> and is represented by {{Representative|cacd|24}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|24|access-date=September 29, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[James Horvath]], children's author and illustrator<ref>{{cite web |last=Linn |first=Sarah |date=May 6, 2013 |title=Morro Bay man realizes dream of publishing children's book |url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/05/06/2497506/morro-bay-resident-james-horvath.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525083649/http://www.sanluisobispo.com/entertainment/books/article39443382.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date= |publisher=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)}}</ref>
*[[Jack LaLanne]], American fitness, exercise, nutritional expert and motivational speaker<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/jack-lalanne-the-first-fitness-superhero|title=Jack LaLanne: The first fitness superhero|last=d'Estries|first=Michael|date=January 24, 2011|publisher=Mother Nature Network|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=January 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127034115/http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/jack-lalanne-the-first-fitness-superhero|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Jerome Long]], [[National Football League|NFL]] defensive lineman
*[[Kent Nagano]], conductor and opera administrator, grew up in Morro Bay and graduated from [[Morro Bay High School]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article211203624.html|title=This world-class conductor grew up in Morro Bay. Now he's coming home for a concert|last=Lynn|first=Sarah|date=June 2, 2018|publisher=The Tribune (McClatchy News)|access-date=March 26, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Mel Queen (pitcher/outfielder)|Mel Queen]], professional baseball player, coach, scout and executive<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/05/13/1600869/former-slo-high-standout-mel-queen.html |title=SanLuisObispo.com – Former SLO High standout Mel Queen succumbs to cancer |access-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027203345/http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/05/13/1600869/former-slo-high-standout-mel-queen.html |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Gladys Walton]], silent film actress<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 21, 1993|title=Gladys Walton; Starred in Silent Films|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-21-mn-59242-story.html|access-date=February 2, 2021|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*Morro Bay served as the primary setting for [[Pixar Animation Studios|Pixar's]] 2016 film ''[[Finding Dory]]'', in which it was revealed that Dory's childhood home was the Marine Life Institute, known as "The Jewel of Morro Bay, California".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article71935332.html|title=Disney's 'Finding Dory' movie has Morro Bay connection|work=sanluisobispo.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksby.com/story/31740234/locals-react-to-finding-dory-connection-to-the-central-coast|title=Locals react to 'Finding Dory' connection to the Central Coast|first=Brooke|last=Martell|work=ksby.com|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321083240/http://www.ksby.com/story/31740234/locals-react-to-finding-dory-connection-to-the-central-coast|archive-date=March 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*The 2002 film ''[[Murder by Numbers]]'' was filmed on the Morro Bay Embarcadero, as well as in Los Osos and San Luis Obispo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article180921211.html|title=Ryan Gosling movie shot in SLO county|work=sanluisobispo.com|access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref>
*The track scenes in the 1982 film ''[[Personal Best (film)|Personal Best]]'' were filmed at [[Morro Bay High School]], with other filming throughout San Luis Obispo County.
*Morro Bay provides the setting for episode five, season four of television drama series ''[[The Affair (TV series)|The Affair]]'' (2018).
*A fictionalized version of Morro Bay, known as Night City, serves as the main setting of the RPG series ''[[Cyberpunk (role-playing game)|Cyberpunk]]''.
*Paleto Bay, a community in the video game [[Grand Theft Auto V]], was heavily based on Morro Bay.

== See also ==

* [[USCGC Morro Bay|USCGC ''Morro Bay'']]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Morro Bay, California}}
{{Wikivoyage|Morro Bay}}
*[https://www.morrobayca.gov Official website]

{{San Luis Obispo County, California}}
{{California Central Coast}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Morro Bay| ]]
[[Category:Beaches of Southern California]]
[[Category:Cities in San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:Ports and harbors of California]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in California]]