Editing Pacifica, California

{{Short description|City in San Mateo County, California, US}}
{{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                     = Pacifica
 | official_name            = City of Pacifica
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
<!-- Images and maps ------>
 | image_skyline            = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2/1
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Pacifica Pier (January 1, 2018) - "Walker".jpg
  | alt1                   = View of the Pacifica Pier
  | caption1               = View of the [[Pacifica Pier]]
  | image2                 = Nighthawks- Sea Breeze Motel.jpg
  | alt2                   = Sea Breeze Motel in Rockaway Beach
  | caption2               = Sea Breeze Motel in [[Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California|Rockaway Beach]]
  | image3                 = 0080 rocks.jpg
  | alt3                   = San Pedro Rock 
  | caption3               = [[San Pedro Rock]] 
  | image4                 = Pacifica aerial.jpg
  | alt4                   = Aerial view of Pacifica 
  | caption4               = Aerial view of Pacifica 
  | image5                 = Pacifica, California sky and sea.jpg
  | alt5                   = Mori Point
  | caption5               = [[Mori Point]]
  | image6                 = The nicest Taco Bell in America.jpg
  | alt6                   = Taco Bell Cantina 
  | caption6               = Taco Bell Cantina at [[Pacifica State Beach]]
  }}
 | image_seal               = Seal of Pacifica, California.gif
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Pacifica, California.png
 | blank_emblem_type        = Logo
 | nickname                 = The fog capital of California
 | motto                    = 
 | image_map                = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=280|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q925925}}###{{coord|qid=Q108101}}###{{coord|qid=Q99}}###{{coord|qid=Q30}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;9;5;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;shape;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#5f5f5f|id2=SWITCH:Q925925;Q108101;Q99;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#5f5f5f|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1;1|switch=Pacifica;San Mateo County;California;the United States}}
<!-- Location ------------->
 | coordinates              = {{coord|37|37|22|N|122|29|8|W|region:US-CA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = State
 | subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = Mayor
 | leader_name              = Sue Vaterlaus
 | leader_title1            = Mayor Pro Tempore
 | leader_name1             = Sue Beckmeyer
 | established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date         = November 22, 1957<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/20131017052413/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
   |archive-date = October 17, 2013
 }}</ref>
<!-- 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         = 12.59
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 12.58
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
 | area_total_km2           = 32.61
 | area_land_km2            = 32.59
 | area_water_km2           = 0.02
 | area_water_percent       = 0.01
 | area_note                = 
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|277613|Pacifica|access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref>
 | elevation_ft             = 82
 | elevation_m              = 25
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name=quif>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/pacificacitycalifornia|title=Pacifica (city) QuickFacts | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 38640
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
 | timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
 | utc_offset               = -8
 | timezone_DST             = PDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -7
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
 | postal_code              = 94044, 94045
 | area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
 | area_code                = [[Area code 650|650]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
 | blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|54806}}
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
 | blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|277613}}, {{GNIS 4|2411351}}
 | website                  = {{URL|www.cityofpacifica.org}}
 | footnotes                = 
 | 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           = 
}}

'''Pacifica''' ({{langx|es|Pacífica}}, meaning "Peaceful")<ref name="EPD">{{Cite EPD|18}}</ref> is a city in [[San Mateo County, California]], on the coast of the [[Pacific Ocean]] between [[San Francisco]] and [[Half Moon Bay, California|Half Moon Bay]].

==Overview==
The City of Pacifica is spread along a {{convert|6|mi|km|sp=us|adj=mid|abbr=off}} stretch of sandy coastal beaches and hills in north central California. The city comprises several small valleys spread between [[Sweeney Ridge]] in the east, [[Montara Mountain]] to the south, and the [[Pacific Ocean]]'s rocky bluffs to the west.
[[File:Sunset Surfer in pacifica california.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Surfing at [[Pacifica State Beach]]|left]]

Pacifica is well known regionally as a popular [[surfing]] destination. Surfers and families often visit [[Pacifica State Beach]], also known as Linda Mar Beach. [[Rockaway Beach, California|Rockaway Beach]] is a scenic location and offers recreation, shopping and dining. Pacifica is also a popular place to hike, with many trails that wind along the beaches and bluffs, including [[Mori Point]], [[San Pedro Valley County Park]], [[Frontierland Park]], the [[Sanchez Adobe]], [[Milagra Ridge]], and the privately owned [[Rockaway Quarry]], and a popular [[mountain biking]] destination, with many trails crossing the hillsides that surround the city, including [[Pedro Mountain Road]], [[Sweeney Ridge]], and areas of the [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacifica Mountain Biking |url=http://www.pacifica.ca.us/RECREATION/mtn.html |website=Pacifica |access-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-date=October 15, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015080530/http://www.pacifica.ca.us/RECREATION/mtn.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Fishermen frequent the local beaches and the [[Pacifica Pier]], often catching [[bass (fish)|striped bass]] and [[salmon]]. 2005 marked the opening of the top-ranked [[Pacifica Skatepark]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/11/23/pacificas-skatepark-turns-5-years-old/ |title=Pacifica's Skatepark turns 5 years old |newspaper=Pacifica Tribune |via=''San Jose Mercury News'' |orig-date=November 23, 2010 |date=August 13, 2016 |access-date=April 7, 2025 }}</ref> Pacifica is also home to the [[Sharp Park Golf Course]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wildequity.org/sections/5|title=Wild Equity Institute - Restore Sharp Park|website=Wildequity.org|date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref> which was designed in 1931 by architect [[Alister MacKenzie]]. 

For live local theater and performing arts, Pacifica Spindrift Players is a local favorite, in addition to Pacifica Performances, which provides performing arts including musical presentations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacifica Spindrift Players |url=http://www.pacificaspindriftplayers.org/ |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pacifica Performances |url=http://www.pacificaperformances.org/ |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> The world class [[bromeliad]] nursery Shelldance Orchid Gardens, is located just off [[California State Route 1|Highway 1]] in Pacifica, adjacent to the Sweeney Ridge hiking trailhead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shelldance.com |title=Shelldance Gardens |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> The [[Taco Bell Cantina]] at Pacifica, a 1960 building that is one of the few restaurants remaining on the west side of [[California State Route 1|Highway 1]], has a reputation as the most beautiful in the world.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mario |last=Cortez |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/pacifica-taco-bell-20246768.php |title='World's most beautiful' Taco Bell reopens after remodel. Here's a look |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 3, 2025 |access-date=April 7, 2025 }}</ref>

Pacifica is divided into roughly eleven districts from north to south:

#Fairmont
#Westview (Pacific Highlands)
#Pacific Manor (Manor)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Manor, Pacifica |url=http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200505972&mode=sequential |website=California Coastal Records Project |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref>
#Edgemar
#Sharp Park<ref>{{cite web |title=Sharp Park, Pacifica |url=http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200505995&mode=sequential |website=California Coastal Records Project |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> 
#Fairway Park<ref>{{cite web |title=Fairway Park, Pacifica |url=http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200506010&mode=sequential |website=California Coastal Records Project |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> 
#Vallemar
# [[Rockaway Beach, California|Rockaway Beach]]
#Pedro Point and [[Shelter Cove, Pacifica|Shelter Cove]] in the south west<ref>{{cite web |title=Pedro Point, Pacifica |url=http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200506051&mode=sequential |website=California Coastal Records Project |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shelter Cove, Pacifica |url=http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200506056&mode=sequential |website=California Coastal Records Project |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> 
#Linda Mar, Linda Mar Valley, (formerly Pedro Valley or San Pedro Valley) in the south.
#Park Pacifica in south east portions of the city (called the Back of the Valley).
#Terra Nova High School

==History==
[[File:Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer Original- May 1936 VIEW FROM NORTHWEST - Francisco Sanchez Adobe, Linda Mar Boulevard and Adobe Drive, Pacifica HABS CAL,41- ,1-5.tif|thumb|upright=0.9|left|The [[Sanchez Adobe]] in Pacifica is the oldest structure in San Mateo County.]]
Before European settlers arrived, Pacifica was home to two significant [[Ohlone]] Indian villages: [[Sánchez Adobe Park#Native American prehistory|Pruristac]] located at [[San Pedro Creek]] near present-day Adobe Drive, and Timigtac on [[Calera Creek]] in the [[Rockaway Beach, California|Rockaway Beach neighborhood]].

Pacifica is the location of the oldest European encounter with the San Francisco Bay. An expedition led by [[Gaspar de Portolà]] sighted the bay by climbing the hills of Sweeney Ridge in Pacifica on November 4, 1769.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hallman.org/pacifica/portola.html |title=Transcription |website=Hallman.org |access-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525001449/http://www.hallman.org/pacifica/portola.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Before then, earlier Spanish maritime explorers of the California coast [[Juan Cabrillo]] and [[Sebastian Vizcaino]] had missed the San Francisco Bay because heavy fog so frequently shrouded its entrance from the Pacific Ocean (the [[Golden Gate]]). Sighting the San Francisco Bay accelerated the Spanish colonization of Alta California because it was the only large, safe, centrally located harbor on the Alta California coast. The Spanish had known about Monterey Bay since the sixteenth century, but, unlike San Francisco Bay, it was too exposed to rough currents and winds to be used as major harbor for their trade between Asia and Mexico. In the Spanish era, Pacifica was the site of the [[San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia|San Pedro Valley Mission Outpost]] (1786–1793) of [[Mission Dolores]]. That was dissolved when a newly independent Mexico secularized the mission system. Pacifica is also the site of the still-extant Mexican-era [[Sánchez Adobe Park|Sánchez Adobe]], built in 1846. The city is located on a part of the Mexican land grant [[Rancho San Pedro (Sanchez)|Rancho San Pedro]] given to [[Francisco Sánchez (American politician)|Francisco Sanchez]] in 1839.

[[File:Fishing village on the ocean south of San Francisco, California.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|left|[[Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California|Rockaway Beach]] and quarry in 1938, photograph by [[Dorothea Lange]].]]

During [[World War II]], the area around the present-day Sharp Park recreational area held the [[Sharp Park Detention Station]], an [[Immigration and Naturalization Service|INS]] processing facility for Japanese Americans, Japanese nationals, and other "foreign enemies" during [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese internment]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Jim |title=Local history: Pacifica's Sharp Park land once housed a war-time internment camp |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/08/27/local-history-pacificas-sharp-park-land-once-housed-a-war-time-internment-camp/ |website=The Mercury News |date=August 27, 2009 |publisher=Pacifica Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312225854/https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/08/27/local-history-pacificas-sharp-park-land-once-housed-a-war-time-internment-camp/ |access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=March 12, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sharp Park Detention Station |url=https://calisphere.org/search/?q=BANC%20PIC%201998.012--PIC |website=Voices in Confinement: A Digital Archive of Japanese-American Internees |publisher=UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library |access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref> The [[Stanford]] professor [[Yamato Ichihashi]] spent six weeks in Sharp Park. He described the facility, writing, "The ground is limited by tall iron net-fences and small in area; barracks 20' x 120' are well-built and painted outside and inside and are regularly arranged; there are 10 of these for inmates, each accommodating about 40, divided into 5 rooms for 8 persons each; if double-decked (beds), 80 can be put in."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ichihashi |first1=Yamato |title=Morning Glory, Evening Shadow: Yamato Ichihashi and His Internment Writings, 1942-1945 |date=1997 |publisher=Stanford University Press |location=Palo Alto |isbn=9780804780896 |page=152 |edition=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aLHqHXhoPvsC |access-date=March 13, 2021}}</ref>

On February 20, 1956, the [[Hazel's Inn raid]] occurred in Sharp Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBT Timeline |url=https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/stonewall-50-aclu-100-legacy-fighting-justice-and-equality |publisher=ACLU |access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref> Sheriff Earl Whitmore told the ''[[San Mateo County Times]]'' at the time, "The purpose of the raid was to let it be known that we are not going to tolerate gatherings of homosexuals in this county."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flanagan |first1=Michael |title=Pre-Stonewall, There Was Compton's in San Francisco |url=https://www.ebar.com/arts_&_culture/culture//202587 |publisher=The Bay Area Reporter |access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref> Ninety people were arrested that night, and the majority were San Francisco residents.

Pacifica was incorporated in 1957, relatively recently in the history of [[San Mateo County]]. Its first elected mayor was [[Jean Fassler]], one of the first women mayors in California. It was the union of nine previously separate, unincorporated communities–Fairmont, Westview, Pacific Manor (or just Manor), Sharp Park, Fairway Park, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar and Pedro Point–some of which were stops on the short-lived [[Ocean Shore Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ocean Shore Railroad |url=https://www.cityofpacifica.org/about/history/ocean_shore.asp |first1=June |last1=Langhoff |date=1996 |website=City of Pacifica, CA |access-date=April 5, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027033835/https://www.cityofpacifica.org/about/history/ocean_shore.asp |archive-date= October 27, 2019 }}</ref> The name "Pacifica" was chosen from Thomas Barca, by vote{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}; "Coastside" was a close runner-up{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}. In 1960, the city seal was designed by resident Ralph Barkey, who was inspired by [[Ralph Stackpole]]'s towering "[[Pacifica (statue)|Pacifica]]" statue produced for the 1939–1940 [[Golden Gate International Exposition]] on [[Treasure Island, San Francisco|Treasure Island]] in the [[San Francisco Bay]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pF3U-TTJAgEC&pg=PA65 |pages=65–66 |title=Pacifica |last1=Hunter |first1=Chris |last2=Drake |first2=Bill |author3=Pacifica Historical Society |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=978-0738520681 |series=Images of America}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Pacifica, California - aerial view.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|An aerial view of Pacifica's geography. [[w:Pacifica State Beach|Pacifica State Beach]] is just left of upper center.]]

===Topography===
Pacifica straddles [[San Pedro Creek]] which flows from the western slope of [[Sweeney Ridge]]. The far eastern portion of Pacifica includes [[San Andreas Creek]] which flows down the eastern slope of [[Sweeney Ridge]]. The [[Portola expedition]] followed these two creeks in the discovery of San Francisco Bay. [[Calera Creek]] runs through Pacifica Quarry and is protected as ESHA Environmentally Sensitive Habitat.

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Pacifica, California
|45|58|6.1
|46|60|6.5
|46|61|4.5
|48|64|2.4
|49|67|1.0
|51|69|0.3
|52|69|0.1
|53|71|0.1
|53|72|0.1
|52|70|1.5
|50|64|2.9
|46|59|6.6
|units = imperial
|float = left
|clear = both}}
[[File:Erosion and spring in Pacifica.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Erosion and spring]]
Pacifica has a [[warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csb'') typical of coastal areas of California.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?location=USCA0822 |title=Pacifica Historic Weather Averages in California (94044) |website=Intellicast |access-date=July 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140909012956/http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?location=USCA0822 |archive-date= September 9, 2014 }}</ref>
The [[National Weather Service]] has maintained a cooperative weather station in Pacifica since November 1, 1983. Based on those records, average January temperatures range from {{convert|45.8|to|56.7|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and average September temperatures range from {{convert|53.9|to|71.8|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. There are an average of 3.0 days with highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or higher and an average of 0.2 day with lows of {{convert|32|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or lower. The highest temperature on record was {{convert|102|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on October 5, 1987, and the lowest temperature was {{convert|23|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on December 22, 1990. Annual precipitation averages {{convert|30.29|in|mm}} and has ranged from {{convert|15.88|in|mm}} in 1990 to {{convert|43.17|in|mm}} in 1996. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|18.05|in|mm}} in February 1998 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was {{convert|5.00|in|mm}} on December 27, 2004. There are an average of 66 days annually with measurable precipitation, most of which falls from October through May. Summer fogs often produce light drizzle in the night and morning hours. Condensation from the fogs also produces [[fog drip]] from trees overnight. No measurable snowfall has been recorded since records began.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/Climsmcca.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713101258/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/Climsmcca.html/|archive-date=July 13, 2015 |title= California |website=Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref> The southeastern portions of the municipality, such as Park Pacifica, are known to be much sunnier than the rest of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpacifica.org/about/visitors/neighborhoods.asp |title= Neighborhoods |website=City of Pacifica, CA |access-date=March 19, 2017 |first1=June |last1=Langhoff |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320151255/http://www.cityofpacifica.org/about/visitors/neighborhoods.asp |archive-date= March 20, 2017 }}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Pacifica, California (Pacifica 4 SSE averages: 1991–2020)
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 58.1
|Feb high F = 60.1
|Mar high F = 61.4
|Apr high F = 63.9
|May high F = 66.9
|Jun high F = 68.8
|Jul high F = 69.4
|Aug high F = 71.0
|Sep high F = 72.3
|Oct high F = 70.1
|Nov high F = 64.1
|Dec high F = 58.8
|Jan record high F = 74
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 98
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 96
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F = 102
|year high F = 65.4
|Jan low F = 45.3
|Feb low F = 46.0
|Mar low F = 46.1
|Apr low F = 47.6
|May low F = 49.4
|Jun low F = 50.8
|Jul low F = 52.3
|Aug low F = 53.3
|Sep low F = 53.4
|Oct low F = 52.3
|Nov low F = 49.7
|Dec low F = 46.2
|Jan record low F = 32
|Feb record low F = 27
|Mar record low F = 33
|Apr record low F = 37
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 44
|Jul record low F = 42
|Aug record low F = 40
|Sep record low F = 45
|Oct record low F = 40
|Nov record low F = 37
|Dec record low F = 23
|year record low F = 23
|year low F = 49.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.14
|Feb precipitation inch = 6.48
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.45
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.36
|May precipitation inch = 1.00
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.25
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.01
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.08
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.11
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.50
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.86
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.64
|year precipitation inch =31.88
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00046599 | title=PACIFICA 4 SSE, CALIFORNIA NOAA
|access-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref>
|date=March 9, 2021
|source 2 = <ref>{{cite web| url=https://weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=995641&cityname=Pacifica-California-United-States-of-America|title=Pacifica, California Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)
|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 20995
|1970= 36020
|1980= 36866
|1990= 37670
|2000= 38390
|2010= 37234
|2020= 38640
|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]] Pacifica had a population of 37,234. The population density was {{convert|2,941.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Pacifica was 55.6% white, 16.8% (6,243) Hispanic or Latino of any race, 976 (2.6%) African American, 206 (0.6%) Native American, 7,230 (19.4%) Asian, 315 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 1,703 (4.6%) from other races, and 2,638 (7.1%) from two or more races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0654806|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032225/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0654806|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Pacifica city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 37,052 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 64 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 118 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 13,967 households, 4,511 (32.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,385 (52.9%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 1,592 (11.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 709 (5.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 869 (6.2%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 237 (1.7%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 3,126 households (22.4%) were one person and 1,098 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65. There were 9,686 families (69.3% of households); the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 7,707 people (20.7%) under the age of 18, 2,842 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 10,011 people (26.9%) aged 25 to 44, 12,155 people (32.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,519 people (12.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

There were 14,523 housing units at an average density of 1,147.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 9,545 (68.3%) were owner-occupied and 4,422 (31.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 26,567 people (71.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,485 people (28.2%) lived in rental housing units.
{|
|-
|align="left" |
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align: right;font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Demographic profile<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Census.gov |website=Census.gov |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref>
! 2010
|-
|align="left" | Total Population || 37,234 - 100.0%
|-
|align="left" | One Race || 34,596 - 92.9
|-
|align="left" | Not Hispanic or Latino || 30,991 - 83.2
|-
|align="left" | White alone || 20,703 - 55.6%
|-
|align="left" | Black or African American alone || 902 - 2.4%
|-
|align="left" | American Indian and Alaska Native alone || 123 - 0.3
|-
|align="left" | Asian alone || 7,045 - 18.9%
|-
|align="left" | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone || 285 - 0.8%
|-
|align="left" | Some other race alone || 155 - 0.4%
|-
|align="left" | Two or more races alone || 1,778 - 4.8%
|-
|align="left" | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 6,243 - 16.8%
|}
|}

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 38,390 people in 13,994 households, including 9,655 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,038.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 14,245 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,127.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<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 13,994 households 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 21.2% of households were one person and 6.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.21.

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median [[income]] for a household in the city was $31,737, and the median family income was $48,361 (these figures had risen to $52,000 and $62,463 respectively as of a 2007 estimate<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=pacifica&_cityTown=pacifica&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 American FactFinder] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200211180745/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=pacifica&_cityTown=pacifica&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |date=February 11, 2020 }}. Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on July 21, 2013.</ref>). Males had a median income of $50,761 versus $40,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,183. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

The oldest person to ever live in Pacifica is Rose G. Rosenthal who was born on April 8, 1901, and died December 27, 2008.

The [[Pacifica Pier|Reverend Herschell Harkins Memorial pier]] was constructed in 1973 and was designed to carry sewage piping out to sea. It was closed in 1992 due to corrosion of some of the structure. Since then the pier has been repaired and is a well known fishing spot; on July 8–9, 1995, over 1,000 salmon were caught from the pier.

==Economy==

===Top employers===

According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofpacifica.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=46694.49&BlobID=16533 |title=City of Pacifica, California : Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2019 |date=2019 |website=City of Pacifica |access-date=November 12, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213025002/https://www.cityofpacifica.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=46694.49&BlobID=16533 |archive-date= December 13, 2021 }}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Pacifica School District]]
|499
|-
|2
|City of Pacifica
|282
|-
|3
|[[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]
|262
|-
|4
|[[Jefferson Union High School District]]
|137
|-
|5
|Oceana Market
|55
|-
|6
|[[Ace Hardware]]
|36
|-
|7
|[[Recology]] of the Coast
|35
|-
|8
|[[Rite Aid]]
|34
|-
|9
|[[Ross Stores|Ross]]
|31
|-
|10
|North Coast County Water District
|22
|}

==Government==
Governed by a city council of five elected members, with each council seat in turn serving as mayor for a one-year term. A city manager, city attorney and city clerk are appointed and serve in support of the council to enact the ordinances passed by the council, which meets biweekly on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/default.asp|title= City Government|website=City of Pacifica, CA |access-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170505202352/http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/default.asp |archive-date= May 5, 2017 }}</ref>

===Departments===

The major City departments, ranked by cost:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/budget.asp|title= Adopted Budget: Fiscal Year 2016-2017 |website=City of Pacifica, CA |access-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320145541/http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/budget.asp |archive-date= March 20, 2017 }}</ref>
* 32% - Police and Communication Services
* 23% - Fire and Emergency Services
*  6% - Development and Engineering
*  6% - Childcare programs
*  5% - City Attorney
*  5% - Public Works
*  5% - Parks, Beach & Recreation
*  5% - Finance and MIS
As of August 1, 2011, the South San Francisco Police Department took over the Pacifica emergency calls dispatch.<ref>[http://psc.apcointl.org/2011/06/29/pacifica-city-council-approves-outsourcing-police-communications-to-south-san-francisco/ Pacifica City Council Approves Outsourcing Police CommunicationS to South San Francisco | Public Safety Communications]. Psc.apcointl.org (June 29, 2011). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref>

===State and federal representation===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Pacifica is in {{Representative|casd|13|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|23|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=December 3, 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>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Pacifica is in {{Representative|cacd|16|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|16|access-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>

According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 10, 2019, Pacifica has 25,029 registered voters. Of those, 13,404 (53.6%) are registered [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]], 3,290 (13.1%) are registered [[California Republican Party|Republicans]], and 7,154 (28.6%) 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>

==Media==
The local weekly newspaper, the ''[[Pacifica Tribune]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificalocalnews.com/|title=pacificalocalnews.com - Proudly serving Pacifica, California|website=pacificalocalnews.com|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> is mailed out every Wednesday. It is part of Coastside News Group, a locally owned California Benefit Corporation that includes the Half Moon Bay Review <ref>{{cite web|url=https://hmbreview.com/|title=hmbreview.com|website=hmbreview.com|access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> and Coastside Magazine. It originated as the ''Coastside Tribune'' early in the twentieth century.

Other media include:
* The ''[[San Mateo Daily Journal]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/ |title=San Mateo Daily Journal |website=Smdailyjournal.com |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref>
* The ''Coastsider'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coastsider.com/ |title=Coastsider |publisher=Coastsider |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref>
* ''Coastside Magazine'', published by the award-winning ''[[Half Moon Bay Review]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmbreview.com/site/on_the_coastside.html|title=Coastside Magazine |website=Hmbreview.com |access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
* Pacificariptide,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificariptide.com |title=Riptide |website=Pacificariptide.com |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref>
* Peninsula Press - a project of Stanford_journalism.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yelizarova |first=Anna |url=http://peninsulapress.com/ |title=Multimedia, data-driven news in Silicon Valley |publisher=Peninsula Press |access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref>

Pacifica Community Television, Pacifica's [[Emmy Award]]-winning local [[public-access television]] [[cable TV]] channel 26, has continuously operated for 30 years, featuring community based television. On national television, [[Guy Fieri]] visited [[Gorilla BBQ]] for the fifth season of ''[[Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives]]'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Macias |first1=Karina |title=Restaurants In The Bay Area Featured On Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives! |url=https://wild949.iheart.com/featured/trending-in-the-bay/content/2020-10-08-restaurants-in-the-bay-area-featured-on-diners-drive-ins-and-dives/ |website=Wild 94.9 |access-date=July 17, 2023}}</ref>

The final scene of ''[[Harold and Maude]]'' in which Harold makes the leap off a cliff was filmed at [[Mori Point]] in Pacifica.<ref name="Pacifica Sets the Stage">{{cite web |title=Pacifica Sets the Stage for Hollywood's Silver Screen |url=https://visitpacifica.com/movies-made-in-pacifica/ |website=Visit Pacifica |date=August 14, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2023}}</ref> The 2003 film ''[[House of Sand and Fog (film)|House of Sand and Fog]]'' and the 2012 ''[[Chasing Mavericks]]'' were also filmed in Pacifica.<ref name="Pacifica Sets the Stage"/>

The 2007 [[National Book Award]] finalist ''[[Story of a Girl (novel)|Story of a Girl]]'' by [[Sara Zarr]] is set in Pacifica.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Coats |first1=Karen |title=Story of a Girl (review) |journal=Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |date=May 2007 |volume=60 |issue=9 |page=392 |doi=10.1353/bcc.2007.0299 |s2cid=143737181 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/214353 |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> In 2017, it was adapted into a [[Story of a Girl (film)|Lifetime movie]].

==Education==
===Primary and secondary schools===
[[File:Ohsp pan1.png|upright=0.9|thumb|Oceana High School]]
[[File:Terra Nova High Pacifica Front 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Terra Nova High School]]

The public elementary and middle [[school district]], known as [[Pacifica School District]], (formerly the Laguna Salada School District), consists of Vallemar, Cabrillo, Ingrid B. Lacy, Sunset Ridge, Ortega, Linda Mar and Ocean Shore schools, and also a home schooling program. The administration office is located at 375 Reina del Mar Avenue, adjacent to Vallemar School. Each school enrolls about 550–600 students. There are two private K–8 schools, Good Shepherd School and [[Pacific Bay Christian School]], a K–12 school which was founded as a segregation academy.

Pacifica also previously had an established elementary school from 1969 to 2005 known as Oddstad (Oddstad Andres) Elementary located in the Park Pacifica neighborhood. Though now non-operational, the campus site has been host to numerous community events, and private courses as well as sporting events and leisure.

Pacifica has one private high school and two public high schools which are part of the [[Jefferson Union High School District]].  [[Oceana High School (Pacifica, California)|Oceana High School]] in the central part of the city while [[Terra Nova High School (Pacifica, California)|Terra Nova High School]] and Pacific Bay Christian School are in the south. Many students in the northern part of Pacifica attend [[Jefferson High School (Daly City, California)|Jefferson High School]] or [[Westmoor High School]] nearby in adjacent [[Daly City]]. Oceana's teaching paradigm is geared toward longer classes, senior exhibitions, and mandated community service. Much larger Terra Nova is a more traditional institution, featuring numerous sports, clubs, and a broad-based and enriching educational experience.

===Public libraries===
[[San Mateo County Libraries]], a member of the [[Peninsula Library System]], operates the Pacifica-Sanchez Library and the Pacifica-Sharp Park Library.<ref name="Loc">"[https://smcl.org/libraries/index.html San Mateo County Library Locations]." San Mateo County Library. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Chuy Campusano]] (1944–1997), Chicano muralist<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 19, 1977 |title=Murals and a Sculpture Will Decorate Pacifica |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacifica-tribune-murals-and-a-sculpture/146339578/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=Pacifica Tribune |pages=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1978 |title=Artists Unveil Designs for City Mural Project |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacifica-tribune-artists-unveil-designs/146339559/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=[[Pacifica Tribune]] |pages=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 5, 1977 |title=San Mateo County project: Dressing up blank walls with murals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-san-mateo-co/146339546/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=[[The Peninsula Times Tribune]] |pages=18 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Anthony Gordon (American football)|Anthony Gordon]] former college football player for the [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State Cougars]] and current free agent in the [[National Football League]] grew up in Pacifica.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 24, 2021 |title=Pacifica's Gordon makes NFL debut |url=https://www.pacificatribune.com/sports/pacificas-gordon-makes-nfl-debut/article_ccf4cdca-0521-11ec-96c0-67dc7a62a26a.html}}</ref>
* [[Keith Hernandez]] MVP Baseball player and [[World Series]] Champion for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[New York Mets]].
* [[Kevin Kelly (editor)|Kevin Kelly]] founding executive editor of [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'' magazine]]
* [[Greg Reynolds]] former MLB pitcher for the [[Colorado Rockies]], as well as uncle of [[Anthony Gordon (American football)]] grew up in Pacifica, and had his start pitching for Terra Nova, and continued to [[Stanford University]].
* [[Rob Schneider]] grew up in Pacifica. In 1997, he formed the Rob Schneider Music Foundation to support its school music program, and has since donated approximately $2 million.

==Sister city==
*{{flagdeco|SPA}} [[Balaguer]], Catalonia, Spain <ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pF3U-TTJAgEC&pg=PA10 |page=10 |title=Pacifica |last1=Hunter |first1=Chris |last2=Drake |first2=Bill |author3=Pacifica Historical Society |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=978-0738520681 |series=Images of America}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[:Category:People from Pacifica, California]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
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* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.pacificahistory.org/ Pacifica Historical Society]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre =    Pacifica, California
 | North =    [[Daly City, California|Daly City]]
 | Northeast =
 | East =    [[South San Francisco, California|South San Francisco]]<br />[[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]]
 | Southeast = [[Montara Mountain]]
 | South =     [[Montara, California|Montara]]
 | Southwest =
 | West =      [[Pacific Ocean]]
 | Northwest =
}}
{{San Mateo County, California}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Subject bar|commons=yes|commons-search=Category:Pacifica, California|q=yes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pacifica, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1957]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in California]]