Castroville, California

Castroville
—  census-designated place  —
Artichoke Center of the world sign on Merrit Street.
Location in Monterey County and the state of California
Coordinates: 36°45′57″N 121°45′29″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Monterey
Government
• N/A
• Senate	Anthony Cannella (R)
• Assembly	Bill Monning (D)
• U. S. Congress	Sam Farr (D)
Area
• Total	1.057 sq mi (2.737 km2)
• Land	1.057 sq mi (2.737 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	6,481
• Density	6,100/sq mi (2,400/km2)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	95012
Area code(s)	831
FIPS code	06-11978
GNIS feature ID	0277486

Castroville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Monterey County, California, United States. Castroville is located 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Salinas, at an elevation of 23 feet (7 m). The population was 6,481 at the 2010 census, down from 6,724 at the 2000 census. Castroville calls itself "Artichoke Center of the World" and hosts the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival. Marilyn Monroe was named the festival's Artichoke Queen in February 1948 and William Hung was named the Artichoke King in 2006. The community also displays the world's largest artificial artichoke. 75% of the US supply of artichokes is produced in Castroville. The local high school, North Monterey County High School, Castroville, fields a Marching Band which has traveled to China, performed at Bill Clinton's second Inaugural Parade, and traveled to Italy in April 2007. North Monterey County Middle School and Castroville Elementary are also located in Castroville.

History

Castroville was founded by Juan Bautista Castro in 1863 and is the second oldest town in Monterey County. The original old school house is a historic landmark. Castroville was named for Castro's father, Simeon Nepomuceno Castro, owner of the Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo Mexican land grant on which the town is located. The Castroville post office was founded in 1867.

Geography

Castroville is located at 36°45′57″N 121°45′29″W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Castroville had a population of 6,481. The population density was 6,133.7 people per square mile (2,368.2/km²). The racial makeup of Castroville was 2,807 (43.3%) White, 96 (1.5%) African American, 96 (1.5%) Native American, 169 (2.6%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,955 (45.6%) from other races, and 349 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,841 persons (90.1%).

The Census reported that 6,467 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 14 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,470 households, out of which 931 (63.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 866 (58.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 273 (18.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 161 (11.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 140 (9.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 124 households (8.4%) were made up of individuals and 39 (2.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.40. There were 1,300 families (88.4% of all households); the average family size was 4.44.

The population was spread out with 2,169 people (33.5%) under the age of 18, 888 people (13.7%) aged 18 to 24, 1,876 people (28.9%) aged 25 to 44, 1,132 people (17.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 416 people (6.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.7 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.

There were 1,539 housing units at an average density of 1,456.5 per square mile (562.4/km²), of which 601 (40.9%) were owner-occupied, and 869 (59.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.0%. 2,626 people (40.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,841 people (59.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,724 people, 1,434 households, and 1,280 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 6,656.1 people per square mile (2,570.4/km²). There were 1,462 housing units at an average density of 1,447.2 per square mile (558.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 36.56% White, 1.06% Black or African American, 1.04% Native American, 3.26% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 53.15% from other races, and 4.83% from two or more races. 86.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,434 households out of which 58.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.7% were non-families. 7.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.69 and the average family size was 4.78.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,594, and the median income for a family was $38,021. Males had a median income of $25,781 versus $23,409 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,729. About 14.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Bus stop city seal.

As an unincorporated area, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors administers Castroville. Castroville is part of District 2, whose current supervisor is Louis R. Calcagno. However, The Castroville Community Services District and its Board of Directors (Ron Stefani - President) are responsible for the water, sewer, storm drains, street lighting, street sweeping and helps fund some recreational activities in Castroville. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors oversees the public works dept which is responsible for road maintenance, while the CCSD Board is responsible for providing most local public utility. The North County Park and Rec District provides P&R service while the North County Fire District provides fire and emergancy services protection. services.

Streets

Fried artichoke hearts that go along with Castroville's artichoke center theme.

California Highways 1, 156, and 183 intersect in Castroville. Highway 156 connects to the 101. Highway 1 provides access from Monterey and Santa Cruz. Highway 183 connects Castroville to Salinas. Merritt Street serves as Castroville main drag. Most of Castroville's commerce and the post office are located on Merrit Street. Other major roads include Castroville Blvd., Blackie Road, and Preston Street. Many public roads, low-income housing projects, and other publicly owned facilities have been funded by the Castroville Redevelopment Agency that was established by then-Monterey County Supervisor Marc Del Piero in the mid-1980s.

Castroville Artichoke Festival

The most notable event in Castroville is the Castroville Artichoke Festival, which first took place in 1948 in Castroville and celebrates the area's primary crop. The event features an annual artichoke parade; the coronation of the Artichoke King and Queen; the Agro Art competition, in which competitors make sculptures from artichokes and other vegetables; a classic car show; tours of the artichoke fields; cooking demonstrations; arts, crafts, food and produce vendors; and the California Wine Exposition.