Bolinas, California

Bolinas peninsula from 40,000 feet

Bolinas is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,246 at the 2000 census. Located along the coast and accessible only via unmarked roads, Bolinas is perhaps best known for its reclusive residents; historically, any road signs pointing the way into town on Highway One have invariably been torn down by local residents.

Bolinas and its reclusive reputation feature in the 1981 novel Ecotopia Emerging by Ernest Callenbach.

Geography

Location of Bolinas, California

Bolinas is located at 37°45′9″N 122°41′58″W (37.902426, -122.699503)Template:GR on the California coast approximately 30 miles drive north from San Francisco just off California Hwy 1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 km² (1.4 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 1,246 people, 486 households, and 260 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 348.6/km² (900.6/mi²). There were 629 housing units at an average density of 176.0/km² (454.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.53% White, 1.85% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. 5.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 486 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 40.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,188, and the median income for a family was $56,111. Males had a median income of $48,281 versus $40,417 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,973. About 5.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

• Pepper's Cave
• The Bolinas Free Box
• Marin-Bolinas Botanical Gardens
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Shrine to the Unknown Tourist
• Smiley's Schooner Saloon

Famous residents and property-owners, past and present

King Alcohol and his Prime Minister

• Bill Berkson
• Richard Brautigan
• Jim Carroll
• Ikon Lee Chanel
• C. West Churchman
• Robert Creeley
• Robert Grenier
• Harmony Korine
• Joanne Kyger
• Anne Lamott
• Walter Murch
• Charles A. Reich, whose autobiography is entitled The Sorcerer of Bolinas Reef.
• Orville Schell
• Tony Serra
• Grace Slick
• Susie Tompkins
• Rick Klaes
• Gary Abler
• Janice Thompson
• John Bonuski
• Signy Coleman
• Joel Coen
• Frances McDormand
• StuArt Chapman
• Kurt Vonnegut

External links

• Bolinas Library
• Bolinas Museum
• Bolinas-Stinson Unified School District
• Bolinas Public Utility District
• Bolinas 2 Miles (local gossip and events)
• The Coastal Post
• New York Times article on Bolinas Culture
• Bolinas Literary History by Kevin Opstedal