Occidental, California

Occidental is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,132 at the 2020 census, up from 1,115 at the 2010 census.

History

Founded in 1876, Occidental was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry. In return for donating right-of-way to the railroad, a local landowner named "Dutch Bill" Howards received a lifetime railway pass, and the station was named after him.

The railway caused a rapid expansion of the timber industry, and by 1877 there were six sawmills in the Occidental area. Trains also brought vacationers from San Francisco.

Geography

Occidental has a total area of , all of it land.

Climate

The cooperative National Weather Service station reports that Occidental has cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers.

Average January temperatures range from and average July temperatures range from . The record highest temperature was on July 22, 2006, and the record lowest temperature was on March 11, 2006. There are an average of 12.8 afternoons with highs of or higher and an average of 2.1 mornings with lows of or lower.

Average annual rainfall is . The wettest "rain year" was from July 1997 to June 1998 with and the driest was from July 2000 to June 2001 with . The most rainfall in one month was in January 1995. The most rainfall in 24 hours was on January 5, 1966. Average annual snowfall is only . The most snowfall was in January 1974. Western Regional Climatic Center
OCCIDENTAL, CA
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Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Occidental had a population of 1,132. The population density was . The racial makeup of Occidental was 957 (84.5%) White, 6 (0.5%) African American, 7 (0.6%) Native American, 19 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 26 (2.3%) from other races, and 117 (10.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 82 persons (7.2%).

The whole population lived in households. There were 525 households, out of which 88 (16.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 237 (45.1%) were married-couple households, 50 (9.5%) were cohabiting couple households, 124 (23.6%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 114 (21.7%) had a male householder with no partner present. 150 households (28.6%) were one person, and 69 (13.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16. There were 313 families (59.6% of all households).

The age distribution was 168 people (14.8%) under the age of 18, 53 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 209 people (18.5%) aged 25 to 44, 347 people (30.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 355 people (31.4%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 54.3years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males.

There were 625 housing units at an average density of , of which 525 (84.0%) were occupied. Of these, 358 (68.2%) were owner-occupied, and 167 (31.8%) were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $104,044, and the per capita income was $93,698. About 6.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Occidental had a population of 1,115. The population density was . The racial makeup of Occidental was 992 (89.0%) White, 7 (0.6%) African American, 7 (0.6%) Native American, 31 (2.8%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 23 (2.1%) from other races, and 55 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 81 people (7.3%).

The census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 532 households, 134 (25.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 228 (42.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 44 (8.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 25 (4.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 39 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 14 (2.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 172 households (32.3%) were one person and 40 (7.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 297 families (55.8% of households); the average family size was 2.65.

The age distribution was 192 people (17.2%) under the age of 18, 52 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 264 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 462 people (41.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 145 people (13.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.

There were 673 housing units at an average density of , of which 68.6% were owner-occupied and 31.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%. 70.3% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29.7% lived in rental housing units.

The median household income was $64,714 (+19.8% from 2000), and the median family income was $87,759 (+30.0% from 2000). The median per capita income for the CDP was $40,903 (+57.5% from 2000). For comparison, statewide California median per capita income in the 2010 Census was $27,885 (+22.8% from 2000).

Economy

The large number of craft breweries and wineries in the area have made Barley and Hops Tavern and Sonoma Fine Wine store in downtown Occidental local and tourist destinations.

The tool-belt manufacturing company Occidental Leather started in an Occidental barn and later moved to downtown Occidental.

The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) is a non-profit organization located near Occidental. Situated on an 80-acre ecological reserve near the Russian River, OAEC works with communities in the region to restore and build cultural and biological diversity.

Government

In the state legislature, Occidental is in the 2nd Senate District and in the 2nd Assembly District.

Federally, Occidental is in .

Education

The school districts are Harmony Union School District and West Sonoma County Union High School District.

Notable people

* Les Claypool, musician
* Nick Gravenites, musician
* Mickey Hart, musician
* Alicia Bay Laurel, artist, author and musician
* Terence McKenna, ethnobotanist
* Robert Nichols, actor
* Max Thieriot, actor, grew up in Occidental
* Kitaro, musician
* Tom Waits, musician

References

External links

Occidental Chamber of Commerce

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Census-designated places in Sonoma County, California
Census-designated places in California