Fairfax, California

The Coast Miwok Native Americans occupied stretches along local creeks, spring and seep areas; moreover, prehistoric habitations were usually chosen near permanent and seasonal drainages, typically along flat ridges and terraces.

The town was named for Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax. In 1861, Fairfax was the site of the last political duel in California. Daniel Showalter and Charles W. Piercy, both former assemblymen in the state legislature,{{cite web |url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/10032 |title=JoinCalifornia - Daniel Showalter |website=www.joincalifornia.com |access-date=July 18, 2009}} decided to settle a political dispute at the home of Lord Fairfax, a mutual friend. Although Fairfax provided lunch to both men and tried to talk them out of it, they eventually headed to an open field nearby and dueled, with Showalter killing Piercy.{{cite web |url=http://www.marindirect.com/fxhistory/history.html |title=Fairfax History- Page One |website=www.marindirect.com |access-date=July 18, 2009}}

The first post office opened in 1910. Fairfax became an incorporated town in 1931.

On May 16, 1946, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, crashed on White's Hill just west of Fairfax.

Fairfax is in western Marin County, bordered to the east by San Anselmo and to the north by unincorporated Sleepy Hollow. The community lies in the valleys of San Anselmo Creek and its tributary Fairfax Creek, and climbs the surrounding hills. It is bordered to the south by the Mount Tamalpais protected watershed.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|2.2|sqmi|km2}}, all of it recorded as land.

Soils in the Fairfax area mostly belong to the Tocaloma Series as classified by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service."Environmental Impact Report for the Groza-Erickson Property, Ridgeway Avenue, Fairfax, California", Earth Metrics Inc, prepared for the State of California Environmental Clearinghouse, Sacramento, Ca., January 1989 These soils consist of moderately deep, well-drained soils on uplands. These soils are typically formed from sandstone and shale and often occur on slopes ranging above 15 percent.

{{US Census population

|align= left

|1940= 2198

|1950= 4078

|1960= 5813

|1970= 7661

|1980= 7391

|1990= 6931

|2000= 7319

|2010= 7441

|2020= 7605

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}

}}

At the 2020 census Fairfax had a population of 7,605. The racial makeup of Fairfax was 5,998 (78.9%) White, 94 (1.24%) African American, 56 (0.7%) Native American, 233 (3.1%) Asian, 20 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 349 (4.6%) from other races, and 855 (11.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 878 people (11.6%).{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1|date=September 16, 2021|title=2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }}

The census reported that 7,579 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 16 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 10 (0.1%) were institutionalized.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1|date=September 16, 2021|title=2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }}

There were 3,410 households, 749 (22.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,477 (43.3%) were married couple households, 993 (29.1%) had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 551 (16.2%) had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. There were 389 (11.4%) cohabitating couple households. 646 households (18.9%) were one person and 379 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSDP5Y2021.DP02|date=October 20, 2022|title=2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724012737/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSDP5Y2021.DP02 |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }} The average household size was 2.2. There were 1,931 families (6.63% of households); the average family size was 2.7.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S1101&moe=false|date=October 20, 2022|title=2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates S1101 HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILIES|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724013341/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S1101&moe=false |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }}

The age distribution was 1,135 people (14.9%) under the age of 18, 570 people (7.5%) aged 18 to 24, 1,605 people (21.1%) aged 25 to 44, 2,489 people (32.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,806 people (23.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S0101|date=October 20, 2022|title=2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates S0101 AGE AND SEX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724013639/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S0101 |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }}

There were 3,470 housing units, of the occupied units 2,128 (64.8%) were owner-occupied and 1,156 (35.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.6%.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1|date=September 16, 2021|title=2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 |access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023 }}

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $131,875, and the per capita income was $76,359. About 5.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line.{{cite web |title=Fairfax town, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0623168 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 20, 2025}}

At the 2010 census Fairfax had a population of 7,441. The population density was {{convert|3,376.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Fairfax was 6,617 (88.9%) White, 110 (1.5%) African American, 36 (0.5%) Native American, 204 (2.7%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 174 (2.3%) from other races, and 296 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 504 people (6.8%).{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0623168|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024825/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0623168|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Fairfax town|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

The census reported that 7,419 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 10 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,379 households, 939 (27.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,422 (42.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 319 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 134 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 267 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 52 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,076 households (31.8%) were one person and 320 (9.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20. There were 1,875 families (55.5% of households); the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 1,436 people (19.3%) under the age of 18, 342 people (4.6%) aged 18 to 24, 1,806 people (24.3%) aged 25 to 44, 2,907 people (39.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 950 people (12.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

There were 3,585 housing units at an average density of 1,626.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,103 (62.2%) were owner-occupied and 1,276 (37.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 4,917 people (66.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,502 people (33.6%) lived in rental housing units.

In the mid-1960s, a softball game between Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead took place at Central Field (also known as Contratti Park), a public downtown baseball field.[http://www.rexfoundation.org/grisinterview.html Rex Radio, January 1991, transcript of discussion] with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122213141/http://www.rexfoundation.org/grisinterview.html |date=January 22, 2009 }}, accessed February 5, 2008[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/02/DD189162.DTL James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle, October 2, 2001, "Dawg days: David Grisman's daughter makes film about his bluegrass partnership with Garcia"], accessed February 5, 2008[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIyfMiA3Xe0&t=1m51s "The Story of "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead"], accessed May 16, 2015

Irving Berlin used to serenade from a treetop piano at Pastori's Hotel, formerly Bird's Nest Glen, the home of Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax, and later known as the Marin Town & Country Club.[http://isbndb.com/d/book/fairfax_a01.html William Sager, Fairfax (Images of America), Arcadis Publishing, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604125256/http://isbndb.com/d/book/fairfax_a01.html |date=June 4, 2011 }} {{ISBN|0-7385-3090-5}}, accessed February 5, 2008

The popularity of outdoor hot tubs soared after Al Garvey designed his own redwood hot tub in July 1966, installed outside Al and Barbara Garvey's home on Scenic Road on the hillside leading up to Fairfax Manor. The Garvey hot tub was used by hundreds of people in the first few months, including jazz musician John Handy, eccentric architect Roger Somers and sex worker/feminist Margo St. James.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/FAR-OUT-IN-FAIRFAX-Woodworker-Al-Garvey-2895884.php |title=Far Out in Fairfax: Woodworker Al Garvey reminisces about hot tubs, cool nights and the 60's art scene |date=November 19, 1999 |author=Tricia Cambron |newspaper=SF Gate |access-date=February 23, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://medium.com/@bethwinegarner/how-marin-county-became-synonymous-with-hot-tubs-104579848d56 |title=How Marin County Became Synonymous With Hot Tubs |author=Beth Winegarner |date=December 2003 |publisher=Marinscope }} Barbara Garvey said, "We decided to make the hot tub a social enterprise and started throwing parties."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/16/worlddispatch.usa |date=July 16, 2002 |author=Duncan Campbell |newspaper=The Guardian |title=From Hot Tub to Hot Water |access-date=February 23, 2020}} Soon, many others had hot tubs of their own. The social fashion of hot-tubbing with friends became connected with Marin County culture and style.

Fairfax is a popular destination for mountain bikers and road cyclists due to its proximity to Mount Tamalpais. In 2015, Joe Breeze and other members of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame founded the Marin Museum of Bicycling in downtown Fairfax.{{Cite web |title=HOME {{!}} Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame |url=https://mmbhof.org/ |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=mmbhof.org |language=en-US}} The museum hosts one of the largest collections of bicycles on the west coast.

In 2009 Fairfax Town Council became the fourth Green Party majority town council in US history. Three out of five council members registered Green.{{cite web|url=https://greenpagesnews.org/fairfax-californias-town-council-the-green-party-majority/ |title=Fairfax, Californiaís Town Council: The Green Party Majority |date=February 25, 2010 }}

In 2017, Fairfax had 5,602 registered voters. Of those, 3,726 (66.5%) are registered Democrats, 370 (6.6%) are registered Republicans, 1,528 (27.3%) have declined to state a political party and 155 (2.8%) are registered with the Green Party.{{cite web|url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2017/politicalsub.pdf |title=Results |date=2017 |website=elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov |access-date=September 26, 2019}}

Fairfax is in the Ross Valley Elementary School District and the Tamalpais Union High School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06041_marin/DC20SD_C06041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marin County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=April 28, 2023}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06041_marin/DC20SD_C06041_SD2MS.txt Text list]

• Polly Klaas (1981-1993), girl killed by Richard Allen Davis
• Lonnie Mayne (1944-1978), wrestler
• Ali Prosch (born 1979), artist
• Virgil Shaw, musician
• Alfred Sorensen (1890-1984), writer and mystic

• Keith Donnellan (1931-2015), philosopher and professor
• Andy Kulberg (1944-2002), musician
• Chris Michie (1948-2003), musician
• Robert Peterson (1924-2000), poet
• Charles Wesley Piercy (1833-1861), politician; killed in a duel
• David James Redford (1962-2020), filmmaker
• Archie Williams (1915-1993), athlete and Air Force officer

• Charlie Cunningham (b. 1948), co-founder of WTB
• Charlie Kelly (b. 1945), founder of MountainBikes (along with Gary Fisher)
• Jacquie Phelan (b. 1955), mountain bike racer
• Joe Breeze (b. 1953), bicycle designer and advocate

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Fairfax, California}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://marindirect.com/fxhistory/ Fairfax Historical Society]

{{Marin County, California}}

{{SF Bay Area}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1931 establishments in California

Category:Populated places in Marin County, California

Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California