Monte Rio, California

File:Beach on Russian River at Monte Rio, California (1909).jpg at Monte Rio, 1909]]

Starting in the 1870s, Monte Rio was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito, California ferry. Redwood lumber from local sawmills was shipped to build San Francisco. After the sawmills left, the area became known as Vacation Wonderland with trains transporting San Franciscans to summer cabins and even a seven-story hotel downtown. Portions of the 1942 Academy Award-winning film Holiday Inn were filmed at the Village Inn Resort in Monte Rio. The trains no longer run, and the area now is mainly inhabited by year-round residents.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Despite heavy logging during the second half of the 19th century, the Sonoma Lumber Company preserved a {{Convert|160|acre|adj=on}} grove of old-growth redwood trees, which was sold to San Francisco's Bohemian Club in 1899. The club purchased dozens of other parcels in the area, and now owns {{Convert|2712|acres}}, which are used for its summer retreats.{{Cite thesis|type=Ph.D.|first=Peter Martin|last=Phillips|title=A Relative Advantage: Sociology of the San Francisco Bohemian Club|publisher=Sonoma State University|year=1994|page=22|url=http://library.sonoma.edu/regional/faculty/phillips/bohemianindex.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722101251/http://library.sonoma.edu/regional/faculty/phillips/bohemianindex.php|archive-date=July 22, 2012|df=mdy-all|hdl=10211.3/143729|hdl-access=free}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|1.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.07|sqmi|km2}}, or 3.68%, is water.

{{US Census population

|1980= 1137

|1990= 1058

|2000= 1104

|2010= 1152

|2020= 1080

|estyear=2022

|estimate=771

|estref={{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Monte%20Rio%20CDP,%20California&y=2022|title=ACS Survey Population Estimate 2022}}

|footnote=US Census{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0648928&y=2020.P1|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov}} U.S Census 1880-1980,{{cite web|url=https://dof.ca.gov/reports/demographic-reports/|title=Population Totals by Township and Place for California Counties: 1860 to 1950|publisher=dof.ca.gov}}

}}

The 2020 United States census reported that Monte Rio had a population of 1,080. The population density was {{convert|566.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Monte Rio was 894 (82.8%) White, 9 (0.8%) African American, 11 (1.0%) Native American, 19 (1.8%) Asian, 3 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 42 (3.9%) from other races, and 102 (9.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76 persons (7.0%).{{cite web |title=Monte Rio CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0648928 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 29, 2025}}

The census reported that 1,049 people (97.1% of the population) lived in households, 31 (2.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 526 households, out of which 47 (8.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 177 (33.7%) were married-couple households, 52 (9.9%) were cohabiting couple households, 134 (25.5%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 163 (31.0%) had a male householder with no partner present. 223 households (42.4%) were one person, and 104 (19.8%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.99. There were 242 families (46.0% of all households).{{cite web |title=Monte Rio CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0648928 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 29, 2025}}

The age distribution was 112 people (10.4%) under the age of 18, 45 people (4.2%) aged 18 to 24, 219 people (20.3%) aged 25 to 44, 409 people (37.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 295 people (27.3%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 55.3{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 116.0 males.

There were 811 housing units at an average density of {{convert|425.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 526 (64.9%) were occupied. Of these, 342 (65.0%) were owner-occupied, and 184 (35.0%) were occupied by renters.

The 2010 United States Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0648928|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715031737/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0648928|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Monte Rio CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Monte Rio had a population of 1,152. The population density was {{convert|582.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Monte Rio was 1,047 (90.9%) White, 10 (0.9%) African American, 6 (0.5%) Native American, 11 (1.0%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 16 (1.4%) from other races, and 61 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 79 persons (6.9%).

The Census reported that 93.6% of the population lived in households and 6.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 576 households, out of which 85 (14.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 151 (26.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 43 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 32 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 42 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 37 (6.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 247 households (42.9%) were made up of individuals, and 61 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87. There were 226 families (39.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.54.

The population was spread out, with 132 people (11.5%) under the age of 18, 63 people (5.5%) aged 18 to 24, 253 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 528 people (45.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 176 people (15.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.2 males.

There were 930 housing units at an average density of {{convert|470.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 56.9% were owner-occupied and 43.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%. 57.0% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 36.5% lived in rental housing units.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, the median income for a household in the CDP was $38,299, and the median income for a family was $46,336. Males had a median income of $29,135 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,262. About 12.1% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

In the California State Legislature, Monte Rio is in {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web

| url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html

| title = Statewide Database

| publisher = UC Regents

| access-date = December 5, 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

}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Monte Rio is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 8, 2013}}

The school districts are Monte Rio Union Elementary School District and West Sonoma County Union High School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sonoma County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-12-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097_SD2MS.txt Text list]

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|Monte Rio}}

• [http://www.monteriocentral.com/ Monte Rio Central]
• [http://www.monterio.org/ Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.monteriocommunityalliance.org/ Monte Rio Community Alliance]
• [http://www.mrrpd.org Monte Rio Recreation and Park District]

{{Sonoma County, California}}

{{SF Bay Area}}

{{Russian River}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Unincorporated communities in Sonoma County, California

Category:Census-designated places in Sonoma County, California

Category:Census-designated places in California