Pismo Beach, California

File:Pismo Pier sunset 018 8x72.jpg

File:Oilport refinery, CA.tiff

The Chumash people are the historic inhabitants of the region, with indigenous peoples having lived along the California coast for at least 11,000 years.Dartt-Newton, Deana and Erlandson, Jon (Summer/Fall 2006), "Little Choice for the Chumash: Colonialism, Cattle, and Coercion in Mission Period California," The American Indian Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 3 & 4, 416

The name Pismo comes from the Chumash language word for tar, pismuʔ, which was gathered from tar springs in Price Canyon near Pismo Beach. The tar was a valuable product, which the Chumash used to caulk their seagoing canoes, called tomol, which traveled along the coast and out to the Channel Islands. The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolá expedition, passed through the area, traveling up Price Canyon from Pismo Beach, where they camped on September 4, 1769. Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespí noted in his diary that they found a Chumash village near the creek.{{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert E. |pages=182–184 |year=1927 |title=Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774 |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000288788 |publisher=HathiTrust Digital Library |access-date=April 1, 2014}}[http://www.pricepark.org/anzaexpeditions.html Price Historical Park: Portola and Anza expeditions]

Pismo Beach is located on the Rancho Pismo Mexican land grant made to José Ortega, grandson of José Francisco Ortega, in 1840. In 1846, José Ortega sold Rancho Pismo to Isaac Sparks. John Michael Price bought most of the rancho from Sparks. Price established the town of Pismo Beach in 1891. His homestead is now Price Historical Park.[http://www.pricepark.org/ Price Historical Park web site] His home is a registered historical landmark. Pismo is known as the clam capital of the world.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Nearly over 2.5 million people visit Pismo Beach.

The first wharf at Pismo was built in 1882, followed by a full-length pier built in 1924 that was financed and constructed by William Woodrow Ward, who allowed full use of it by the public. After it suffered considerable storm damage, the pier was renovated again in 1985. Pismo State Beach is named for the city of Pismo Beach.

The neighborhoods of Shell Beach and Sunset Palisades were the site of a Chumash village, and significant archeological sites are located in both areas. Shell Beach became agricultural land, mostly pea fields. Developer Floyd Calvert bought and developed the area in 1926. At first, it was a local resort area; after World War II, it became primarily residential. Sunset Palisades, originally called Oilport, was the site of an oil refinery from 1907 until after World War II; it is now residential.{{cite web|url=https://www.experiencepismobeach.com/plan/history/|title=Shell Beach and Sunset Palisades|work=Pismo Beach History|publisher=experiencepismobeach.com|access-date=July 4, 2023}}

The Pismo clam was named for the long, wide beach where so many were once found, once in such abundance that they were harvested with plows. Clamming once drew thousands of clammers to Pismo during low tides, and is still legal, but due to overharvesting by humans and the protected sea otter (which feasts on clams), few clams are now to be found.[http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2008/10/261/ Clam Calamity; The Tribune News - San Luis Obispo; 2008.]

Pismo Beach adopted the name "Clam Capital of the World" in the 1950s, though this motto is no longer used. The city still holds the Clam Festival every October, complete with clam chowder competitions and a clam-themed parade.[http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2009/03/clamming-in-morro-bay/ Clamming in Morro Bay; The Tribune News - San Luis Obispo; 2009.]

At the southern end of Price Street upon first entering Pismo Beach is a gigantic concrete clam statue. The {{convert|8|in|cm|adj=on|spell=in}} shell of a Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) is on display at the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce.

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|13.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|9.9|sqmi|km2}} (73.29%) is covered by water.

Pismo Creek enters the Pacific Ocean at Pismo Beach.{{cite gnis|273035|Pismo Creek}} The southern end of Pismo Beach runs alongside sand dunes, which are followed by eucalyptus trees that attract thousands of migrating monarch butterflies every November through February.

Meadow Creek is a short creek that runs through the Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve and hosts a variety of wildlife despite its urban surroundings, including beaver (Castor canadensis).{{cite gnis|245728|Meadow Creek}}{{cite thesis |author=Garcia, Douglas P. |url=http://csul.iii.com/search~S0?/aGarcia%2C+Douglas+P./agarcia+douglas+p/-3,-1,0,B/browse |title=Survey of beaver in Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve Pismo Beach, California |year=1990 }}{{cite news |title=Unlocking Pismo Beach's wildland |author=David Sneed |date=February 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Tribune |url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/02/09/1477280/unlocking-pismo-beachs-wildland.html |access-date=March 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019005857/http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/02/09/1477280/unlocking-pismo-beachs-wildland.html |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite report |title=California Red-legged Frog Survey at Meadow Creek, Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo County, California |author=Susan V. Christopher |date=June 21, 2005 |url=http://ca-groverbeach.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1720 |access-date=March 30, 2013 }}

Pismo Beach has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb). Despite the subtropical latitude (the same as Cape Hatteras, North Carolina,) summers are quite cool and the change in seasonal temperatures is quite small. The hardiness zone is 9b/10a, which is a full zone higher than Cape Hatteras.

{{Weather box

|location = Pismo Beach, California (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–2017)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 85

|Feb record high F = 90

|Mar record high F = 90

|Apr record high F = 101

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 99

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 103

|Oct record high F = 99

|Nov record high F = 91

|Dec record high F = 92

|year record high F = 102

|Jan avg record high F = 76.0

|Feb avg record high F = 78.6

|Mar avg record high F = 80.2

|Apr avg record high F = 85.4

|May avg record high F = 83.2

|Jun avg record high F = 84.5

|Jul avg record high F = 83.0

|Aug avg record high F = 81.3

|Sep avg record high F = 86.9

|Oct avg record high F = 86.9

|Nov avg record high F = 82.2

|Dec avg record high F = 75.3

|year avg record high F = 94.1

|Jan high F = 64.8

|Feb high F = 65.1

|Mar high F = 67.5

|Apr high F = 69.7

|May high F = 72.3

|Jun high F = 70.5

|Jul high F = 70.3

|Aug high F = 71.4

|Sep high F = 71.9

|Oct high F = 72.5

|Nov high F = 69.0

|Dec high F = 65.0

|year high F = 69.2

|Jan mean F = 54.5

|Feb mean F = 54.5

|Mar mean F = 56.9

|Apr mean F = 59.0

|May mean F = 60.9

|Jun mean F = 61.0

|Jul mean F = 62.1

|Aug mean F = 63.1

|Sep mean F = 62.7

|Oct mean F = 62.5

|Nov mean F = 57.7

|Dec mean F = 54.3

|year mean F = 59.1

|Jan low F = 44.2

|Feb low F = 44.0

|Mar low F = 46.2

|Apr low F = 48.2

|May low F = 49.5

|Jun low F = 51.4

|Jul low F = 53.9

|Aug low F = 54.8

|Sep low F = 53.6

|Oct low F = 52.6

|Nov low F = 46.4

|Dec low F = 43.7

|year low F = 49.0

|Jan avg record low F = 34.6

|Feb avg record low F = 36.2

|Mar avg record low F = 37.0

|Apr avg record low F = 38.9

|May avg record low F = 41.5

|Jun avg record low F = 44.3

|Jul avg record low F = 47.9

|Aug avg record low F = 48.8

|Sep avg record low F = 46.4

|Oct avg record low F = 42.7

|Nov avg record low F = 38.3

|Dec avg record low F = 34.1

|year avg record low F = 31.9

|Jan record low F = 24

|Feb record low F = 28

|Mar record low F = 23

|Apr record low F = 27

|May record low F = 30

|Jun record low F = 37

|Jul record low F = 38

|Aug record low F = 39

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 32

|Nov record low F = 29

|Dec record low F = 21

|year record low F = 21

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.48

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.00

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.98

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.00

|May precipitation inch = 0.46

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.15

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.02

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.02

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.08

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.79

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.81

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.08

|year precipitation inch = 17.87

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 8.2

|Feb precipitation days = 8.5

|Mar precipitation days = 7.9

|Apr precipitation days = 4.2

|May precipitation days = 1.8

|Jun precipitation days = 0.8

|Jul precipitation days = 0.3

|Aug precipitation days = 0.5

|Sep precipitation days = 1.5

|Oct precipitation days = 3.3

|Nov precipitation days = 5.1

|Dec precipitation days = 7.1

|year precipitation days = 49.2

|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)

{{cite web

| url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lox

| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = September 27, 2015}}{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00046943|title = NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = February 15, 2022}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1950= 1425

|1960= 1762

|1970= 4043

|1980= 5364

|1990= 7669

|2000= 8551

|2010= 7655

|2020= 8072

|estimate= 7948

|estyear=2023

|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}}

}}

The 2010 United States census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0657414|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715043708/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0657414|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Pismo Beach city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Pismo Beach had a population of 7,655. The population density was {{convert|568.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Pismo Beach was 91.1% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. About 9.3% were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

The census reported that 7,642 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 13 (0.2%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.

Of the 3,834 households, 16.1% had children under 18 living in them, 44.6% were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.1% were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1.0% were same-sex married couples or partnerships. In all, 35.8% of the households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.99. Of the 2,079 families (54.2% of all households), the average family size was 2.55.

The age distribution was 13.3% under 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 34.5% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% were 65 or older. The median age was 51.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The 5,585 housing units had an average density of {{convert|414.4|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=on}}, of which 60.9% were owner-occupied, and 39.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%; 60.8% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 39.0% lived in rental housing units.

File:Pismo Beach Creek taken at Addie Vacation Townhomes 10x72.jpg

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, 8,551 people, 4,230 households, and 2,322 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,366.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=on}}. The 5,496 housing units had an average density of {{convert|1,520.7|/sqmi|/km2|adj=on}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% White, 0.60% African American, 0.71% Native American, 2.92% Asian, 1.71% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.89% of the population.

Of the 4,230 households, 17.4% had children under 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were not families; 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.02, and the average family size was 2.58.

In the city, the age distribution was 15.3% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,396, and for a family was $61,036. Males had a median income of $48,606 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income made for the city was $30,835. About 6.3% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

The population had a wave of expansion starting in the 1980s, after completion of wastewater-treatment facilities expansion; this lack of infrastructure had previously limited population growth.

According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,{{cite web |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 |url=https://www.pismobeach.org/DocumentCenter/View/54088/FY-2020-Annual-Financial-Report |website=City of Pismo Beach |publisher=CivicPlus |access-date=August 2, 2021}} the top employers in the city are:

Incorporated on April 25, 1946, Pismo Beach is a general-law city governed by a five-member council. The city council consists of a mayor (who serves a two-year term) and four councilmembers (who serve four-year terms). All five are elected at-large.

In the California State Legislature, Pismo Beach is in {{Representative|casd|17|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|30|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web

| url = https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/

| title = Final Maps

| publisher = State of California

| access-date = June 27, 2023

}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Pismo Beach is in {{Representative|cacd|24|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|24|access-date=September 29, 2014}}

File:Shell Beach Elementary.JPG

• Shell Beach Elementary School
• Judkins Middle School

Water is provided by wells in the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin, Lopez Lake, and the State Water Project.{{Cite news |last=Herbaugh |first=Austin |date=February 7, 2023 |title=City of Pismo Beach looking to replace aging well as drought concerns persist |url=https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/city-of-pismo-beach-looking-to-replace-aging-well-as-drought-concerns-persist |access-date=February 7, 2023 |work=KSBY News |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Olsen |first=Erin |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Pismo Beach's Central Coast Blue collaboration addresses water needs while building community support and cross-agency partnerships |url=https://www.westerncity.com/article/pismo-beachs-central-coast-blue-collaboration-addresses-water-needs-while-building-community |access-date=February 8, 2023 |magazine=Western City Magazine |language=en}}

The city is mentioned in the films Clueless (a reference is made to a fictitious "Pismo Beach disaster") and A Night at the Roxbury, the TV show United States of Tara, and the animated series Futurama (episode "Raging Bender"), Robot Chicken (episode "Rodiggity"), and The Critic (episode "Lady Hawke").{{cite web | url=https://www.allreadable.com/0d21HqMC | title=The Critic S2E5 - English Transcript }}

The W. C. Fields comedy The Bank Dick (1940), set in Lompoc, includes a character listed in the film's credits as "A. Pismo Clam".

In the 1957 Merrie Melodies short Ali Baba Bunny, Bugs Bunny and his traveling companion Daffy Duck emerge from a tunnel, with Bugs believing they have arrived at Pismo Beach "and all the clams we can eat".{{Cite news |last=Sepulveda |first=Victoria |date=April 7, 2022 |title=This tiny Central Coast town gets name-dropped in tons of movies |url=https://www.sfgate.com/streaming/article/Pismo-Beach-mentioned-in-movies-17058909.php |access-date=April 7, 2022 |work=SFGATE |language=en-US}}

In the TV movie Dragnet 1966 (1969), Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) takes disability retirement and moves to Pismo Beach. After eight months and three weeks of eating Pismo Beach clam chowder, Bill's health returns, his teeth stop falling out, and he is able to be reinstated with the LAPD. Explaining to Joe Friday (Jack Webb) the reason for his restored health, he states, "The clams, Joe. The clams."

In "Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner", the fifth episode of the first season of The New Scooby-Doo Movies (aired October 7, 1972), when the mystery gang makes an unsuccessful escape from Captain Moody's mansion, Shaggy says they must have made a wrong turn at Pismo Beach.

In The Monkees TV series episode "The Wild Monkees" (aired November 13, 1967), Pismo Beach is mentioned a few times. Mike Nesmith states, "You remember the Massacre at Pismo Beach?" when told that the Black Angels motorcycle gang will be staying at the hotel where they are working. The rest of the group replies "Pismo Beach?"

In the I Love Lucy TV series episode "Lucy Gets in Pictures" (aired February 21, 1955), Lucy (Lucille Ball) mentions Pismo Beach as one of the locations that her best friend, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), and she want to visit.

Pismo Beach is mentioned in the Coen Brothers' film The Big Lebowski (1998). This shout-out inspired the title of the Labradford song "Up to Pizmo" from the band's 2001 album Fixed::Context.

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{{San Luis Obispo County, California}}

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Category:1946 establishments in California

Category:Cities in San Luis Obispo County, California

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Populated coastal places in California

Category:Populated places established in 1946

Category:Clams