Pismo Beach, California
Pismo Beach is a city in the southern portion of San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. Its estimated population was 8,072 at the 2020 census, up from 7,655 in the 2010 census. The Pismo clam was named for the long, wide beach where they were once found in abundance.
History
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.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.
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. His home is a registered historical landmark.
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.
Clams
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, few clams are now to be found.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.
At the southern end of Price Street upon first entering Pismo Beach is a gigantic concrete clam statue. The shell of a Pismo clam is on display at the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is covered by water. It is part of the Five Cities area, a cluster of cities in that area. The Five Cities area historically is made up of Arroyo Grande, Grover City, Halcyon, Fair Oaks, and Nipomo. Now most people refer to the Five Cities as Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Oceano.Pismo Creek enters the Pacific Ocean at Pismo Beach. 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.
Climate
Pismo Beach has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. Despite the subtropical latitude summers are quite cool and the change in seasonal temperatures is quite small. The hardiness zone is 10a, which is a full zone higher than Cape Hatteras.Demographics
2020
The 2020 United States census reported that Pismo Beach had a population of 8,072. The population density was. The racial makeup of Pismo Beach was 81.0% White, 0.8% African American, 1.0% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 9.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.1% of the population.The census reported that 99.7% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 4,057 households, out of which 15.9% included children under the age of 18, 45.5% were married-couple households, 6.5% were cohabiting couple households, 28.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 19.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.3% of households were one person, and 18.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.98. There were 2,278 families.
The age distribution was 12.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% aged 18 to 24, 20.6% aged 25 to 44, 29.4% aged 45 to 64, and 32.8% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 55.7years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males.
There were 5,816 housing units at an average density of, of which 4,057 were occupied. Of these, 62.3% were owner-occupied, and 37.7% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 7.1% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 90.1% spoke only English at home, 3.2% spoke Spanish, 2.7% spoke other Indo-European languages, 3.8% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 97.6% were high school graduates and 50.1% had a bachelor's degree.
The median household income in 2023 was $112,913, and the per capita income was $74,035. About 6.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010
The 2010 United States census reported that Pismo Beach had a population of 7,655. The population density was. 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 lived in households, 13 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, 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, 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.
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of employees |
| 1 | The Cliffs Hotel + Spa | 230 |
| 2 | Keller-Williams | 179 |
| 3 | Dolphin Bay Resort | 124 |
| 4 | City of Pismo Beach | 120 |
| 5 | Martin Resorts | 100 |
| 6 | United States Postal Service | 85 |
| 7 | SeaVenture Beach Hotel | 74 |
| 8 | Pismo Coast Village RV Resort | 65 |
| 9 | SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel | 65 |
| 10 | Brad's Restaurant | 60 |
Government
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 and four councilmembers. All five are elected at-large.In the California State Legislature, Pismo Beach is in, and in.
In the United States House of Representatives, Pismo Beach is in.
Education
Most of it is in the Lucia Mar Unified School District, and a portion is in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District.Lucia Mar schools include:
- Shell Beach Elementary School
- Judkins Middle School
Infrastructure
In popular culture
The city is mentioned in the films Clueless and A Night at the Roxbury, the TV show United States of Tara, and the animated series Futurama, Robot Chicken, and The Critic.In the W. C. Fields comedy The Bank Dick, set in Lompoc, Jack Norton plays a character credited 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".
In the TV movie Dragnet 1966, Bill Gannon 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 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, 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", 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", Lucy mentions Pismo Beach as one of the locations that she and her best friend, Ethel Mertz, want to visit.
Pismo Beach is mentioned in the Coen Brothers' film The Big Lebowski. This shout-out inspired the title of the Labradford song "Up to Pizmo" from the band's 2001 album Fixed::Context.