San Luis Obispo County

Junípero Serra founded the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772, and San Luis Obispo grew around it. The small size of the county's communities, scattered along the beaches, coastal hills, and mountains of the Santa Lucia range, provides a wide variety of coastal and inland hill ecologies to support fishing, agriculture, and tourist activities. California Polytechnic State University has almost 20,000 students. Tourism, especially for the wineries, is popular. Grapes and other agriculture products are an important part of the economy. The third largest producer of wine in California, surpassed only by Sonoma and Napa counties. Strawberries are the largest agricultural crop in the county. The town of San Simeon is located at the foot of the ridge where newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst built Hearst Castle. Other coastal towns (listed from north to south) include Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, and Los Osos -Baywood Park. These cities and villages are located northwest of the city of San Luis Obispo. To the south are Avila Beach and the Five Cities region. The Five Cities originally were: Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach (then known as Grover City), Oceano, Fair Oaks and Halcyon. Today, the Five Cities region consists of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano, and Shell Beach (which is actually part of Pismo Beach), i.e, essentially the area from Pismo Beach to Oceano. Just south of the Five Cities, San Luis Obispo County borders northern Santa Barbara County. Inland, the cities of Paso Robles, Templeton, and Atascadero lie along the Salinas River, near the Paso Robles wine region. San Luis Obispo lies south of Atascadero and north of the Five Cities region.

• Name — San Luis Obispo County • Motto — "Not For Ourselves Alone" • Settlement Type — County • Blank Emblem Type — Logo • Named For — Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — California • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — California Central Coast • Seat Type — County seat • Seat — San Luis Obispo • Seat1 Type — Largest city (Population) • Seat1 — San Luis Obispo • Seat2 Type — Largest city (Area) • Seat2 — Atascadero • Unit Pref — US • Area Total Sq Mi — 3616 • Area Land Sq Mi — 3299 • Area Water Sq Mi — 317 • Elevation Max Ft — 5109 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 282424 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 282367 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Demographics Type2 — GDP • Demographics2 Title1 — Total • Demographics2 Info1 — $21.713 billion (2022) • Established Title — Incorporated • Established Date — February 18, 1850 • Government Type — Council–Administration • Governing Body — San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors • Leader Title1 — Chair • Leader Name1 — Jimmy Paulding (D) • Leader Title2 — Vice Chair • Leader Name2 — Bruce Gibson (D) • Leader Title3 — Supervisors • Leader Title4 — County Administrator • Leader Name4 — Matt Pontes • Mapsize1 — 200px • Timezone — PST • Utc Offset — -08:00 • Timezone Dst — PDT • Utc Offset Dst — -07:00 • Postal Code — 93420 93445 93433 93401 93405 • Area Code — 805 • Blank Name Sec2 — Congressional districts • Blank Info Sec2 — 19th, 24th • Website — https: www.slocounty.ca.gov/ • Illustration — The entrance lobby and belfry of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. A statue of Fray Junípero Serra stands outside the church. • Illustration — Robert Jack House, built c. 1882

The prehistory of San Luis Obispo County is strongly influenced by the Chumash people. There has been significant settlement here at least as early as the Millingstone Horizon thousands of years ago. Important settlements existed in coastal areas such as Morro Bay and Los Osos. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772, in the area that is now the city of San Luis Obispo. The namesake of the mission, city and county is Saint Louis of Toulouse, the young bishop of Toulouse ("Obispo de Tolosa" in Spanish) in 1297. San Luis Obispo County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. The Salinas River Valley, a region that figures strongly in several John Steinbeck novels, stretches north from San Luis Obispo County.

• Illustration — San Luis Obispo • Illustration — Sand dunes - Oceano CA • Illustration — Morro Bay Docks According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3616 sqmi, of which 3299 sqmi is land and 317 sqmi (comprising 8.8%) is water.

• Illustration — Köppen climate types of San Luis Obispo County, California, using 1991–2020 climate normals. San Luis Obispo County has three main climate types. BSk climate can mainly be found in the eastern portions of the county, along with certain smaller areas in the north. Csa climate can mainly be found in the central portions of the county, in communities such as Paso Robles. The rest of the county is made up of the Csb climate type. The Csb warm-summer mediterranean type climate together with the county's varied landscapes reminds visitors of European locales.

• Carrizo Plain National Monument (part) • Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (part) • Los Padres National Forest (part)

• Illustration — Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area, an elephant seal rookery. • Cambria State Marine Conservation Area • Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary • Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area and Morro Bay State Marine Reserve • Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area • Point Buchon State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area • White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 282,424. The median age was 41.4 years. 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 70.2% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.7% from some other race, and 13.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.0% of the population. 80.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 19.1% lived in rural areas. There were 107,797 households in the county, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 123,715 housing units, of which 12.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.5% were owner-occupied and 38.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

The 2010 United States census reported that San Luis Obispo County had a population of 269,637. The racial makeup of San Luis Obispo County was 222,756 (82.6%) White, 5,550 (2.1%) African American, 2,536 (0.9%) Native American, 8,507 (3.2%) Asian (1.0% Filipino, 0.6% Chinese, 0.4% Japanese, 0.3% Indian, 0.3% Korean, 0.2% Vietnamese), 389 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 19,786 (7.3%) from other races, and 10,113 (3.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 55,973 persons (20.8%); 17.7% of San Luis Obispo County is Mexican, 0.3% Puerto Rican, and 0.2% Salvadoran. • Population reported at 2010 United States census • The County — Total Population — White — African American — Native American — Asian — Pacific Islander — other races — two or more races — Hispanic or Latino (of any race) • San Luis Obispo County — 269,637 — 222,756 — 5,550 — 2,536 — 8,507 — 389 — 19,786 — 10,113 — 55,973 • Incorporated cities — Total Population — White — African American — Native American — Asian — Pacific Islander — other races — two or more races — Hispanic or Latino (of any race) • Arroyo Grande — 17,252 — 14,710 — 156 — 125 — 595 — 14 — 856 — 796 — 2,707 • Atascadero — 28,310 — 24,457 — 585 — 295 — 685 — 57 — 1,205 — 1,026 — 4,429 • Grover Beach — 13,156 — 9,964 — 146 — 186 — 542 — 35 — 1,582 — 701 — 3,840 • Morro Bay — 10,234 — 8,909 — 44 — 92 — 258 — 9 — 613 — 309 — 1,526 • Paso Robles — 29,793 — 23,158 — 622 — 297 — 593 — 56 — 3,916 — 1,151 — 10,275 • Pismo Beach — 7,655 — 6,976 — 50 — 41 — 203 — 11 — 170 — 204 — 715 • San Luis Obispo — 45,119 — 38,117 — 523 — 275 — 2,350 — 65 — 1,973 — 1,816 — 6,626 • Census-designated places — Total Population — White — African American — Native American — Asian — Pacific Islander — other races — two or more races — Hispanic or Latino (of any race) • Avila Beach — 1,627 — 1,507 — 13 — 7 — 33 — 0 — 34 — 33 — 111 • Blacklake — 930 — 865 — 8 — 7 — 24 — 0 — 14 — 12 — 70 • Callender — 1,262 — 1,003 — 7 — 22 — 48 — 0 — 128 — 54 — 355 • Cambria — 6,032 — 5,166 — 18 — 47 — 78 — 14 — 557 — 152 — 1,187 • Cayucos — 2,592 — 2,366 — 6 — 12 — 54 — 8 — 57 — 89 — 207 • Creston — 94 — 89 — 0 — 2 — 1 — 0 — 0 — 2 — 6 • Edna — 193 — 185 — 0 — 3 — 0 — 0 — 5 — 0 — 22 • Garden Farms — 386 — 348 — 2 — 2 — 5 — 0 — 21 — 8 — 40 • Lake Nacimiento — 2,411 — 2,153 — 12 — 44 — 24 — 5 — 75 — 98 — 256 • Los Berros — 641 — 527 — 4 — 1 — 12 — 1 — 45 — 51 — 153 • Los Osos — 14,276 — 12,304 — 79 — 97 — 748 — 18 — 552 — 478 — 1,977 • Los Ranchos — 1,477 — 1,389 — 1 — 2 — 31 — 0 — 18 — 36 — 58 • Nipomo — 16,714 — 12,281 — 177 — 200 — 421 — 33 — 2,821 — 781 — 6,645 • Oak Shores — 337 — 318 — 3 — 2 — 4 — 0 — 4 — 6 — 31 • Oceano — 7,286 — 5,105 — 62 — 120 — 165 — 7 — 1,509 — 318 — 3,484 • San Miguel — 2,336 — 1,638 — 65 — 58 — 19 — 1 — 474 — 81 — 1,196 • San Simeon — 462 — 270 — 4 — 5 — 9 — 2 — 160 — 12 — 258 • Santa Margarita — 1,259 — 1,077 — 8 — 28 — 34 — 0 — 42 — 70 — 206 • Shandon — 1,295 — 840 — 34 — 18 — 7 — 2 — 352 — 42 — 693 • Templeton — 7,674 — 6,833 — 59 — 80 — 123 — 10 — 337 — 232 — 1,171 • Whitley Gardens — 285 — 260 — 1 — 6 — 1 — 0 — 13 — 4 — 43 • Woodlands — 576 — 541 — 7 — 0 — 18 — 1 — 3 — 6 — 27 • Other unincorporated areas — Total Population — White — African American — Native American — Asian — Pacific Islander — other races — two or more races — Hispanic or Latino (of any race) • All others not CDPs (combined) — 47,973 — 39,400 — 2,854 — 462 — 1,422 — 40 — 2,250 — 1,545 — 7,659

As of the census of 2000, there were 246,681 residents, 92,739 households, and 58,611 families in the county. The population density was 75 /mi2. There were 102,275 housing units at an average density of 31 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.2% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 16.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.4% English, 9.7% Irish, 6.1% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.7% spoke English and 10.7% Spanish as their first language. There were 92,739 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males. The median income for a household in the county was $42,428, and the median income for a family was $52,447. Males had a median income of $40,726 versus $27,450 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,864. About 6.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

• Illustration — Clubhair mariposa lily near SLO city, 2014 The mainstays of the economy are California Polytechnic State University with its almost 20,000 students, tourism, and agriculture. The economic indicators reveal that San Luis Obispo County aligns closely with California regarding median household income and poverty rates. However, the county distinguishes itself through higher educational attainment and homeownership rates, alongside a distinctive employment sector composition favoring agriculture and related industries. Despite these strengths, the county is not immune to challenges, as evidenced by a housing market that is significantly more expensive than the rest of California and growing income inequality. San Luis Obispo County's economy is primarily a service economy. Service jobs account for 38% of the county's jobs, government jobs accounts for 20.7%, and manufacturing jobs represent 6% of the county's jobs. San Luis Obispo County is the third largest producer of wine in California, surpassed only by Sonoma and Napa counties. Wine grapes are the second largest agricultural crop in the county (after strawberries), and the wine production they support creates a direct economic impact and a growing wine country vacation industry. The county led the state in hemp cultivation in 2018 as hundreds of acres of the crop were grown in research partnerships. In 2019, nine agricultural research permits were still active. Sixteen commercial permits were issued before a temporary ban on new applications running through June 2020 was passed by the Board of Supervisors.

The San Luis Obispo Pioneer was the first newspaper published in San Luis Obispo County between January 1, 1868, and December 1869. It was a weekly, owned and edited by Rome G. Vickers. Vickers began the newspaper by announcing that it would be nonpartisan, but in the 1868 presidential election, he endorsed the Democratic Party ticket headed by Horatio Seymour, thus losing support from Republicans and paving the way for the successful launch in 1870 of the San Luis Obispo Tribune, which is still being published. Vickers, who one article said came from New Orleans, Louisiana but was not, was 26 years old when he began the four-page Pioneer. The newspaper was said to be racist in tone and Vickers' writing was "often reactive, mean, poorly sourced and boastful." After the paper folded, the publisher moved to San Francisco. The Pioneer, did, however, publish the first newspaper extra in the county's history, concerning the destruction of the coastal steamer Sierra Nevada, which ran ashore north of Piedras Blancas, California, in 1869.

The government of San Luis Obispo County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution and law as a general law county. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition the county serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas.

• Population and registered voters • Total population — 267,871 • Registered voters — 184,744 — 58.4% • Democratic — 70,180 — 38% • Republican — 63,687 — 34.5% • Democratic–Republican spread • American Independent — 7,116 — 3.9% • Green — 972 — 0.5% • Libertarian — 2,401 — 1.3% • Peace and Freedom — 566 — 0.3% • Other — 1,752 — 1% • No party preference — 37,366 — 20.2%

• Cities by population and voter registration • City — data-sort-type="number" | Population — data-sort-type="number" | Registered voters — data-sort-type="number" | Democratic — data-sort-type="number" | Republican — data-sort-type="number" | D–R spread — data-sort-type="number" | Other — data-sort-type="number" | No party preference • Arroyo Grande — 17,132 — 65.5% — 34.2% — 41.8% — 8.1% — 18.7% • Atascadero — 28,194 — 58.9% — 30.8% — 43.9% — 8.2% — 19.8% • El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) — 29,270 — 52.1% — 29.6% — 45.3% — 8.2% — 19.9% • Grover Beach — 13,175 — 50.6% — 37.3% — 34.0% — 9.3% — 22.5% • Morro Bay — 10,263 — 68.4% — 39.5% — 31.6% — 9.5% — 22.2% • Pismo Beach — 7,753 — 70.4% — 32.2% — 41.5% — 8.9% — 20.3% • San Luis Obispo — 45,130 — 59.2% — 40.0% — 29.1% — 9.0% — 24.6%

San Luis Obispo County leaned toward the Republican Party in presidential and congressional elections during most of the 20th century; it has, however, become more Democratic starting in the 2000s. In 2008, Barack Obama won the county with 51.2 percent of the vote. Prior to 2008, the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, although Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992. In 2012, Obama again won the county, this time with a slim plurality of the vote. Hillary Clinton won with a larger plurality in 2016; and in 2020, Joe Biden won a solid 55% of the vote, the largest for any Democrat since Johnson. With respect to the United States House of Representatives, San Luis Obispo County is mostly in, with the northern part of the county in. From 2003 until 2013, the county was split between the Bakersfield-based 22nd district, which was represented by Republican Kevin McCarthy and included Paso Robles and most of the more conservative inland areas of the county, and Lois Capps' 23rd district, a strip which included most of the county's more liberal coastal areas as well as coastal areas of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. With respect to the California State Senate, the county is mostly in, with part in. With respect to the California State Assembly, the county is mostly in, with part in. In April 2008, the California Secretary of State reported that there were 147,326 registered voters in San Luis Obispo County. Of those voters, 61,226 (41.6%) were registered Republicans, 52,586 (35.7%) were registered Democratic, 8,030 (5.4%) are registered with other political parties, and 25,484 (17.3%) declined to state a political preference. The cities of Grover Beach, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo had pluralities or majorities of registered Democratic voters, whereas the rest of the county's towns, cities, and the unincorporated areas have a plurality or majority of registered Republican voters.

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. • Population and crime rates • Population — 267,871 • Violent crime — 694 — 2.59 • Homicide — 4 — 0.01 • Forcible rape — 89 — 0.33 • Robbery — 106 — 0.40 • Aggravated assault — 495 — 1.85 • Property crime — 3,009 — 11.23 • Burglary — 1,433 — 5.35 • Larceny-theft — 4,169 — 15.56 • Motor vehicle theft — 375 — 1.40 • Arson — 88 — 0.33

• Cities by population and crime rates • City — data-sort-type="number" | Population — data-sort-type="number" | Violent crimes — data-sort-type="number" | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons — data-sort-type="number" | Property crimes — data-sort-type="number" | Property crime rate per 1,000 persons • Arroyo Grande — 17,568 — 60 — 3.42 — 358 — 20.38 • Atascadero — 28,825 — 192 — 6.66 — 658 — 22.83 • Grover Beach — 13,398 — 32 — 2.39 — 306 — 22.84 • Morro Bay — 10,423 — 21 — 2.01 — 140 — 13.43 • Paso Robles — 30,344 — 91 — 3.00 — 777 — 25.61 • Pismo Beach — 7,798 — 36 — 4.62 — 305 — 39.11 • San Luis Obispo — 45,947 — 119 — 2.59 — 1,971 — 42.90

• Name — San Luis Obispo County Fire Department • Annual Calls — Approximately 20,000 • Budget — 25 million • Battalions — 5 • Stations — 21 • Engines — 17 - first run 5 - reserve • Rescues — 2 • Crash — 2 • Tenders — 3 • Hazmat — 1 • Usar — 2 • Wildfire Engines — 2 - type 3 • Light And Air — 1 In unincorporated parts of the county, fire protection and emergency response services have been provided by the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, through a cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE, since 1930. The county fire department also serves Los Osos, Oceano, and Avila Beach. The city of San Luis Obispo is served by the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.

• U.S. Route 101 • State Route 1 • State Route 33 • State Route 41 • State Route 46 • State Route 58 • State Route 166 • State Route 227 • State Route 229

San Luis Obispo County is served by Amtrak trains and Greyhound Lines buses. The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority provides countywide service along US 101 as well as service to Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cambria and San Simeon. The cities of San Luis Obispo, Atascadero and Paso Robles operate their own local bus services; all of these connect with SLORTA routes. • Illustration — Oceano County Airport in 2013 Intercity service is provided by Amtrak trains and Greyhound Lines buses. The Amtrak Thruway 18 provides a daily connection to Visalia on the east, and Santa Maria on the west, with several stops in between. FlixBus boards from the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum at 1940 Santa Barbara Avenue.

• San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is located just south of the City of San Luis Obispo. Commercial flights are available. • Paso Robles Municipal Airport (PRB) is located north-east of the City of Paso Robles and is home to California Highway Patrol, CAL-FIRE and the Estrella Warbirds Museum. • Oceano County Airport (L52) is located on the coast in the 5 Cities area.

In the future, SR 46 may be considered for a possible westward expansion of Interstate 40 via SR 58 from Barstow to Bakersfield, from Bakersfield to I-5 via Westside Parkway, and then following SR 46 to Paso Robles. SR 46 is slowly being upgraded to Interstate standards, minus overpasses between Interstate 5 and US Route 101.

School districts include: K-12 unified: • Atascadero Unified School District • Coast Unified School District (some areas for PK-12, some for 9-12 only) • Cuyama Joint Unified School District • Lucia Mar Unified School District • Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (some areas for PK-12, some for 9-12 only) • San Luis Coastal Unified School District • Shandon Joint Unified School District • Templeton Unified School District Elementary: • Cayucos Elementary School District • Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District • San Miguel Joint Union Elementary School District

• Arroyo Grande • Atascadero • Grover Beach • Morro Bay • Paso Robles • Pismo Beach • San Luis Obispo (county seat)

• Avila Beach • Baywood Park • Blacklake • California Polytechnic State University • California Valley • Callender • Cambria • Cayucos • Creston • Cholame • Edna • Garden Farms • Halcyon • Harmony • Huasna • Lake Nacimiento • Los Berros • Los Osos • Los Ranchos • Nipomo • Oak Shores • Oceano • Pozo • San Miguel • San Simeon • Santa Margarita • Shandon • Templeton • Whitley Gardens • Woodlands • Illustration — Pair of Bat stars near Los Osos

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of San Luis Obispo County. † county seat • Rank — City/Town/etc. — Municipal type — Population (2020 Census) • 1 — † San Luis Obispo — City — 47,063 • 2 — Paso Robles (El Paso de Robles) — City — 31,490 • 3 — Atascadero — City — 29,773 • 4 — Arroyo Grande — City — 18,441 • 5 — Nipomo — CDP — 18,176 • 6 — Los Osos — CDP — 14,465 • 7 — Grover Beach — City — 12,701 • 8 — Morro Bay — City — 10,757 • 9 — Templeton — CDP — 8,386 • 10 — Pismo Beach — City — 8,072 • 11 — Oceano — CDP — 7,183 • 12 — Cambria — CDP — 5,678 • 13 — San Miguel — CDP — 3,172 • 14 — Lake Nacimiento — CDP — 2,956 • 15 — Cayucos — CDP — 2,505 • 16 — Woodlands — CDP — 1,933 • 17 — Avila Beach — CDP — 1,576 • 18 — Los Ranchos — CDP — 1,516 • 19 — Santa Margarita — CDP — 1,291 • 20 — Callender — CDP — 1,282 • 21 — Shandon — CDP — 1,168 • 22 — Blacklake — CDP — 1,016 • 23 — Los Berros — CDP — 623 • 24 — Garden Farms — CDP — 449 • 25 — San Simeon — CDP — 445 • 26 — Whitley Gardens — CDP — 325 • 27 — Oak Shores — CDP — 316 • 28 — Edna — CDP — 184 • 29 — Creston — CDP — 98