Guadalupe, California

History

The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, camped near today's Guadalupe on September 1, 1769. Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespi noted in his diary that they found "a very large lake". The lake has since mostly filled in, leaving a low-lying plain traversed by the Santa Maria River and several tributaries.

When Mission La Purisima was established in 1787, the area became part of the mission's pasture land. In 1840, following secularization of the mission, the area became part of the Rancho Guadalupe land grant. Rancho Guadalupe was settled by pioneers of many unique backgrounds, such as European, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Mexican. The small town was incorporated as the city of Guadalupe on May 19, 1946. The city name honors Our Lady of Guadalupe, the title given to the Virgin Mary.

Geography

Guadalupe is located in the northwestern extremity of Santa Barbara County, immediately south of the Santa Maria River. The landscape in the vicinity of the town is mostly flat, with the predominant land use being agriculture and oil production. Hills rise to the south of the town; on the other side of the hills is Vandenberg Air Force Base. West of town, both in Santa Barbara County and north in adjacent San Luis Obispo County, is the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, a large region of dune habitat along the Pacific Ocean shore. Filmmakers have used this region as a setting for several films, including Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 Ten Commandments and in 1998 The Odd Couple II. Scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Hidalgo have also been filmed here. The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center serves as the education and research facility for the natural area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), 99.60% of it land and 0.40% of it water. The town consists of a tight cluster of buildings, surrounded completely by agricultural land.

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Guadalupe has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Guadalupe had a population of 7,080. The population density was 5,385.3 people per square mile (2,079.3/km²). The racial makeup of Guadalupe was 3,395 (48.0%) White, 74 (1.0%) African American, 103 (1.5%) Native American, 279 (3.9%) Asian, 5 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,783 (39.3%) from other races, and 441 (6.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,103 persons (86.2%).

The Census reported that 7,080 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,810 households, out of which 1,073 (59.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,005 (55.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 369 (20.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 174 (9.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 143 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 10 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 213 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals and 93 (5.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.91. There were 1,548 families (85.5% of all households); the average family size was 4.11.

The population was spread out with 2,424 people (34.2%) under the age of 18, 797 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,930 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 1,362 people (19.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 567 people (8.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.2 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

There were 1,887 housing units at an average density of 1,435.3 per square mile (554.2/km²), of which 936 (51.7%) were owner-occupied, and 874 (48.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. 3,483 people (49.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,597 people (50.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,659 people, 1,414 households, and 1,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,091.6 people per square mile (1,583.3/km²). There were 1,450 housing units at an average density of 1,048.4 per square mile (405.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.54% White, 0.71% African American, 1.86% Native American, 5.88% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 38.70% from other races, and 7.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.48% of the population.

There were 1,414 households out of which 53.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.24.

In the city, the population was spread out with 35.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,205, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $24,250 versus $17,870 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,608. About 23.4% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture is by far the leading industry in Guadalupe. Apio Inc. and Obispo Cooling take produce in from the surrounding fields and prepare it for shipping to points across the nation as well as overseas. The majority of the small businesses in town can be found on Guadalupe St. Some of the small town businesses include El Tapatio, and Guadalupe Restaurant serve traditional Mexican food. For a quick bite you can get pizza at Two Guys Pizza, a burger at King Falafel and Charlie's Place, Chinese Food at Panda Sticks, or tacos and burritos Romo's Market. Groceries can be bought at La Chiquita market and Masatani's Market. There is a hardware store called The Guadalupe Hardware Company, Napa Auto Parts, two tire shops, an auto body shop, and three auto mechanic shops in town. There is also a public library on Main Street, with a dentist and a panaderia (Mexican pastries and sweet bread) La Roca. There is a pharmacy and a medical clinic behind the post office. There are two laundromats in town and a recycling center in the Roy's Liquor parking lot. There are two gas stations in the town, the Chevron on Guadalupe st and 11th st and at YK Market on Guadalupe st. There is also a diesel/gas station on Obispo st and 4th st. Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe is a Catholic church in 11th St. and Obispo St., there are three other Christian churches in town as well as a Buddhist temple.

After more than 20 years of waiting, construction is officially underway beginning on a development in Guadalupe that will eventually add more than 800 homes to the small town. The project was first announced in 1993 and has been delayed multiple times. The city annexed the 209-acre site in 1995. When completed, it is expected to boost the city's population — now slightly more than 7,000 — to the 10,000 that is considered the threshold for attracting chain stores and restaurants. In addition to homes, the plan includes a new school and commercial development.

Arts and culture

Guadalupe is a small town. In addition to the Dunes Center, the town contains an art museum, the Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society, a public library, veteran's memorial, the Masatani Mansion, and an old Buddhist temple. The historic building occupied by city hall and the police department used to be an elementary school. There is a very small historic jail building at the park near the train tracks where the water tower stands. Every year on September 16 there is a parade on Guadalupe St. to celebrate Mexico's independence from Spain.

Parks and recreation

There is a beach near Guadalupe at the end of Main St. that is part of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes. Oso Flaco Lake in Nipomo (San Luis Obispo County) is also a part of this dunes complex and is a few miles north of Guadalupe; it features a boardwalk that goes over the lake and leads to the beach. If you go south of Guadalupe on Highway 1 and turn right on Brown Rd. you will reach Pt. Sal Rd. The road is now closed due to heavy storms in the past years, but it has now become a very scenic hiking trail through the coastal mountains. At the end of the 5 mile trail which passes through Vandenberg Airforce Base, is the isolated Pt. Sal Beach. Between Guadalupe Beach and Pt. Sal Beach is the even more isolated Paradise Beach, near Mussel Rock.

Parks in the area include Jack O'Connell Park, where the Bulldogs youth football team practices, and Leroy Park near the town's northern city limit. The Guadalupe Wrestling Club was established in 1979 for the youth and has produced numerous state champions over the years. The Guadalupe Police Department runs the Gladiator's club, which provides peer-to-peer mentoring for fifth and sixth grade youth. The Boys and Girls Club and the Riverview apartment tutoring program provide places for children to go after school.

Education

Guadalupe has two schools, Mary Buren Elementary and Kermit McKenzie Junior High School. Mary Buren Elementary is kindergarten to fifth grade and McKenzie Junior High is sixth to eighth grade. The mascot of both schools is the bobcat. Jesely Alvarez is the principal of Mary Buren Elementary and Gabriel Solorio is the principal at McKenzie Junior High.

Ed Cora, formally principal of Tommie Kunst Jr. High, is the new superintendent. There is also a preschool run by the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County.

Transportation

Guadalupe is at the intersection of California State Route 1 and 166, providing easy access to cities north, east, and south, the largest of which is nearby Santa Maria. Amtrak runs through town, and the Guadalupe station is on the Pacific Surfliner route. A pedestrian bridge gives an easy way for people to cross the tracks, which split the town just east of Highway 1.

The Guadalupe Flyer bus runs routes to Santa Maria hourly.