Pacifica, California
The City of Pacifica is spread along a 6-mile (9.7-kilometer) stretch of sandy coastal beaches and hills in north central California.The city comprises several small valleys spread between Sweeney Ridge in the east, Montara Mountain to the south, and the Pacific Ocean's rocky bluffs to the west.Pacifica is also a popular place to hike, with many trails that wind along the beaches and bluffs, including Mori Point, San Pedro Valley County Park, Frontierland Park, the Sanchez Adobe, Milagra Ridge, and the privately owned Rockaway Quarry.[9][10] Pacifica is also home to the Sharp Park Golf Course,[11] which was designed in 1931 by architect Alister MacKenzie.The world class bromeliad nursery, Shelldance Orchid Gardens is located just off Highway 1 in Pacifica, adjacent to the Sweeney Ridge hiking trailhead.[12] Pacifica is divided into roughly eleven districts from north to south: Before European settlers arrived, Pacifica was home to two significant Ohlone Indian villages: Pruristac located at San Pedro Creek near present-day Adobe Drive, and Timigtac on Calera Creek in the Rockaway Beach neighborhood.An expedition led by Gaspar de Portolà sighted the bay by climbing the hills of Sweeney Ridge in Pacifica on November 4, 1769.[18] Before then, earlier Spanish maritime explorers of the California coast Juan Cabrillo and Sebastian Vizcaino had missed the San Francisco Bay because heavy fog so frequently shrouded its entrance from the Pacific Ocean (the Golden Gate).The city is located on a part of the Mexican land grant Rancho San Pedro given to Francisco Sanchez in 1839.He described the facility, writing, "The ground is limited by tall iron net-fences and small in area; barracks 20' x 120' are well-built and painted outside and inside and are regularly arranged; there are 10 of these for inmates, each accommodating about 40, divided into 5 rooms for 8 persons each; if double-decked (beds), 80 can be put in.[25] Pacifica straddles San Pedro Creek which flows from the western slope of Sweeney Ridge.The oldest person to ever live in Pacifica is Rose G. Rosenthal who was born on April 8, 1901, and died December 27, 2008.The Reverend Herschell Harkins Memorial pier was constructed in 1973 and was designed to carry sewage piping out to sea.On national television, Guy Fieri visited Gorilla BBQ for the fifth season of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2009.[51] The 2007 National Book Award finalist Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr is set in Pacifica.Oceana's teaching paradigm is geared toward longer classes, senior exhibitions, and mandated community service.Much larger Terra Nova is a more traditional institution, featuring numerous sports, clubs, and a broad-based and enriching educational experience.
Pacifica PierRockaway BeachSan Pedro RockMori PointPacifica State BeachCaliforniaCountySan MateoIncorporatedTime zonePacificZIP codesArea codeSpanishSan Mateo County, CaliforniaPacific OceanSan FranciscoHalf Moon BaySweeney RidgeMontara MountainsurfingPacifica Skateparkmountain bikingPedro Mountain RoadGolden Gate National Recreation Areastriped basssalmonSan Pedro Valley County ParkFrontierland ParkSanchez AdobeMilagra RidgeRockaway QuarrySharp Park Golf CourseAlister MacKenziebromeliadHighway 1Shelter CoveOhloneSan Pedro CreekCalera CreekRockaway Beach neighborhoodGaspar de PortolàJuan CabrilloSebastian VizcainoGolden GateSan Pedro Valley Mission OutpostMission DoloresSánchez AdobeRancho San PedroFrancisco SanchezDorothea LangeWorld War IISharp Park Detention StationJapanese internmentStanfordYamato IchihashiHazel's Inn raidSan Mateo County TimesSan Mateo CountyJean FasslerOcean Shore RailroadRalph StackpolePacificaGolden Gate International ExpositionTreasure IslandSan Francisco BaySan Andreas CreekPortola expeditionwarm-summer Mediterranean climateKöppen climate classificationNational Weather Servicefog dripprecipitation2010 censusopposite-sex married couplesunmarried opposite-sex partnershipssame-sex married couples or partnerships2000 censusincomepoverty lineReverend Herschell Harkins Memorial pierPacifica School DistrictSafewayJefferson Union High School DistrictAce HardwareRecologyRite AidCalifornia State Legislaturethe 13th Senate DistrictDemocratJosh Beckerthe 23rd Assembly DistrictMarc BermanUnited States House of RepresentativesCalifornia's 16th congressional districtSam LiccardoCalifornia Secretary of StateDemocratsRepublicansdeclined to statePacifica TribuneSan Mateo Daily JournalHalf Moon Bay ReviewEmmy Awardpublic-access televisioncable TVGuy FieriDiners, Drive-Ins and DivesHarold and MaudeHouse of Sand and FogChasing MavericksNational Book AwardStory of a GirlSara ZarrLifetime movieschool districtPacific Bay Christian SchoolOceana High SchoolTerra Nova High SchoolJefferson High SchoolWestmoor High SchoolDaly CitySan Mateo County LibrariesPeninsula Library SystemChuy CampusanoAnthony Gordon