Mendocino, California
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Mendocino is a census-designated place located in Mendocino County, California. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 824.
Despite its small size, the town's scenic location on a headland surrounded by the Pacific Ocean has made it extremely popular as an artist colony and with vacationers. It is a half-day drive from the San Francisco Bay Area and thus is a popular weekend getaway spot for Bay Area residents.
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Geography
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Location of Mendocino, California
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 19.2 km² (7.4 mi²). 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is land and 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 69.45% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 824 people, 424 households, and 220 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 140.2/km² (363.8/mi²). There are 549 housing units at an average density of 93.4/km² (242.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 95.51% White, 0.00% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. 2.79% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 424 households out of which 18.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% are married couples living together, 6.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% are non-families. 38.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.94 and the average family size is 2.51.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 38.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 51 years. For every 100 females there are 78.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $44,107, and the median income for a family is $59,167. Males have a median income of $41,667 versus $29,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $29,348. 13.3% of the population and 6.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.3% of those under the age of 18 and 17.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Claim To Fame
Many movies have been filmed in and around Mendocino and Mendocino County, but the TV series Murder, She Wrote was filmed there the longest. Murder, She Wrote was set in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine but nine episodes of the 264-episode program where filmed in Mendocino, while exterior shots throughout Mendocino were used in the remaining episodes. The program was broadcast for 12 seasons, from September 1984 until May 1996, and won many awards. Many local residents looked forward to the yearly filming, as over a hundred and fifty were chosen to play background parts. A lucky few were cast for speaking roles. The main character Jessica Fletcher's home in the series was an actual home in Mendocino and is now a bed and breakfast under the name "Blair House."
While Murder, She Wrote was being filmed in Mendocino, residents say that it was not uncommon to see Angela Lansbury, who played Jessica Fletcher, stop to speak with a toddler, or for Tom Bosley to sign his autograph on a Glad Bag box presented by a shopper stepping out of the local grocery store. Murder, She Wrote also brought in more money to the town due to increased tourism: by some estimates, around $2,000,000. The local high school band appeared in one of the episodes and received enough money from the appearance to go on a band trip.