Morro Bay, California
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Morro Bay is a waterfront city located in San Luis Obispo County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,350.
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History
The town of Morro Bay was founded in 1870 as a port for the export of dairy and ranch products. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it has been a center for beach holidays, using the excellent beaches north and south of the town (now both state beaches). In the 1940s it developed an abalone fishing industry; although stocks of abalone have now declined drastically, it remains a fishing port, with halibut, sole, rockfish and many other species being landed by both commercial and sport vessels. It now combines the fishing industry with coastal tourism. In addition, oysters are grown artificially in the back bay, which is very shallow. Morro Bay is also a Bird Sanctuary, meaning it is illegal to kill or harm a bird in any way while in Morro Bay.
Geography
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Location of Morro Bay, California
Morro Bay is located at 35°22'45" North, 120°51'12" West (35.379043, -120.853354)Template:GR. It is 20 km northwest of San Luis Obispo, and on "Highway 1" (California State Route 1).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 km² (10.2 mi²). 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is land and 12.9 km² (5.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 49.21% water.
Morro Rock
Main article: Morro Rock The town's most striking feature is Morro Rock, a 176-meter high volcanic outcrop. Morro Rock stands at the entrance to the harbor and a causeway connects it with the shore. Previously, it was surrounded by water, but the northern channel was filled in to make the harbor. The "Rock," as locals call it, was quarried from 1889 to 1969. There is no public access to the rock itself, because it is now a reserve for the locally endangered Peregrine Falcon. However, the area around the base of Morro Rock can be visited. Every few years, someone foolishly tries to climb the rock. They are invariably caught, especially since they usually can't even get down without assistance. Climbers risk more than fines or jail time as the rocks that form Morro Rock are loose and fall down regularly. The base of Morro Rock is littered with fallen boulders.
Features and Attractions
A number of tourist attractions are found along the shoreline and the streets closest to it, especially the Embarcadero. These include a good range of restaurants and a number of parks. The combination of tourist-oriented businesses with a working fishing port, with the dominant presence of Morro Rock, makes an attractive waterfront. A jarring note is struck, however, by the large power station with three vertical stacks positioned across from Morro Rock at the northern end of the harbor.
The Duke power plant, previously owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, plays a large role in Morro Bay and its future is currently (2005)uncertain. The current plant was built in the fifties and Duke wishes to build a new combined cycle plant, but the city expects significant compensation in exchange for permission to build it. In response, Duke has all but shutdown the plant, producing a very small amount of power under contract with PG&E. Almost all workers have been fired or reassigned and Duke has allowed its lease with the city to lapse. The city faces a financial crisis because the tax on the natural gas the plant uses makes up a substantial part of its budget. Duke claims that the current plant is unprofitable to run, but some believe it is trying to get a better deal with the city. Environmentalists are opposed to the new plant as its cooling water comes from the bay itself, killing organisms sucked in and greatly raising the temperature of the water. If the proposed plant is approved, the old power plant and it smoke stacks will be removed. The new plant would be closer to the ocean, but its smoke stacks would be much shorter. The current stacks are only slightly shorter than Morro Rock, and are tall enough to sway significantly in the wind. If the plant is removed and no new plant is built, the city will have a severely reduced income and increased tourism from the plant's removal is unlikely to make up for the shortfall.
Morro Bay Harbor
Morro Bay is a natural embayment with an artificial harbor constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is the only all-weather small craft commercial/recreational harbor between Santa Barbara and Monterey. The Army built a large artificial breakwater and road across the north end of the harbor, linking Morro Rock and the mainland. Some of the rock used for this and for the artificial breakwaters was quarried from Morro Rock itself. Other rock was imported by barge from Santa Catalina Island. The bay extends inland and parallels the shore for a distance of about 6.4 km (4 miles) south of its entrance at Morro Rock.
Only small craft are capable of passing the harbor channel. A large natural sandspit, augmented by breakwaters, protects the harbor from the Pacific Ocean to the west. At its northern end can be seen the remains of a bridge that connect the shore with the sandspit. The Morro Bay harbor channel silts up and must be dredged every every three to four years. Previously, the Shark Inlet connected the back bay to the ocean. Some have proposed reopening it to slow the sedimentation that is filling up the bay.
Mariners are strongly urged to seek local advice prior to making use of the channel, especially when whitecaps or wind-blown water is evident or a small craft advisory is in effect, which is very often. The US Coast Guard regards the harbor as one of the most dangerous in the entire nation, while others put it in the top six on the West Coast. From 1979 to 1987, 21 lives were lost in boating accidents alone. However, many additional deaths have resulted from siteseers and fisherman being swept off the rocks of the breakwater surrounding Morro Rock. Visitors become complacent when watching the crashing waves and by the time a big set of waves comes, they have approached too closely. The slippery and jagged rocks only add to the danger. Public access to the breakwater has been revoked and those who venture beyond the signs do so at their peril. In 1995, the Army Corps of Engineering deepened and expanded the channel to improve safety.
Coast Guard Station Morro Bay operates two small vessels. Limited transient vessel services are available. Yachtsmen may wish to contact the Morro Bay Yacht Club. A public boat launch ramp is available at the far south end of the Embarcadero.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 10,350 people, 4,986 households, and 2,612 families residing in the city. The population density is 774.4/km² (2,006.9/mi²). There are 6,251 housing units at an average density of 467.7/km² (1,212.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 89.44% White, 0.68% African American, 0.95% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. 11.43% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 4,986 households out of which 16.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% are married couples living together, 8.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% are non-families. 38.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.04 and the average family size is 2.65.
In the city the population is spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 46 years. For every 100 females there are 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,379, and the median income for a family is $43,508. Males have a median income of $31,073 versus $25,576 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,687. 13.0% of the population and 8.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
NOTE: The summer population of Morro Bay, counting seasonal residents, tourists and visitors, often doubles and may climb as high as 50,000 at its height in early July. Many of these are from the California Central Valley and Fresno, driving out to the Pacific to vacation or simply to escape the heat. Others come from Los Angeles and the Bay Area seeking the small town experience.
External links
- City of Morro Bay (http://www.morro-bay.ca.us/)
- Repairing a Dysfunctional Harbor (http://ceenve.calpoly.edu/sullivan/ce114/morrobay/morrobay.html)