Occidental, California
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Occidental is a census-designated place located in Sonoma County, California. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 1,272.
Geography
Image:CAMap-doton-Occidental.pngOccidental is located at 38°25'16" North, 122°57'17" West (38.421121, -122.954660)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.9 km² (5.0 mi²). 12.9 km² (5.0 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 1,272 people, 524 households, and 319 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 98.6/km² (255.2/mi²). There were 632 housing units at an average density of 49.0/km² (126.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.77% White, 0.55% African American, 0.79% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 524 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,000, and the median income for a family was $71,375. Males had a median income of $46,806 versus $29,306 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,970. 9.8% of the population and 7.9% of families were below the poverty line. 13.7% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Occidental is unique for its high concentration of visionaries and famous artists throughout its recent history (including Terence McKenna, Tom Waits, Mickey Hart, Bill Wheeler and Les Claypool, among others). There was a point in the early 1990's when the town was also an center of the "neo-hippie" movement in Sonoma County, but high property prices and other economic pressures have since driven out the young families that fed this movement. Occidental is also remarkable for having been the hub of community-centered social movements in the late 1960's and early 1970's, giving rise to nearby communes such as Morningstar, Wheeler Ranch (started by artist Bill Wheeler) and Star Mountain.