Nicasio, California Facts for Kids

"Nicasio" redirects here. For the community where Nicasio Station was located, see San Geronimo, California. For people named "Nicasio", see Nicasius.

Quick facts for kids Nicasio, California
Census-designated place
St. Mary's Church in Nicasio
Nickname(s): "The Town that Time Forgot"
Nicasio, California Location in California Show map of California Nicasio, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Marin County
Area
• Total	1.305 sq mi (3.38 km²)
• Land	1.305 sq mi (3.38 km²)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km²) 0%
Elevation	194 ft (59 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	81
• Density	62.1/sq mi (23.96/km²)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	94946
Area codes	415/628
FIPS code	06-51280
GNIS feature IDs	1659226 and 2628764

Nicasio is a small community in Marin County, California, United States. Its name comes from a Spanish word meaning "Nicasius." It's located about 8 miles (13 km) west of Novato. The community sits at an elevation of 194 feet (59 meters) above sea level.

In 2020, the main village of Nicasio had 81 people. However, the larger area around it has between 600 and 900 residents. Nicasio is known for its beautiful countryside. It's often called "The Town that Time Forgot" because it feels like a step back in time.

The area around Nicasio has about 250 homes. Much of the land is still used for farming. Farmers raise beef and dairy cattle here. They also grow organic vegetables and some vineyards have started to appear. A famous business in Nicasio is George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. This is part of Lucasfilm, a movie company.

The small village of Nicasio is the heart of the area. It has a post office and a general store. You can also find St. Mary's Catholic Church, which was built in 1867. The Nicasio Volunteer Fire Department is also here. There's a baseball field in the town square and the Rancho Nicasio Bar & Restaurant. A historic one-room schoolhouse from 1871 is also a landmark.

Exploring Nicasio's Geography
People of Nicasio
Nicasio in Movies and Music
Learning in Nicasio
Famous People from Nicasio
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Nicasio's Geography

Nicasio is located in a special water area. This area includes four main streams that flow into Nicasio Creek. These streams come from the surrounding hills and ridges.

Key Natural Features

A big feature in the area is the Nicasio Reservoir. This is a man-made lake. Nicasio is surrounded by hills covered in trees and open fields. The area along Lucas Valley Road has a narrow valley with many trees. You can see oak, bay, and fir trees. Some redwood trees are still found along the creeks.

Wildlife and Roads

Many animals live in Nicasio. A special bird, the Nicasio chickadee, was named after this area. It is a type of chestnut-backed chickadee. Three main roads cross through Nicasio: Lucas Valley Road, Nicasio Valley Road, and the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road.

Nearby Parks and Nature

Important public lands are close to Nicasio. These include Point Reyes National Seashore, parts of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Samuel P. Taylor State Park. These places offer many chances to explore nature.

People of Nicasio

In 2010, the village of Nicasio had 96 people. Most of the people living there were White. A small number were African American. About 7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

There were 35 households in the village. About 43% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.7 people. Most homes were owned by the people living in them.

Nicasio in Movies and Music

Nicasio has been a filming location for several movies. Its quiet, scenic setting makes it a great place for movie scenes.

The People (1972): This TV movie, starring William Shatner, used St. Mary's Church and the town square for filming.
Shoot the Moon (1982): This movie, starring Albert Finney and Diane Keaton, also filmed scenes in Nicasio.
Village of the Damned (1995): This film used the Nicasio School and other homes and areas in Nicasio for its scenes.

The famous song "Daughter" by the band Pearl Jam was recorded in Nicasio in 1993.

Learning in Nicasio

Students in Nicasio attend schools in two different districts. The Nicasio Elementary School District serves younger students. Older students go to schools in the Tamalpais Union High School District.