Nipomo, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nipomo, California
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Unincorporated town
Census-designated place |
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Olde Towne Nipomo in 2023.
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Location in San Luis Obispo County and the state of California
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 Nipomo, California
Location in California
Nipomo, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Luis Obispo |
| Named for | "Place of the big house" or "Village" |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.852 sq mi (38.467 km2) |
| • Land | 14.852 sq mi (38.466 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.001 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,716 |
| • Density | 1,260.17/sq mi (486.547/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
93444
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| Area code(s) | 805 |
| FIPS code | 06-51476 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652759 |
Nipomo is a community in San Luis Obispo County, California, in the United States. It is known as an unincorporated town. This means it is not officially a city with its own local government.
Nipomo is also a census-designated place (CDP). This is a special area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for collecting population data. In 2020, about 18,176 people lived in Nipomo.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Nipomo comes from the Chumash language. The Chumash are Native Americans who lived in this area for thousands of years.
The original Chumash word was Nipumuʔ. It means "place of the big house" or "village."
History of Nipomo
The first people to live in the Nipomo area were the Chumash Indians. They have lived here for over 9,000 years.
Rancho Nipomo and the Dana Family
In the 1800s, during the time of Mexican rule, large areas of land were given out as "land grants." One of the biggest grants in San Luis Obispo County was Rancho Nipomo. The Chumash word ne-po-mah meant "foot of the hill."
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In 1837, a sea captain named William G. Dana received the Rancho Nipomo land grant. It was about 38,000 acres (154 square kilometers). Captain Dana built the Dana Adobe in 1839. This adobe house became an important stop for travelers on El Camino Real. This was a main road connecting the Spanish missions in California.
The Dana Adobe was also a stagecoach stop. It became a key place for mail to be exchanged between northern and southern California. The Dana family had many children. They learned English, Spanish, and the language of the local Chumash people.
Growth and Change
In 1846, U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont and his soldiers visited the rancho. Captain Dana hosted a barbecue for them and gave them fresh horses.
By the 1880s, the Dana family's descendants built more homes. This led to the creation of a town. Streets were planned, and land was sold to the public. The Pacific Coast Railway came to Nipomo in 1882. Trains ran through the town until the 1930s, during The Great Depression. The train tracks were removed by 1942 to help with the World War II effort.
In 1908, thousands of Eucalyptus trees were planted on the Nipomo Mesa. They were meant to be sold as hardwood. You can still see rows of these non-native trees today.
Nipomo Mesa is also famous for a photograph called "Migrant Mother." It was taken by Dorothea Lange in 1936 during the Great Depression.
Geography and Climate
Nipomo covers about 14.9 square miles (38.6 square kilometers) of land.
Nipomo's Weather
Nipomo has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperatures usually stay below 71.6°F (22°C).
People of Nipomo
Population in 2020
In 2020, Nipomo had a population of 18,176 people.
- About 16.2% of the people were 65 years or older.
- About 25.6% of the people were under 18 years old.
- About 50.8% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
Most people (67.9%) in Nipomo owned their homes. The average home value was around $594,800.
Fun and Education
Parks and Recreation
Nipomo Community Park is a large park, about 74 acres (30 hectares). It offers many activities like hiking, horseback riding, a dog park, and a skate park.
The Dana Adobe is a very important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire Rancho Nipomo area is also a California Historical Landmark.
Schools and Colleges
Nipomo is part of the Lucia Mar Unified School District.
- Elementary Schools (Kindergarten to 6th grade):
- Nipomo Elementary
- Dana Elementary
- Dorothea Lange Elementary
- Middle School (7th-8th grade):
- Mesa Middle School in Arroyo Grande. This school is known for its character education and sports teams. It also has great drama and music programs.
- High Schools (9th-12th grade):
- Nipomo High School opened in 2002.
- Central Coast New Tech High School is a public charter school that opened in 2012.
Nearby Colleges
Students in Nipomo can attend several colleges nearby:
- Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria
- Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)
Famous People from Nipomo
Some notable people have connections to Nipomo:
- Casey Alexander (born 1975) – a screenwriter for shows like SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Akeem King (born 1992) – a former NFL player.
- Jeff McNeil (born 1992) – a professional baseball player for the New York Mets.
- Leigh Rubin – the creator of the comic strip Rubes.
- Florence Owens Thompson (1903–1983) – the woman in the famous "Migrant Mother" photograph.
- Don Siegel (1912–1991) – a film and television director.
How Nipomo Works
The Nipomo Community Services District provides most of the town with water. Other parts of the community get water from Golden State Water.
See also
In Spanish: Nipomo para niños
