Rio del Mar, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rio del Mar
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Census-designated Place
Unincorporated community |
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View of Rio del Mar and the Aptos Creek
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Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California
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 Rio del Mar, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Cruz |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.612 sq mi (11.945 km2) |
| • Land | 3.001 sq mi (7.772 km2) |
| • Water | 1.611 sq mi (4.173 km2) 34.94% |
| Elevation | 144 ft (44 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,128 |
| • Density | 1,979.2/sq mi (764.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95003
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| Area code(s) | 831 |
| FIPS code | 06-60928 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1659513 |
Rio del Mar is a small community in Santa Cruz County, California. Its name comes from Spanish, meaning "River of the Sea." It is part of a larger area called Aptos, California. In 2020, about 9,128 people lived there. The United States Census Bureau calls Rio del Mar a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area grouped for statistics, even though it's not an official city.
Contents
What Does Rio del Mar Mean?
The name Río del Mar is Spanish for "River of the Sea." This name was picked in the 1920s to help sell land in the area. It sounds nice and makes you think of a beautiful place by the water.
Where is Rio del Mar Located?
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Rio del Mar is located in Santa Cruz County, California. It covers an area of about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but a good part of it, about 1.6 square miles (4.17 square kilometers), is water.
A small river called Aptos Creek flows through Rio del Mar. This creek eventually empties into the Monterey Bay. The census definition of the area might be a bit different from what locals think of as Rio del Mar.
How Many People Live in Rio del Mar?
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 9,198 | — | |
| 2010 | 9,216 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 9,128 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Rio del Mar was 9,128 people. The number of people living in Rio del Mar has stayed pretty steady over the years. For example, in 2010, there were 9,216 residents.
Most people in Rio del Mar live in family homes. In 2010, about 99.9% of the population lived in households. The average household had about 2.35 people. Many homes are owned by the people who live in them.
The median age of people in Rio del Mar in 2010 was 47 years old. This means half the people were older than 47 and half were younger.
Fun Places to Visit: Parks and Beaches
Rio del Mar is close to Seacliff State Beach, which is a popular spot. This beach is famous for something very unique: the remains of a large concrete ship called the SS Palo Alto.
The Story of the SS Palo Alto Ship
The SS Palo Alto was launched in 1919. It was made of concrete and was supposed to be used during World War I. However, the war ended before it could be used.
After the war, the ship was brought to Seacliff State Beach. It was turned into an entertainment boat! It had a dance floor, a swimming pool, and even a cafe. Imagine having a party on a concrete ship!
Historically, a fishing pier connected the beach to the SS Palo Alto. Sadly, this pier was badly damaged in a storm in January 2023 and had to be taken down. Even without the pier, the remains of the concrete ship are still a cool sight to see.
See also
In Spanish: Río del Mar para niños
