San Clemente, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Clemente, California
City
Top: view of San Clemente Pier; middle: Historic City Hall (left), Casa Romantica (right); bottom: San Clemente State Beach (left) and Hotel San Clemente (right).
Flag Seal
Location of San Clemente within Orange County, California
San Clemente, California Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area San Clemente, California Location in California Show map of California San Clemente, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Orange
Incorporated	February 28, 1928
Named for	Saint Clement
Area
• Total	19.11 sq mi (49.48 km2)
• Land	18.36 sq mi (47.54 km2)
• Water	0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2)  3.89%
Elevation	233 ft (71 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	64,293
• Density	3,364.4/sq mi (1,299.37/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	92672–92674
Area code	949
FIPS code	06-65084
GNIS feature IDs	1661376, 2411781

San Clemente is a beautiful coastal city in southern Orange County, California. It's known for its sunny beaches and unique Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings. The city's slogan is "Spanish Village by the Sea."

San Clemente is located about halfway between the big cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. In 2020, about 64,293 people lived there. It's a popular spot for tourists who love the ocean and the friendly atmosphere.

History of San Clemente

Early Indigenous People

The first people to live in the San Clemente area were the Acjachemen Indigenous people. They had a very old village called Panhe, located about 3 miles south of where San Clemente is today. This site is over 9,600 years old and is still very important to the Acjachemen people.

Spanish Explorers Arrive

Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno named San Clemente Island in 1602. The city was named after the island in 1925.

In 1776, Father Junípero Serra started Mission San Juan Capistrano nearby. After the mission was built, the local Indigenous people were called "Juaneños" by the Spanish. Both Native Americans and Spanish settlers built villages close to the mission.

Mexican and American Control

San Clemente was once part of a large land grant called Rancho Boca de la Playa in 1846. After California became part of the United States in 1848, the land changed hands several times.

Building the City of San Clemente

Not many people built homes here until 1925. That's when Ole Hanson, a former mayor of Seattle and a big land developer, bought 2,000 acres. He wanted to create a special community. Hanson believed people would love the great weather, beautiful beaches, and rich land.

He named the city after San Clemente Island. This island was named by explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602, after Saint Clement. Hanson imagined San Clemente as a Mediterranean-style beach town. He called it "San Clemente by the Sea."

Hanson wanted all buildings to have red tile roofs and white walls. This rule was meant to keep a consistent look. However, over time, many different building styles appeared in the older parts of town.

Casa Romantica, built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style in 1927 for Ole Hanson, founder of San Clemente.

Ole Hanson was very good at promoting the new area and selling land. He built public places like the Beach Club, the community center, and the pier. The city officially became a city on February 27, 1928. Soon after, people helped raise money to build a fire station.

The San Clemente Pier is a famous landmark. It was first built in 1928 and has been rebuilt twice since then. Ole Hanson lived in a beautiful house called Casa Romantica. He lost the house during the Great Depression. Today, Casa Romantica is a cultural center.

The Western White House

President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon at La Casa Pacifica, their Western White House, in 1973.

In 1969, President Richard Nixon bought a large estate in San Clemente. He called it "La Casa Pacifica." People nicknamed it the "Western White House" because it was his vacation home. It's located near famous surfing spots like Trestles and San Onofre.

Many world leaders visited President Nixon at this home. After he left office, Nixon lived in San Clemente and wrote his memoirs. He sold the home in 1980. Before Nixon, another important person, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, also visited this estate.

Honoring Indigenous Leaders

In 1994, the Clarence Lobo Elementary School opened in San Clemente. It was named after Clarence H. Lobo, who was the chief of the Acjachemen people from 1946 to 1985. This was the first school in California named after an Indigenous leader.

Historic Buildings Revitalized

The "North Beach" area of San Clemente has several historic buildings. These include the Miramar Theatre, the Casino Building, and the Ole Hanson Beach Club. The Beach Club and Casino Building were updated in 2010 and 2016.

Geography and Climate

San Clemente's Location

Calafia Cliffs at Calafia State Beach.

San Clemente is surrounded by interesting places. To the south, it borders Camp Pendleton and the Trestles surf beach. To the east is the Cleveland National Forest. To the northwest is Dana Point, and to the north is San Juan Capistrano.

The city covers about 19.5 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Weather in San Clemente

San Clemente has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Temperatures usually stay in the 70s °F (20s °C). August is the warmest month, with an average high of 79°F (26°C). December is the coolest, with an average high of 64°F (18°C). The city gets about 10.5 inches of rain each year and enjoys about 310 sunny days.

People of San Clemente

San Clemente Pier.

In 2020, San Clemente had a population of 64,293 people. Most residents are White, with growing numbers of Asian, Multiracial, and Hispanic or Latino people. San Clemente is one of six coastal cities in Orange County with a majority White population.

About 24.4% of the people are under 18 years old. The median age in San Clemente is about 39.7 years. Most adults in San Clemente have graduated from high school. The median household income in 2017 was $101,843.

Economy and Tourism

Local Businesses

Downtown San Clemente.

Several companies have their main offices in San Clemente. These include:

• Cameron Health – A company that makes medical devices.
• ICU Medical – Another medical device manufacturer.
• Pick Up Stix – A restaurant chain serving Asian food.
• Rainbow Sandals – A company known for making sandals.
• Stance Socks – A brand that sells socks and underwear.

Visiting San Clemente

San Clemente is known for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

San Clemente is a popular place for tourists. People come to enjoy its beaches, historic buildings, and fun attractions. The San Clemente Pier is a favorite spot. It connects to the San Clemente Beach Trail, which is 2.6 miles long. This trail is great for walking or running along the coast.

San Clemente Pier.

Casa Romantica is one of the most historic places in San Clemente. The city owns it, and it's used as a cultural center. People can also rent it for private events like weddings. Casa Romantica is located above the San Clemente Pier station and offers amazing views of the coastline.

San Clemente is known as the "Spanish Village by the Sea" because of its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Downtown shops and restaurants have red tile roofs, cream-colored walls, and dark wood. Even the homes in the area often follow this Spanish style.

Major Employers

The Outlets at San Clemente.

Many people in San Clemente work at the USMC Base Camp Pendelton nearby. Here are some of the largest employers in the city:

Sports and Recreation

San Clemente Beach Club, b. 1928

San Clemente is famous for its many surfing spots. These include Trestles, Lowers, Middles & Uppers, and The Pier. The city is home to several surfing magazines. Many surfboard makers are also based here.

Many famous surfers grew up in San Clemente or live there now. Some well-known names include Kolohe Andino and Shane Beschen. San Clemente High School has won many national surfing titles.

Education in San Clemente

San Clemente State Beach.

The Capistrano Unified School District serves the city of San Clemente. The city has six elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school. There's also a virtual K-12 school called Capistrano Connections Academy.

• Elementary Schools: Truman Benedict, Concordia Elementary, Vista Del Mar, Las Palmas, Marblehead Elementary, and Lobo Elementary. Las Palmas Elementary is known for its special dual immersion program.
• Middle Schools: Bernice Ayer, Shorecliffs, and Vista Del Mar.
• High School: San Clemente High School offers an IB (International Baccalaureate) Program and many AP (advanced placement) courses. Students from this high school have won awards for academics, dance, music, and sports.

The closest public college is Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

San Clemente in Media

Aerial view of San Clemente.

San Clemente has been featured in TV shows and movies.

• The MTV reality show Life of Ryan was set in San Clemente.
• The 2005 film Brick also took place here. The director, Rian Johnson, grew up in San Clemente and went to San Clemente High School, which was shown in the movie.

The local newspaper, The San Clemente Times, is printed once a week.

Transportation Options

Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner passing through San Clemente.

Interstate 5 runs through San Clemente, connecting it to other cities. There were plans for a new road, the Foothill Transportation Corridor (SR 241), to go through a state park. However, these plans were stopped to protect the environment and a famous surf spot.

San Clemente also has train service. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink trains stop here. The city has two train stations: San Clemente station and San Clemente Pier station.

San Clemente station.

Since 2016, San Clemente has offered free trolley service to residents and visitors. These open-air trolleys run through the coastal areas. They pick up people at stops every 15 minutes. The trolley service is available during the summer months, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

Notable People from San Clemente

Brian de la Puente

Many interesting people have lived in or are from San Clemente:

• Kolby Allard, professional baseball player
• Kolohe Andino, professional surfer
• Anastasia Ashley, professional surfer
• Sam Darnold, NFL football quarterback
• Brian de la Puente, NFL football player
• Chloe East, American actress
• Jim Everett, NFL football quarterback
• Jorge Garcia, actor
• Ole Hanson, founder of San Clemente
• Rian Johnson, director
• Carl Karcher, founder of Carl's Jr. restaurants
• Karch Kiraly, Olympic gold medalist in volleyball
• Caroline Marks, 2024 Olympic gold medalist in surfing
• Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
• Pat Nixon, first lady
• Dominic Purcell, actor
• Ryan Sheckler, professional skateboarder
• Adrian Smith, architect who designed the Burj Khalifa
• Paul Walker, American actor

Sister Cities

San Clemente has "sister city" relationships with two other cities:

• San Clemente del Tuyú, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• North End, San Andres, Colombia.

See also

In Spanish: San Clemente (California) para niños