San Luis Obispo, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Luis Obispo
City
Clockwise from top: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Downtown San Luis, California Polytechnic State University, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Higuera Street.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "SLO", "San Luis", "SLO Town"
Location in San Luis Obispo County and the state of California
San Luis Obispo Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Luis Obispo
Founded	September 1, 1772
Incorporated	February 16, 1856
Named for	St. Louis of Toulouse
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	San Luis Obispo City Council
Area
• Total	13.25 sq mi (34.32 km2)
• Land	13.11 sq mi (33.94 km2)
• Water	0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2)  1.13%
Elevation	233 ft (71 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	47,063
• Density	3,589/sq mi (1,386/km2)
Demonym(s)	San Luis Obispan
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	93401–93403, 93405–93410, 93412
Area code	805
FIPS code	06-68154
GNIS feature IDs	1652788, 2411796
Congressional district	24th

San Luis Obispo (Spanish for 'St. Louis the Bishop'; /sæn ˌluːɪs əˈbɪspoʊ/ san-_-loo-ISS-_-Ə-biss; Spanish: [san ˈlwis oˈβispo]; Chumash: tiłhini) is a city in California, USA. It is the main city of San Luis Obispo County. The city is located on the Central Coast of California. It is about halfway between the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles. In 2020, about 47,063 people lived there.

San Luis Obispo was started by the Spanish in 1772. This was when Saint Junípero Serra built Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The town grew during the time Mexico controlled the area. It expanded quickly after California became part of the United States. San Luis Obispo is a popular place for tourists. People visit for its old buildings, vineyards, and friendly atmosphere. It is also home to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

History of San Luis Obispo

Early Native American Life

The first people to live in this area were the Chumash people. They lived in villages and used resources from the ocean. Some of their early villages were near today's Los Osos and Morro Creek.

The Mission Period

In 1769, Spain wanted to spread the Catholic faith in Alta California. Junípero Serra, a Franciscan priest, was sent to do this. He founded the first Spanish mission in California, Mission San Diego, that same year.

In 1769, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá explored the San Luis Obispo area. One of the explorers, Padre Juan Crespí, named the area Cañada de Los Osos, which means "Valley of the Bears."

In 1772, people at the Presidio of Monterey were running out of food. Pedro Fages, a commander, led a hunting trip to the Valley of the Bears. They brought back a lot of bear meat and seeds. The local people were amazed at how easily the Spanish hunted the large grizzly bears.

After this, Junípero Serra decided the Valley of the Bears was a great place for a new mission. It had plenty of food, water, and a mild climate. The local Chumash were also very welcoming.

On September 1, 1772, Junípero Serra held the first Mass near San Luis Creek. The next day, he left Father José Cavaller to build the mission. Father Cavaller, five soldiers, and two native helpers started building Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. This mission later became the city of San Luis Obispo.

The first mission buildings were made from local materials. Later, stronger buildings were built with adobe walls and tile roofs. The mission included a church, homes for priests, storage rooms, and barracks for soldiers. It also had a mill, a tannery, and land for farming and animals. The community worked together to produce everything they needed.

When Mexico fought for independence from Spain in 1810, the California missions had to support themselves. After Mexico won independence in 1821, there were calls to remove the Spanish priests and take over the missions. This process, called secularization, happened in the mid-1830s.

Ranchos and Town Growth

The city in 1876

After 1834, the mission became a regular church. Most of its large land holdings were divided into ranchos, which were land grants. The main community stayed in the same spot and became the center of San Luis Obispo.

After the Mexican–American War, California joined the United States. San Luis Obispo was the first town to become a city in the new San Luis Obispo County. It has remained the county's center ever since.

In the early American period, the area was known for cattle ranching. The discovery of gold in California made beef prices go up, which helped the county's economy. But a drought in 1863 ruined most ranchos. People then started focusing on dairies, farming, and mining instead of just cattle.

San Luis Obispo also had a Chinatown near Palm and Chorro Streets. Chinese workers were brought here by Ah Louis to build the Pacific Coast Railway and other roads. They also dug tunnels through Cuesta Ridge for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Chinatown was a lively area with Chinese-owned businesses. Today, only the Mee Heng Low chop suey shop remains. You can see old items from Chinatown on the first floor of the Palm Street parking garage.

San Luis Obispo was a popular stop for travelers on U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1. It was home to the first motel, the Milestone Mo-Tel.

One of San Luis Obispo's historic buildings is the former Carnegie Library at 696 Monterey Street. It was built in 1905 with money from Andrew Carnegie. The building served as the city library until 1955. Since 1956, it has been the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography and Climate

Location and Landscape

San Luis Obispo is located on U.S. Route 101. It is about 31 miles north of Santa Maria. The city covers about 12.93 square miles, with most of it being land.

The city is on the West Coast of the United States and the Central Coast of California. The Pacific Ocean is only about 11 miles west of San Luis Obispo. The Santa Lucia Mountains are just east of the city. These mountains are where San Luis Obispo Creek starts. The creek flows to the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach.

San Luis Obispo is in an area with some earthquake activity. There are several faults nearby, including the San Andreas Fault. The Nine Sisters are a chain of hills that run partly through San Luis Obispo. These hills are volcanic plugs, which are old volcano cores. Six of these peaks are open for people to hike and enjoy.

360° panorama of Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo, California taken from the top of Poly Canyon; Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak in the middle with Cal Poly below.

Weather in San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo has a cool Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. On average, it rains about 50 days a year, mostly in winter. Summers are usually sunny, often with morning fog from the coast. Winters are generally mild, but temperatures can drop below freezing a few nights a year.

Population and People

Population in 2010

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, built in 1772, in downtown San Luis.

In 2010, San Luis Obispo had a population of 45,119 people. The city had about 3,489 people per square mile. Most of the people (84.5%) were White. About 5.2% were Asian, and 14.7% were Hispanic or Latino.

About 97.4% of the people lived in homes. There were 19,193 households in the city. The average household had 2.29 people. About 12.2% of the population was under 18 years old. A large part of the population (34.7%) was between 18 and 24 years old. The average age in the city was 26.5 years.

The Leaning Pine Arboretum.

The city has a goal to grow to a maximum population of 57,200 people.

Population in 2000

Shops at Higuera and Chorro streets in downtown San Luis.

In 2000, the city had 44,174 people. There were 18,639 households. The population density was about 4,144 people per square mile. The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with most people being White. About 11.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

St. Anne Byzantine Catholic Church

The average household size was 2.27 people. About 14.2% of the population was under 18. The median age was 26 years.

Economy and Jobs

Downtown San Luis Obispo has many unique shops. Several companies have their main offices here, like Takken's Shoes, Ernie Ball's Music Man factory, Mindbody, and iFixit. In recent years, there has been a lot of new building in the city, both for homes and businesses.

Pacific Gas and Electric is the largest non-government employer in the city. They announced that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant will close in 2025. This will mean about 1,500 jobs will be lost. Efforts are being made to bring new jobs to the area, especially in renewable energy.

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  Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, built in 1772, in downtown San Luis

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  The Leaning Pine Arboretum

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  Shops at Higuera and Chorro streets in downtown San Luis

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  St. Anne Byzantine Catholic Church

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  Historic Wineman Hotel

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  San Luis Obispo is a popular tourist destination as part of the Californian Central Coast wine region.

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  Mindbody Inc. headquarters

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  Restaurants in downtown San Luis

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  Union 76, San Luis Obispo, photographed by John Margolies in 1977

Main Employers

Here are the top employers in San Luis Obispo as of 2021:

Education in San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Mission College Prep. School

All public K–12 schools in San Luis Obispo are run by the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. This district has six elementary schools, one middle school (Laguna Middle School), and one high school (San Luis Obispo High School). There are also private schools like Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School.

San Luis Obispo is home to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). This is a public university with over 21,000 students. The school is just outside the city and offers housing for many students.

The area also has Cuesta College, which is a community college.

Culture and Fun

The Madonna Inn is one of San Luis Obispo's more famous landmarks.

The Madonna Inn is a famous and unique hotel built in 1958. The Fremont Theater is an old Art Deco theater from the 1940s. It used to show movies and now hosts live shows. The Palm Theatre uses solar heating and hosts the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

Since the 1960s, people have been sticking chewed gum on the walls of Bubblegum Alley. A doctor's office on Santa Rosa and Pacific streets was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The old Carnegie Library building is now the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum.

There are also tunnels under the city, sometimes called the "underground city."

San Luis Obispo used to have a large Mardi Gras parade. It was canceled in 2005 because of issues with managing the crowds.

The infamous Bubblegum Alley in downtown San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly used to have an annual event called Poly Royal from 1933 to 1990. It started as a way for students to show off their projects. By the 1980s, it attracted over 100,000 people and brought a lot of money to the city.

San Luis Obispo hosts many other events. These include a stop for the Olympic Flame Relay, the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race, and a Christmas Parade. In May, the Madonna Hotel hosts the California Festival of Beers. People can taste over 200 different craft beers there. The Edna Valley area, just south of the city, is also a well-known wine region. You can visit many wineries there.

The Dallidet Adobe, built in 1856, is one of the oldest residences in town.

During summer, there are free outdoor concerts called Concerts in the Plaza every Friday evening. Other events include the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and Festival Mozaic, a music festival.

Every Thursday night, San Luis Obispo has a farmers' market. Several blocks of Higuera Street are closed off. Vendors sell food and goods, and artists perform.

Since 2000, the first Thursday of every month is The Bike Happening. People gather at the Mission Plaza with their bikes and ride around downtown.

Restaurant in downtown San Luis

The Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly is a major cultural spot. It has several venues, including the large Harmon Hall, which seats 1,300 people. Many school and college programs are held here. Local artists perform plays, music, and dance. The center also brings many touring performances to the city.

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art started in the 1950s. It focuses on California Contemporary Art. The museum has 24 exhibitions each year, offers art classes for all ages, and hosts talks and films.

Historic Buildings and Areas

Downtown Historic District

San Luis Obispo has over 180 historic buildings. Three of these are also California Historic Landmarks: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the Dallidet Adobe, and Ah Louis Store. Other important historic sites include the San Luis Obispo Carnegie Library, which is now the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum.

The city also has five special historic districts:

• Downtown Historic District – This area covers the oldest part of the city. It includes the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and many commercial buildings from the late 1800s.
• Chinatown Historic District – This district was created in 1995. It honors the contributions of the city's Chinese community. It includes the Ah Louis Store and Mee Heng Low.
• Old Town Historic District – This district has the city's oldest homes, dating from the 1880s.
• Mill Street Historic District – This area has homes from the early 1900s in styles like Tudor Revival and Craftsman.
• Railroad Historic District – This district was established in 1998. It is along the old Southern Pacific rail yard. It includes homes and businesses built after the railroad arrived in 1894.

Media and News

View of San Luis Obispo with Cerro San Luis (left) and Bishop Peak (right), two of the Nine Sisters

Television Stations

The following TV stations broadcast in San Luis Obispo:

• KEYT 3 (ABC/CBS/MNTV)
• KSBY 6 (NBC)
• KKFX 24 (FOX)
• KTAS 33 (TeleXitos)

Radio Stations

Getting Around San Luis Obispo

Air and Rail Travel

Amtrak's Coast Starlight passing in front of one of the Nine Morros

San Luis Obispo Regional Airport

The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport offers flights to major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver.

Amtrak provides daily train service at the San Luis Obispo station. It is the end point for the Pacific Surfliner line from San Diego. It is also a stop on the Coast Starlight line, which goes north to cities like San Jose, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle.

Bus Services

Greyhound buses still serve the city, with a bus stop on Railroad Avenue. FlixBus also has a stop at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum.

Local Transportation

The San Luis Obispo train station is served by Amtrak, with the Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight lines.

Public transit in the city includes SLO Transit bus lines. There is also the county-wide SLO Regional Transit system. Programs like SLO Car Free encourage people to use public transit, carpool, and bike.

Roads and Highways

SLO Transit bus

U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 are the main highways. They connect San Luis Obispo to other parts of the Central Coast. Highway 101 goes north to Atascadero and Paso Robles. Highway 1 goes towards the coast to Morro Bay.

Biking

Bicycling is becoming more popular for getting around. The Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard gives bikes priority. There is even a special bicycle traffic signal. The SLO County Bicycle Coalition offers free bike parking at the weekly Farmers' Market. In 2007, the city was named a "Bicycle Friendly Community" at the Gold level.

Notable people

See also

In Spanish: San Luis Obispo (California) para niños