Sea Ranch, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sea Ranch, California
Unincorporated community Census designated place
Panoramic view of The Sea Ranch
Nickname(s):  The Sea Ranch
Sea Ranch, California Location in California Show map of California Sea Ranch, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Sonoma
Area
• Total	16.180 sq mi (41.907 km2)
• Land	16.138 sq mi (41.798 km2)
• Water	0.042 sq mi (0.110 km2)  0.26%
Elevation	108 ft (33 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,169
• Density	72.25/sq mi (27.895/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95497
Area code(s)	707
FIPS code	06-70712
GNIS feature IDs	1723333, 2583133

Sea Ranch is a special community in Sonoma County, California, USA. It was planned and built starting in the 1960s. This place is famous for its unique wooden buildings, designed by well-known American architects. One of the first buildings, called Condominium One, was even added to a list of important historical places in 2005. The way Sea Ranch was developed, stretching for ten miles along the coast, helped create the California Coastal Commission, which protects California's coastline. In 2020, about 1,169 people lived here.

Discovering Sea Ranch's Past

Sea Ranch has a long and interesting history.

Early People and Land Ownership

The first people known to live in the Sea Ranch area were the Pomos. They gathered kelp and shellfish from the beaches for food.

Later, in 1846, a man named Ernest Rufus received a large piece of land called the Rancho German Mexican land grant. This land stretched along the coast from the Gualala River to Ocean Cove. Over time, the land was divided into smaller parts. In the early 1900s, Walter P. Frick bought many of these pieces to create Del Mar Ranch. This ranch was used for raising sheep. In 1941, the land was sold to Margaret Ohlson and her family.

How Sea Ranch Was Planned

In 1962, an Architect and planner named Al Boeke had an idea for a community. He wanted to build homes in a way that would keep the area's natural beauty safe. In 1963, a company called Oceanic California Inc. bought the land from the Ohlsons. They put together a team of designers to help Boeke.

The idea was to create a modern community that worked with nature, not against it. Important designers who joined the team included architects Charles Moore, Joseph Esherick, William Turnbull Jr., Donlyn Lyndon, and Richard Whitaker. Lawrence Halprin, a landscape architect, created the main plan for Sea Ranch. This plan covered about 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the Sonoma County coastline.

Protecting Coastal Access

When Sea Ranch was being planned, there was a big discussion about public access to the beaches. The land had always been open to everyone, but the new plan would make it private. People felt that more of California's coast should be open to the public.

A group called Californians Organized to Acquire Access to State Tidelands (COAST) was formed. They wanted the development to include public paths to the ocean. Even though their first attempt didn't pass, a new law called the Dunlap Act was created. This law said that new buildings along the coast must include public access trails to the ocean.

This event led to the creation of the Coastal Alliance. This group helped pass Proposition 20 in 1972. This important law created the California Coastal Commission. This commission still helps manage how land is used along the California coast today.

Sea Ranch's Location and Weather

Sea Ranch is located along the beautiful Pacific Coast. It is about 100 miles (160 km) north of San Francisco. It is also about 120 miles (190 km) west of Sacramento. You can reach Sea Ranch by taking State Route 1.

A small town called Gualala is about 4 miles (6 km) northwest of Sea Ranch. It is in the next county over, Mendocino County.

Climate at Sea Ranch

Sea Ranch has a type of weather called a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate." This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Who Lives in Sea Ranch?

The United States Census Bureau counts the population of Sea Ranch. In 2020, the population was 1,169 people. Most residents were White (86.7%). A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people were from other races or from two or more races.

There were 583 households in Sea Ranch. About 7.2% of these households had children under 18 living there. Most homes (88.5%) were owned by the people living in them.

Unique Design and Architecture

Sea Ranch house designed by Joseph Esherick in 1966

The Sea Ranch Chapel, designed by James Hubbell

Sea Ranch is famous for its special buildings. They are often simple wooden structures covered in wood siding or shingles. The style of the buildings was inspired by local farm buildings. These farm buildings were designed to handle the weather and landscape.

Originally, Sea Ranch used wood from local mills, like Douglas Fir and Redwood, to build the homes. Most of the 1,800 or so homes are smaller second homes, used for weekend getaways. About 300 people live there full-time. Many homes are rented out for vacations.

The design rules for Sea Ranch suggest that buildings should fit in with the landscape. They should not stand out too much. For example, the outside of the buildings is usually unpainted wood or has muted colors. There are no large roof overhangs, which helps the strong winds pass over the buildings smoothly. Also, outdoor lights are designed to reduce light pollution, so you can see the night sky clearly.

The landscaping at Sea Ranch also has rules. For example, you won't see fences around properties. Only plants that naturally grow in the area are allowed outside of private courtyards. A herd of sheep helps keep the grass short. This is important to reduce the risk of fire in the summer.

People Who Shaped Sea Ranch

Many talented people helped design and build Sea Ranch over the years.

Architects

• Al Boeke
• Joseph Esherick
• James Hubbell (artist)
• Donlyn Lyndon
• Charles Moore
• William Turnbull Jr.
• Richard Whitaker

Landscape Architects

• Lawrence Halprin

Graphic Designer

• Barbara Stauffacher Solomon

Places to Visit at Sea Ranch

Condominium One

Owners gather with their pets at Sea Ranch Dog Park

• Condominium One was finished in 1965. It won an important award in 1991 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
• Sea Ranch Chapel is a unique and beautiful building designed by James Hubbell.

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department offers six places where you can access the coast along State Route 1 in the Sea Ranch area:

• Black Point (trail)
• Gualala Point Regional Park
• Pebble Beach (trail)
• Shell Beach (trail)
• Stengel Beach (trail) (currently closed)
• Walk On Beach (trail)

See also

In Spanish: Sea Ranch (California) para niños