Fairfax, California Explained

Fairfax, California
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250x200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Marin
Leader Title1:County Board
Leader Name1:District 2
Katie Rice
Leader Title:Town Council[1]
Leader Name:Chance Cutrano (Mayor)
Leader Title2:Town Manager
Leader Name2:Heather Abrams
Leader Title3:Representation
Leader Name3:Sen.
Asm.
Rep. [2]
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:March 2, 1931[3]
Total Type:Total
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[4]
Area Total Sq Mi:2.23
Area Land Sq Mi:2.23
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Area Water Percent:0
Elevation Ft:115
Elevation M:35
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[5]
Population Total:7605
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Coordinates:37.9872°N -122.5889°W
Elevation Footnotes:[6]
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:94930, 94978
Area Code Type:Area codes
Area Code:415/628
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS ID

Fairfax is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States. Fairfax is located 3.25miles west-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 115feet. The population was 7,605 at the 2020 census.[5]

History

The Coast Miwok Native Americans occupied stretches along local creeks, spring and seep areas; moreover, prehistoric habitations were usually chosen near permanent and seasonal drainages, typically along flat ridges and terraces.

The town was named for Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax. In 1861, Fairfax was the site of the last political duel in California. Daniel Showalter and Charles W. Piercy, both former assemblymen in the state legislature,[7] decided to settle a political dispute at the home of Lord Fairfax, a mutual friend. Although Fairfax provided lunch to both men and tried to talk them out of it, they eventually headed to an open field nearby and dueled, with Showalter killing Piercy.[8]

The first post office opened in 1910. Fairfax became an incorporated town in 1931.

On May 16, 1946, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, crashed on White's Hill just west of Fairfax.

Geography

Fairfax is in eastern Marin County, bordered to the east by San Anselmo and to the north by unincorporated Sleepy Hollow. The community lies in the valleys of San Anselmo Creek and its tributary Fairfax Creek, and climbs the surrounding hills. It is bordered to the south by the Mount Tamalpais protected watershed.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2sqmi, all of it recorded as land.[4]

Soils in the Fairfax area mostly belong to the Tocaloma Series as classified by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service.[9] These soils consist of moderately deep, well-drained soils on uplands. These soils are typically formed from sandstone and shale and often occur on slopes ranging above 15 percent.

Demographics

2020

At the 2020 census Fairfax had a population of 7,605. The racial makeup of Fairfax was 5,998 (78.9%) White, 94 (1.24%) African American, 56 (0.7%) Native American, 233 (3.1%) Asian, 20 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 349 (4.6%) from other races, and 855 (11.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 878 people (11.6%).[10]

The census reported that 7,579 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 16 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 10 (0.1%) were institutionalized.[11]

There were 3,410 households, 749 (22.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,477 (43.3%) were married couple households, 993 (29.1%) had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 551 (16.2%) had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. There were 389 (11.4%) cohabitating couple households. 646 households (18.9%) were one person and 379 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[12] The average household size was 2.2. There were 1,931 families (6.63% of households); the average family size was 2.7.[13]

The age distribution was 1,135 people (14.9%) under the age of 18, 570 people (7.5%) aged 18 to 24, 1,605 people (21.1%) aged 25 to 44, 2,489 people (32.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,806 people (23.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.[14]

There were 3,470 housing units, of the occupied units 2,128 (64.8%) were owner-occupied and 1,156 (35.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.6%.[15]

2010

At the 2010 census Fairfax had a population of 7,441. The population density was 3376.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of Fairfax was 6,617 (88.9%) White, 110 (1.5%) African American, 36 (0.5%) Native American, 204 (2.7%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 174 (2.3%) from other races, and 296 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 504 people (6.8%).[16]

The census reported that 7,419 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 10 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,379 households, 939 (27.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,422 (42.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 319 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 134 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 267 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 52 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,076 households (31.8%) were one person and 320 (9.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20. There were 1,875 families (55.5% of households); the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 1,436 people (19.3%) under the age of 18, 342 people (4.6%) aged 18 to 24, 1,806 people (24.3%) aged 25 to 44, 2,907 people (39.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 950 people (12.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

There were 3,585 housing units at an average density of 1,626.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,103 (62.2%) were owner-occupied and 1,276 (37.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 4,917 people (66.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,502 people (33.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 7,319 people, 3,306 households, and 1,811 families in the town. The population density was 3441.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 1607sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town in 2010 was 85.4% non-Hispanic White, 1.4% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. 6.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[17] Of the 3,306 households 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 31.1% of households were one person and 7.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 19.2% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,465, and the median family income was $68,308. Males had a median income of $51,457 versus $40,815 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,080. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

In the mid-1960s, a softball game between Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead took place at Central Field (also known as Contratti Park), a public downtown baseball field.[18] [19] [20]

Irving Berlin used to serenade from a treetop piano at Pastori's Hotel, formerly Bird's Nest Glen, the home of Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax, and later known as the Marin Town & Country Club.[21]

The popularity of outdoor hot tubs soared after Al Garvey designed his own redwood hot tub in July 1966, installed outside Al and Barbara Garvey's home on Scenic Road on the hillside leading up to Fairfax Manor. The Garvey hot tub was used by hundreds of people in the first few months, including jazz musician John Handy, eccentric architect Roger Somers and sex worker/feminist Margo St. James.[22] [23] Barbara Garvey said, "We decided to make the hot tub a social enterprise and started throwing parties."[24] Soon, many others had hot tubs of their own. The social fashion of hot-tubbing with friends became connected with Marin County culture and style.[23]

Fairfax is a popular destination for mountain bikers and road cyclists due to its proximity to Mount Tamalpais. In 2015, Joe Breeze and other members of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame founded the Marin Museum of Bicycling in downtown Fairfax.[25] The museum hosts one of the largest collections of bicycles on the west coast.

Politics

In 2009 Fairfax Town Council became the fourth Green Party majority town council in US history. Three out of five council members registered Green.[26] In 2017, Fairfax had 5,602 registered voters. Of those, 3,726 (66.5%) are registered Democrats, 370 (6.6%) are registered Republicans, 1,528 (27.3%) have declined to state a political party and 155 (2.8%) are registered with the Green Party.[27]

Education

Fairfax is in the Ross Valley Elementary School District and the Tamalpais Union High School District.[28]

Notable people

Births

Deaths

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Town of Fairfax, California - Website. April 25, 2023.
  2. March 8, 2013.
  3. Web site: California Cities by Incorporation Date . Word . California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions . August 25, 2014. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc . November 3, 2014.
  4. Web site: 2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California . United States Census Bureau . July 5, 2022.
  5. Web site: P1. Race – Fairfax town, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171). U.S. Census Bureau. July 5, 2022.
  6. Fairfax.
  7. Web site: JoinCalifornia - Daniel Showalter . www.joincalifornia.com . July 18, 2009.
  8. Web site: Fairfax History- Page One . www.marindirect.com . July 18, 2009.
  9. "Environmental Impact Report for the Groza-Erickson Property, Ridgeway Avenue, Fairfax, California", Earth Metrics Inc, prepared for the State of California Environmental Clearinghouse, Sacramento, Ca., January 1989
  10. Web site: 2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS. September 16, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  11. Web site: 2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS. September 16, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  12. Web site: 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES. October 20, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724012737/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSDP5Y2021.DP02 . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  13. Web site: 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates S1101 HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILIES. October 20, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724013341/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S1101&moe=false . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  14. Web site: 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates S0101 AGE AND SEX. October 20, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724013639/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=ACSST5Y2021.S0101 . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  15. Web site: 2020: Decennial Census DP1 PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS. September 16, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724010707/https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0623168&tid=DECENNIALDP2020.DP1 . July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023 .
  16. Web site: 2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Fairfax town. https://archive.today/20140715024825/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0623168. dead. July 15, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau. July 12, 2014.
  17. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  18. http://www.rexfoundation.org/grisinterview.html Rex Radio, January 1991, transcript of discussion
  19. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/02/DD189162.DTL James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle, October 2, 2001, "Dawg days: David Grisman's daughter makes film about his bluegrass partnership with Garcia"
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIyfMiA3Xe0&t=1m51s "The Story of "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead"
  21. http://isbndb.com/d/book/fairfax_a01.html William Sager, Fairfax (Images of America), Arcadis Publishing, 2006
  22. News: Far Out in Fairfax: Woodworker Al Garvey reminisces about hot tubs, cool nights and the 60's art scene . November 19, 1999 . Tricia Cambron . SF Gate . February 23, 2020.
  23. News: How Marin County Became Synonymous With Hot Tubs . Beth Winegarner . December 2003 . Marinscope .
  24. News: From Hot Tub to Hot Water . July 16, 2002 . Duncan Campbell . The Guardian . February 23, 2020.
  25. Web site: HOME Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame . March 29, 2024 . mmbhof.org . en-US.
  26. Web site: Fairfax, Californiaís Town Council: The Green Party Majority . February 25, 2010 .
  27. Web site: Results . 2017 . elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov . September 26, 2019.
  28. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marin County, CA. U.S. Census Bureau. April 28, 2023. - Text list