Santa Monica is a beachside city located in Los Angeles County, California
USA, on the Pacific Ocean, south of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, west of
Westwood, Los Angeles, and north of Venice. As of the 2000 census, the city
had a total population of 84,084.
Santa Monica sits on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. Palisades Park is a
favorite walking area to view the ocean. Next to this park, the courtyard of
the Miramar Hotel contains an enormous Moreton Bay Fig tree which was
mentioned by the Californios of the 1700s.
Because of its benign weather, Santa Monica was a famed resort town in
the early 20th century. Now, the city has been subsumed into the welter of
towns in the greater Los Angeles area, but is still considered a pleasant
place to live.
Santa Monica is also famous for the homeless-friendly policies of its City
Council, with the inevitable result that Santa Monica is home to a very
large population of homeless people. Consequences include the odor of the
interior of the city's public library.
Geography
Santa Monica is located at 34°1'19" North, 118°28'53" West (34.022059,
-118.481336)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
41.2 km˛ (15.9 mi˛). 21.4 km˛ (8.3 mi˛) of it is land and 19.8 km˛ (7.7 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 48.08% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 84,084 people, 44,497 households, and
16,775 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,930.4/km˛
(10,178.7/mi˛). There are 47,863 housing units at an average density of
2,237.3/km˛ (5,794.0/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 78.29% White,
3.78% African American, 0.47% Native American, 7.25% Asian, 0.10% Pacific
Islander, 5.97% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. 13.44%
of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 44,497 households out of which 15.8% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 27.5% are married couples living together, 7.5% have
a female householder with no husband present, and 62.3% are non-families.
51.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.6% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
1.83 and the average family size is 2.80.
In the city the population is spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18,
6.1% from 18 to 24, 40.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100
females there are 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $50,714, and the median
income for a family is $75,989. Males have a median income of $55,689 versus
$42,948 for females. The per capita income for the city is $42,874. 10.4% of
the population and 5.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 9.9% are under the age of 18 and 10.2% are
65 or older.
Population Statistics
Population has grown from 417 in 1880 to 84,084 in 2000.
