Dana Point
| Dana Point | |||
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 Houses with sea views on the cliffs |
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| Location in California | |||
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| Basic data | |||
| Foundation : | 1989 | ||
| State : | United States | ||
| State : | California | ||
| County : | Orange County | ||
| Coordinates : | 33 ° 28 ′ N , 117 ° 42 ′ W | ||
| Time zone : | Pacific ( UTC − 8 / −7 ) | ||
| Residents : | 36,669 (as of 2008) | ||
| Population density : | 2,131.9 inhabitants per km 2 | ||
| Area : | 76.2 km 2 (about 29 mi 2 ) of which 17.2 km 2 (about 7 mi 2 ) is land |
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| Height : | 44 m | ||
| Postcodes : | 92624, 92629 | ||
| Area code : | +1 949 | ||
| FIPS : | 06-17946 | ||
| GNIS ID : | 1656474 | ||
| Website : | www.danapoint.org | ||
| Mayor : | Lisa Bartlett | ||
Dana Point is a city in Orange County in the US state of California . The city has made a name for itself as a popular water sports destination and is characterized by its wide beaches on the Pacific .
location
Dana Point is halfway between the southern California metropolises of Los Angeles and San Diego on a narrow headland on the Pacific coast . The place joins the chain of coastal cities in Orange County , which are connected by Interstate 5 and California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) . The localities Laguna Beach , Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano in the north and San Clemente in the south border directly on Dana Point .
The city impresses with its charming location by the sea. Dana Point nestles against the hilly countryside between the steep cliffs. The small headland that goes by the name of the Headlands and juts out into the Pacific Ocean above the harbor is one of the most picturesque places on the California coast. Between the rocks there are fine sandy beaches that invite you to swim and surf . The San Juan Creek , which rises in the Santa Ana Mountains , flows into the Pacific Ocean here and divides the urban area into two halves.
history
Small groups of Indians have populated the area around today's town for centuries . The first Europeans arrived in the area in the late 18th century . The Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded by Junípero Serra in 1776, a few miles inland gave the impetus to this development. The area around Bahia Capistrano got its name from the Spaniards .
In 1818 two Argentine ships under the command of the privateer Hipólito Bouchard approached the coast and sought shelter in the nearby bay. On their raids, the pirates did not stop at the nearby mission. Barely twenty years later, in 1835, Richard Henry Dana Jr. sailed on the merchant ship Pilgrim from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco . The brig anchored on its voyage in the same bay as the pirates once did, and trade was carried out with the surrounding settlements. Dana wrote his experiences in the novel Two Years Before the Mast , published in 1840 . In it he described the bay as "the only romantic spot on the California coast." The residents of the area returned this compliment at the end of the 19th century by baptizing the area in honor of the writer Dana Point .
In the 1920s, Hollywood real estate agent Sidney H. Woodruff stepped in . The investor had previously had the well-known Hollywood Sign erected in the hills above the film city. He has now acquired coastal land throughout Orange County . Woodruff's goal was to build a small town that would serve as a vacation home for wealthy Californians . The new houses were kept in the Spanish colonial style. However, the Great Depression of 1929 caused further construction to stall.
It wasn't until the 1950s that Dana Point was rediscovered by some surfers . The city subsequently made a name for itself as an important water sports destination, and the bay was known for its strong surf . In particular, the legendary killer Dana , a particularly high wave, attracted the masses. However, the opening of the port in 1971 put an end to this. Dana Point became the anchorage for noble yachts , whose owners increasingly settled here. Not much has changed in this development since then. The once sleepy village continued to grow and was officially awarded city status in 1989 . Dana Point is now very popular with tourists and beach vacationers alike, but is less crowded than other coastal towns in Orange County.
Demographics
In 2008 Dana Point had 36,669 residents. At the 2000 census there were still 35,110 residents, who were distributed among 14,456 households and 9280 families.
The population density was 5290.1 inhabitants / km². The population was 87.25% White , 0.82% African American , 0.57% Native American , 2.52% Asian, and 15.49% Latino . Children under the age of 18 lived in 26.6% of households. The largest groups by ethnic origin in the city area were: Germans 6,069 (17.4%), British 5,040 (14.5%) and Irish 4,565 (13.1%).
The average income in 2000 amounted to 63,043 US dollars per household, but increased to 2008 to 73,125 US dollars. A total of 6.7% of the population are below the poverty line.
traffic
Road traffic
The Interstate 5 tangent to the eastern outskirts of Dana Point. The highway running in north-south direction is nicknamed the San Diego Freeway and swings from the coast inland to San Juan Capistrano . The I-5 provides a fast connection to the southern Californian cities of Los Angeles and San Diego . Both metropolises are about the same distance about 60 miles (97 km) from Dana Point.
The California State Route 1, on the other hand, leads directly through the center of Dana Point. The road runs in north-south direction mostly within sight of the sea and is therefore also known as the Pacific Coast Highway . Due to the very attractive landscape, it is very popular with motorists. The coastal towns of Orange County are lined up like a string of pearls and are connected by CA 1. With a total length of 1,055 km, the road is the longest state route in the state of California, it begins not far away about 10 miles (16 km) south in San Clemente .
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) buses provide connections to local and regional destinations. The Line 91 provides the connection to the next station in a 5 miles (8 km) north-eastern San Juan Capistrano ago. With the Line 1 , which regularly on the route Long Beach - San Clemente wrong, you can reach all other coastal locations in Orange County.
Rail transport
The Los Angeles to San Diego railroad runs through the Dana Point metropolitan area. The railway line follows the course of the San Juan Creek and is mainly used for passenger traffic. However, the city itself does not have a train station; the nearest stops are a short distance away in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente . From there, Amtrak and Metrolink trains offer good connections within Southern California .
Attractions
In town
The landscape around Dana Point has an abundance of bays, cliffs and beaches. The pretty town center is in the style of Spanish colonial architecture and is located a little above the harbor. From numerous vantage points there are wonderful views of the sea. The Visitor Center on Golden Lantern Street provides information about the local attractions, almost all of which are close to the sea:
- The Dana Point Harbor is usually the first stop for visitors and can accommodate nearly 2,500 yachts. Small shops invite you to stroll, from the cafés you can watch the hustle and bustle on the piers . The ferries to Santa Catalina Island and the so-called whale watching tours also start here.
- The Ocean Institute in the harbor gives an insight into the diverse underwater world of the Pacific . Octopuses , jellyfish and various other sea creatures cavort in aquariums . The institute owns several research and sailing ships , some of which are used for excursions.
- The Pilgrim is a replica of the brig of the same name from the 19th century, built in 1945 and lovingly cared for . She was immortalized by Richard Henry Dana Jr. in the 1840 novel Two Years Before the Mast . The sailing ship is moored in the harbor at the Ocean Institute , and in summer it goes on a tour along the California coast.
- By Ken Sampson Overlook Park there is a beautiful view of the sea and the harbor deeper in the bay. A plaque commemorates the writer Richard Henry Dana Jr. , from whom the city owes its name.
- The Dana Point Lighthouse , a lighthouse built in the 19th century, is also a special eye-catcher . The building is perched on the cliffs above the sea and offers a romantic sight.
Surroundings
There are many other attractions throughout Orange County . For the sake of clarity, only the sights in Dana Point's immediate vicinity are mentioned here:
- The Mission San Juan Capistrano with its foundation in 1776 one of the oldest Spanish missions in California. The impressive church complex is located in the town of the same name, San Juan Capistrano , around 3 miles (5 km) north-east inland. A small museum provides information about the place steeped in history.
- The offshore island of Santa Catalina Island with its charming main town Avalon can be reached via a short boat ride. Regular ferry connections start at the local port.
- With a bit of luck you can spot gray whales off the coast of Dana Point . The mighty marine mammals spend the summer in arctic waters and migrate south in the winter months. The East Pacific population overwinters off the coasts of California and Mexico . Several companies offer boat tours for so-called whale watching from the port, limited seasonally .
Leisure activities and events
The city has become known as a major water sports destination. The port is home to up to 2,500 yachts, and sailing and surfing are among the most popular pastimes. Several golf courses in the hilly hinterland complete the offer.
The extensive beaches around Dana Point invite you to swim and surf:
- The Salt Creek Beach Park is tucked between the cliffs and encloses a small sandy beach. At low tide you can walk around in the rocks by the sea and watch small sea creatures in the tidepools .
- The Doheny State Beach is a little larger beach with a connected campsite. The reserve is registered as a state park . State Beach was created in 1931 after businessman Edward L. Doheny gave the area to the State of California .
One of the most interesting events in Dana Point is arguably the annual Tall Ships Festival in September. The harbor is teeming with historic sailing ships , and the meeting is the largest of its kind on the west coast of the United States .
Dana Point in Art and Media
In film and television
The city has been the setting and location for several film and television productions, most of which are less well known. However, among the more notable are:
- Der Sturm (2000), Wolfgang Petersen's disaster film, actually takes place in the small town of Gloucester on the east coast of the United States . However, some recordings were shot at sea off the coast of Dana Point.
In the literature
In 1835 Richard Henry Dana Jr. sailed for California aboard the Boston merchant ship Pilgrim . The brig also anchored in the bay in front of today's Dana Point. Dana, after which the bay was later named, recorded his experiences in the novel Two Years Before the Mast , published in 1840 . In it, he described the area as "the only romantic spot on the California coast." A replica of the ship shown lies in the harbor there today.
sons and daughters of the town
- Steve Hegg (* 1963), racing cyclist
- Melinda Clarke (born 1969), actress
- Sam Darnold (born 1997), football player
Web links
- Official website of the city (English)
- Dana Point Visitor Center (English)
- Ocean Institute Dana Point (English)
- Dana Point Harbor (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Basilica & National Shrine. (No longer available online.) Mission San Juan Capistrano , archived from the original on May 2, 2009 ; accessed on March 5, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c d About Dana Point - History. (No longer available online.) Dana Point Visitor Center , archived from the original on April 2, 2009 ; accessed on March 7, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Harbor History. (No longer available online.) Dana Point Harbor , archived from the original on October 20, 2009 ; accessed on March 8, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ About Dana Point - Demographics. (No longer available online.) Dana Point Visitor Center , archived from the original on April 2, 2009 ; accessed on March 7, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ American Fact Finder. United States Census Bureau , archived from the original on January 19, 2012 ; accessed on March 6, 2009 .
- ^ Social Characteristics. (No longer available online.) United States Census Bureau , archived from the original on February 15, 2020 ; accessed on March 6, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ System Map. (No longer available online.) OCTA , archived from the original on February 12, 2009 ; accessed on March 7, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Public Programs. Ocean Institute , accessed March 8, 2009 .
- ^ Doheny State Beach. California State Parks , accessed March 8, 2009 .
- ^ Tall Ships Festival. (No longer available online.) Dana Point Visitor Center , archived from the original on April 2, 2009 ; accessed on March 8, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Titles with locations including Dana Point, California, USA. Internet Movie Database , accessed March 7, 2009 .
- ↑ Hollywood has come to the harbor. Los Angeles Times , accessed March 7, 2009 .
