San Clemente (California)

San Clemente
The city of San Clemente Pier as seen
Location in California
San Clemente
Basic data
Foundation :	1925
State :	United States
State :	California
County :	Orange County
Coordinates :	33 ° 26 ′  N , 117 ° 37 ′  W Coordinates: 33 ° 26 ′  N , 117 ° 37 ′  W
Time zone :	Pacific ( UTC − 8 / −7 )
Residents :	63,522 (as of 2010)
Population density :	1,393 inhabitants per km 2
Area :	47.6 km 2  (approx. 18 mi 2 ) of which 45.6 km 2  (approx. 18 mi 2 ) is land
Height :	71 m
Postcodes :	92672-92674
Area code :	+1 949
FIPS :	06-65084
GNIS ID :	1661376
Website :	san-clemente.org/sc/News.aspx?PageID=1
Mayor :	Lori Donchak

San Clemente is a city in Orange County in the US state of California . It is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean halfway between the major cities of Los Angeles and San Diego .

The coastal city has 63,522 inhabitants (2010) and was founded in 1925 by Ole Hanson. Between 1969 and 1980, the former US President Richard Nixon lived in the so-called La Casa Pacifica , a property on the southern edge of the city. With the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton one of the country's largest military bases borders on San Clemente in the south.

The seashore is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts. San Clemente has made a name for itself especially in surfing . The high surf draws numerous surfers to the beaches, including the famous Trestles . The city is also home to Surfing Magazine , The Surfer's Journal and Longboard Magazine .

geography

Geographical location

View across San Clemente to the Pacific Ocean

San Clemente extends along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in western southern California . The city is halfway between metropolitan Los Angeles and San Diego , which are each approximately 60 miles (96 km) away. San Clemente borders San Diego County in the south and is therefore also the southernmost town in Orange County . The main entrance to the vast military base Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is south on Cristianitos Road. The rolling hills east of the city merge into the Cleveland National Forest . The famous California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) ends at the northern city limits of Dana Point , which merges into the Coast Highway here.

The urban area covers a total area of ​​47.6 square kilometers. Of this, 45.6 square kilometers are land and 2.0 square kilometers are water. San Clemente extends from sea ​​level to the heights of the hinterland, reaching a height of up to 71 meters. The streets and houses of the place nestle against the gently rising cliffs.

geology

Due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire , San Clemente is not infrequently shaken by earthquakes . In the immediate vicinity, faults run above and below the surface of the earth , which are caused by geological instability. Further east of the city is the San Andreas Fault , which experts say will be the trigger for the next devastating earthquake. Due to its location by the sea, the coast of San Clemente is also at risk from tsunamis , which can occur after severe earthquakes.

Neighboring communities

Evening mood on the beach

San Clemente is bordered by Dana Point to the northwest , San Juan Capistrano to the north, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to the southeast . The closest locations beyond the military base are Camp Pendleton South and the major city of Oceanside . The sea extends to the southwest of San Clemente.

climate

Due to its location in the subtropical climate zone , San Clemente has a very warm and dry climate all year round. The effective climate classification according to the classification Csa applies to the city. The average annual temperature is 16.6 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall is 344.0 millimeters. San Clemente has around 340 sunny days a year. The humidity is high due to the location by the sea and is usually between 65 and 85%.

Summer is characterized by long phases of warm and dry climates. The warmest months are July, August and September with a monthly temperature average of more than 20 degrees. Without the location on the Pacific coast, it would be significantly warmer, as the wind from the sea significantly weakens the temperatures. The highest temperature was measured in 1963 with 42.2 degrees. In the summer months rain rarely falls, between May and October it is mostly dry.

In winter it is a little colder, but the temperatures rarely fall to single digits. The coldest months are January, February and December with an average of 13 degrees. The lowest temperature was measured in 1949 at -6.1 degrees. Almost all of the annual precipitation falls in the short period from December to March.

The so-called Santa Ana winds , which penetrate the region via the Santa Ana Mountains from the Mojave Desert to the northeast of the city , can at times cause strong heat waves in the region. Extensive forest and bush fires occur again and again.

history

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards , the area around what is now San Clemente was occasionally inhabited by Juaneño Indians. It was not until the preacher Junípero Serra founded the nearby San Juan Capistrano Mission in 1776 that more and more European settlers came to the area. Their aim was primarily to proselytize the indigenous people living there. The place where the urban area of ​​San Clemente is today was at the time on the so-called El Camino Real , an old connecting road between the Californian mission stations. Barely a century later, the country was annexed to the United States in the course of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) .

The area remained untouched for many years until Ole Hanson acquired land there. The purchase triggered a volatile development. Hanson, the former mayor of Seattle , had a small community built in 1925, the appearance of which was based on the Spanish colonial style. The place was named after San Clemente Island , an island off the coast. The mild climate and the scenic surroundings attracted many new residents to the young town in the years that followed.

During the Second World War , the large military base Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was built south of San Clemente in 1942 . The city briefly gained fame between 1969 and 1980 when then US President Richard Nixon owned a beach house in San Clemente. The property, called La Casa Pacifica, served Nixon as a holiday residence during his tenure. There the president received some famous guests, including the Soviet head of state Leonid Brezhnev .

Since it was founded in the mid-1920s, the city has benefited from its convenient location by the sea. More than 2.7 million people visited the local beaches in 2006. In recent years, San Clemente has been the scene of violent civil protests several times. The planned expansion of California State Route 241 as Foothill Toll Road south of the city had sparked controversy as the new section was to run through a nature reserve.

population

Population development

San Clemente had a total of 67,892 inhabitants in 2008.

The United States Census 2000 counted 49,936 residents in 19,395 households and 13,015 families in San Clemente. The population density was 1,094.2 people per square kilometer. The number of residential units was 20,653, which corresponds to a density of 452.6 apartments per square kilometer. The population was 87.9% White , 0.8% African American , 0.6% Native American , 2.6% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 5.1% other ethnicities. Hispanics or Latinos were 15.9% of the population. The largest groups by ethnic origin in the urban area were: Germans 9084 (18.2%), British 7327 (14.7%) and Irish 6792 (13.6%).

Children under the age of 18 lived in 30.9% of the 19,395 households, 55.6% consisted of married couples, 7.8% had a female head of the household without a husband present and 32.9% did not form families. 23.4% of households were made up of single persons and 7.8% had someone 65 years of age or older single. The average household size was 2.56 people and the average family size was 3.05 people.

Of the population, 24.1% were under 18 years old, 7.2% were between 18 and 24, 31.5% between 25 and 44, 24.1% between 45 and 64 and 13.1% were 65 Years old or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 women there were 102.4 men, for every 100 women over 18 there were 100.9 men.

The average income per household in 2007 amounted to 90,017 US dollars , the median family income was 146,562 US dollars. The city's per capita income was $ 76,608. A total of 7.6% of the population was below the poverty line in 2000.

politics

City government

The Mayor presides over the city council of San Clemente. Lori Donchak has held the office since December 2008.

The City Council of San Clemente includes the mayor, the deputy mayor and three other members. The city council holds a meeting twice a month to decide on local political issues. The city council passes local laws and allocates financial resources to the individual city institutions.

As of May 2009, there were a total of 40,822 registered voters in the metropolitan area, of whom 20,697 were Republicans and 9,876 were Democrats .

Town twinning

San Clemente has a partnership with the following cities:

• San Andrés , Colombia
• San Clemente del Tuyú , Argentina

Culture and sights

museum

The San Clemente History Museum in the city center provides information on the history of the city. A large part of the exhibitions is dedicated to the city's most famous resident, former US President Richard Nixon . The small facility is maintained by the San Clemente Historical Society . However, the museum is currently closed due to a lack of space.

Buildings

The San Clemente Pier

The appearance of the city is characterized by a largely closed development in the Spanish colonial style . This goes back to the plans of the city founder Ole Hanson, which were realized up to 1925. New buildings are also based on this architectural style. Striking architectural constructions are rarely found in San Clemente. Nevertheless, the following buildings are worth seeing.

The La Casa Pacifica was the residence of Richard Nixon

The beach section in the city center is dominated by the San Clemente Pier , whose elaborate wooden structure protrudes around 395 meters into the sea. It was built in 1928. From its outer end one can overlook the city and watch the numerous water sports enthusiasts. A lifeguard unit of the San Clemente City Lifeguards is housed in a building with a watchtower . There is a restaurant on the pier. Hobby fishermen can cast their line here.

In the southern part of the city on Avenida del Presidente is La Casa Pacifica , a large beach villa. The property served as the residence of former US President Richard Nixon between 1969 and 1980 . During his tenure, the president received several famous guests here, including the Soviet head of state Leonid Brezhnev . Nixon's famous interview with David Frost in April 1977 should have taken place here, but was moved to a house in the neighboring village of Dana Point at short notice . La Casa Pacifica is now privately owned and can therefore only be seen from the beach.

Parks

The Parque del Mar in the city center

Small parks add additional charm to the cityscape. Countless palm trees adorn the appearance of the place and the beaches. The hilly landscape east of San Clemente is crossed by several nature parks.

The Parque del Mar in the city center, which is located on a small hill, is particularly attractive . From the small park, overgrown with palm trees, there is a wide view of the sea and the San Clemente Pier . Benches and picnic tables invite you to linger.

The Cleveland National Forest east of San Clemente is a designated national forest area. The area covers an area of ​​around 1,700 square kilometers and has been a nature reserve since 1908. The forests have a varied flora and fauna. Popular activities include hiking and camping.

In the north of the city is the much smaller Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park . It is located on the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and is a retreat for many animal and plant species. Rivers and long hiking trails run through the landscape.

freetime and recreation

Beach view

San Clemente offers many leisure and recreational opportunities, many of which extend to sports activities or the sea. The offer is favored by the year-round mild climate.

In particular, the palm-fringed sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean attract a large number of people. In 2006 alone, San Clemente had more than 2.7 million bathers. Local beaches include San Clemente North Beach, Historic Fishing Pier Beach, Trafalgar Street Beach, and San Clemente State Beach . Together they cover an area of ​​more than 80,000 square meters.

Surfer in San Clemente

The San Onofre State Beach is another beach area a few miles of the south of the city limits State Park is expelled. The sandy beach with the dune landscape is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and hiking. There are several surf spots along the three mile (5 km) long coastline , including the famous Trestles . The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), whose reactor buildings are located directly on the beach, is an unpleasant sight .

In the coastal city, water sports are one of the most common leisure activities. Along the coastline of the sea there are numerous surfers who take advantage of the year-round high surf. Some of the country's most famous surf spots such as Trestles are located here .

Families looking for fun visit Legoland California , a few miles south in Carlsbad . Opened in 1999, the amusement park is the only one of its kind in the country and the first outside Europe . There are several small roller coasters and themed worlds in Legoland.

With the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course , the Shorecliffs Golf Course and the Talega Golf Club , the city also has three public golf courses . Further private facilities are located on the Coto De Caza Golf Course and the Pacific Golf & Country Club .

Events

San Clemente has numerous festivals and events throughout the year.

The San Clemente Ocean Festival in July is one of the city's biggest events. A varied program of sports activities, presentations and competitions is offered along the beach. These include the Southern California Bodysurfing Championships . At the so-called "Greatest Show On Surf" numerous surfers show their skills. The Ocean Festival attracts around 50,000 visitors annually.

Economy and Infrastructure

economy

The San Onofre nuclear power plant south of the city

Tourism has become an important economic factor for San Clemente. The favorable location by the sea especially attracts numerous bathers and beach holidaymakers. In 2006, more than 2.7 million people visited the local beaches. The San Clemente State Beach had more than 900,000 visitors during the San Onofre State Beach had about 2.5 million visitors.

This fact has also influenced the future urban development of San Clemente. In March 2007, the city began planning to promote tourism. These include the construction of a new district, a hotel complex and a shopping center. A 2.3 mile hiking trail was laid along the coastline from North Beach to Calafia Beach in 2008.

The unemployment rate in San Clemente in May 2009 was 7.0%.

A few miles south of the city is the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), whose striking reactor buildings can be seen from the beach and Interstate 5 . The nuclear power plant was shut down in 2013. SONGS has become known through media and film appearances such as in Die nackte Kanone (1988).

traffic

Road traffic

Street in downtown

An interstate highway connects San Clemente with the surrounding area. The freeway is the only expressway that crosses the city. At the city limits of Dana Point is the southern end point of California State Route 1 , which has become known as the Pacific Coast Highway .

Interstate 5

The Interstate 5 , the main artery of San Clemente. The so-called San Diego Freeway runs north-south in the hinterland of the city. The freeway provides a connection to the southern Californian cities of Los Angeles and San Diego , both of which can be reached in an hour's drive from here.

Public transport

The public transport (public transport) is from the Orange County Transportation Authority ensures (OCTA), which offers many bus connections to local and regional destinations. With Line 1 , which runs regularly on the route to Long Beach , you can reach the coastal towns further north.

Rail transport

The Pacific Surfliner at San Clemente Pier Stop

San Clemente is on the so-called Surf Line , a railway line from Los Angeles to San Diego . The single-track route runs throughout the city in the immediate vicinity of the sea below the cliffs. To get to the beach you have to cross the rails. The railway line is not electrified and is mainly used for passenger transport.

With San Clemente North Beach and San Clemente Pier , the city ​​has two small stops that allow good connections within Southern California in both directions . They are regularly served by the Orange County Line and the Inland Empire – Orange County Line of Metrolink , which mainly handle suburban traffic in the Greater Los Angeles Area . There is also a connection to the Amtrak- operated Pacific Surfliner , which operates on the San Luis Obispo - Los Angeles - San Diego route.

military

On the southern outskirts of San Clemente is the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, one of the largest bases of the United States Marine Corps in the country . The north entrance is on Cristianitos Road. The area covers a total area of ​​around 505 square kilometers. The military base, which has existed since 1942, is, among other things, the home base of the highly decorated 1st U.S. Marine Division , the Fleet Marine Force in the Pacific and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force .

The name San Clemente is also the name of a missile test site of the US military in the California Channel Islands . From there, between 1957 and 1960, some test rockets for the so-called Polaris program were launched.

media

San Clemente has made a name for itself in surfing . The city is therefore the seat of Surfing Magazine , The Surfer's Journal and Longboard Magazine .

education

The local schools are administered by the Capistrano Unified School District . There are seven elementary schools , three middle schools and one high school in the urban area of ​​San Clemente .

Well known from the media is the San Clemente High School , which is currently attended by around 3,150 students. The school was one of the locations of the film Brick (2005) and the reality series Life of Ryan (2007-09). The surf teams are among the best in the country and regularly win prizes in national competitions.

San Clemente in Art and Media

San Clemente has already served as a filming location and setting in several film and television productions. The most famous productions are shown in the list.

• The Naked Cannon (1988), the film shows the reactor buildings of the nearby San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).
• Brick (2005), the film is set in San Clemente and was shot at the local San Clemente High School , among others.
• Life of Ryan (2007-09), the reality series follows the life of professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler in his hometown.
• Frost / Nixon (2008), some exterior shots were shot at La Casa Pacifica .

The city is also mentioned by name in:

• Heat (1995), when the surveillance of criminal Neil McCauley ( Robert De Niro ) by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) fails, one of the responsible police officers justifies himself to Detective Vincent Hanna ( Al Pacino ) with the words: “They have us shaken off. (...) Our tracking devices are now sticking to the bus to San Clemente. "

Personalities

Famous residents

The table below shows famous people living in San Clemente. The list does not claim to be complete. It is irrelevant whether some of the people have already died or moved away.

• Lon chaney jr. (1906–1973), actor
• Annie Hardy , musician and songwriter
• Charles Kiraly (born 1960), volleyball player
• Richard Nixon (1913–1994), politician and 37th President of the United States with wife Pat Nixon (1912–1993)
• Dominic Purcell (born 1970), actor
• Marie Osborne (1911-2010), actress
• William Sears (born 1939), doctor
• Ryan Sheckler (* 1989), professional skateboarder
• Jennifer Stiefel (* 1992), German national water polo player and European Championship participant

sons and daughters of the town

The following table contains important figures who were born in San Clemente. The list does not claim to be complete. It is irrelevant whether the people later had their sphere of activity there or not.

• Olivia Burnette (* 1977), actress
• Jennifer Kessy (* 1977), beach volleyball player
• Taylor Paur (born 1988), poker player
• Ryan Sheckler (* 1989), professional skateboarder
• Connor De Phillippi (* 1992), racing driver

• Fu Manchu , rock band

Web links

Commons : San Clemente  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Official website of the city (English)
• Chamber of Commerce (English)
• Information and images at Beach California (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Ashley Powers: Nixon's legacy still splits the city. Los Angeles Times , January 22, 2007, accessed September 21, 2009 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} San Clemente. Orange County Register , accessed September 18, 2009 . 
3. ↑ New Study - Researchers Predict Major Earthquake in California. Der Spiegel , April 15, 2008, accessed May 14, 2009 . 
4. ↑ Markus Kottek: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification. University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna , accessed on June 13, 2009 (English). 
5. ^ ^{A b} San Clemente Weather. (No longer available online.) San Clemente Chamber of Commerce , archived from the original on July 23, 2009 ; accessed on September 18, 2009 (English). 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.  
6. ↑ ^{a b} Monthly Averages for Laguna Beach, CA. The Weather Channel , accessed June 13, 2009 . 
7. ^ Monthly Averages for San Clemente, CA. The Weather Channel , accessed June 25, 2009 . 
8. ^ Coastal Water Temperature Table. (No longer available online.) National Oceanographic Data Center , archived from the original on June 12, 2011 ; accessed on May 1, 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.  
9. ↑ Geronimo Boscana: A Historical Account Of The Origin, Customs, And Traditions Of The Indians At The Missionary Establishment Of St. Juan Capistrano, Alta-California Called The Acagchemem Nation. (No longer available online.) Www.webroots.org , archived from the original on November 19, 2005 ; accessed on September 18, 2009 (English). 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.  
10. ^ 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.  
11. ↑ ^{a b} History. (No longer available online.) City of San Clemente , archived from the original on February 11, 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.  
12. ↑ ^{a b} Richard Nixon: 183 - Remarks at a Reception for General Secretary Brezhenev in San Clemente, California. The American Presidency Project , June 23, 1973, accessed March 5, 2009 . 
13. ↑ Susannah Rosenblatt: OC toll road hits dead end in DC Los Angeles Times , December 19, 2008, accessed on September 19, 2009 . 
14. ^ City / County Population Estimates. (No longer available online.) California Department of Finance , archived from the original on February 17, 2011 ; accessed on June 27, 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.  
15. ^ San Clemente city, California. United States Census Bureau , accessed June 13, 2009 . 
16. ^ Social Characteristics. United States Census Bureau , accessed March 5, 2009 . 
17. ↑ Laguna Beach city, California. [United States Census Bureau], accessed June 13, 2009 . 
18. ^ Council Questions. (No longer available online.) City of San Clemente , archived from the original on September 27, 2009 ; accessed on September 18, 2009 (English). 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.  
19. ^ Report of registration. (No longer available online.) Www.ocvote.com , archived from the original on February 23, 2012 ; accessed on September 18, 2009 (English). 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.  
20. ^ ^{A b} History of San Clemente. (No longer available online.) Www.sanclemente.com , January 17, 2008, archived from the original on October 19, 2009 ; accessed on June 27, 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.  
21. ↑ ^{a b} San Clemente History Museum. (No longer available online.) Www.downtownsanclemente.com , archived from the original on Jan. 7, 2010 ; Retrieved September 25, 2009 (English). 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.  
22. ^ Vik Jolly: Frost-Nixon talk took place in Dana Point home. Orange County Register , February 19, 2009, accessed September 30, 2009 . 
23. ^ History of the Cleveland National Forest. United States Forest Service , accessed September 21, 2009 . 
24. ↑ Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. www.ocparks.com , accessed September 21, 2009 . 
25. ^ San Clemente, CA. (No longer available online.) Www.ocbeachinfo.com , archived from the original on April 16, 2009 ; accessed on September 19, 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.  
26. ^ San Clemente Tourism. (No longer available online.) San Clemente Chamber of Commerce , archived from the original on May 5, 2009 ; accessed on September 18, 2009 (English). 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.  
27. ^ San Onofre State Beach. California State Parks , accessed March 5, 2009 . 
28. ↑ Golf Courses in San Clemente, CA. www.thegolfcourses.net , accessed on September 21, 2009 (English). 
29. ↑ Events. (No longer available online.) Www.oceanfestival.org , archived from the original on September 3, 2009 ; accessed on October 14, 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.  
30. ^ History. (No longer available online.) Www.oceanfestival.org , archived from the original on September 3, 2009 ; accessed on October 14, 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.  
31. ↑ San Clemente, California. www.city-data.com , accessed on September 25, 2009 (English). 
32. ↑ Bus service. Orange County Transportation Authority , accessed October 14, 2009 . 
33. ^ Metrolink Map. Metrolink , accessed March 5, 2009 . 
34. ↑ Pacific Surfliner. (No longer available online.) Amtrak , archived from the original on May 17, 2009 ; Retrieved 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.  
35. ^ Locate Schools. Capistrano Unified School District , accessed September 25, 2009 . 
36. ^ Titles with locations including San Clemente, California, USA. Internet Movie Database , accessed March 5, 2009 .