San Luis Obispo, California
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San Luis Obispo, San Luis, or SLO (Spanish for St. Louis, the Bishop) is a city in California. It is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is home to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). As of the 2000 census, the city population was 44,174.
History
The City of San Luis Obispo serves as the commercial, governmental, and cultural hub of California’s Central Coast. One of California’s oldest communities, it began with the founding of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772 by Father Junípero Serra as the fifth Spanish mission in California's chain of 21 missions. The mission was named after Saint Louis, a 13th century bishop of Toulouse, France.Demographics
As of the 2000 census,[Geographic references#2GR2] there were 44,174 people, 18,639 households, and 7,697 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,600.0/km² (4,144/mi²). There were 19,306 housing units at an average density of 699.3/km² (1,811/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.11% White, 1.46% African American, 0.65% Native American, 5.28% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 4.82% from other races, and 3.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.65% of the population. The median household income was US$31,926, and the median family income was US$56,319. The per capita income was US$20,386. Although the city is quite prosperous and home to many wealthy retirees, 26.6% of the population and 7.1% of families were below the poverty line; these numbers are skewed by the large student population.
Local Government
The Farmers market was created in 1983 as an outlet for its large collegiate population. Previously, Thursday nights were plagued with young people cruising the streets without much alternative. In an effort to curb the cruise night driving and foot traffic causing occasional damage to businesses, Higuera Street, the main thoroughfare, was blocked to through traffic. Only side streets were allowed to pass through town. Later, farmers and vendors were allowed to set up between barracades as a way to bring people back to the downtown area. Later, all traffic was blocked off, making the downtown Farmer's Market one long "mall", even rerouting part of a state highway to accommodate the street closures. The Farmers Market brought a great deal of revenue and has become internationally known.San Luis Obispo has been home of several other events, including a stop on the way of the Olympic Torch, the Tour of California bike race, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, as well as a standard Christmas Parade. Formerly, SLO had become known for its sizeable and popular Mardis Gras celebration. Unfortunately, the debauchery and drinking turned it from a family event to a citywide student party. Rather than enjoying the celebration, crime became progressively worse, until fences had to be put up along the parade route, just to keep people in check. This continued to get worse, as students from around the country would make their way to the party capital of West Coast Mardis Gras. As drinking, crime, and mobbing got worse, city council decided to stop issuing permits for the parades. Students continued with their parties and fights, until police could no longer control the masses. During a Mardi Gras party in 2004 the local police asserted their authority and broke up giant block parties that involved entire apartment complexes and homes. The reason an entire neighborhood of students rioted has been attributed to drinking and immaturity. In subsequent years, the city has enlisted police from around the county to help maintain order, and has mounted a successful campaign to rectify this problem the students created.
Similarly, Cal Poly's open house had been cancelled, due to parties and students' drinking and immaturity. Held every April, Poly Royal, as it was called, was very popular with residents. It was a chance to see the best the college had to offer, in projects, and fun. There were booths and events, with almost a carnival atmosphere. It was free entertainment for everyone. In April of 1990, a drunken riot broke out, with students working their way through the student housing section of town, breaking signposts, and damaging personal property. The mob could not be controlled, as they eventually gathered near the Cork and Bottle Liquor store on Foothill Blvd. Again, this had become an opportunity for students from around the state to come party and drink. It was later found out that many of the drunken revellers were not even attending Cal Poly, but had come by invitation to join their friends who attended here and wanted bigger parties. The city urged the college to cancel its event, and again, a good event was cancelled because of the actions of many students, as opposed to the City. Eventually, Cal Poly began having a scaled down event as their open house, held mostly for students and their families, as a traditional open house event.
One thing you can say about San Luis Obispo, is that it is certainly a college town. The City Council even had a college professor elected to it four times, showing the power wielded by the student and faculty of this college. The city even entered into an agreement to create a stadium on the campus, sharing costs, but not sharing equally in the use of facilities. The city has chosen to take a no nonsense approach to students causing trouble in the city. They even have a group to respond to party complaints. SNAP was established in 1992. This program recruits students from both California Polytechnic State University and Cuesta Community College to respond to “party” noise complaints in the City. The program operates Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from approximately 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The SNAP team members use “education” and peer-counseling techniques to deal with student party noise complaints. If SNAP is unsuccessful in quieting down the party, police officers respond to enforce code violations.
Beginning July 1, 2004 the "SLO Solutions" program went into effect for all residents of the City of San Luis Obispo. Sponsored by the City of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College and Cal Poly, residents can use the services of Creative Mediation to resolve a variety of community disputes at no cost to them. Creative Mediation administers a full service dispute resolution program. Services are delivered through a combination of staff, volunteer, and private practitioners. Mediation is available for Community Disputes, Small Claims Court, Litigated Cases (pre and post filing), Business & Commercial Disputes, Family Disputes, Multi-Party or Complex Cases, and Environmental & Public Policy Disputes. This outreach program is very cutting edge, and shows the government's concern for its citizens.
Housing
Though San Luis Obispo county has sustained enormous growth over the past two decades, San Luis Obispo itself has not because of a slow growth policy. Because of this policy, along with many wealthy retirees moving to the area, housing prices have skyrocketed. As of January 2006, only 7% of San Luis Obispo's residents qualified to buy the median priced home.Being a college town, a percentage of housing has fallen to student use. Most neighborhoods closest to the campus are dominated by student housing. The rents are usually higher in these areas due to demand. It has become a common practice for the parents of students to buy a house for their child to live in while they attend college, and then sell it after the student graduates.
Education
San Luis Obispo is home to California Polytechnic State University ('Cal Poly' or 'Poly' for short). Cal Poly has approximately 18,000 students.#redirect Cal Poly's courses include; Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Design, Agriculture, Science and Math, Business, and Liberal Arts. In addition to Cal Poly, Cuesta College is a Community College within a short driving distance of downtown San Luis Obispo. Roughly one third of San Luis Obispo's population is of college age or attending college. The large student population gives the city a youthful energy and vitality, as well as causing many problems with housing and crime, as listed above. The Cal Poly campus is growing, with new buildings, and greater technology.Tourism
Because of San Luis Obispo's location (almost halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco), it has long been a stopping point for travelers. In fact, the word motel was coined here when the Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo was established in 1925. Since then, the pleasant year-round climate, pretty scenery, and well-preserved, walkable downtown have made the city a tourist destination in itself.
One of the main draws is Farmers' Market, a large festival held downtown on Higuera street every Thursday year-round. About three-quarters of a mile of the street is closed to cars. Live entertainment is featured and local farmers and vendors sell goods and produce.
Downtown San Luis Obispo is centered around the carefully restored Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, originally built in the late 18th century. It is one of the best preserved examples of Spanish Mission architecture and among the oldest buldings in California. The downtown area also boasts many eclectic shops, and boutiques.
Another big tourist attraction is Hearst Castle, the vast estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, 43 miles to the of San Luis Obispo. The Madonna Inn is another famous local landmark. Established by Alex Madonna in 1958, the inn is a famously eccentric building known for its generous helping of pink, wildly kitschy decor, themed guest rooms, and a large waterfall in the men's restroom.
One infamous tourist destinatio is Bubble Gum Alley. Since about 1960, people have been sticking their chewed gum on the walls of this alley located on Higuera Street, between Broad and Garden streets. Bubble Gum Alley is definitely unique, and has even appeared on national television.
Another big attraction is the development of Edna Valley into a well known wine region. Just south of the city, people can spend an afternoon wine tasting several wineries in the area, with just a very short drive. Some of these wineries have won awards and acclaim for their vintages. It is also just a few miles south of the Paso Robles area, where more wineries are available to visit.
A field station of the Marine Mammal Center is located in San Luis Obispo to support sea rescue and beach stranding rescue operations for this section of the California coast.
Trivia
- Jamba Juice, a famous smoothie joint, was founded in this town. Formerly called Juice Club, Jamba Juice is now a national chain. Jamba Juice still exists at the original Juice Club location: 17 Chorro Street #C.
- In 1990, the town was the first to ban indoor smoking in all public buildings, including bars and restaurants.
- City ordinance prevents businesses of any sort (including fast-food restaurants) from constructing new drive-up or drive-through windows or services. Two branches of one local bank are the only locations in the entire city with drive-up service; their drive-up service existed before the ordinance became law.
- The second person to be admitted onto the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Morley Vernon King, committed his crime in San Luis Obispo.
- Popular hip hop group Hieroglyphics mention San Luis Obispo in their song Soweto: "Deport the gulf of Spain, Maine, San Juan, Guam, or San Luis Obispo".
- While studying architecture at Cal Poly, satirist and recording artist Weird Al Yankovic worked as a DJ at the campus radio station, KCPR. He recorded the song "My Bologna" in a bathroom on campus.
Notable residents
- Chris Pontius, Mike Kassak, and other members of the MTV show Jackass.
- Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight champion.
- Zac Efron from the Disney Channel movie High School Musical.
- Sherwood (band) a "California-based indie pop band".
External links
- [City of San Luis Obispo]
- [Downtown SLO Association] has information about concerts in the plaza and Farmers' Market.
- [SLOweather.com] has current weather conditions, web cams, and forecasts for San Luis Obispo.
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