Oceano, California

{{redirect|Oceano|the band|Oceano (band)|the Portuguese former footballer|Oceano da Cruz}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement  | official_name = Oceano | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Census designated place  | image_skyline = Oceano Train Depot.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Oceano Depot | image_map = San_Luis_Obispo_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Oceano_Highlighted.svg | map_caption = Location in San Luis Obispo County and the state of California  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}} | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = San Luis Obispo | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = US | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 1.552 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.536 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.015 | area_total_km2 = 4.019 | area_land_km2 = 3.979 | area_water_km2 = 0.039 | area_water_percent = 0.98 | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi =  | elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652760|Oceano|access-date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> | elevation_ft = 30 | elevation_m = 9  | population_as_of = April 1, 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 7183 | population_density_sq_mi = auto | population_metro = | population_density_metro_sq_mi =  | timezone = Pacific | utc_offset = -8 | timezone_DST = PDT | utc_offset_DST = -7 | coordinates = {{coord|35|6|10|N|120|36|41|W|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP codes | postal_code = 93445, 93475 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 805 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = {{FIPS|06|53294}} | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|1652760}} }}

'''Oceano''' (Spanish: ''Océano'', meaning "Ocean") is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 7,183 at the 2020 census, down from 7,286 at the 2010 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Oceano_CDP,_California?g=160XX00US0653294 |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Geography== thumb|left|Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Oceano is located at {{Coord|35|6|10|N|120|36|41|W|type:city}} (35.102680, -120.611471).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Oceano is part of the 5 Cities Metropolitan Area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|1.5|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.98%) is water.

Oceano's beach is the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, a {{convert|1500|acre|km2}} coastal sand dune. As the only state park in California where visitors may drive vehicles on the beach, tourists are attracted from all over the United States. Activities on this beach include riding the sand dunes on all-terrain-vehicles, swimming, clamming, camping, surfing, surf fishing, hiking, and bird watching.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1950= 1446 |1960= 1317 |1970= 2564 |1980= 4478 |1990= 6169 |2000= 7260 |2010= 7286 |2020= 7183 |estyear= |estimate= |estref= |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 29, 2025|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050629/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> | align = right }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Oceano had a population of 7,183 and a population density of {{convert|4,676.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A53294&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A53294&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A53294&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% aged 18 to 24, 26.8% aged 25 to 44, 26.0% aged 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The census reported that 99.7% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. There were 2,653 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.7% were married-couple households, 8.7% were cohabiting couple households, 30.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 18.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7. There were 1,710 families (64.5% of all households).<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Oceano CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0653294 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

There were 3,177 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,068.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 2,653 (83.5%) were occupied. Of occupied units, 54.6% were owner-occupied and 45.4% were occupied by renters. 16.5% of housing units were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 3,900 || 54.3% |- | Black or African American || 65 || 0.9% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 129 || 1.8% |- | Asian || 141 || 2.0% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 17 || 0.2% |- | Some other race || 1,456 || 20.3% |- | Two or more races || 1,475 || 20.5% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 3,359 || 46.8% |}

===Demographic estimates=== In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 16.9% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 70.9% spoke only English at home, 27.6% spoke Spanish, 0.0% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.5% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.0% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 79.9% were high school graduates and 18.6% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oceano CDP, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0653294 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

===Income and poverty=== The median household income in 2023 was $69,448, and the per capita income was $38,764. About 12.0% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oceano CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0653294 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

===2010 census=== At the 2010 census Oceano had a population of 7,286. The population density was {{convert|4710.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}. The ethnic makeup of Oceano was 5,105 (70.1%) White, 62 (0.9%) African American, 120 (1.6%) Native American, 165 (2.3%) Asian, 7 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,509 (20.7%) from other races, and 318 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,484 persons (47.8%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0653294|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032145/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0653294|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Oceano CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 2,603 households, 904 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,147 (44.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 360 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 197 (7.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 197 (7.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 38 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 680 households (26.1%) were one person and 266 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80. There were 1,704 families (65.5% of households); the average family size was 3.39.

The population was spread out, with 1,738 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 747 people (10.3%) aged 18 to 24, 2,028 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,870 people (25.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 903 people (12.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

There were 3,117 housing units at an average density of 2,015.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,355 (52.1%) were owner-occupied and 1,248 (47.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 3,444 people (47.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,842 people (52.7%) lived in rental housing units. ==History==

The environs of Oceano were the home of "Halcyon," a utopian religious community established in 1903 by the theosophical Temple of the People, based in Syracuse, New York.<ref name=Hay>Amy M. Hay, Review of Paul Eli Ivey's ''Radiance from Halcyon,'' ''Journal of American History,'' vol. 101, no. 1 (June 2014), pp. 283-284.</ref> The group, which believed in channeling unseen electromagnetic forces in an effort to attain human perfection, constructed a number of buildings in association with their colonizing effort, including the Blue Star Memorial Temple and the Halcyon Hotel and Sanatorium.<ref name=Hay />

In 1948, Oceano, was the site of the founding by Catherine Nimmo (a registered nurse and Doctor of Chiropractic who had recently moved there from the Netherlands<ref>Austin, Linda; Hammond, Norm. (2010). ''Oceano''. Arcadia Publishing. p. 39. {{ISBN |9780738580876}}</ref>) and Rubin Abramowitz (an engineer) of the U.S. Vegan Society, the first vegan society in the United States.<ref>[https://ericbrightwell.com/2018/11/07/vegetarian-and-vegan-los-angeles/ Brightwell E. Vegetarian and Vegan Los Angeles. 07/11/2018. Accessed 10/6/2021.]</ref><ref>Iacobbo, Karen; Iacobbo, Michael. (2004). ''Vegetarian America: A History''. Praeger Publishing. p. 167. {{ISBN|978-0-275-97519-7}}</ref><ref>Stepaniak, Joanne. (2000). ''The Vegan Sourcebook''. McGraw-Hill Education. pp. 6-7. {{ISBN|9780071392211}}</ref> The Society lasted from 1948 to 1960 and was a predecessor to the American Vegan Society.<ref>Inness, Sherrie A. (2005). ''Secret Ingredients: Race, Gender, and Class at the Dinner Table''. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 156. {{ISBN|978-1-34-953164-6}}</ref>

==Culture== *Irish poet and Celtic mythologist Ella Young's final years were spent in Oceano (she died there in 1956).

==Government== The Oceano Community Services District provides the following services: fire and emergency, water, wastewater collection, solid waste, parks and recreation, and limited street lighting.

As an unincorporated town in San Luis Obispo County, Oceano is in the [https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Board-of-Supervisors.aspx Board of Supervisors] 4th District.

In the state legislature Oceano is in {{Representative|casd|21|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|30|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission |url=https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/ |access-date=October 11, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In the United States House of Representatives, Oceano is in {{Representative|cacd|24|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|24|accessdate=October 11, 2025}}</ref>

==Education== It is in the Lucia Mar Unified School District.<ref name=SDCensusList2020>{{cite news|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06079_san_luis_obispo/DC20SD_C06079.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Luis Obispo County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|date=December 18, 2020|page=1 (PDF p. 2/3)|access-date=2025-06-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06079_san_luis_obispo/DC20SD_C06079_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also== * Oceano County Airport

==Footnotes== {{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==

* Paul Eli Ivey, ''Radiance from Halcyon: A Utopian Experiment in Religion and Science.'' Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2013.

==External links== {{wiktionary|Oceano}} * [http://www.duneguide.com/sand_dune_guide_oceano_dunes.htm Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area - Dune Guide]

Category:Oceano, California Category:Populated coastal places in California Category:Census-designated places in San Luis Obispo County, California Category:Census-designated places in California