Marin County is a county located in California's San Francisco Bay Area, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2000, the population was 247,289. The county seat is San Rafael. Marin County is world-renowned for its stunning natural beauty as well as its affluence.

San Quentin Prison is located in the county, as is Skywalker Ranch, the headquarters of film and media company Lucasfilm Ltd. Autodesk, the publisher of AutoCAD, is located here, as are numerous other high tech companies.

History

Marin County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.

The origin of the county's name is not clear. One version is the county was named for Chief Marin, of the Licatiut tribe of Native Americans who inhabited that section and waged fierce battle against the early Spanish military explorers. The other version is that the bay between San Pedro and San Quentin points was named Bahia de Nuestra Senora del Rosario la Marinera in 1775, and it is quite possible that Marin is simply an abbreviation of this name.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,145 km² (828 mi²). 1,346 km² (520 mi²) of it is land and 799 km² (308 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 37.24% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 247,289 people, 100,650 households, and 60,691 families residing in the county. The population density is 184/km² (476/mi²). There are 104,990 housing units at an average density of 78/km² (202/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 84.03% White, 2.89% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 4.53% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 4.50% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. 11.06% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 100,650 households out of which 27.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% are married couples living together, 8.50% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.70% are non-families. 29.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.34 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the county the population is spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 29.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $71,306, and the median income for a family is $88,934. Males have a median income of $61,282 versus $45,448 for females. The per capita income for the county is $44,962, ranking first in the United States by this measure. 6.60% of the population and 3.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.90% of those under the age of 18 and 4.50% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities, Towns and Unincorporated Districts

• Bel Marin Keys
• Belvedere
• Black Point-Green Point
• Bolinas
• Corte Madera
• Dillon Beach
• Fairfax
• Fallon
• Hamilton
• Inverness
• Inverness Park
• Kentfield
• Lagunitas-Forest Knolls
• Larkspur
• Lucas Valley-Marinwood
• Marin City
• Marshall
• Mill Valley
• Muir Beach
• Olema
• Nicasio
• Novato
• Point Reyes Station
• Ross
• San Anselmo
• San Geronimo
• San Rafael
• Santa Venetia
• Sausalito
• Stinson Beach
• Strawberry
• Tamalpais-Homestead Valley
• Tiburon
• Tomales
• Woodacre

See also

• List of California counties
• Golden Gate Transit

External links

• County of Marin official website
• Photos of Marin County - Terra Galleria
• Marin Fraternal Organizations
• Marin County community profiles at the Marin Independent Journal