Graton, California

Graton, 1909

Graton is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in west Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Graton's ZIP code is 95444. The town also has a culinary reputation attributed to two restaurants in the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The town of Graton is roughly Template:Convert from the California coastline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Graton's agriculture was historically concentrated on apple farming, but like most of rural Sonoma County it now focuses on wine production.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Graton has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Graton is located at the southeastern end of Green Valley, on the east bank of the seasonally flooding Atascadero Creek. The elevation ranges from approximately Template:Convert above Mean Sea Level (MSL) at Atascadero Creek to Template:Convert MSL at Oak Grove School.

Graton is noted as lying at the approximate furthest southern and eastern extent of Russian colonization of the Americas. Research on Fort Ross has indicated that several farms were developed inland from the coastal fur trading fort in northwestern Sonoma County. These farms or ranches were used for producing additional food and for agricultural projects conducted by Fort Ross's agronomist Yegor Chernykh. In 1836, a farm was established along Purrington Creek, between what are now the towns of Occidental and Graton. There Chernykh erected barracks and five other structures, and grew vegetables, fruit, wheat, and other grains. Chernykh also developed a large vineyard, introducing what has since become a major crop in the area.<ref>"OUTPOST OF AN EMPIRE" by Stephen Watrous, 2001</ref>

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above Template:Convert. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Graton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Graton, California</ref>

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Graton had a population of 1,683. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Graton was 1,279 (76.0%) White, 10 (0.6%) African American, 11 (0.7%) Native American, 25 (1.5%) Asian, 4 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 135 (8.0%) from other races, and 219 (13.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 298 persons (17.7%).<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households, 14 people (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 678 households, out of which 153 (22.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 318 (46.9%) were married-couple households, 44 (6.5%) were cohabiting couple households, 215 (31.7%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 101 (14.9%) had a male householder with no partner present. 212 households (31.3%) were one person, and 123 (18.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46.<ref name=DP1/> There were 422 families (62.2% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The age distribution was 280 people (16.6%) under the age of 18, 96 people (5.7%) aged 18 to 24, 377 people (22.4%) aged 25 to 44, 446 people (26.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 484 people (28.8%) who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 49.9Template:Nbspyears. For every 100 females, there were 81.6 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 725 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 678 (93.5%) were occupied. Of these, 514 (75.8%) were owner-occupied, and 164 (24.2%) were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income in 2023 was $108,750, and the per capita income was $64,330. About 22.2% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010

At the 2010 census Graton had a population of 1,707. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Graton was 1,402 (82.1%) White, 10 (0.6%) African American, 29 (1.7%) Native American, 25 (1.5%) Asian, 3 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 144 (8.4%) from other races, and 94 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 322 people (18.9%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households and 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 680 households, 193 (28.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 304 (44.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 90 (13.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 19 (2.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 35 (5.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (2.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 188 households (27.6%) were one person and 73 (10.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49. There were 413 families (60.7% of households); the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 343 people (20.1%) under the age of 18, 131 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 352 people (20.6%) aged 25 to 44, 643 people (37.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 238 people (13.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median resident age is 48.2 years, compared to the California average of 36.2 years.

There were 723 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 72.0% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 27.2% lived in rental housing units.

The median household income was $83,082 (+70.4% from 2000), and the median family income was $87,641 (+53.9% from 2000). The median per capita income for the CDP was $35,410 (+62.1% from 2000). For comparison, statewide California median per capita income in the 2010 Census was $27,885 (+22.8% from 2000).

Government

Graton is represented by the following elected officials:

• Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (District 5): Lynda Hopkins (Dem)
• California State Assembly: Template:Representative<ref name=ccrc>Template:Cite web</ref>
• California State Senate: Template:Representative<ref name=ccrc/>
• U.S. House of Representatives (2nd District): Template:Representative<ref name=gt>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>
• U.S. Senate: Alex Padilla (Dem) and Adam Schiff (Dem)<ref name=gt/>

Education

The school districts are Oak Grove Union Elementary School District and West Sonoma County Union High School District.<ref name=SDMap2020>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Notable people

• George Segal, Academy Award–nominated actor and musician<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ned Kahn, artist, sculptor, MacArthur Fellow

External links

• Graton Day Labor Center
• Graton Community Services District
• Graton Fire Protection District Template:Webarchive
• community website