Wawona, California

Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Wawona (formerly Big Tree Station, Clark's Station, Clarks Station, Wah-wo-nah,<ref name=gnis/> and Clark's Ranch<ref name=CGN>Template:California's Geographic Names</ref>) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States.<ref name=gnis/> The population was 111 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020"/>

The community is located entirely within Yosemite National Park, as it preceded the founding of the park as a national recreation area. The number of inhabitants increases dramatically during peak tourist seasons, due to the large number of rental cabins in the town. It is located at Template:Coord,<ref name=gnis/> Template:Convert north of Oakhurst and Template:Convert south of the center of Yosemite Valley, at an elevation of Template:Convert.<ref name=gnis/>

The ZIP Code is 95389. The community is within area code 209.

History

It was known to the local Native American Miwok in their language as Pallachun ("a good place to stay").<ref>Towns:Wawona, Yosemite/Madera County Film Commission, accessed December 8, 2009</ref> The origin of the word Wawona is not known.<ref name="Wawona">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A popular story claims Wawō'na was the Miwok word for "big tree", or for "hoot of the owl", a bird considered the sequoia trees' spiritual guardian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Galen Clark, who helped gain preservation legislation for Mariposa Grove and what became Yosemite National Park, occupied this area in 1855. He established a tourist rest and modest ranch in 1856.<ref name=CGN /> Clark sold the property to the Washburn brothers in 1874, who built a larger hotel in 1876, adding to it later. Hotel keeper Jean Bruce Washburn named the resort property Wawona in 1883.

Wawona is the location of the historic Wawona Hotel, built by Washburn in 1876, with additional structures added into the early 20th century. A classic Victorian resort, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.<ref name="nhlsum"> Template:Cite web </ref>

The Clark's Station US Post Office opened in 1878. In 1883 its name was changed to Wawona.<ref name=CGN />

Geography

The town is located in a large mid-elevation basin with Wawona Meadow as its centerpiece.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Situated in the southwest part of Yosemite National Park, it lies along the South Fork of the Merced River at an elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The town is accessible via State Route 41, the main highway from Fresno to Yosemite Valley. Wawona is the closest town to Chilnualna Falls and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia. It also serves as the main gateway to the southern Yosemite wilderness, with several principal trailheads located here.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Wawona CDP covers an area of Template:Convert, all of it land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

Wawona first appeared as a census-designated place in the 2010 United States census.<ref name=2010CensusCA/>

The 2020 United States census reported that Wawona had a population of 111. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 99 (89.2%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 7 (6.3%) from other races, and 5 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7 persons (6.3%).<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 56 households, out of which 13 (23.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 22 (39.3%) were married-couple households, 4 (7.1%) were cohabiting couple households, 14 (25.0%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 16 (28.6%) had a male householder with no partner present. 18 households (32.1%) were one person, and 9 (16.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.98.<ref name=DP1/> There were 33 families (58.9% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The age distribution was 20 people (18.0%) under the age of 18, 3 people (2.7%) aged 18 to 24, 28 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44, 32 people (28.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 28 people (25.2%) who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 49.5Template:Nbspyears. There were 59 males and 52 females.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 333 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 56 (16.8%) were occupied. Of these, 31 (55.4%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (44.6%) were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>