Malibu, California
Malibu is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12,575.
The City of Malibu is a beachfront community famous for its warm, sandy beaches and for being the home of countless movie stars and others associated with the Southern California motion picture and recording industries. Most Malibu residents live within a few hundred yards of Pacific Coast Highway (Calif. Route 1) which traverses the city; the city is also bounded (more or less) by Topanga and Pacific Palisades to the southeast, the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and Zuma State Beach and Ventura County to the northwest. Its other beaches include Malibu State Beach and Topanga State Beach; its parks include Malibu Creek State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. A popular bumper sticker reads, "Malibu: A Way of Life."
History
Malibu was a part of the territory of the Chumash tribe of Native American Indans. It was named "Humaliwo" or "the surf sounds loudly."
Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo is believed to have moored at Malibu Lagoon, at the mouth of Malibu Creek, to obtain fresh water in 1542. Spanish presence returned with the California mission system, and the area was part of a 13,000 acre land grant in 1802. That ranch passed intact to Frederick Rindge in 1891. He and his widow, Rhoda May Rindge, guarded their privacy zealously by hiring guards to evict all trespassers and fighting a lengthy court battle to prevent the building of a Southern Pacific railroad line. Few roads even entered the area before 1929, when the state won another court case and built what is now known as the Pacific Coast Highway. By then May Rindge was forced subdivide her property and begin selling and leasing lots. The Rindge house, known as the Adamson House is now part of Malibu Creek State Park and is situated between Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach, beside the Malibu Pier that was originally built for the family yacht. The Malibu Colony was one of the first areas settled, and is on the opposite shore of the lagoon.
In 1991 Malibu, long an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, achieved cityhood in order to allow for exercise of local control. Prior to incorporation the local residents had fought proposed developments including a freeway, a nuclear power plant, and several sewerline plans. Actor Martin Sheen once served on the Malibu City Council.
Geography
Malibu is located at 34°1'50" North, 118°46'43" West (34.030450, -118.778612)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (101.0 mi²). 51.5 km² (19.9 mi²) of it is land and 210.0 km² (81.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 80.32% water.
Throughout the mid 1990s, Malibu's unique geography placed it at the mercy of numerous natural disasters, namely floods, fires, and mudslides.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 12,575 people, 5,137 households, and 3,164 families residing in the city. The population density is 244.4/km² (632.9/mi²). There are 6,126 housing units at an average density of 119.0/km² (308.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.91% White, 0.90% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.49% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 5.48% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,137 households out of which 25.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples living together, 6.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are non-families. 27.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.86.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $102,031, and the median income for a family is $123,293. Males have a median income of $100,000+ versus $46,919 for females. The per capita income for the city is $74,336. 7.6% of the population and 3.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.8% of those under the age of 18 and 1.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Nearby colleges
Pepperdine University, an independent college affiliated with the Church of Christ, is located in the Malibu area.