Fairfax, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Fairfax, California
settlement_type = Town

---

imagesize =
image_caption = Downtown Fairfax
image_

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Marin County and the state of California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Marin
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name =
leader_title = County Board
leader_name = District 2
Harold Brown
leader_title1 = Senate
leader_name1 = Carole Migden (D)
leader_title2 = Assembly
leader_name2 = Jared Huffman (D)
leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
leader_name3 = Lynn Woolsey (D)
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.5
area_total_sq_mi = 2.1
area_land_km2 = 5.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.1
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
elevation_ft = 115
elevation_m = 35
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7,319
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 1330.7
population_density_sq_mi = 3485.2
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
latd = 37 |latm = 59 |lats = 10 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 35 |longs = 34 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 94930, 94978
area_code = 415
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-23168
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0277511
footnotes =
website =

Fairfax is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States. The population is 7,319 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Fairfax is located at coor dms|37|59|10|N|122|35|34|W|city (37.986023, -122.592823)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,319 people, 3,306 households, and 1,811 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,441.2 people per square mile (1,326.7/km²). There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 1,607.0/sq mi (619.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.39% White, 1.16% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.97% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. 5.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,306 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,465, and the median income for a family was $68,308. Males had a median income of $51,457 versus $40,815 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,080. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Environmental factors

Soils in the Fairfax area mostly belong to the Tocaloma Series as classified by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. [Environmental Impact Report for the Groza-Erickson Property, Ridgeway Avenue, Fairfax, California", Earth Metrics Inc, prepared for the State of California Environmental Clearinghouse, Sacramento, Ca., January, 1989] These soils consist of moderately deep, well drained soils on uplands. These soils are typically formed from sandstone and shale and often occur on slopes ranging above 15 percent.

History

The Coast Miwok Indians occupied stretches along local creeks, spring and seep areas; moreover prehistoric habitations were usually chosen near permanent and seasonal drainages, typically along flat ridges and terraces.

The town was named for Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax.

Miscellanea

* In the mid-1960s, a softball game between Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead took place at Central Field, a public downtown baseball field. [ [http://www.rexfoundation.org/grisinterview.html Rex Radio, January 1991, transcript of discussion with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia] , accessed February 5, 2008] [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/02/DD189162.DTL James Sullivan, "San Francisco Chronicle," October 2, 2001, "Dawg days: David Grisman's daughter makes film about his bluegrass partnership with Garcia"] , accessed February 5, 2008]

* Fairfax's first constable and Chief of Police, Andy Peri, served from 1925 until his death in 1959. [ [http://www.fairfaxpd.org/html/history.html Fairfax Police Department History] , accessed February 5, 2008] He used to stand at the Fairfax train platform with a stern look and shake his head "no" at anyone who looked scruffy, had a beard, or might be "undesirable". (Provided by John & Annette van der Slice). Fact|date=February 2007

* Some silent films, such as Broncho Billy shorts, were filmed in Fairfax.

* Irving Berlin used to serenade from a treetop piano at Pastori's Hotel, formerly Bird's Nest Glen, the home of Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax, and later known as the Marin Town & Country Club. [ [http://isbndb.com/d/book/fairfax_a01.html William Sager, "Fairfax (Images of America)," Arcadis Publishing, 2006 ISBN 0738530905] , accessed February 5, 2008]

* During prohibition, a rider of the Fairfax Inclined Railway could provide a certain amount of money to the driver and would be dropped off at Berry Trail, a path where lots of speakeasies were located. The speakeasies are now all homes with beautiful views, but at the time, were impossible to see from downtown.

*At one time Fairfax was a common hideout for Mafia on the lam.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwm24ltmWPM "Mayberry on Acid"] Is a 4min. short that captures the spirit of Fairfax. It is the winner of the Fairfax Film Festival Short Documentary Film Challenge 2007.

Noted Fairfaxians

* Edward Espe Brown
*Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax
* Dian Fossey
* Frank Herbert
* Anne Lamott
* Lonnie Mayne
* Van Morrison
* Don Novello
* Kay Ryan

References

External links

* [http://www.gordyo.com/Fairfax/Fairfax.html Unofficial site]
* [http://www.town-of-fairfax.org Town of Fairfax]
* [http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/lb/main/fairfax/index.cfm Fairfax Library]
* [http://marindirect.com/fxhistory/ Fairfax Historical Society]
* [http://www.marindirect.com/mtcc/ Marin Town & Country Club]
* [http://www.sustainablefairfax.org Sustainable Fairfax]