SafekipediaMarin County, California
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Marin County is a beautiful place in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is home to many people. The biggest city and where the government meets is San Rafael. You can find Marin right across the Golden Gate Bridge from busy San Francisco.
This county is known for its amazing nature. You can visit the tall Muir Woods redwood forest, walk along the Marin Headlands, relax at Stinson Beach, explore the Point Reyes National Seashore, or hike up Mount Tamalpais.
One special building is the Marin County Civic Center, designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. People come from all over to see its unique arch and atrium. Every year, runners gather for the Dipsea Race, the United States' oldest cross country running event. Also, some of the first mountain biking trails were made on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais.
History
Native American settlement
Main article: Coast Miwok § History
Thousands of years ago, the Coast Miwok people lived in the area we now call Marin County.
In 1967, the Marin Museum of the American Indian opened. It shows Coast Miwok crafts, art, and tools. Visitors can enjoy events led by the Coast Miwok people.
History of Marin
During a war, American forces took control of parts of Marin County. Marin County was created in 1850, after California became a state.
The county was named after Chief Marin, a leader of the Coast Miwok people.
Some believe the county’s name comes from an old Spanish name for the nearby bay.
In 1775, a Spanish explorer arrived at what is now Drakes Bay. The first Spanish mission in Marin, Mission San Rafael Arcángel, was founded in 1817.
Geography
Marin County is in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It covers 828 square miles (2,140 km2), with 520 square miles (1,300 km2) of land and 308 square miles (800 km2) of water. It is the fourth-smallest county in California by land area.
Marin County is shaped like a large peninsula pointing south. The Pacific Ocean is to the west, and San Pablo Bay and the San Francisco Bay are to the east. The city of San Francisco is to the south across the Golden Gate. Most people in Marin County live on the eastern side, in towns along U.S. Route 101 and the San Francisco Bay, from Sausalito to Tiburon, Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Novato. The western part of the county has open spaces and farms, with small communities that rely on farming and tourism. West Marin has beautiful beaches that are popular with visitors and surfers.
Adjacent counties
- Sonoma County – north
- San Francisco – south
National protected areas
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area (part)
- Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (part)
State and local protected areas
The Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space manages many parks and open spaces, including Stafford Lake County Park. The Marin Municipal Water District has 130 mi (209 km) of trails.
State parks
- Angel Island State Park
- China Camp State Park
- Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Olompali State Historic Park
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park
- Tomales Bay State Park
Marine protected areas
These special areas help protect ocean life and ecosystems:
- Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area
- Estero de San Antonio State Marine Recreational Management Area
- Point Reyes State Marine Reserve & Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area
- Estero de Limantour State Marine Reserve & Drakes Estero State Marine Conservation Area
- Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area
| Parcel Type | Tax ID | Quantity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant | 10 | 6,900 | $508.17 million |
| Single Family Residential | 11 | 61,264 | $30.13 billion |
| Mobile Home | 12 | 210 | $7.62 million |
| House Boat | 13 | 379 | $61.83 million |
| Multi Family Residential | 14 | 1,316 | $3.97 billion |
| Industrial Unimproved | 40 | 113 | $12.24 million |
| Industrial Improved | 41 | 562 | $482.83 million |
| Commercial Unimproved | 50 | 431 | $97.89 million |
| Commercial Improved | 51 | 7,911 | $4.52 billion |
Ecology
Marin County is part of the California Floristic Province, an area with many different plants and animals. You can find many natural places there, like oak woodlands, evergreen forests, and redwood groves.
The county is home to special animals such as the California red-legged frog and certain kinds of shrimp in the water. Unique plants like Marin Dwarf Flax and Tiburon Jewelflower also grow there.
There are several important water areas in Marin County, including Walker Creek, Lagunitas Creek, Miller Creek, and Novato Creek. The Lagunitas Creek area has one of the largest groups of a special type of salmon called coho salmon. People work to keep these fish and their homes safe.
Even when there isn’t much rain, many young salmon still travel to the ocean each year. Marin County’s beaches are known for being very clean. Long ago, there were large groups of tule elk near the area, though we don’t know exactly where they were.
Demographics
2020 census
In 2020, Marin County had 262,321 people. The average age was 46.5 years. About 20.2% were younger than 18, and 22.6% were 65 or older. For every 100 girls and women, there were 96.2 boys and men.
Most people were White. Smaller numbers were Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, or from two or more races. Some people were also Hispanic or Latino.
Almost all people lived in towns and cities. Only a few lived in the countryside.
There were many homes. Some had children under 18. Some were lived in by only one person, especially older people.
There were also many places to stay, but not all were used. Most homes were owned by the people living there. Some were rented.
2010 census
In 2010, most people in Marin County were White. Some were Hispanic or Latino, some were Asian, and smaller numbers were Black, Native American, Pacific Islander, or from two or more races.
2000 census
In 2000, 247,289 people lived in Marin County. Most were White, with smaller numbers of Black or African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people from other races or two or more races. Some people were also Hispanic or Latino.
Religion
Many people in Marin County had different beliefs. Some were Roman Catholic, some were Protestant, and some followed Mormon, Judaism, Eastern religions, or Islam. Many people did not follow any belief.
Place of birth
Most people in Marin County were born in the United States. Some were born in Latin America, Europe, or Asia.
Language
Most people spoke English at home. Some spoke Spanish or other Indo-European languages, Asian languages, or Pacific island languages.
Ancestry
Many people in Marin County came from different places. Some had Italian, German, English, Irish, Russian, Scottish, French, Swedish, Polish, Scotch-Irish, American, Norwegian, Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, or Swiss family backgrounds.
Income
In Marin County, families usually made $71,306 for a house and $88,934 for a family. By 2007, these numbers went up to $83,732 and $104,750.
In May 2010, Marin had the lowest number of people without jobs in California. But by July 2010, the number of people without jobs went up to 8.3%.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 323 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,334 | 932.2% | |
| 1870 | 6,903 | 107.0% | |
| 1880 | 11,324 | 64.0% | |
| 1890 | 13,072 | 15.4% | |
| 1900 | 15,702 | 20.1% | |
| 1910 | 25,114 | 59.9% | |
| 1920 | 27,342 | 8.9% | |
| 1930 | 41,648 | 52.3% | |
| 1940 | 52,907 | 27.0% | |
| 1950 | 85,619 | 61.8% | |
| 1960 | 146,820 | 71.5% | |
| 1970 | 206,038 | 40.3% | |
| 1980 | 222,568 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 230,096 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 247,289 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 252,409 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 262,321 | 3.9% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 253,694 |  | −3.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 199,675 | 194,665 | 194,254 | 183,830 | 173,149 | 89.71% | 84.60% | 78.55% | 72.83% | 66.01% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,375 | 7,529 | 6,946 | 6,621 | 6,120 | 2.41% | 3.27% | 2.81% | 2.62% | 2.33% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 771 | 661 | 630 | 531 | 555 | 0.35% | 0.29% | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 5,426 | 9,064 | 11,078 | 13,577 | 16,175 | 2.44% | 3.94% | 4.48% | 5.38% | 6.17% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x | x | 330 | 436 | 457 | 0.13% | 0.17% | 0.13% | 0.17% | 0.17% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 2,117 | 247 | 718 | 1,034 | 2,040 | 0.95% | 0.11% | 0.29% | 0.41% | 0.78% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 5,982 | 7,311 | 14,415 | x | x | 2.42% | 2.90% | 5.50% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,204 | 17,930 | 27,351 | 39,069 | 49,410 | 4.14% | 7.79% | 11.06% | 15.48% | 18.84% |
| Total | 222,568 | 230,096 | 247,289 | 252,409 | 262,321 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Government and infrastructure
Government
Marin County is run by five elected leaders called the Board of Supervisors. They help all residents with important services and manage voting for elections.
Law enforcement
The main police force for Marin County is the Marin County Sheriff's Office. There is also a special police team called the Central Marin Police Authority that helps keep Larkspur, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo safe.
Fire protection
The Marin County Fire Department began helping keep the area safe in 1941 after county leaders approved it.
Politics
Marin County is part of California's 2nd congressional district and is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Democrat Jared Huffman.
In the California State Legislature, the county is split between the 12th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Damon Connolly, and the 2nd senatorial district, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire.
For much of the 20th century, Marin County often voted for Republican candidates. But as the area's population changed, it began supporting Democratic candidates more strongly. Since 1984, Marin County has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election. In the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris received over 80% of the votes there.
The county has a strong Democratic presence today, with most registered voters identifying as Democrats.
| Population and registered voters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 250,666 | |
| Registered voters | 154,250 | 61.5% |
| Democratic | 83,853 | 54.4% |
| Republican | 28,116 | 18.2% |
| Democratic–Republican spread | +55,737 | +36.2% |
| American Independent | 3,303 | 2.1% |
| Green | 2,206 | 1.4% |
| Libertarian | 837 | 0.5% |
| Peace and Freedom | 254 | 0.2% |
| Americans Elect | 4 | 0.0% |
| Other | 426 | 0.3% |
| No party preference | 35,251 | 12.9% |
| Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Population | Registered voters | Democratic | Republican | D–R spread | Other | No party preference |
| Belvedere | 2,118 | 72.0% | 38.2% | 34.1% | +4.1% | 6.6% | 23.9% |
| Corte Madera | 9,191 | 65.6% | 55.7% | 16.9% | +38.8% | 6.3% | 23.3% |
| Fairfax | 7,410 | 73.2% | 64.4% | 7.1% | +57.3% | 9.1% | 21.1% |
| Larkspur | 11,870 | 69.8% | 54.7% | 18.4% | +36.3% | 5.6% | 23.2% |
| Mill Valley | 13,810 | 71.1% | 61.5% | 12.3% | +49.2% | 5.3% | 22.6% |
| Novato | 51,206 | 57.9% | 49.6% | 23.3% | +26.3% | 7.7% | 22.3% |
| Ross | 2,079 | 80.3% | 42.9% | 30.1% | +12.8% | 5.8% | 23.5% |
| San Anselmo | 12,273 | 69.8% | 62.0% | 11.6% | +50.4% | 7.4% | 21.0% |
| San Rafael | 57,374 | 51.5% | 55.1% | 17.9% | +37.2% | 6.3% | 22.7% |
| Sausalito | 7,047 | 75.3% | 52.1% | 15.8% | +36.3% | 6.7% | 27.6% |
| Tiburon | 8,895 | 67.8% | 46.0% | 25.0% | +21.0% | 5.4% | 25.7% |
Transportation
Major highways
Public transportation
Golden Gate Transit helps people travel along the U.S. 101 road. It serves cities in Marin County, San Francisco, and Sonoma County. It also goes to Contra Costa County using the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Ferries leave from Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon to go to San Francisco. Different ferry services operate from Tiburon, including the Angel Island Ferry.
Local buses in Marin County are run by Golden Gate Transit for Marin Transit. Marin Transit also runs the West Marin Stage for rural areas, the Muir Woods Shuttle, and community shuttles.
The Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit started in August 2017. It is a train and path for bikes and walking that serves Sonoma and Marin counties. In 2019, it went from Sonoma County Airport to six stops in Marin County, ending near Larkspur Landing. Future plans will extend the train further north to Cloverdale in Sonoma County.
The Marin Airporter has buses that go to and from Marin County and the San Francisco Airport.
Greyhound Lines buses stop in San Rafael.
Airports
Marin County Airport or Gnoss Field is for small planes only. Bigger airports with regular flights are San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, and Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, which is north of Marin County.
Education
Main article: Education in Marin County
The Marin County Free Library is the public library for the area, with its main office in San Rafael. There is also a special library in Tiburon called the Belvedere-Tiburon Library.
College of Marin began in 1926 and has two campuses, one in Kentfield and another in Novato. The college helps students earn degrees or certificates in many different subjects.
Another school in the area is Dominican University of California in San Rafael. It started in 1890 and today has many students studying for their degrees.
Culture
Marin County has some interesting museums. You can visit the Marin Museum of the American Indian to learn about Native American history. The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art shows modern art, and the Marin Museum of Bicycling celebrates the history of bicycles. There is also the Museum of International Propaganda and The Space Station Museum to explore.
Economy
Marin County has jobs in many different industries. Some big companies that hire people there are Kaiser Permanente, MarinHealth, and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.
The county also grows some food, mainly animals and things like milk and eggs. In 2021, homes in Marin County were valued at a high price.
Media
Marin County gets its media from the rest of the Bay Area.
The county has several local media outlets. These include Marin Magazine, a monthly lifestyle magazine based in Sausalito; the Marin Independent Journal, a daily newspaper in San Rafael; and Pacific Sun, a free weekly paper. Other local papers are the Novato Advance and the Point Reyes Light. Local radio includes KWMR, and there is public-access television on Channel 26. The San Francisco Examiner also covers Marin County culture and events.
Communities
Marin County has many places where people live. Some of these places are cities and towns, like San Rafael, which is the largest city and where the county government is located. Others are smaller areas known as census-designated places, such as Bolinas and Stinson Beach. There are also many unincorporated communities, which are areas not part of a city but still have people living there, like Olema and Woodacre.
The list of places includes many options for homes and neighborhoods across the county.
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † San Rafael | City | 61,271 |
| 2 | Novato | City | 53,225 |
| 3 | Mill Valley | City | 14,231 |
| 4 | Larkspur | City | 13,064 |
| 5 | San Anselmo | Town | 12,830 |
| 6 | Tamalpais-Homestead Valley | CDP | 11,492 |
| 7 | Corte Madera | Town | 10,222 |
| 8 | Tiburon | Town | 9,146 |
| 9 | Fairfax | Town | 7,605 |
| 10 | Sausalito | City | 7,269 |
| 11 | Kentfield | CDP | 6,808 |
| 12 | Lucas Valley-Marinwood | CDP | 6,259 |
| 13 | Strawberry | CDP | 5,447 |
| 14 | Santa Venetia | CDP | 4,292 |
| 15 | Marin City | CDP | 2,993 |
| 16 | Sleepy Hollow | CDP | 2,401 |
| 17 | Ross | Town | 2,338 |
| 18 | Belvedere | City | 2,126 |
| 19 | Lagunitas-Forest Knolls | CDP | 1,924 |
| 20 | Bolinas | CDP | 1,483 |
| 21 | Black Point-Green Point | CDP | 1,431 |
| 22 | Woodacre | CDP | 1,410 |
| 23 | Inverness | CDP | 1,379 |
| 24 | Point Reyes Station | CDP | 895 |
| 25 | Alto | CDP | 732 |
| 26 | Stinson Beach | CDP | 541 |
| 27 | San Geronimo | CDP | 510 |
| 28 | Muir Beach | CDP | 304 |
| 29 | Dillon Beach | CDP | 246 |
| 30 | Tomales | CDP | 187 |
| 31 | Nicasio | CDP | 81 |
In popular culture
Marin County has been used as a setting in many stories. The science fiction book The Body Snatchers from 1954 is set in Mill Valley, a town in Marin. The 1965 movie Dear Brigitte shows life on houseboats in Sausalito, another place in Marin.
The book The Serial from 1978 made people interested in life in Marin. It was made into a movie in 1980, also filmed there. Many other movies, like On the Edge from 1986, Mother from 1996, Wildflowers from 1999, and Edge of Everything from 2023, were filmed and set in Marin County.
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Marin County, California, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.