Graton, California
Location in Sonoma County and the state of California
Coordinates: 38°26′15″N 122°51′59″W / 38.4375, -122.86639
Country	United States
State	California
County	Sonoma
Area [1]
- Total	1.56 sq mi (4 km²)
- Land	1.56 sq mi (4 km²)
- Water	0 sq mi (0 km²)  0%
Elevation [2]	108 ft (33 m)
Population (2000)[1]
- Total	1,815
- Density	1,162.1/sq mi (448.7/km²)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	95444
Area code(s)	707
FIPS code	06-30812
GNIS feature ID	1658656

Graton is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in west Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2000 census^[3]. Graton's ZIP code is 95444.

Geography

Graton is located at 38°26′15″N, 122°51′59″W (38.437613, -122.866375)^[4]. The CDP has a total area of 1.56 sq mi (4.0 km²), all land.^[1]

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 85 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL) at Atascadero Creek to 213 feet MSL at Oak Grove School.

Notable

Graton is noted as lying at the approximate furthest southern and western extent of Russian Colonialism. Research on Fort Ross has indicated that several farms were developed inland from the coastal fur trading fort in northeastern 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.^[5]

Graton has been a gathering place for day laborers for the last 70 plus years. In the last decade the business owners have made efforts to move the day laborers off of the main drag of the one block town. Many locals feel the day laborers are part of what make the town unique. Though the business owners efforts failed, a facility was erected 1.5 blocks from the main street and is used for classes. The center is run by Centro Laboral de Graton. Details at gratondaylabor.org

Graton is a favorite filming location to the local amateur film company, Team Freezum. Bowen and Edison Street along with Oak Grove Elementary and the Deis Vineyard have been seen in the popular 2007 film, Thunder Down Under.

Elected representatives

Graton is represented by the following elected officials:

• Sonoma County Board of Supervisors: Mike Reilly (Dem)
• California State Assembly (1st District): Patty Berg (Dem)
• California State Senate (2nd District): Pat Wiggins (Dem)
• U.S. House of Representatives (6th District): Lynn Woolsey (Dem)
• U.S. Senate: Barbara Boxer (Dem) and Dianne Feinstein (Dem)

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,815 people, 690 households, and 442 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,162.1/sq mi (449.2/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 452.0/sq mi (174.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.35% White, 0.50% African American, 1.49% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 8.98% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.28% of the population.

There were 690 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,750, and the median income for a family was $56,944. Males had a median income of $45,179 versus $43,021 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,844. About 4.0% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

• Graton, California is at coordinates 38°26′15″N 122°51′59″W / 38.437613, -122.866375 (Graton, California)Coordinates: 38°26′15″N 122°51′59″W / 38.437613, -122.866375 (Graton, California)

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