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Castaic, California | |
|---|---|
 Castaic Dam and its lake, 2007 | |
 Location in Los Angeles County, California | |
  Castaic Location in Santa Clarita Valley. Show map of Santa Clarita Castaic Castaic (the Los Angeles metropolitan area) Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Castaic Castaic (California) Show map of California | |
| Coordinates:34°29′N118°37′W / 34.49°N 118.62°W /34.49; -118.62 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.28 sq mi (18.85 km2) |
| • Land | 7.26 sq mi (18.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.015 sq mi (0.04 km2) 0.24% |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,937 |
| • Density | 2,607.8/sq mi (1,006.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 91310, 91384 |
| Area code | 661 |
| FIPS code | 06-11796 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2582966 |
| Website | https://www.castaicca.com/ |
| U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Castaic, California | |
Castaic (/kəˈsteɪ.ɪk/ ⓘ) (Chumash:Kaštiq;[3]Spanish:Castéc)[4] is anunincorporated community andcensus-designated place (CDP) in northwesternLos Angeles County, California, United States. As of the2020 census it had a population of 18,937.[5]
Tens of thousands of motorists pass through Castaic daily as they drive to or from Los Angeles onInterstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway).Castaic Lake is part of the California Water Project and is the site of a hydro-electric power plant. Castaic is 38 miles (61 km) northwest ofLos Angeles Union Station and northwest of the city ofSanta Clarita.
TheCastaic Range War went on for decades in the late 19th and early 20th centuries resulting in dozens of deaths before hostilities ceased in 1916.
The name Castaic is derived from theChumash wordKaštiq, meaning "the eye".[6] The Spanish and Mexicans later spelt the name inSpanish asCastéc. Castec is first mentioned on old boundary maps ofRancho San Francisco, as a canyon at the trailhead leading to the old Chumash camp atCastac Lake (Tejon Ranch), which is intermittently wet and briny.[6] Early publications in English spelled itCasteque before the current spelling became standardized.[7]
TheCórdova family of California were the first settlers in the area. Modern Castaic began in 1887 whenSouthern Pacific set up a railroad siding on the line betweenPiru andSaugus Station, naming it "Castaic Junction".[8][9] Between January and April 1890, theCastec School District adopted the new spelling, "Castaic".[10][11]
Between 1890 and 1916, theCastaic Range War was fought in Castaic country over ranch boundaries and grazing rights. It was the biggestrange war in U.S. history.
A feud started over Section 23, where the Stonegate subdivision is now. William Chormicle had legally bought the property, but William "Wirt" Jenkins was already storing grain on it and said he had filed for ownership. During a heated dispute, Chormicle and a friend shot and killed two of Jenkins's cowhands. They were acquitted in court.[12][13][14][15]
Jenkins, however, was the localjustice of the peace, with friends of his own, and the feud quickly grew into war. FormerLos Angeles Rangers (among whom Jenkins had fought) and other notables were drawn in. The war claimed dozens of lives and foiled a negotiator, a forest ranger whom PresidentTheodore Roosevelt had sent in to quell it.[12][13][14][15]
Castaic has the last traditional cattle roundup—with horses,lariats, andbranding irons—in Los Angeles County. It has been held by the Cordova family since 1834, when the family first settled here. Members of the Cordova family were scouts for the U.S. Army during theMexican War in 1846 and helped identify bodies during theSt. Francis Dam disaster inSan Francisquito Canyon in 1928. Operations scaled back in 1967 when the government seized around 1,000 acres (400 ha), including the ancestral ranch-house, for the planned Castaic Lake and dam.[16][17]
The area is seismically active. On January 3, 2015, a pair ofearthquakes of magnitude 3.1 (location:34°36′36″N118°38′06″W / 34.610°N 118.635°W /34.610; -118.635, depth: 5.6 miles (9.0 km)) and 4.2 (location:34°37′12″N118°37′48″W / 34.620°N 118.630°W /34.620; -118.630, depth: 5.5 miles (8.9 km)), respectively, were reported about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north of Castaic. Theepicenter was 16 miles (26 km) fromSanta Clarita, California.[18][19][20]
This region experiences hot and dry summers, and cool, moderately rainy winters. During the months of June though September, the average high temperature ranges from the 90s F (30s C) to above 100 °F (38 °C). According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Castaic has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.[21]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 19,015 | — | |
| 2020 | 18,937 | −0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] 1850–1870[23][24] 1880–1890[25] 1900[26] 1910[27] 1920[28] 1930[29] 1940[30] 1950[31] 1960[32] 1970[33] 1980[34] 1990[35]2000[36] 2010[37] 2020[38] | |||
Castaic first appeared as acensus designated place in the2010 U.S. census.[37]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[39] | Pop 2020[38] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,864 | 9,208 | 57.13% | 48.62% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 589 | 600 | 3.10% | 3.17% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 45 | 51 | 0.24% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,123 | 2,036 | 11.16% | 10.75% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 23 | 27 | 0.12% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 29 | 151 | 0.15% | 0.80% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 626 | 978 | 3.29% | 5.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,716 | 5,886 | 24.80% | 31.08% |
| Total | 19,015 | 18,937 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that Castaic had a population of 18,937. The population density was 2,607.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,006.8/km2). The racial makeup of Castaic was 55.2%White, 3.3%African American, 1.1%Native American, 11.2%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 12.3% fromother races, and 16.7% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.1% of the population.[40]
The census reported that 99.9% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[40]
There were 6,054 households, out of which 39.2% included children under the age of 18, 64.7% were married-couple households, 5.5% werecohabiting couple households, 17.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 14.7% of households were one person, and 5.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.13.[40] There were 4,859families (80.3% of all households).[41]
The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% aged 18 to 24, 23.9% aged 25 to 44, 31.3% aged 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.8 males.[40]
There were 6,130 housing units at an average density of 844.1 units per square mile (325.9 units/km2), of which 6,054 (98.8%) were occupied. Of these, 82.5% were owner-occupied, and 17.5% were occupied by renters.[40]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $132,153, and theper capita income was $50,338. About 3.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line.[42]
Elementary and middle school students attend schools in theCastaic Union School District. High school students attendCastaic High School in theWilliam S. Hart Union High School District.[43] Castaic High School first opened in 2019.[44]
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Castaic is inthe 23rd senatorial district, represented byRepublican Suzette Martinez Valladares,[45] and inthe 40th Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Pilar Schiavo.[46]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Castaic is inCalifornia's 27th congressional district, represented byDemocrat George T. Whitesides.[47]
TheLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Santa Clarita Valley Station inSanta Clarita, serving Castaic.[48] Station 149 of theLos Angeles County Fire Department serves the community. The Castaic Area Town Council meets monthly.[49]
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