COMMUNITY PROFILE


 St. Paul’s Church is located in Cambria on the Central Coast of California, which is a coastal community halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.  St. Paul’s serves the communities of San Simeon, Cambria and Cayucos.

Cambria is an island in what will soon be an ocean of protected landscape north and south of town: state park lands, city and county owned properties, and ranch lands coming under the protection of conservation easements.  Among the latter is a pending agreement that would, if approved, bar major development of the giant Hearst Ranch (83,000 acres) which runs from coast to mountains north of town.  Cambria has already secured its own “Central Park”: a square mile of gorgeous bluffs and rolling hills in the center of town.  This property, the East West Ranch, has several hiking and biking trails and is a major recreational resource for Cambrians and visitors.  Cambria is also a gateway to the state’s principal wine grape regions, and there are many wineries east of town.

San Luis Obispo, the nearest small city, has been on several lists of the most desirable and livable small cities in the country.  California Polytechnic State University, a well-known college, is located in San Luis Obispo.  The college has a performing arts center that offers many musical, dramatic and other attractions, with talent coming from all over the U. S. and overseas.

The primary economic activity of Cambria is tourism.  Cambria is a small resort town on the coast with several upscale resorts, motels, and bed and breakfasts—many of which have frontal ocean views.  In the 8.2 square miles of Cambria, activities include kayaking, windsurfing, tide pooling, fishing, viewing elephant seals, window shopping, visiting art galleries, eating at a restaurant, and taking a spectacular tour of Hearst Castle. There are many places to hike in Cambria and along the Big Sur coastline.  Walking, biking and surfing on Moonstone Beach is also very popular.   The average temperature of the Cambria area varies between 49.8 degrees in the winter and 65.7 degrees and higher in the spring and summer months.  There are on average 11 cloudy days out of the month in the Cambria area.

The Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument is located on scenic Highway 1, eight miles north of Cambria.  The “Castle” is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the state of California.  Built on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it was built by art collector and publisher, William Randolph Hearst.  Various tours are offered daily throughout the year, by reservation.

The total population in Cambria is 6,400.  Cambria has 2,186 households including 1,881 families residing in the town.  The following graph indicates the age range in the town of Cambria.  91% are white, 14 % are Hispanic, and a small minority is of other races.
The median income for a household in the town is $45,000, and the median income for a family is $55,745.  Jobs include owning and working at a local business, hotel or motel, landscaping, hospitality, and working at Hearst Castle.  There are many local writers and artists.

The average housing cost for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house is approximately $550,000.  There are several apartment complexes to rent in Cambria and condominiums in the San Simeon area.  The average rental price for a home is $1,600 to $1,700 per month.

The schools in Cambria include Cambria Elementary Santa Lucia Middle School, and Coast Union High School. Cuesta College and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) are in San Luis Obispo County.  91.3% of Cambrians have high school diplomas, 35.5% have bachelor’s degrees and 11.7% have graduate degrees.  3.5% are unemployed.

There are many other churches in Cambria: Christian Science Society, Community Presbyterian Church, First Unity Church of Cambria, Living Waters Christian Fellowship, Santa Rosa Catholic Church, Solid Rock Christian Church, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, and First Baptist Church.

Cambria offers an ambulance service in the town, and there are seven doctors and dentists.  San Luis Obispo County has three hospitals and many medical facilities.  Cambria also has a fire department and forestry station.

Cambria’s small-town community and magnificent coastal setting offer a wonderful environment and enjoyable place to live.  A majority of the population is well educated.  Many are people who left the big cities for the quiet and what most Cambrians feel is ideal weather.  Most of St. Paul’s parishioners settled in Cambria because of its many attributes and the warm and friendly people who make up this wonderful community.

For further information on the community of Cambria, you may go to the Chamber of Commerce web site at info@cambriachamber.org or www.cambriachamber.org.