Pacific Grove

This quaint and charming town is proud to call itself "The Last Hometown, USA" and its residents enjoy a quiet and safe lifestyle. Pacific Grove is also known as "Butterfly Town," in honor of the Monarch butterflies that over winter there during their annual migration. Located at the tip of the Peninsula between Monterey and Pebble Beach, this 2.86 sq. mi. town was founded in 1875 as a Methodist retreat, and was incorporated in 1889. Today, with a population of about 15,500, it is a prosperous city with a strong retail center and many scenic attractions, including Point Pinos Lighthouse, (California's oldest working lighthouse), the Museum of Natural History, and Asilomar State Beach and Park. The American Tin Cannery, California's first outlet center, is located in a renovated tinnery which supplied the cans for the sardine industry on historic Cannery Row in neighboring Monterey between 1921 and 1946. Tourism strongly influences retail sales in Pacific Grove, and 16% of the Peninsula's visitors lodge there. As with other tourism- driven cities, retail sales are well above what would be expected from local commerce alone. However, at least 50% of the city's shoppers live in neighboring cities. Pacific Grove is under-served in the general merchandise category retail-wise, and might benefit from a store or two with a broad merchandise selection. However, there is very little buildable vacant land in the city, and the focus is on managing existing uses. Pacific Grove boasts the lowest crime rate on the Peninsula, the median age is 41.9 years, and the median household income is higher than that of the state or the nation. In Pacific Grove there is only one large employer, Delaware North Parks Service. Personal and professional services account for 53% of all employment in Pacific Grove. Wholesale and retail trades account for 21%; manufacturing 13%; public administration 6%; transportation, communications, and utilities 5%; and agriculture 2%.

For More Information, call City Hall (831) 648-3100 or www.ci.pacific-grove.ca.us