HISTORY: Known
over the years as Santa Rosa, Rosaville, San Simeon and "Slabtown".
The town became Cambria (the Latin word for Wales according
to Funk
& Wagnall's) in 1869, on the recommendation of a local
committee. One story has it that a committee member had recently
been to Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and that woodsy, mining
area reminded him of home.
Cambria
began as a fishing and quicksilver mining town, then later
became important for its dairy and lumber exports. Today,
the pine covered hills and rugged shoreline attracts artists
and tourists. A number of interesting buildings remain
from Cambria’s early days, including the Old Santa
Rosa Church, the Squibb-Darke house, the 100 year old Brambles
(now a restaurant), Santa Rosa School, the Hoosegow, The
Gordon Howard home and the Lull house, now a part of the
Bluebird Inn.
Originally
subdivided over 70 years ago, Cambria was developed into
small, average quality vacation homes. Recent trends has
been toward above average quality custom homes. The terrain
varies from flat/moderate sites to steep/difficult sites.
Views range from ocean to forest to mountain and valley.
Some neighborhoods are nearing full development. At present
the community is approximately 45 percent developed.
GEOGRAPHY: Cambria
is an unincorporated coastal community located approximately
35 miles north of San Luis Obispo and 6 miles south of Hearst
Castle. Population is approximately 6,100.
COMPONENTS: Cambria
has 3 banks, a high school, intermediate and grammar schools
plus a private Montessori school. A convenient supermarket
as well as a gourmet grocery store. Weekly open-air Farmer’s
Market on Fridays and several convenience stores to serve
our daily needs. Cambria has many fine elegant restaurants
as well as family restaurants. Numerous auto services and
well-stocked hardware stores are available for keeping things
running. Many crafts/artists galleries, theater groups, book
stores, a local weekly newspaper stimulate the senses of
Cambrians. For the physically active, there are garden clubs,
lawn boawling, native and exotic plant nurseries, tennis
courts, kayaking and enjoyment of nature.
DEVELOPMENT: San
Luis Obispo County and the State Coastal Commission govern
and oversee building development within the community.
Building size and height are regulated, and adapted to
specific areas within the community. The local water district,
Cambria Community Services District (CCSD), issues water
and sewer permits. Due to the countywide Growth Management
Ordinance, the wait for building in Cambria is approximately
20 years, unless purchasing a lot already on the CCSD water/sewer
list awaiting permits. Cambria is located in
the County of San Luis Obispo, Supervisorial District #2.
Population: Estimated
at 6,500
Elevation: Sea
level to 200 feet
Physical Size:About
3 square miles
Climate: Mild— no
smog, clear blue skies, some seasonal fog, ocean breeze.
Temperature: 50 –
70 degrees year-round.
Normal rainfall: 20"
to 25" a year.
Government: Unincorporated community. San
Luis Obispo County provides Sheriff protection and departmental
services, zoning, planning.
Industry: Tourism,
agriculture, light industry.
Schools: Cambria
Grammar School, Santa Lucia Middle School, Coast Union High
School, Leffingwell High School, New Dawn Montessori School,
Cuesta Community College, Cal Poly University in San Luis
Obispo.
CAMBRIA
GRAMMAR SCHOOL 927-4400
1350 Main St. Kindergarten
through Grade 5 Kathy Lindberg - Principal. Student enrollment
is 386 with an average class size of 24 students.
COAST
UNION HIGH SCHOOL 927-3889
2950 Santa Rosa Creek Rd. Grade
9 through 12 Darrell Dunbar - Principal Average daily attendance
is 341 students with an average class size of 20 students.
NEW
DAWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL 927-4958
The New Dawn Center provides children from 3 - 9 years
old with a strong foundation of self-worth where they
can discover more powerful, more tangible, more creative
and more meaningful ways to break through learning
barriers. All areas of development: physical,
emotional, sound, intellectual and spiritual are promoted
and valued.
LEFFINGWELL
CONT. HIGH SCHOOL 927-7148
2820 Santa Rosa Creek Rd. Mike Schackel - Principal Average
daily attendance is 40 students with an average class size
of 15 students.
SANTA
LUCIA SCHOOL 927-3693
2850 Schoolhouse Lane Grade 6 through 8 Denis
M. de Clercq - Principal Average daily attendance is 199
students with an average class size of 25 students.
CUESTA
COLLEGE 546-3140
Admissions Office California
Community College. Please visit our website for more
detailed information.
Cal
Poly University in San Luis Obisspo
Transportation: Cambria "Otter" Bus
available Free through Cambria Fri., Sat., Sun. & Mon.
County bus service to San Luis Obispo, Monday through Saturday.
Now there is service to Hearst Castle. Amtrak trains, Airport,
Greyhound bus, and rental cars available in San Luis Obispo
35 miles south.
Shopping: Full
range of shops and services for visitors and residents, retail
specialty shops, restaurants, art galleries, gift and antique
shops, clothing stores, hardware stores, markets, gas service
stations, auto repair, home furnishings and banking.
Art
& Culture: Numerous small groups engage
in a spectrum of hobbies. Allied Arts Association, Little Theater,
Garden Clubs, Instrumental Music Ensembles, Writer’s Club & Adult
Recreation Center - all buzz with year-round activities.
Recreation: Year-round
hiking, bicycling, surfing, tide pools, beach-combing, rock
hunting and fishing. Lawn bowling, tennis, picnic facilities,
public swimming pool.
Parks
& Campsites: San Simeon State Beach Park
(1 mile north of Cambria) day & overnight use (No Hookups).
Another plus for day use is Shamel Park. There is a out-door
swimming pool (open in summer), picnic tables, barbecue areas,
wide expanse of lawn; a fun place for a cook-out and a romp
on the beach. Leffingwell Landing State Picnic Grounds
on Moonstone Beach Dr. also has barbecue areas, picnic tables,
tide pools. William R. Hearst State Beach in San Simeon (6
miles north), barbecue areas, picnic tables, great swimming
beach, pier.
Housing: All
homes in Cambria individually built. More than 50% are second
homes. Few condominiums. Apartments practically non-existent.
Limited number of homes for rent. Building permits limited.
No senior housing.
Churches: Baptist,
Catholic, Christian Science, Presbyterian, Episcopal and
Unity.
Baha'l
Faith 5978 Moonstone Beach Dr. 927-3679
Christian
Science Society 1475 Main St. 927-3659
Community
Presbyterian Church 2250 Yorkshire Dr.
927-4356
Crossroads
Community Church 4314 Bridge St. 927-3780
First
Baptist Church 2700 Eton Rd 927-4789
First
Unity of Cambria 950 Main St. 927-8021
Jehovah's
Witnesses 2680 Main St. 927-5119
Living
Waters Christian Fellowship 4314 Bridge
St. 927-2443
SANTA
ROSA CATHOLIC CHURCH
1174 Main St. -
Dennis Gilbert 927-4816
ST.
PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
2700 Eton Rd. - Rev.
Donna Ross 927-3239
SOLID
ROCK COMMUNITY CHURCH 802
Hillcrest Dr. - Rev.
Michael L. Brewster 927-1884
Vineyard
Christian Fellowship P.O. Box 283 927-5550
Medical: Family
Practitioners, Optometrist, Psychologist, Chiropractors,
Dentists, x-ray, Paramedic and Ambulance Services, Veterinarians,
Home Health Services available.
Economic
Profile: Available at the Chamber, email
your request and provide your mailing address,
a Relocation Packet will be mailed to you.
Hospitals: Cambria
is served by three facilities:
SIERRA
VISTA – San Luis Obispo (35 miles south)
FRENCH
HOSPITAL – San Luis Obispo (37 miles
south)
TWIN
CITIES HOSPITAL 1100
Las Tablas Rd., Templeton (25 miles
inland)
434-4545 -
24 hour emergency services, physical therapy, cardiac cath
lab, home health services.
Mail: Cambria
Post Office. Home delivery, but some die-hards still maintain
post office boxes for daily trip to pick up the mail, see
old friends and hear the news.
Cambria
Chamber of Commerce
767 Main Street. Chamber office offers information
about the local businesses. Stop by the office for directories,
directions or a little Cambria History. 927-3624, Fax 927-9426.
Newspapers:
The Cambrian ~ 2442 Main St. Comes out once a week on
Thursdays. 805- 927-8652.
Home delivery of San Luis Obispo Tribune & Los Angeles
Times
TV-Radio:
Charter Communications provide cable (800)
640-6959 or 544-2688.
Local
FM radio station KTEA-FM
103.5 KXTZ 95.3 KXDZ
100.5 786-2570. Rock
n Rhythm n Blues, the Local Station. Request line:
786-2580
Job
opportunities: Please subscribe to our local
paper
"The Cambrian" at 805-927-8652. It comes
out once a week on Thursdays and list jobs available in
the area. You can have it mailed to you each week.
Taxes/Assessed
Valuation: Call SLO County Assessor 805-781-5643.
Public
Library: 900 Main St., Cambria 805-927-4336
Utilities
Electric : PG & E
Natural Gas: Southern Calif. Gas Co.
Telephone: AT & T and Pacific Bell
Water, Sewer, Water waiting list, Trash: CAMBRIA
COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT (CCSD) 1316
Tamson Dr. Ste.201 927-6223
Senior
Citizen Services:
C.A.R.E.S. - Cambria
Adult Resources Education & Support 927-4290
C.A.N. - Cambria's
Anonymous Neighbors 927-5673
Cambria
Community Bus 927-4173
Cambria
Community Counsel 927-1547
Joslyn
Recreation Center 927-3364 950
Main St.
Meals
on Wheels 927-1268
County
Offices:
SLO
Sheriff Dept. Business 800-834-3346
SLO
County Government Center 1050 Monterey
St., SLO 93408
SLO
Animal Services 781-4400
SLO
Business Licenses 781-5832
SLO
County Courthouse 781-5000
SLO
Planning Dept. 781-5600
SLO
Tax Collector 781-5830
SLO
County Tax Assessor 781-5643
