87-657: The Marin Hills are a series of steep high ridges and peaks in southern Marin County . They are a part of the long Pacific Coast Ranges mountain system. The centerpoint of these hills is the 2,571 foot (784 m) Mount Tamalpais near Mill Valley . The hills are bordered to the north by the Santa Rosa Plain and Laguna de Santa Rosa ; to the east by the San Pablo Bay , the northern arm of San Francisco Bay ; to
174-582: A 75.1 percent to 24.9 percent margin. The official tally was 103,341 against and 34,324 in favor. Only San Francisco County voted against the measure by a wider margin (75.2% against). According to the California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Marin County has 161,870 registered voters. Of those, 89,526 (55.31%) are registered Democrats, 23,380 (14.44%) are registered Republicans , 7,020 (4.35%) are registered with other political parties, and 41,908 (25.89%) have declined to state
261-538: A few such stands remaining in the San Francisco Bay Area . The Muir Woods National Monument is an old-growth coastal redwood forest . Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean , the forest is regularly shrouded in a coastal marine layer fog, contributing to a wet environment that encourages vigorous plant growth. The fog is also vital for the growth of the redwoods as they use moisture from
348-585: A footrace which goes between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach , passes through Muir Woods on the second Sunday in June. The Double Dipsea , later in June and the Quad Dipsea , in November, follow the same course. Rangers and volunteers present 15-minute interpretive talks and guided one-hour tours when staffing permits. Program topics include redwood ecology and conservation, the impact of climate change , and
435-506: A narrow strip along the coast. By the early 20th century, most of these forests had been cut down. Just north of the San Francisco Bay , one valley named Redwood Canyon remained uncut, mainly due to its relative inaccessibility. This was noticed by William Kent , a rising California politician who would soon be elected to the U.S. Congress. He and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent , purchased 611 acres (247 ha) of land from
522-593: A net benefit of $ 1.6 billion in additional revenue. A peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service . The report shows $ 20.2 billion of direct spending by more than 318 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 329,000 jobs nationally; 268,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to
609-573: A political party. Democrats hold wide voter-registration majorities in all political subdivisions in Marin County. Democrats' largest registration advantage in Marin is in the town of Fairfax , wherein there are only 344 Republicans (6.1%) out of 5,678 total voters compared to 3,758 Democrats (66.2%) and 1,276 voters who have declined to state a political party (22.5%). Muir Woods Muir Woods National Monument ( / m jʊər / MURE )
696-471: A population of 252,409. The racial makeup of Marin County was 201,963 (80.0%) White , 6,987 (2.8%) African American , 1,523 (0.6%) Native American , 13,761 (5.5%) Asian , 509 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 16,973 (6.7%) from other races , and 10,693 (4.2%) from two or more races. There were 39,069 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (15.5%). As of the census of 2000, there were 247,289 people, 100,650 households, and 60,691 families residing in
783-546: A shuttle on all weekends and holidays and during select peak weekdays, providing service to Muir Woods from Sausalito, Marin City, or Mill Valley (Route 66); the National Park Service recommends that visitors use the shuttle when it is operating to avoid difficulties in finding parking. The NPS requires reservations made in advance for all vehicles and shuttle riders; a parking reservation is $ 8.50 per vehicle while
870-533: A slope, the tree leaned towards the valley for more than 100 years. Storms in El Niño years of 1981 and 1982 caused the tree to tilt even more and took out the top 40 feet (12 m) of the tree. During the winter of 2002–03, many storms brought high winds to Muir Woods causing the tree to lean so much that a fissure developed in January 2003. This fissure grew larger as the tree slowly leaned more and more, forcing
957-462: A spot on the shuttle is $ 3.25 per person. Furthermore, an entrance fee of $ 15.00 per person is charged in order to gain entry to Muir Woods. The shuttle service and park are open every day of the year including holidays. The park is open from 8:00 am and closes at sunset. There are no camping or lodging facilities in Muir Woods. The monument is a day-use area only. There are camping facilities in
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#17327727628521044-752: A three movement solo classical guitar piece called "In the Woods" in 1995. The third movement of the piece is called Muir Woods and it was inspired in this forest. Characters played by James Stewart and Kim Novak visit the Muir Woods National Monument in Alfred Hitchcock 's 1958 film Vertigo ; however, the scene was actually shot in Big Basin Redwoods State Park . The monument was a setting in Rise of
1131-525: A total tax basis of $ 39.8 billion. These parcels are divided into the following classifications: Geographically, the county forms a large, southward-facing peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Pablo Bay , and San Francisco Bay to the east, and – across the Golden Gate – the city of San Francisco to the south. Marin County's northern border is with Sonoma County . Most of
1218-531: A website where all parking and shuttle reservations can be made, has helped to decongest the traffic to an extent. Despite the number of attending visitors trending downward at Muir Woods, parking and congestion remain a problem for tourists and locals alike. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, in an attempt to protect the wildlife and environment of Muir Woods which is given certain protections due to
1305-802: Is San Rafael . Marin County is across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and is included in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Marin County's natural sites include the Muir Woods redwood forest, the Marin Headlands , Stinson Beach , the Point Reyes National Seashore , and Mount Tamalpais . Marin is one of the highest-income counties by per capita income and median household income. The county
1392-635: Is a United States National Monument managed by the National Park Service and named after naturalist John Muir . It is located on Mount Tamalpais near the Pacific coast in southwestern Marin County, California . The Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , and is 12 miles (19 km) north of San Francisco . It protects 554 acres (224 ha), of which 240 acres (97 ha) are old growth coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) forests, one of
1479-493: Is at least 1,200 years old. Other tree species grow in the understory of the redwood groves. Three of the most common are the California bay laurel , the bigleaf maple and the tanoak . Each of these species has developed a unique adaptation to the low level of dappled sunlight that reaches them through the redwoods overhead. The California bay laurel has a strong root system that allows the tree to lean towards openings in
1566-920: Is considered in the California Floristic Province , a zone of extremely high biodiversity and endemism . There are numerous ecosystems present, including Coastal Strand , oak woodland , mixed evergreen forest , and Coast Redwood Forests chaparral and riparian zones . There are also a considerable number of protected plant and animal species present: Fauna include the California red-legged frog ( Rana draytonii ) and California freshwater shrimp while flora include Marin Dwarf Flax, Hesperolinon congestum ; Tiburon Jewelflower, Streptanthus niger ; and Tiburon Indian paintbrush, Castilleja neglecta . A number of watersheds exist in Marin County, including Walker Creek , Lagunitas Creek , Miller Creek , and Novato Creek . Notably,
1653-691: Is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors . The Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and draws thousands of visitors a year to guided tours of its arch and atrium design. In 1994, a new county jail facility was embedded into the hillside nearby. The United States' oldest cross country running event, the Dipsea Race , takes place annually in Marin County, attracting thousands of athletes. Modern mountain biking has many early origins on
1740-437: Is home to over 50 species of birds. This relatively low number is due to the lack of insects. The tannin in the trees repels the insects and the volume of flowers and fruits produced by plants below the canopy is limited by the shade of the redwoods. It is occasionally possible to see northern spotted owls or pileated woodpeckers in the forest. While decreasing in numbers elsewhere, the spotted owls appear to be thriving in
1827-694: Is in California's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Jared Huffman . From 2008 to 2012, Huffman represented Marin County in the California State Assembly . In the California State Legislature , Marin County is in: For most of the 20th century, Marin County was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. From 1880 until 1984, the only Democrats to win there were Woodrow Wilson , Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson . However,
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#17327727628521914-550: Is simply an abbreviation of this name. Francis Drake and the crew of the Golden Hind was thought to have landed on the Marin coast in 1579 claiming the land as Nova Albion . A bronze plaque inscribed with Drake's claim to the new lands, fitting the description in Drake's own account, was discovered in 1933. This so-called Drake's Plate of Brass was revealed as a hoax in 2003. In 1595, Sebastian Cermeno lost his ship,
2001-400: The 2020 presidential election . Marin has voted for many gubernatorial candidates who went on to become high-profile national figures, including Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , Jerry Brown , and Dianne Feinstein . On November 4, 2008, the citizens of Marin County voted strongly against Proposition 8 , a constitutional amendment which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry, by
2088-603: The Antiquities Act it is necessary to take care of the ecosystems of surrounding areas outside of park boundaries that have impacts on the wildlife and ecosystems within the park. As a result, the park is involved in restoration and conservation efforts in Redwood Creek at the Banducci Flower Farm site, which is managed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area , and at Big Lagoon, which is outside
2175-571: The Golden Gate on December 27: "...we came to anchor near the mouth of the bay, under a high and beautifully sloping hill, upon which herds of hundreds and hundreds of red deer [note: "red deer" is the European term for "elk"], and the stag, with his high branching antlers, were bounding about...," although it is not clear whether this was the Marin side or the San Francisco side. The 2010 United States Census reported that Marin County had
2262-568: The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy have worked together to restore the last 1/2 mile of the Redwood Creek before it enters the Pacific Ocean. Before restoration efforts, the Redwood Creek mouth functioned poorly in conveying water and sediment from a nine square mile watershed to the ocean. The National Park Service claims that for over 100 years agriculture, logging, and road-building increased
2349-545: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , a female in Marin County could expect to live 85.0 years, the longest for any county in the United States. The national average is 80.8 years for a female. According to the 2010 United States Census , the racial composition of Marin County was as follows: According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey (ACS), 81.3% of Marin County's residents were born in
2436-633: The Mexican-American war , areas of Marin County were seized by Americans as part of the conquest of California (1846–1847). Marin County is one of the original 27 counties of California, created February 18, 1850, following adoption of the California Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union. According to General Mariano Vallejo , who headed an 1850 committee to name California's counties,
2523-714: The National Park system , and President Roosevelt agreed with this proposition. Kent and Muir had become friends over shared views of wilderness preservation, but Kent's later support for the flooding of Hetch Hetchy caused Muir to end their friendship. In December 1928, the Kent Memorial was erected at the Kent Tree in Fern Canyon. This tree—a Douglas fir, not a redwood—was said to be Kent's favorite. Due to its height of 280 feet (85 m) and location on
2610-604: The San Agustin , while exploring the Marin Coast. The Spanish explorer Vizcaíno landed about twenty years after Drake in what is now called Drakes Bay . However the first Spanish settlement in Marin was not established until 1817 when Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded partly in response to the Russian-built Fort Ross to the north in what is now Sonoma County . Mission San Rafael Arcángel
2697-558: The San Francisco skyline, and several towns around Richardson Bay when viewed from the south. Since these hills lie near the Pacific Ocean , they force much of the incoming moisture out of the air and rainfall here is much greater than the bayside of Marin County. Due to this orographic rain effect, the Marin Municipal Water District has constructed several dams and reservoirs to store water for
Marin Hills - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-522: The Tamalpais Land and Water Company for $ 45,000 in 1905 with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the mountain above them. The deal was facilitated by banker Lovell White and his activist wife, Laura Lyon White . In 1907, a water company in nearby Sausalito planned to dam Redwood Creek , thereby flooding the valley. When Kent objected to the plan, the water company threatened to use eminent domain and took him to court to attempt to force
2871-580: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 828 square miles (2,140 km ), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km ) is land and 308 square miles (800 km ), comprising 37.2%, is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in California by land area. According to the records at the County Assessor-Recorder's Office , as of June 2006, Marin had 91,065 acres (369 km ) of taxable land, consisting of 79,086 parcels with
2958-476: The coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) trees. They are known for their height, and are related to the giant sequoia of the Sierra Nevada. While redwoods can grow to nearly 380 feet ( 115 m ) , the tallest tree in the Muir Woods is 258 feet (79 m). The trees come from a seed no bigger than that of a tomato seed. Most of the redwoods in the monument are between 500 and 800 years old. The oldest
3045-630: The 1800s they were a source of timber for the San Francisco Bay Area , and thus logging took out most of the old growth stands; however, one old growth stand remained uncut in Sequoia Canyon, due to the steep terrain and it therefore withstood pressure from loggers and water companies. This stand is now the Muir Woods National Monument , part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area . The parklands of these hills are popular with tourists and locals alike seeking to escape
3132-559: The 1980s. Fifty percent of historical salmon habitat is now behind dams. Strong efforts are also being made to protect and restore undammed, headwater reaches of this Watershed in the San Geronimo Valley , where upwards of 40% of the Lagunitas salmon spawn each year and where as much as 1/3 of the juvenile salmon (or fry) spend their entire freshwater lives. The "Salmon Protection and Watershed Network" leads winter tours for
3219-642: The 19th century. The California State Legislature had been discussing legislation for forest-fire suppression as early as 1881, but the formal department did not come into being until approximately 1901. The Marin County Fire Department came into existence in its current incarnation on July 1, 1941, with passage of an ordinance and two resolutions by the Board of Supervisors. In the United States House of Representatives , Marin County
3306-403: The 2006–2008 ACS, English was the most commonly spoken language at home by residents over five years of age; those who spoke only English at home made up 77.1% of Marin County's residents. Speakers of non-English languages accounted for the remaining 22.9% of the population. Speakers of Spanish made up 11.7% of the county's residents, while speakers of other Indo-European languages made up 7.1% of
3393-549: The Central California Coast distinct population segment . Coho salmon are listed as endangered in their evolutionary significant unit (2011). The creek is near the southernmost limit of coho habitat and the fish have never been stocked, so they have a distinctive DNA. The Redwood Creek salmon are Central Coast coho salmon which have been listed as federally threatened species since October 2006 and as federally endangered species in June 2005. Coho migrate from
3480-609: The Lagunitas Creek Watershed is home to the largest remaining wild run of coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) in Central California. These coho are part of the "Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit, " or CCC ESU, and are listed as "endangered" at both the state and federal level. Significant efforts to protect and restore these fish have been underway in the Watershed since
3567-651: The Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and the first act of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), though all three films were in fact filmed in British Columbia . Jack Kerouac discusses hiking though Muir Woods in his 1958 novel The Dharma Bums . He appears in the Big Hero 6: The Series , set in an alternate history that San Francisco was under much Japanese influence after
Marin Hills - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-404: The U.S. economy was $ 40.1 billion. The popularity of Muir Woods as a tourist destination has created a great deal of congestion and delay on the two lane California State Highway 1 . As a result, many civilians and residents living near Muir Woods and affected by the increased traffic on the pathway to the national monument have voiced concern with the National Park Service . In response, policy
3741-582: The United States. Approximately 80.0% of the county's residents were born in one of the fifty states or born abroad to American parents. Foreign-born individuals made up the remaining 18.7% of the population. Latin America was the most common birthplace of foreign-born residents; those born in Latin America made up the plurality (42.2%) of Marin County's foreign population. Individuals born in Europe were
3828-500: The ability to travel to Muir Woods. The efforts to restore Redwood Creek illustrate a way in which the government protection of Muir Woods leads to positive benefits for the surrounding area. American keyboardist and composer George Duke composed Muir Woods Suite in 1993. The Suite, a major orchestral piece, was premiered and recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival . Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu composed
3915-414: The adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park . The paved/boardwalk main trail begins at the entrance plaza ( Trail Map ) and travels into the old growth redwood forest alongside Redwood Creek. Other unpaved walking trails extend from the main trail to connect with Mt. Tamalpais State Park trails outside of the monument boundaries. Bicycles are only allowed on designated fire roads. The annual Dipsea Race ,
4002-636: The brand of Republicanism prevailing in Marin County was historically a moderate one. Like most of the historically Republican suburbs of the Bay Area, it became friendlier to Democrats as the demographics of the area changed and the national party embraced social and religious conservatism. In 1984, it very narrowly voted for Walter Mondale and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since then. Out of all California counties , only San Francisco County voted more Democratic in
4089-520: The canopy. The bigleaf maple, true to its name, has developed the largest leaf of any maple species. These large leaves allow it to capture more of the forest's dim light. The tanoak has a unique internal leaf structure that enables it to make effective use of the light that filters through the canopy. Redwood Creek provides a critical spawning and rearing habitat for coho or silver salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) and steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Steelhead are listed as threatened species (2011) in
4176-545: The closure of some trails. On March 18, 2003, at around 8:28 pm, the tree fell, damaging several other trees nearby. The closed trails have since been reconfigured and reopened. In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed and park attendance tripled, reaching over 180,000. Muir Woods is one of the major tourist attractions of the San Francisco Bay Area , with 776,000 visitors in 2005. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, shortly before he
4263-618: The county was named for "Marin," great chief of the tribe Licatiut." Marin had been named "Huicmuse" until he was baptized as "Marino" at about age 20. Marin / Marino was born into the Huimen people, a Coast Miwok tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the San Rafael area. Vallejo believed that "Chief Marin" had waged several fierce battles against the Spanish. Marino definitely did reside at Mission Dolores (in modern San Francisco) much of
4350-643: The county's population resides on the eastern side, with a string of communities running along U.S. Route 101 and the San Francisco Bay, from Sausalito to Tiburon to Corte Madera to San Rafael and Novato . The interior contains large areas of agricultural and open space; West Marin , through which State Route 1 runs alongside the California coast, contains many small unincorporated communities whose economies depend on agriculture and tourism. West Marin has beaches which are popular destinations for surfers and tourists year-round. Notable features of
4437-399: The county. The population density was 476 inhabitants per square mile (184/km ). There were 104,990 housing units at an average density of 202 units per square mile (78 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% White , 2.9% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American, 4.5% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 4.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. 11.1% of
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#17327727628524524-531: The creek due to a loss of large woody debris and deep pools where young salmon can rest. Starting in 2009, the National Park Service began restoring Muir Beach to create a functional, self-sustaining ecosystem and improve visitor access. The intervention was almost too late, since the coho only has a three-year life span. But, as of January 2010, and for the first time in three years, an estimated 45 coho swam up Redwood Creek to spawn, creating 23 redds or clusters of eggs. In 2011, 11 live adult coho and 1 coho carcass
4611-564: The day. The county and the National Park Service introduced a reservation system in early 2018 which restricts the number of vehicles allowed to enter and park in Muir Woods every day. Residents of neighboring Mill Valley had protested against earlier plans to set up an additional parking lot, and together with a group named "Mount Tam Task Force" sued to prevent the building of a shuttle bus station. Reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders since 2018. Marin Transit operates
4698-417: The erosion and degradation of the creek. As a result, local species of coho salmon and steelhead trout were threatened. Moreover, due to the poor state of Redwood Creek, even moderate and slight storms would cause flooding leaving residents flooded and local roads untraversable. While technically within the protected lands of Muir Woods, the poor state of Redwood Creek was having negative effects on wildlife and
4785-436: The fog during drought seasons, particularly during dry summers. The monument remains cool and moist year round with daytime temperatures averaging between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 to 21 °C ). Rainfall is heavy during the winter and summers are almost completely dry with the exception of fog drip caused by the fog passing through the trees. Annual precipitation in the park ranges from 39.4 inches (1,000 mm) in
4872-442: The history of Muir Woods. Longer hikes or other special programs are offered several times per month, and require a reservation. Weddings, commercial filming, and special events are allowed in the monument only with a proper permit. In 2018, more than 17.5 million visitors visited Golden Gate National Recreation Area , Muir Woods National Monument, and Fort Point National Historic Site , and spent $ 1.2 billion in communities near
4959-563: The lower valley to 47.2 inches ( 1,200 mm ) higher up in the mountain slopes. The redwoods grow on brown humus-rich loam which may be gravelly, stony or somewhat sandy. This soil has been assigned to the Centissima series , which is always found on sloping ground. It is well drained, moderately deep, and slightly to moderately acidic. It has developed from a mélange in the Franciscan Formation . More open areas of
5046-590: The male death row and the execution chamber of California . The Marin County Sheriff's Office serves as the county's main law enforcement agency. The Central Marin Police Authority is responsible for law enforcement in Larkspur , Corte Madera , and San Anselmo . The first formal fire department in what is now Marin County was The Tamalpais Forestry Association, formed around the turn of
5133-427: The median income for a family was $ 88,934. As of 2007, these figures had risen to $ 83,732 and $ 104,750. In May 2010, the county had the lowest unemployment rate in California . According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, in July 2010, Marin's unemployment rate rose to 8.3%. San Quentin State Prison of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is in the county. San Quentin houses
5220-449: The migration from their spawning grounds in the Lagunitas Creek area to the Pacific Ocean. This increase in migration was significantly up from the previous historic record for the same migration measured in 2006 at 11,000. In 2010, all of the county's beaches were listed as the cleanest in the state. When Richard Henry Dana Jr. visited San Francisco Bay in 1835, he wrote about vast tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes ) herds near
5307-502: The monument and other evergreen forests in the area. A National Park Service monitoring project of the owls is ongoing within the monument. The project has found that adult owls are finding mates, raising young to adulthood and the young are having new broods of their own. The monument is home to a variety of mammals ranging in size from the small, four-inch long American shrew mole to the much larger black-tailed subspecies of mule deer , Odocoileus hemionus columbianus . The majority of
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#17327727628525394-456: The monument at Muir Beach, to improve ecosystem health and salmonid habitat. These efforts typically require a mixture of effort from the National Park Service, federal, state, and local governments; and even private landowners. The restoration efforts in surrounding areas outside of Muir Woods have helped to protect and restore the habitats of wildlife and fish such as coho salmon and the northern spotted owl . The National Park Service and
5481-400: The monument home, often using hollows burned into the redwoods by past fires as a maternity colony. In November 2010 sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) have been spotted swimming in the new stream channel constructed in the lagoon area of Redwood Creek. Muir Woods, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a park which caters to pedestrians, as parking of vehicles is only allowed at
5568-453: The monument's mammals are either nocturnal or are burrowing animals that live underground or in the forest floor's dense plant litter . Most commonly seen are Sonoma chipmunks and western gray squirrels . Bears historically roamed the area but were largely exterminated by habitat destruction. In 2003 a male black bear was spotted wandering in various areas of Marin County , including Muir Woods. There are 11 species of bats that call
5655-414: The ocean back to freshwater for a single chance at reproduction, generally after two years in the ocean. The spawning migrations begin after heavy late fall or winter rains breach the sandbar at Muir Beach allowing the fish to move upstream (usually in December and January). No salmon were seen in the 2007–2008 winter run, nor the 2008–2009 winter run. Evidence points to exhaustion of smolt oversummering in
5742-537: The park have shallow gravelly loam of the Barnabe series, or deep hard loam of the Cronkhite series. One hundred fifty million years ago ancestors of redwood and sequoia trees grew throughout the United States . Today, the Sequoia sempervirens can be found only in a narrow, cool coastal belt from Monterey County, California , in the south to Oregon in the north. Before the logging industry came to California, there were an estimated 2 million acres (8,000 km ) of old growth forest containing redwoods growing in
5829-415: The parks. The protections given to these areas by the federal government helped to establish them as natural tourist destinations creating an attraction that brought positive externalities in the form of increased business to the surrounding communities. According to the National Park Service, the spending and cash flow brought to the area through these visitors created 12,658 new local jobs and had
5916-399: The populace. Speakers of Asian languages and indigenous languages of the Pacific islands made up 3.4% of the population. The remaining 0.7% spoke other languages. Source: According to the 2007–2009 ACS, there were 16 ancestries in Marin County that made up over 0.9% of its population each. The 16 ancestries are listed below: The median income for a household in the county was $ 71,306 and
6003-442: The population of Marin. The high rainfall also makes these hills conducive for Coast redwood and Douglas-fir . However, a side effect is that the eastern hills, where most of Marin's population lives, are drier and hotter due to the shielding of marine breezes. The low hills to the east support only California oak woodlands , chaparral and grasslands . The western part of the hills once had extensive old growth forests, but in
6090-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, there were 100,650 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
6177-405: The project to move ahead. Kent sidestepped the water company's plot by donating 295 acres (119 ha) of the redwood forest to the federal government, thus bypassing the local courts. Muir Woods became a national monument on January 9th, 1908 before the National Park Service existed when it was signed into law under the Antiquities Act by president Theodore Roosevelt . Prior to this, Muir Woods
6264-498: The public to learn about and view these spawning salmon, and also leads year-round opportunities for the public to get involved in stream restoration, monitoring spawning and smolt outmigration, juvenile fish rescue and relocation in the summer, and advocacy and policy development. Around 490 different species of birds have been observed in Marin County. Despite the lack of rain in the Marin County area due to historic drought levels, in 2014, an estimated 20,000 juvenile Coho salmon made
6351-458: The second largest foreign-born group; they made up 25.3% of Marin County's foreign population. Immigrants from Asia made up 23.7% of the county's foreign population. Those born in other parts of North America and Africa made up 3.9% and 3.8% of the foreign-born populace respectively. Lastly, residents born in Oceania made up a mere 1.2% of Marin County's foreign population. Source: According to
6438-986: The shoreline along the San Francisco Bay include the Sausalito shoreline, Richardson Bay , the Tiburon Peninsula , Ring Mountain , and Triangle Marsh at Corte Madera . Further north lies San Quentin State Prison along the San Rafael shoreline. The Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space manages numerous county parks and open spaces, including Stafford Lake County Park . The Marin Municipal Water District has 130 mi (209 km) of trails. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems: Marin County
6525-722: The slopes of Mount Tamalpais in Marin. San Quentin State Prison is located in the county. Thousands of years ago, Coast Miwok people first populated the area today known as Marin County. In 1770, Coast Miwok population ranged from 1,500 to 2,000, with about 600 village sites throughout the county. In 1967, the Marin Museum of the American Indian was established, with exhibits focusing on Coast Miwok artifacts, crafts, and artwork. As of 2021, Indigenous-led events include healing drumming, dogbane cordage demonstrations, trade feasts, and traditional dancing. During
6612-536: The south by the Golden Gate Strait ; and to the west by the San Andreas Fault , running through Tomales Bay , Olema Valley , Bolinas Lagoon , and Stinson Beach . Parts of the hills are protected for their scenic beauty by Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area . The many ridges and peaks of these hills form a dramatic backdrop to the Golden Gate Bridge ,
6699-534: The time from his 1801 baptism and marriage until 1817, frequently serving as a baptism witness and godfather; he may have escaped and been recaptured at some point during that time. Starting in 1817, he served as an alcalde (in effect, an overseer) at the San Rafael Mission, where he lived from 1817 off and on until his death. In 1821, Marino served as an expedition guide for the Spanish for a couple of years before escaping and hiding out for some months in
6786-769: The tiny Marin Islands (also named after him); his recapture resulted in a yearlong incarceration at the Presidio before his return to the Mission San Rafael area for about 15 years until his death in 1839. In 2009, a plaque commemorating Chief Marin was placed in Mill Valley. Another version of the origin of the county name is that the bay between San Pedro Point and San Quentin Point was named Bahía de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera in 1775, and that Marin
6873-561: The trees". Once declared a national monument, Muir Woods was immediately protected and placed under the care of the United States Government. The Antiquities Act was the first of its kind to provide protection for natural resources. The original suggested name of the monument was the Kent Monument but Kent insisted the monument be named after naturalist John Muir , whose environmental campaigns helped to establish
6960-633: The urban areas of the Bay Area . The Black-tailed Deer is the most common large mammal of the Marin Hills. Marin County Marin County ( / m ə ˈ r ɪ n / mə- RIN ; Spanish : Condado de Marín ) is a county located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 262,231. Its county seat and largest city
7047-436: The very entrance. Hiking trails vary in the level of difficulty and distance. Picnicking, camping and pets are not permitted. As of 2015, the park sees up to 6000 visitors per day during peak times (April to October, Thanksgiving weekend, and Christmas through New Years), more than 80% of which arrive by car, and most of the rest with a tour bus or shuttle bus. Currently, parking is extremely limited and lots often fill early in
7134-432: Was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, 20.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males. According to the most recent data on U.S. life expectancy, published in 2010 by
7221-468: Was called "Redwoods Canyon" before it was bought by the Kent family. The family bought the area to protect and preserve it and worked to get President Roosevelt to declare it a monument. In legislation written to protect Muir Woods, it was described as, "of extraordinary scientific interest and importance because of the primeval character of the forest in which it is located, and of the character, age and size of
7308-472: Was designed that would create a parking reservation system, detailed road shoulder parking limits and enhanced parking enforcement in order to combat the negative externalities caused by Muir Woods. However, according to the Mount Tam Task Force, created to address the traffic concerns created by Muir Woods, the policy aimed towards fixing the issue has proved ineffective. The introduction of
7395-539: Was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael as the 20th Spanish mission in the colonial Mexican province of Alta California by four priests, Father Narciso Duran from Mission San Jose , Father Abella from Mission San Francisco de Asís , Father Gil y Taboada and Father Mariano Payeras , the President of the Missions, on December 14, 1817, four years before Mexico gained independence from Spain. According to
7482-404: Was observed, along with three redds, a modest increase over the 2007–2008 spawning season. Statewide the coho population is 1% of its levels in the 1940s and the fish have vanished from 90% of the streams they formerly visited. The Watershed Alliance of Marin reported that no salmon returned to spawn in 2014, prompting concerns that the fish may now be extirpated from the creek. Muir Woods
7569-704: Was to have opened the United Nations Conference on International Organization for which delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to draft and sign the United Nations Charter . On May 19, the delegates held a commemorative ceremony in tribute to his memory in Muir Woods' Cathedral Grove, where a dedication plaque was placed in his honor. The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 2008. The main attraction of Muir Woods are
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