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Chapter 2 Summary of Findings
2.1 Introduction
This chapter has been separated into four categories highlighting the more interesting
findings. The first two categories are (1) California’s Coastal Economy, which includes the
demographic patterns that define and drive it; 10 and (2) comparison of California’s Ocean
Economy with the nation that also includes other coastal states. These are added solely to
provide context and a fuller understanding of the data generated for this report, yet are not
analyzed or elaborated further. The second two categories, (3) comparison of California’s
Regional Ocean Economies with each other and with the state over time; 11 and (4)
comparison of California’s Ocean Economy by sectors, over time are further elaborated in
the following chapters.
2.2 California’s Coastal Economy
As explained in Chapter 1, California’s Coastal Economy reflects all activities within either
coastal zip codes or coastal counties, which are part of the California Coastal Zone
Management Program. This includes all counties with ports and harbors in watersheds that
host important maritime activities. Population and housing estimates are added to show
important trends.
California’s coastal population did not increase as rapidly as the state’s population during the
decade between 1990 and 2000, (11.3% compared to the total state population growth of
13.7%, a difference of 2.4%). However, density of California’s coastal population continues
to far exceed that of the state. In the year 2000, density along the coast was more than 623
people per square mile vs. 217people per square mile for the state.
• In 2000, 77% of California’s population lived in coastal counties, which represent 25%
of the land.
• According to US Census reports, the areas of highest population growth, however, were
those found immediately adjacent to the coastal areas, inland along coastal watersheds,
where property was less expensive and more available at the time. 12 While population
density in coastal areas clearly exceeds these areas for now, inland areas merit close
monitoring, because they are vulnerable to overexploitation of the natural landscape and
the filling in of valuable and limited green space that could affect the quality of
watersheds and ultimately the shoreline. See Table 2-1, Coastal County densities.
10 California State Summary of Coastal and Ocean Social and Economic Trends, December 2004.
11 The State has been divided into 5 regions, as was done in the previous CA study. However, due to changes in marinebased
activities in watersheds, we have added the counties of Yolo, San Joaquin, and Sacramento to ensure that all
significant activities were included.
12 Examples would be the “inland empire” in LA County, the Salinas Valley in Monterey County, the Inland areas of
Sonoma county, the Sacramento Delta areas.
11