Frida in Amerika - Belvedere Tiburon

Belvedere Tiburon

Tiburon is an affluent incorporated town in Marin County, California. It occupies most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of Belvedere (formerly a separate island) occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon. Tiburon is bordered by Corte Madera to the north and Mill Valley to the west, but is otherwise surrounded by the Bay.

The city's name comes from the Spanish word tiburón, which means "shark." Tiburon was formerly the southern terminus of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. This railroad carried freight, mostly lumber, to the town for transfer to barges for shipping to cities around San Francisco Bay. It is now a commuter and tourist town, linked by fast ferry services to San Francisco and with a concentration of restaurants and clothes shops. It is the nearest mainland point to Angel Island and a regular ferry service connects to the island.

The former railroad right of way now forms part of the San Francisco Bay Trail, used by hikers and cyclists. Within the Tiburon town limits, the rail trail passes through the Richardson Bay Park and next to the Audubon Society's Richardson Bay Sanctuary. These provide excellent opportunities for observing wildlife.

Belvedere is an affluent city in Marin County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,125 and the per-capita income was $113,595^[3], making it the highest income city in California and the 17th highest income place in the United States (1st with a population over 1,000).
Location

As of 2000, 87.6% of the city's owner-occupied housing units cost more than $1,000,000,^[3] compared with 2.3% for California as a whole^[5].

Demographics

As of the year 2000 census^[2], there were 8,666 people, 3,712 households, and 2,409 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,914.9 people per square mile (738.6/km²). There were 3,893 housing units at an average density of 860.2/sq mi (331.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.92% White, 0.87% African American, 0.22% Native American, 4.42% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.66% of the population.

There were 3,712 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 34.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 fe

Within the Tiburon town limits, the trail on the former railroad right of way passes through Richardson Bay Park and next to the Audubon Society's Richardson Bay Sanctuary.

males age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $106,611, and the median income for a family was $149,041. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $60,773 for females. The per capita income for the town was $85,966. About 1.6% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Belvedere/Tiburon was ranked by Forbes Magazineas among the 20 most expensive real-estate markets in the US.

Businesses

Tiburon features numerous small boutiques and restaurants, catering both to local residents and to tourists. Most of the town's restaurants are located on or near Main Street, near the ferry landing. In 2004 Tiburon became the first city in the world to eliminatetrans fats from all its restaurants. Tiburon's restaurants are also smoke-free.

One of the oldest Tiburon restaurants is Sam's Anchor Cafe, founded in 1920. Sam's is especially popular on sunny days for the outdoor dining on its harborfront deck. It is one of the only restaurants in the San Francisco Bay with a public dock for pleasure boats (under 40 feet). Other restaurants include upscale dining with expansive Bay views at The Caprice, Caprice, Mexican cuisine (with an emphasis on seafood) at Guaymas, Chinese food at The Dynasty, and Southern Italian food at Servino Ristorante.

Tiburon has two hotels: Water's Edge, a boutique hotel on Main Street, and the recently refurbished The Lodge at Tiburon.

One weekly newspaper is published in the town, The Ark, which extensively covers local news and events. Their local services directory is particularly useful.

Tiburon is the nearest mainland point to Angel Island and a regular ferry service connects to the island.

On Friday evenings in the spring and summer, the town's Main Street is closed to vehicles and transformed into a large al fresco dining area for "Friday Nights on Main". Local restaurants and bars provide outdoor dining and drinks, with music and lively crowds helping create a festive atmosphere. There is also a small shopping center named The Cove in the Bel Aire neighborhood.

Belvedere is located at 37°52′28″N, 122°27′57″W (37.874559, -122.465823)^[4], about 4 mi (6 km) north of San Francisco.

Situated on the Tiburon Peninsula, between Richardson Bay and the Town of Tiburon, Belvedere consists of two "islands" and the lagoon (Belvedere Lagoon) between them. The larger of the two islands is Belvedere Island, and the smaller one is Corinthian Island, which is shared with Tiburon.

The city has a total area of 2.42 sq mi (6.3 km²), of which 0.54 sq mi (1.4 km²) is land and 1.89 sq mi (4.9 km²) (78%) is water.^[2]

History

The first settlers arrived in the late 1800s, then the railroad came and Tiburon was the last stop for passengers and cargo heading to San Francisco and beyond.^{[citation needed]} The Belvedere Lagoon was partially filled after World War II to provide building sites for tract houses and to improve access to Belvedere Island. It was also once the home to a 9 hole golf course.^{[citation needed]}

The City Hall was formerly a Presbyterian Church. It was moved to its present location on San Rafael Avenue in 1949.^[1]

Late actress Vivian Vance, who played Ethel on the I Love Lucy show died in this city at the age of 70.

Houses

Belvedere sits on the south side of the tip of Tiburon Peninsula, a small peninsula that extends into the San Francisco Bay. Many Belvedere properties are renowned for their spectacular views of the Bay Area, Angel Island, San Francisco, Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpais. As a result, land values are extremely high. As of 2000, 87.6% of the city's owner-occupied housing units cost more than $1,000,000,^[3] compared with 2.3% for California as a whole^[5].

Many houses in Belvedere fall under the Victorian Style of architecture.^{[citation needed]}Some Belvedere homes are featured on "The Home Tour" every May.^{[citation needed]} With a recent flood of attention and demand for housing in Belevedere, housing and building has become a contentious issue as older members of the community have increasingly become frustrated with the large construction projects being developed in what once was a more humble community.^{[citation needed]}

Community Life

No restaurants or stores are allowed in Belvedere, and the city enforces strict rules regarding house design and setbacks in order to preserve trees, views, and the town's spacious, wooded character.^{[citation needed]} The adjacent city of Tiburon, however, is home to a wide range of services, shops, and eateries.

Originally a fishing based community,^{[citation needed]} Belvedere has grown into a sailing community where the San Francisco Yacht Club is located.^[6] Belvedere Park is also located in Belvedere.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,125 people, 956 households, and 656 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,519.4/km² (3,968.9/mi²). There were 1,059 housing units at an average density of 757.2/km² (1,977.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.94% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.79% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 956 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 2.2% from 18 to 24, 14.9% from 25 to 44, 35.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.1% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $130,796, and the median income for a family was $185,590. The per capita income for the city was $113,595. About 2.9% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Largely because of the high cost of housing, the median age of residents in 2000 (52.7 years^[3]) was much higher than that for California as a whole (33.3 years^[5]).

It is the only town in Marin County, to have more registered Republicans than Democrats, the former outnumbering the latter by 8 people.