Glen Ellen, California

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Central Glen Ellen along Arnold Drive

Glen Ellen is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA. The population was 992 at the 2000 census. Glen Ellen is home to the Wolf House of Jack London, the location of Sonoma Valley Regional Park and a raft of excellent fine dining venues and small inns.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Points of interest
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Glen Ellen is at 38°21′52″N, 122°31′52″W (38.364564, -122.531085)^GR1. The United States Census Bureau fixes the total area at 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²), none covered by water; however, Sonoma Creek, the principal river of the Sonoma Valley flows through Glen Ellen.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 992 people, 340 households, and 219 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 182.4/km² (473.3/mi²). There were 387 housing units at an average density of 71.2/km² (184.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.42% White, 1.92% African American, 1.21% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. 8.47% of the population were Hispanic.

There were 340 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18, 49.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households consist of individuals and 3.8% have someone living alone who is 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91. The age distribution is as follows: 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 120.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,143, and the median income for a family was $54,219. Males had a median income of $50,714 versus $35,952 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,680. About 11.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Points of interest

Writer Jack London lived in Glen Ellen from 1909 to his death in 1916, where he devoted much of his time to development of his Beauty Ranch and the building of his mansion, Wolf House. Many of his novels and stories, notably The Iron Heel and The Valley of the Moon mention Glen Ellen and Sonoma County. ("The Valley of the Moon" is now Sonoma Valley's nickname.)

The site of his ranch is now Jack London State Historic Park, which contains the ruins of Wolf House, several ranch buildings, the grave of Jack and Charmian London, and a museum housed in Charmian London's "House of Happy Walls."

Glen Ellen is also home to the Jack London Educational Research Foundation and the Jack London Bookstore.

The Sonoma Developmental Center is located just outside Glen Ellen near the Jack London ranch. Its predecessor, the California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble Minded Children, was the setting for Jack London's story "Told in the Drooling Ward."

As are all the communities in Sonoma Valley, Glen Ellen is home to many vineyards and wineries. Benziger Family winery, on the road to Jack London State Historic Park, has an interesting and educational tram tour.

The nearby Quarryhill Botanic Garden is a botanical garden specializing in wild Asian species from temperate regions, open by appointment only.

The nearby town of Sonoma (approximately five miles) is heralded as the birthplace of California and contains four (#'s 2, 3, 4, and 7) of the first ten California Historical Landmarks.

On the other side of Sonoma Mountain, but only about three miles away on the map, is the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a diverse ecological study area with limited access hiking trails.