Graton is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in west Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census. Graton's ZIP code is 95444. The town also has a culinary reputation attributed to two restaurants in the area.

The town of Graton is roughly from the California coastline. Graton's agriculture was historically concentrated on apple farming, but like most of rural Sonoma County it now focuses on wine production.

Geography Graton has a total area of , all land.

Graton is located at the southeastern end of Green Valley, on the east bank of the seasonally flooding Atascadero Creek. The elevation ranges from approximately above Mean Sea Level (MSL) at Atascadero Creek to MSL at Oak Grove School.

Graton is noted as lying at the approximate furthest southern and eastern extent of Russian colonization of the Americas. Research on Fort Ross has indicated that several farms were developed inland from the coastal fur trading fort in northwestern Sonoma County. These farms or ranches were used for producing additional food and for agricultural projects conducted by Fort Ross's agronomist Yegor Chernykh. In 1836, a farm was established along Purrington Creek, between what are now the towns of Occidental and Graton. There Chernykh erected barracks and five other structures, and grew vegetables, fruit, wheat, and other grains. Chernykh also developed a large vineyard, introducing what has since become a major crop in the area."OUTPOST OF AN EMPIRE" by Stephen Watrous, 2001

Climate This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Graton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps.Climate Summary for Graton, California

Demographics

Graton first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census.

Racial and ethnic composition +Graton CDP, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)1,3711,2721,20375.54%74.52%71.48%Black or African American alone (NH)91090.50%0.59%0.53%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)212061.16%1.17%0.36%Asian alone (NH)2024251.10%1.41%1.49%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0320.00%0.18%0.12%Other race alone (NH)61210.33%0.06%1.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)38551192.09%3.22%7.07%Hispanic or Latino (any race)35032229819.28%18.86%17.71%Total1,8151,7071,683 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Graton had a population of 1,683. The population density was . The median age was 49.9 years; 16.6% of residents were under age 18 and 28.8% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 81.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males age 18 and over.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,279 76.0% Black or African American 10 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 11 0.7% Asian 25 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.2% Some other race 135 8.0% Two or more races 219 13.0%

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households, 14 people (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. In addition, 93.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 678 households, of which 153 (22.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 318 (46.9%) were married-couple households, 44 (6.5%) were cohabiting couple households, 215 (31.7%) had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 101 (14.9%) had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. Households made up of one person totaled 212 (31.3%), and 123 (18.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 422 families (62.2% of all households).

There were 725 housing units at an average density of , of which 678 (93.5%) were occupied and 47 (6.5%) were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%, and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%. Of occupied units, 514 (75.8%) were owner-occupied and 164 (24.2%) were occupied by renters.

2010 census At the 2010 census Graton had a population of 1,707. The population density was . The racial makeup of Graton was 1,402 (82.1%) White, 10 (0.6%) African American, 29 (1.7%) Native American, 25 (1.5%) Asian, 3 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 144 (8.4%) from other races, and 94 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 322 people (18.9%).

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households and 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 680 households, 193 (28.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 304 (44.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 90 (13.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 19 (2.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 35 (5.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (2.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 188 households (27.6%) were one person and 73 (10.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49. There were 413 families (60.7% of households); the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 343 people (20.1%) under the age of 18, 131 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 352 people (20.6%) aged 25 to 44, 643 people (37.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 238 people (13.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median resident age is 48.2 years, compared to the California average of 36.2 years.

There were 723 housing units at an average density of , of which 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 72.0% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 27.2% lived in rental housing units.

The median household income was $83,082 (+70.4% from 2000), and the median family income was $87,641 (+53.9% from 2000). The median per capita income for the CDP was $35,410 (+62.1% from 2000). For comparison, statewide California median per capita income in the 2010 Census was $27,885 (+22.8% from 2000).

Income and poverty In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income in 2023 was $108,750, and the per capita income was $64,330. About 22.2% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line.

Government Graton is represented by the following elected officials: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (District 5): Lynda Hopkins (Dem) California State Assembly: California State Senate: U.S. House of Representatives (2nd District): U.S. Senate: Alex Padilla (Dem) and Adam Schiff (Dem)

Education The school districts are Oak Grove Union Elementary School District and West Sonoma County Union High School District. - Text list

Notable people George Segal, Academy Award–nominated actor and musician Ned Kahn, artist, sculptor, MacArthur Fellow

References

External links Graton Day Labor Center Graton Community Services District Graton Fire Protection District community website