# Larkspur, California

Larkspur is a city in Marin County, California, United States. Larkspur is located directly south of Kentfield and 3 miles (4.8 km) south of San Rafael, at an elevation of 43 feet (13 m). As of the 2020 census, the city's population was
13,064. Larkspur's Police Department is shared with that of the neighboring Corte Madera and town of San Anselmo as the Central Marin Police Authority.
The city's main thoroughfare is Magnolia Avenue, which runs through the Larkspur Downtown Historic District. Madrone Canyon, a residential area amidst a redwood grove, traces scenic Larkspur Creek.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.24 sq mi (8.4 km$^2$), of which 3.03 sq mi (7.8 km$^2$) is land and 0.22 sq mi (0.6 km$^2$) (6.66%) is water.

## History

Charles W. Wright laid out the town in 1887. The first post office opened in 1891. Larkspur incorporated in 1908. Larkspur's Downtown Historic District, known also as Old Downtown Larkspur, is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The restored Art Deco Lark Theater is part of this downtown district. The historic Blue Rock building, originally opened in the 1890's, is currently home to popular restaurant The Left Bank.

## Communities

Murray Park is an unincorporated community in Larkspur. Escalle is named after a 19th-century French immigrant.

## Government
### Federal and state

In the United States House of Representatives, Larkspur 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, Larkspur is in:
* the 12th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Damon Connolly
* the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Larkspur has 8,871 registered voters. Of those, 4,944 (55.7%) are registered Democrats, 1,250 (14.1%) are registered Republicans, and 2,324 (26.2%) have declined to state a political party.

## Demographics
### 2010

At the 2010 census Larkspur had a population of 11,926. The population density was 3,677.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,419.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Larkspur was 10,311 (86.5%) White, 186 (1.6%) African American, 26 (0.2%) Native American, 563 (4.7%) Asian, 13 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 343 (2.9%) from other races, and 484 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 918 people (7.7%).
The census reported that 11,803 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 42 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 81 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 5,908 households, 1,314 (22.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,266 (38.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 433 (7.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 197 (3.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 329 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 74 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,502 households (42.3%) were one person and 1,009 (17.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.00. There were 2,896 families (49.0% of households); the average family size was 2.77.
The age distribution was 2,176 people (18.2%) under the age of 18, 466 people (3.9%) aged 18 to 24, 2,620 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 4,103 people (34.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,561 people (21.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
There were 6,376 housing units at an average density of 1,966.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,898 (49.1%) were owner-occupied and 3,010 (50.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 6,494 people (54.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,309 people (44.5%) lived in rental housing units.

### 2000

At the 2000 census there were 12,014 people in 6,142 households, including 2,899 families, in the city. The population density was 3,833.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,480.2/km$^2$). There were 6,413 housing units at an average density of 2,046.4 units per square mile (790.1 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was 82.1% non-Hispanic White, 1.5% non-Hispanic African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.7%.
Of the 6,142 households 19.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.8% were non-families. 43.1% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.69.
The age distribution was 16.4% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median household income was $66,710 and the median family income was $104,028. Males had a median income of $83,252 versus $49,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $56,983. About 1.8% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation
### Ferry service

Larkspur is the location for one of Golden Gate Transit's Larkspur Landing, the main ferry terminal for its commuter passenger ferry service between Marin County and the San Francisco Ferry Building and job centers in the Financial District. This Golden Gate Ferry portals and has a ridership of over 8,500 per day, on average. There is special direct ferry service from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal to Oracle Park for San Francisco Giants games.

### Rail service

The Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit commuter rail service was extended to Larkspur station in 2019. The line provides daily trips as far north as Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport and is eventually planned to extend to Cloverdale station.
The North Pacific Coast Railroad (later absorbed by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad) provided interurban services to Larkspur until 1941.

## Education

Larkspur-Corte Madera School District serves much of Larkspur for elementary and middle school. Neil Cummins Elementary School and Hall Middle School serve both Corte Madera and Larkspur. Neil Cummins serves grades K to 5, while Hall serves grades 6 to 8. The former San Clemente Elementary School was reopened as The Cove School in 2014. In lieu of extensive retrofit to the existing structures, new buildings have been built on the same site. This school serves neighborhoods currently served by Neil Cummins Elementary, mostly to the west of Highway 101, and new developments in the area.
A portion of Larkspur is in the Kentfield Elementary School District.
The Tamalpais Union High School District, which serves most of Larkspur (the Larkspur-Corte Madera and Kentfield district portions), comprises five high schools that serve the region.
A portion of Larkspur is in the San Rafael Elementary School District and the San Rafael High School District, jointly operated as San Rafael City Schools. Residents of the San Rafael high school district may choose either San Rafael High School or Terra Linda High School.
Marin Primary and Middle School is a local private school.

## In popular culture

Scenes in the 1949 film noir Impact featured several areas around Larkspur, including the home and gas station of the Probert family, in the location now occupied by Perry's Larkspur restaurant. In the film, the town is frequently mentioned as being in Idaho.
The final scenes of Clint Eastwood's 1971 movie Dirty Harry were filmed in Larkspur at the old Hutchison Gravel Quarry (now Larkspur Landing).

## Town twinning

* Corte Madera, California ("twin city")
* Shangyu, Zhejiang, China (sister city)

## Notable people

* Jake Curhan (born 1998), American football offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL)
* Matt Doyle, Broadway actor.
* Leonard Gardner, author of the novel Fat City, lives in Larkspur.
* Erin Gray, television actress.
* Janis Joplin's last known residence was located in Larkspur at 380 West Baltimore Avenue.
* Charles S. Kilburn, U.S. Army brigadier general
* Ki Longfellow grew up in Larkspur's Madrone Canyon: 201 Madrone Avenue, (The Illustrated Vivian Stanshall, a Fairytale of Grimm Art, Eio Books, 2018)
* Gavin Newsom, California Governor, lived in Larkspur in his youth.
* Steve Perry, former lead singer of rock band Journey.
* Michael Savage, conservative broadcaster.
* Leon Uris wrote his acclaimed first novel, Battle Cry (1953), in Larkspur.
* Corinne West, singer/songwriter.

## Gallery

* Alexander-Acacia Bridge, Larkspur
* Fire Department, Larkspur
* Downtown Larkspur
* entrance to Larkspur Library in city hall, Larkspur
* St. Patrick's Church, across from Larkspur City Hall
* Dolliver House in Madrone Canyon, Larkspur
* Lark Theater on Magnolia St., Larkspur
* street banner celebrating the 100th anniversary of Larkspur
* U.S. post office in Larkspur
* the Blue Rock Inn (formerly the Blue Rock Hotel) on Magnolia St., Larkspur
* Greenbrae Brick Yard, Larkspur
* Larkspur Landing