All of these famous writers have visited or lived in Pacific Grove and written about our town. The name Pacific Grove was appropriate for the area, because in the early days there was nothing but a grove of trees here. The city became known by various other names including the Christian Seaside Retreat, Methodist Episcopal Encampment Grounds, Pacific Grove Retreat, Piney Paradise, the Grove, and the Retreat. The town is promoted outside the area as Butterfly Town USA and America's Last Hometown. Today, Pacific Grove still maintains its small-town atmosphere.
Residents are active in the community and take a strong interest in local politics.
The people who live and work in P.G. are proud of their business district, which has seen a revival in the past several years. The opening of the historic Holman building as an antique mall and the arrival of several new businesses has filled long-vacant large retail sites, giving locals and visitors an added incentive to shop Pacific Grove. What started as a Methodist retreat has grown into a hometown with beautifully restored Victorian homes and inns, open spaces dedicated to Monarch butterflies who make P.G. their winter home, and an unequaled oceanfront drive.