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Los Osos, CA

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Los Osos, CA

Los Osos is an unincorporated town in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast of California, Los Osos had a reported population of 14,465 in 2020. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Los Osos as a census-designated place (CDP).

Northern Chumash people, known in their language as yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini, are the first inhabitants of the Los Osos area, as well as much of San Luis Obispo County. The Northern Chumash place named Petpatsu has been identified to be near or within the area of Los Osos. These peoples traditionally rely on the harvesting of fish and shellfish (e.g. Macoma nasuta) from Morro Bay, as well as the harvesting of acorns and vegetables from the surrounding areas. There is a large Northern Chumash archaeological site on a stabilized sand dune in Los Osos dating to at least as early as 1200 CE. The remains of two Northern Chumash people were removed from a site at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve dating to around 1700 BCE and were later inventoried under NAGPRA and are possibly in the process of repatriation to the individuals' descendants. Cabrillo first encountered the Chumash in the year 1542. Today, Northern Chumash people are as of yet federally unrecognized, but continue to organize themselves under the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, which is headquartered in Los Osos.

Located in the Los Osos Valley, Los Osos is largely a bedroom community for San Luis Obispo, which is 10.6 miles (17.1 km) east, and to a lesser extent, Morro Bay, which is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) to the north. There is a small business district concentrated in just a few blocks along Los Osos Valley Road, and several shops servicing the Baywood section of Los Osos, near the bay. The rest of the town is almost entirely residential. Its population is approximately 14,500 and the total population at build-out is limited to approximately 26,000.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 12.8 square miles (33.1 km2), 99.84% of it land, and 0.16% of it water. The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to the local understanding of the area with the same name.

Los Osos focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by the Los Osos Recreation and Community Services Department. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Some popular options include Five Seasons Pilates and Sweat Therapy Fitness Studio. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Los Osos, such as the Elfin Forest and the Los Osos Community Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Los Osos, CA are Elfin Forest, Montaña de Oro State Park, and Los Osos Oaks State Reserve.

Population: 15,048 (2023). ZIP Code: 93402, 93412. Area code(s): 805. Elevation: 200 ft. Area: 12.783 sq mi (33.110 km2).

FAQs

Is Los Osos, CA a good place to live?

Living in Los Osos offers residents a suburban-rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. Many young professionals and retirees live in Los Osos and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Los Osos are highly rated.

Is Los Osos, CA expensive to live in?

Los Osos, California gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 146.1, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 46.1% higher than the U.S. average and 2.5% higher than the average for California. A typical home costs $797,000, which is 135.7% more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 8.7% more expensive than the average California home, at $733,500. To live comfortably in Los Osos, California, a minimum annual income of $152,640 for a family, and $64,400 for a single person is recommended.

Is Los Osos Valley, CA safe?

The crime rate in Los Osos is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 16 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Los Osos is 1 in 62. Based on FBI crime data, Los Osos is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Los Osos has a crime rate that is higher than 42% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

County of San Luis Obispo

Los Osos Recreation and Community Services Department

Five Seasons Pilates 

Sweat Therapy Fitness Studio

Massage Therapy Center

Elfin Forest 

Los Osos Community Park

Elfin Forest

Montaña de Oro State Park

Los Osos Oaks State Reserve

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Best Places

Neighborhoodscout

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