Where Stinson Beach is
Stinson Beach sits on the Pacific coast just across a narrow channel from Bolinas, at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon. Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach and Mount Tamalpais are all close by. The beach is sandy, unlike the rockier one in Bolinas.
Getting there
Most visitors drive in on State Route 1, the Shoreline Highway. A daily bus also runs between Stinson Beach and Marin City, and the hiking trails on Mount Tamalpais reach the town.
History
Coast Miwok people lived here before European settlement. The first road along the coast from Sausalito was built in 1870, and a tent settlement grew up among the willows at the beach. It was called Willow Camp. The mountain railway that opened in 1896 made the trip easier: visitors rode to West Point Inn, then hiked or took a stagecoach down to the beach. Refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake built some of the first businesses. The name Stinson Beach became official in 1916, after landowners Rose and Nathan Stinson, and the first post office opened the same year.
The Pacific Sun newspaper started here in 1963.
Schools
Stinson Beach is in the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District. High school students are in the attendance area of Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley.
Government and services
Stinson Beach is unincorporated, so there is no city hall. The County of Marin provides general government services, including law enforcement, land use planning, the library, public health and code enforcement. County offices are at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, and departments are listed on the County of Marin website. Two local districts cover the rest. The Stinson Beach County Water District provides water and septic tank maintenance and contracts for garbage and recycling. The Stinson Beach Volunteer Fire Protection District handles fire protection, emergency medical care and disaster management. The Community Center and the firehouse are together on Belvedere Avenue. For emergencies call 911. Contacts for every town are on the Marin County government and services page.
Local businesses in Stinson Beach
The Marin County business directory sorts local businesses by trade. Stinson Beach listings will appear there as each category is researched and checked.