Pacifica (Spanish for “peaceful”) sits on the Pacific coast between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. At the 2020 census it had 38,640 residents.
The city is the union of nine communities that had grown up along the shore and the short-lived Ocean Shore Railroad: Fairmont, Westview, Pacific Manor, Sharp Park, Fairway Park, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar and Pedro Point. The name was chosen by vote; Coastside was the runner-up.
Pacifica is known regionally for surfing at Linda Mar, for fishing from its pier, and for trails on Sweeney Ridge, Mori Point and Milagra Ridge.