Cambria, California
Cambria is a small seaside village in San Luis Obispo County, California, along Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It covers about 8.5 square miles and had a population of 5,678 in 2020. The town is known for its Monterey pines, beaches, and a long history that began with the Native American Chumash people.
The first Europeans arrived in 1769 during the Portolá expedition. The settlement was first called Slabtown and later Cambria. Many people think the name Cambria came from a Welsh connection, though stories about the origin vary.
In the late 1800s Cambria was a mercury mining boom town. The Oceanic Quicksilver Mining Company employed many workers, but the boom ended as prices fell and a major fire struck in 1889. The town then settled into a quieter life. The building of Hearst Castle during the Depression helped bring jobs and visitors.
Today tourism drives Cambria’s economy. There are many bed-and-breakfast inns, shops, and scenic spots along Moonstone Beach Drive. The Moonstone Beach Boardwalk runs about 1.5 miles along the shore. Nearby sights include Hearst Castle about six miles north and the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery about 15 miles away. The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 430-acre coastline park, sits between Cambria’s East and West Villages. The area is also near a state marine conservation area.
Geography and geology feature the Cambria Slab, a thick sandstone formation at the coast. The climate is warm and dry in summer, with cool, wet winters and frequent fog.
Cambria lies in California’s 17th Senate district, 30th Assembly district, and the 19th Congressional district. The Coast Unified School District serves the town with a small high school, Coast Union High School, plus nearby elementary and middle schools. Water comes mainly from local wells, with plans to treat brackish water to protect the aquifer and local ecosystems.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:13 (CET).