North Shore
Census-designated place
The North Shore Beach and Yacht Club in 2018
North Shore Location within the state of California Show map of California North Shore North Shore (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 33°30′46″N 115°55′38″W / 33.51278°N 115.92722°W / 33.51278; -115.92722
Country	United States
State	California
County	Riverside
Area [1]
• Total	11.177 sq mi (28.949 km2)
• Land	11.177 sq mi (28.949 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation [2]	−69 ft (−21 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,585
• Density	320/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	92254
Area codes	442/760
GNIS feature ID	2583097

North Shore is a census-designated place in southeastern Riverside County,^[2] so named because of its location along the northeast shore of the Salton Sea. It was once a popular vacation destination spot before ever-increasing salinity and pollution of the Salton Sea shut the tourist trade down. The population was 3,585 at the 2020 census, up from 3,477 at the 2010 census.

North Shore is notable as the home of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1930 by presidential proclamation and with an original area of over 35,000 acres (140 km²), only about 2,200 manageable acres (8.9 km²) remain due to flooding caused by the Salton Sea. A proposed system of dikes that will help control the increasing salinity of the Salton Sea will also serve to stop further encroachment on the refuge.

One building is particularly noteworthy. The North Shore Beach and Yacht Club, an Albert Frey design, opened in 1962 and was in active use until 1984; rising water levels destroyed the jetty in 1981, thereby making it impossible for boats to dock there. As recently as the early 2000s, it was possible to enter the lobby prior to its being boarded up, although stairs leading to the second floor had been removed prior to its abandonment. The lobby was once littered with hotel receipts from the neighboring North Shore Motel (razed in 2008) dating back to the club's last days. The yacht club has been restored under a $3.35 million grant and since 2011 is open to the public as a Community Center and historical landmark. The Salton Sea History Museum was relocated to Mecca, California in February 2012.

North Shore is accessible via State Route 111 at the Imperial County line. The wildlife refuge and campground is a short distance south of the town.

The ZIP Code is 92254, and the community is inside area codes 442 and 760.

History

The vicinity of North Shore was in the area near what was a prehistoric Cocomaricopa trail rest stop on the trail known as "Lone Pam", "Palma Seca", or "Bitter Spring". This stop was located between the Mecca Box Canyon and the Hidden Spring Canyon.

The current town traces its beginnings to 1958, when developers Ray Ryan and Trav Rogers purchased the land on which the town would sit, and began to sell individual parcels in 1960.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 11.2 square miles (28.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census^[3] reported that North Shore had a population of 3,477. The population density was 311.1 inhabitants per square mile (120.1/km²). The racial makeup of North Shore was 1,394 (40.1%) White, 33 (0.9%) African American, 26 (0.7%) Native American, 18 (0.5%) Asian, 5 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,884 (54.2%) from other races, and 117 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3,313 persons (95.3%).

The Census reported that 3,477 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 750 households, out of which 542 (72.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 550 (73.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 83 (11.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 52 (6.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 47 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 10 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 47 households (6.3%) were made up of individuals, and 13 (1.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.64. There were 685 families (91.3% of all households); the average family size was 4.83.

The population was spread out, with 1,388 people (39.9%) under the age of 18, 418 people (12.0%) aged 18 to 24, 918 people (26.4%) aged 25 to 44, 621 people (17.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 132 people (3.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

There were 854 housing units at an average density of 76.4 per square mile (29.5/km²), of which 606 (80.8%) were owner-occupied, and 144 (19.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%. 2,826 people (81.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 651 people (18.7%) lived in rental housing units.