Pozo, California

Pozo
Unincorporated community
Pozo in the 1870s. The Pozo Saloon is at right.
Pozo in the 1870s. The Pozo Saloon is at right.
Pozo is located in California
Pozo
Pozo
Location within the state of California
Pozo is located in the United States
Pozo
Pozo
Pozo (the United States)
Coordinates: 35°18′13″N 120°22′36″W / 35.30361°N 120.37667°W / 35.30361; -120.37667
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Luis Obispo
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
93453
Area code805
GNIS feature ID247764[1]

Pozo (Spanish for "Well") is an unincorporated community along the former Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route, in San Luis Obispo County, California.[2] The closest communities appearing on road maps are California Valley and Santa Margarita. A USGS-provided set of coordinates for the town are on the Santa Margarita Lake 7.5-minute quadrangle.[3]

Pozo was named by George Washington Lingo, Esq., "a well known citizen"[4] who proposed the name for the post office because the village is in a holelike valley—pozo means "well" or "hole" in Spanish.[5]

Pozo is home to the still thriving Pozo Saloon, established in 1858. During its early years, the Pozo Saloon was the primary watering hole for weary travelers making their way over Pozo Summit. Today it is a well-known live music venue, hosting internationally-known acts including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and G Love and Special Sauce.[6][7]

The ZIP Code is 93453. The community is inside area code 805.

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pozo, California
  2. ^ "Central Coast," California's Gold #202, Huell Howser Productions, 1991.
  3. ^ US Geological Survey, National Geographic Names Database.
  4. ^ California Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. University of California Press. 1949. pp. 3–. GGKEY:403N5Z6QERG.
  5. ^ David L. Durham (2000). California's Central Coast: Includes Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties. Word Dancer Press. pp. 161–. ISBN 978-1-884995-29-3.
  6. ^ "The Santa Barbara Independent :: Arts & entertainment :: Back Roads Hoedown". Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
  7. ^ Saloon, Pozo. "Pozo Saloon". Pozo Saloon. Retrieved March 24, 2016.