Parkfield, California
Parkfield is a small community in Monterey County, California. As of the 2000 census the Zip Code in which the town is located (93452) had a total population of 470. Various sources list the population of Parkfield as between 18 and 36. Some sources, however, list the population as 900.
Geography
Parkfield is located at 35.899, -120.4311.
Geology
Parkfield lies along the San Andreas Fault that is highly geologically active. Parkfield traditionally has an earthquake of 6 or greater magnitude every 22 years. In 1985, the US Geological Survey predicted that there would be a major earthquake in this community in 1993, but the quake never came. Parkfield is the most closely observed earthquake zone in the world. Scientists measure the strain in rocks, heat flow, and geomagnetism constantly around Parkfield. The observance of the San Andreas fault in Parkfield will hopefully help scientists understand earthquakes and maybe some day predict major earthquakes along the San Andreas fault and across the world.
The town itself is located in the central coastal range in Central California. Mining used to be prosperous in this community, but the mines dried out and the industry moved away. Today, it is a small town of about 900 people who are mostly ranchers and farmers. There is a small tourism industry in the town that basis itself on the prospect of earthquakes. The Parkfield slogan is, "Eat here when it happens, Sleep here when it happens."
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