The area around Shelter Cove was originally home to Native Americans known as the Sinkyone people. Near Shelter Cove on July 21, 1907, the coastal passenger steamer Columbia collided with the steam schooner San Pedro amidst dense fog. The Columbia subsequently sank, killing 88 people. Although badly damaged, San Pedro stayed afloat and helped to rescue Columbia's survivors. Because of the very steep terrain on the coastal areas surrounding Shelter Cove, the highway builders constructing State Route 1 decided it was too difficult to build the coastal highway along a long stretch of what is now the Lost Coast. As a result, the small fishing village of Shelter Cove remained very secluded from the rest of the populous state, despite being only north of San Francisco, and is accessible by boat, via small mountain road, or by the small Shelter Cove Airport. As a result of its seclusion, the Shelter Cove area has become a popular spot for those seeking quiet vacation respite or retirement area. Popular activities in the area include fishing, whale watching, hiking, diving for abalone, and other outdoor activities. The Cape Mendocino Light, a lighthouse from Cape Mendocino, was moved by helicopter to Mal Coombs Park in 1998 . A post office operated at Shelter Cove from 1892 to 1933, moving in 1898.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Shelter Cove had a population of 693. The population density was 118.9 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Shelter Cove was 630 White, 3 African American, 5 Native American, 7 Asian, 1 Pacific Islander, 13 from other races, and 34 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47 persons. The Census reported that 693 people lived in households, 0 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 were institutionalized. There were 348 households, out of which 76 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 127 were opposite-sex married couplesliving together, 28 had a female householder with no husband present, 26 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 47 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 132 households were made up of individuals and 32 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99. There were 181 families ; the average family size was 2.48. The population was spread out with 118 people under the age of 18, 25 people aged 18 to 24, 214 people aged 25 to 44, 234 people aged 45 to 64, and 102 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.6 males. There were 631 housing units at an average density of 108.2 per square mile, of which 348 were occupied, of which 248 were owner-occupied, and 100 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 10.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 13.8%. 499 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 194 people lived in rental housing units.
Politics
In the state legislature, Shelter Cove is in, and. Federally, Shelter Cove is in.
Climate
Shelter Cove has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate typical of the North Coast, that is characterized by warm dry summers, and mild to chilly rainy winters. In Shelter Cove's case the climate is moderated by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean with small temperature variations on average throughout the year, which results in mild year-round temperatures, although some winter months can get quite cool at times. Average high temperatures range from in January to in September. Shelter Cove on average has very wet winters and dry summers, also representative for the region. Temperatures of above are very rare, happening on average 1-2 times per season, but temperatures approaching or above have still been measured over such a wide time period as from April to October. For being a coastal community north of the Bay Area, Shelter Cove has quite mild winter temperatures.
