Wawona, California

It was known to the local Native American Miwok in their language as Pallachun ("a good place to stay"). The origin of the word Wawona is not known. A popular story claims ''Wawō'na'' was the Miwok word for "big tree", or for "hoot of the owl", a bird considered the sequoia trees' spiritual guardian. Galen Clark, who helped gain preservation legislation for Mariposa Grove and what became Yosemite National Park, occupied this area in 1855. He established a tourist rest and modest ranch in 1856. The Clark's Station US Post Office opened in 1878. In 1883 its name was changed to Wawona. ==Geography==

The town is located in a large mid-elevation basin with Wawona Meadow as its centerpiece. Situated in the southwest part of Yosemite National Park, it lies along the South Fork of the Merced River at an elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The town is accessible via State Route 41, the main highway from Fresno to Yosemite Valley. Wawona is the closest town to Chilnualna Falls and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia. It also serves as the main gateway to the southern Yosemite wilderness, with several principal trailheads located here. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Wawona CDP covers an area of , all of it land. ==Demographics==

Wawona first appeared as a census-designated place in the 2010 United States census. There were 56 households, out of which 13 (23.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 22 (39.3%) were married-couple households, 4 (7.1%) were cohabiting couple households, 14 (25.0%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 16 (28.6%) had a male householder with no partner present. 18 households (32.1%) were one person, and 9 (16.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.98. The age distribution was 20 people (18.0%) under the age of 18, 3 people (2.7%) aged 18 to 24, 28 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44, 32 people (28.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 28 people (25.2%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 49.5years. There were 59 males and 52 females. There were 333 housing units at an average density of , of which 56 (16.8%) were occupied. Of these, 31 (55.4%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (44.6%) were occupied by renters. ==Government==

In the state legislature, Wawona is in , and in . In the United States House of Representatives, Wawona is in . ==Attractions== • Camp Wawona • Chilnualna Falls • Pioneer Yosemite History Center • Wawona Hotel • Wawona Tunnel Tree ==References==