Pearl City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in the Ewa District and City & County of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 47,698. Pearl City sits along the north shore of Pearl Harbor. Waimalu borders Pearl City to the east and Waipahu borders the west. The U.S. postal code for Pearl City is 96782.
History
Early-day Pearl City had an array of rice paddies and fields that were plowed with water buffalo that hauled a two-wheeled cart. In the early 1880s, Pearl City was the final stop for Benjamin Franklin Dillingham's Oahu Railway, a mud wagon driven by a four-horse team. Lots for a yet-to-exist "Pearl City" went on sale in 1889, after completion of the rail line. Near the outskirts of Pearl City, the Remond Grove, an area where people were entertained by piano, banjo, trumpet, and saxophone performances, was a popular entertainment spot in the early 1900s.
Geography
Pearl City is located at 21°24'30" North, 157°58'1" East (21.408333, −157.966902).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of , of which is land and is water. The total area is 14.29% water.
Average winter high (January 28): 79 degrees
Average winter low (January 28): 66 degrees
Average summer high (August 23): 87 degrees
Average summer low (August 23): 74 degrees
Average annual precipitation: 64 inches
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 47,698 people, 14,622 households, and 7,288 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 59.57% Asian-Pacific Islander, 17.24% White, 2.71% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.41% from other races, and 18.81% from two or more races. 7.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,922 households, of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.48.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37. For every 100 females, there were 115.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,036, and the median income for a family was $67,246. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $28,408 for females. The per capita income was $21,683. 6.2% of the population and 4.0% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 11.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government and infrastructure
The Honolulu Police Department operates the Pearl City Substation in Pearl City.
The United States Postal Service operates the Pearl City Post Office in Pearl City.
Education
The Hawai'i Department of Education operates public schools in Pearl City, including the Pearl City Complex public schools that include elementary, intermediate, and high schools.
Elementary schools in the CDP include Manana, Momilani, Palisades, Pearl City, Pearl City Highlands, Waimalu, and Waiau. Two secondary schools, Highlands Intermediate School and Pearl City High School, are also in the CDP. Momilani, Waimalu, and Waiau elementary schools and Pearl City High were in the Waimalu CDP as of the 2000 U.S. census, but as of the 2010 U.S. census are in the Pearl City CDP.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu operates Our Lady of Good Counsel School in the CDP, which opened in 1964.
The University of Hawaii–Leeward Community College, a branch of the University of Hawaiʻi System, is adjacent to the CDP, with a Pearl City address.
Hawaii State Public Library System operates the Pearl City Library. Originally known as the Pearl City Regional Library, it began operations on November 15, 1969.