pacifica

Pacifica may refer to several places and organizations. The most prominent uses are geographic and media-related.

Pacifica, California, is a coastal city in San Mateo County, located on the Pacific Ocean just south of San Francisco. It sits along the Pacific Coast Highway and is known for its ocean beaches, bluffs, and coastal parks. The community is part of the San Francisco Bay Area region and serves as a residential and recreational hub along the Northern California coast.

In media, Pacifica refers to the Pacifica Foundation, a non-profit organization that operates a network of non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations. The foundation emphasizes independent, diverse, and public-interest programming. The Pacifica Radio network includes five stations: KPFA in Berkeley, KPFK in Los Angeles, KPFT in Houston, WBAI in New York City, and WPFW in Washington, D.C. The network also maintains the Pacifica Radio Archives, which preserves broadcasts and related materials, contributing to historical research and access to alternative programming.

Etymology and usage: the name Pacifica derives from Latin pacificus, meaning peaceful or pacific. Beyond the California city and the radio network, the term is sometimes used in branding or naming to convey a sense of peace, openness, or cultural breadth.