Templeton is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, situated along U.S. Route 101 between Paso Robles and Atascadero in the county's North County wine region. Founded in 1886 as a Southern Pacific Railroad stop, the town grew as an agricultural and ranching community before the modern wine era transformed the surrounding hills into one of California's premier grape-growing areas. Its population reached about 8,368 at the 2020 census. Templeton's defining geographic feature is the Templeton Gap, a break in the coastal mountains that funnels marine air into the Paso Robles basin and creates a distinctive microclimate prized by winemakers. The district's vineyards date to the 1800s, and the area was home to one of the first bonded wineries after Prohibition. Today the Templeton Gap is a recognized sub-district of the Paso Robles AVA, with dozens of wineries and tasting rooms within minutes of town, anchoring both the local economy and the area's identity. For residents, Templeton offers a small-town lifestyle with modern conveniences. The Templeton Unified School District serves grades K-12 through seven schools, and the community's neighborhoods — from the brick homes of the historic core to newer subdivisions such as Wildwood and East Templeton — reflect its evolution from railroad town to wine-country suburb. U.S. 101 provides a direct commute to Paso Robles, Atascadero, and San Luis Obispo, with the Central Coast's beaches within easy reach. The combination of strong schools, wine-country scenery, a genuine Main Street, and a mild coastal-influenced climate has made Templeton one of the North County's most sought-after residential communities, drawing families, professionals, and wine-industry workers who want a small-town base close to both the vineyards and the coast.