Plumas County, California
Plumas County, California | |
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County | |
County of Plumas | |
![]() ![]() ![]() Images, from top down, left to right: Lake Almanor, Beckwourth Pass, Trains at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum | |
![]() Seal | |
![]() Interactive map of Plumas County | |
![]() Location in the state of California | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Region | Sierra Nevada |
Incorporated | 1854 |
Named for | Spanish words for the Feather River (Río de las Plumas) |
County seat | Quincy |
Largest community | East Quincy (population) Warner Valley (area) Portola (incorporated) |
Government | |
• Type | Council–Administrator |
• Chair | Dwight Ceresola |
• Vice Chair | Greg Hagwood |
• Board of Supervisors[2] | Supervisors
|
• County Administrator | Vacant[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 2,613 sq mi (6,770 km2) |
• Land | 2,553 sq mi (6,610 km2) |
• Water | 60 sq mi (200 km2) |
Highest elevation | 8,372 ft (2,552 m) |
Population (April 1, 2020)[3] | |
• Total | 19,790 |
• Density | 7.6/sq mi (2.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Website | www.countyofplumas.com |
Plumas County (/ˈpluːməs/ ⓘ) is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,790.[3] The county seat is Quincy,[4] and the only incorporated city is Portola. The largest community in the county is East Quincy. The county was named for the Spanish Río de las Plumas (the Feather River), which flows through it. The county itself is also the namesake of a native moth species, Hadena plumasata.[5]
History
Prehistorically, the indigenous Mountain Maidu were the primary inhabitants of the area now known as Plumas County. The Maidu lived in small settlements along the edges of valleys, subsisting on roots, acorns, grasses, seeds, and occasionally fish and big game. They were decentralized and had no tribal leadership; most bands lived along waterways in and around their own valleys. Areas with high snowfall, including the Mohawk and Sierra valleys, were hunting grounds for game in the warmer months.[6][7]
In 1848, European Americans discovered gold in the Sierra foothills. Miners were attracted to Plumas County in particular, largely due to the tales of Thomas Stoddard, who claimed to have discovered a lake lined with gold nuggets while lost in the wilderness. Gold-hungry prospectors flooded the area. Though hopeful miners scoured the glacial lakes for months, they did not find the purported lake of gold. But some had success panning for gold in the rivers and creeks in the area, and created squatters' villages, the first non-Native American settlements.[8]
Rough shanty towns quickly sprang up around successful mining areas, including Rich Bar, Indian Bar, and Rabbit Creek (now La Porte). Many were developed adjacent to the Feather River, named Río de las Plumas by Spanish explorer Captain Luis Arguello in 1820.
In 1850, African-American frontiersman James Beckwourth discovered the lowest pass through the Sierras, which became known as Beckwourth Pass. Using the pass, he blazed a trail from Western Nevada through much of Plumas County, eventually terminating in the Sacramento Valley.[9] Many erstwhile miners followed this trail into Plumas County. Beckwourth also set up a trading post in the western Sierra Valley that still stands today. Though the Beckwourth Trail was longer than the original emigrant trail that ran south of Plumas County, its lower elevations extended its seasonal use when the higher trail was snowbound and impassable. Between 1851 and 1854, the Beckwourth Trail was frequently traveled, but in 1854, use dropped sharply when it became a toll road. The toll to move a ton of freight from Bidwell Bar to Quincy was about $18. This made using the Beckwourth Road an expensive enterprise and use of the Beckwourth Trail declined.[10]
Plumas County was formed in 1854 during a meeting of three commissioners at the American Ranch in Quincy. It was carved from the eastern portion of Butte County. Quincy, originally a mining town, was chosen as the county seat after an early settler donated a plot of land there to establish the seat. Once it became the seat, nearby Elizabethtown faded and ultimately became defunct. In 1864, the state legislature took a large portion of Plumas County to organize Lassen County. Shortly afterward, Plumas County annexed part of Sierra County, including the prosperous mining town of La Porte.
Over the next decades, different industries drove the growth of the various settlements that sprang up around the county. Greenville began as a mining and farming community in Indian Valley in the late 1850s. Chester was formed near the area that is now Lake Almanor, as a result of cattle ranching and the timber industry.
When the Western Pacific Railroad was constructed in 1910, Portola developed as an important railroad stop. Thanks to the railroad, Plumas County could export its lumber beyond the local area, and the timber industry became dominant in the county's economy for decades. As the railroad route extended up the Feather River Canyon, it was also used by the area's first tourists and sightseers. When the Feather River Highway was completed in 1937 with federal investment in infrastructure by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, Plumas County became linked to the Sacramento Valley year-round thanks to the route's low elevation.[9]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 2,613 square miles (6,770 km2), of which 2,553 square miles (6,610 km2) is land and 60 square miles (160 km2) (2.3%) is water.[11]
Plumas County is in the far northern end of the Sierra Nevada range. The area's rugged terrain marks the transition point between the northern Sierra Nevada and the southern end of the Cascade Range.[12] Lassen Peak, the southernmost volcanic peak in the Cascade Range, is just north of Plumas County's border, and part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the county's northwest corner.
Plumas National Forest's 1,200,000 acres (4,900 km2) offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The area has more than 100 natural and artificial lakes. Many of the natural lakes are glacial in origin and can be found in and around Lakes Basin Recreation Area.[13] The artificial lakes include Lake Almanor, Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Antelope Lake, and Bucks Lake. Plumas County also has more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of rivers and streams.[14] All three forks of the Feather River run through the area.
Designated Natural Areas
- Butterfly Valley Botanical Area
- Elephants Playground
- Happy Valley
- Little Last Chance Canyon Special Interest Area
- North Valley
- Valley Creek Special Interest Area
Water areas
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Adjacent counties
- Sierra County – south
- Yuba County – southwest
- Butte County – west
- Tehama County – northwest
- Shasta County – northwest
- Lassen County – northeast
National protected areas
- Lassen National Forest (part)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park (part)
- Plumas National Forest (part)
- Tahoe National Forest (part)
Demographics
2011
Population, race, and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total population[15] | 20,192 | ||||
White[15] | 18,467 | 91.5% | |||
Black or African American[15] | 274 | 1.4% | |||
American Indian or Alaska Native[15] | 559 | 2.8% | |||
Asian[15] | 208 | 1.0% | |||
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[15] | 18 | 0.1% | |||
Some other race[15] | 180 | 0.9% | |||
Two or more races[15] | 486 | 2.4% | |||
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[16] | 1,617 | 8.0% | |||
Per capita income[17] | $28,104 | ||||
Median household income[18] | $44,151 | ||||
Median family income[19] | $53,128 |
Places by population, race, and income
Places by population and race | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type[20] | Population[15] | White[15] | Other[15] [note 1] | Asian[15] | Black or African American[15] | Native American[15] [note 2] | Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[16] |
Almanor | CDP | 0 | 95.83% | 1.19% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.89% | 5.65% |
Beckwourth | CDP | 414 | 93.86% | 1.75% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.05% | 2.92% |
Belden | CDP | 0 | 55.4% | 0.0% | 44.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Blairsden | CDP | 18 | 53.1% | 46.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.00% |
Bucks Lake | CDP | 0 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 30.0% |
Canyondam | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.5% |
Caribou | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.9% |
Chester | CDP | 2,145 | 97.6% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 9.64% |
Chilcoot-Vinton | CDP | 422 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.17% |
Clio | CDP | 59 | 46.3% | 53.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 21.5% |
Crescent Mills | CDP | 93 | 54.3% | 45.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 32.3% |
C-Road | CDP | 140 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.32% |
Cromberg | CDP | 316 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.32% |
Delleker | CDP | 477 | 89.3% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 4.0% | 26.7% |
East Quincy | CDP | 2,210 | 92.9% | 1.8% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 3.25% |
East Shore | CDP | 128 | 76.0% | 0.0% | 24.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.21% |
Gold Mountain | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Graeagle | CDP | 749 | 98.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.88% |
Greenhorn | CDP | 159 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.79% |
Greenville | CDP | 936 | 77.9% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 20.5% | 5.05% |
Hamilton Branch | CDP | 687 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.7% |
Indian Falls | CDP | 25 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7.4% |
Iron Horse | CDP | 237 | 80.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.61% |
Johnsville | CDP | 82 | 48.8% | 51.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 14.29% |
Keddie | CDP | 153 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7.29% |
Lake Almanor Country Club | CDP | 827 | 81.5% | 5.7% | 2.8% | 0.0% | 10.0% | 23.5% |
Lake Almanor Peninsula | CDP | 234 | 85.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 14.5% | 10.4% |
Lake Almanor West | CDP | 334 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.82% |
Lake Davis | CDP | 13 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 38.5% |
La Porte | CDP | 32 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Little Grass Valley | CDP | 20 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Mabie | CDP | 108 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.5% |
Meadow Valley | CDP | 448 | 96.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 0.0% | 8.1% |
Mohawk Vista | CDP | 84 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 20.4% |
Paxton | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.52% |
Plumas Eureka | CDP | 164 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.25% |
Portola | City | 2,104 | 87.0% | 7.5% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 3.8% | 13% |
Prattville | CDP | 12 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.72% |
Quincy | CDP | 1,376 | 93.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 11.8% |
Spring Garden | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.64% |
Storrie | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Taylorsville | CDP | 92 | 65.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Tobin | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 27.27% |
Twain | CDP | 50 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.39% |
Valley Ranch | CDP | 150 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.17% |
Warner Valley | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Whitehawk | CDP | 14 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
Places by population and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type[20] | Population[21] | Per capita income[17] | Median household income[18] | Median family income[19] |
Almanor | CDP | 10 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Beckwourth | CDP | 460 | $35,624 | $52,414 | $52,457 |
Belden | CDP | 56 | [22] | $10,550 | [22] |
Blairsden | CDP | 32 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Bucks Lake | CDP | 18 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Canyondam | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Caribou | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Chester | CDP | 1,674 | $17,687 | $27,778 | $42,529 |
Chilcoot-Vinton | CDP | 534 | $21,087 | $48,004 | $48,629 |
Clio | CDP | 41 | [22] | $2,499 | [22] |
Crescent Mills | CDP | 188 | $9,746 | $32,448 | $32,448 |
C-Road | CDP | 126 | $14,696 | $73,125 | $73,125 |
Cromberg | CDP | 130 | $45,508 | $66,250 | $152,857 |
Delleker | CDP | 672 | $20,724 | $30,400 | $36,837 |
East Quincy | CDP | 2,847 | $21,205 | $43,438 | $53,563 |
East Shore | CDP | 246 | $35,933 | $53,818 | $54,068 |
Gold Mountain | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Graeagle | CDP | 749 | $38,014 | $56,458 | $61,786 |
Greenhorn | CDP | 159 | $49,424 | $55,536 | $78,542 |
Greenville | CDP | 936 | $18,546 | $26,719 | $30,000 |
Hamilton Branch | CDP | 687 | $50,433 | $102,569 | $103,542 |
Indian Falls | CDP | 25 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Iron Horse | CDP | 237 | $25,709 | $48,139 | $48,139 |
Johnsville | CDP | 82 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Keddie | CDP | 153 | $34,226 | $47,011 | $47,011 |
Lake Almanor Country Club | CDP | 827 | $28,722 | $57,756 | $58,237 |
Lake Almanor Peninsula | CDP | 234 | $24,832 | $43,031 | $33,618 |
Lake Almanor West | CDP | 334 | $29,294 | $108,625 | $136,250 |
Lake Davis | CDP | 13 | $28,722 | $2,499 | [22] |
La Porte | CDP | 32 | $32,928 | $40,893 | [22] |
Little Grass Valley | CDP | 20 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Mabie | CDP | 108 | $75,552 | $173,342 | [22] |
Meadow Valley | CDP | 448 | $34,506 | $41,679 | $76,786 |
Mohawk Vista | CDP | 84 | $35,299 | $55,195 | [22] |
Paxton | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Plumas Eureka | CDP | 164 | $70,223 | $89,412 | $88,309 |
Portola | City | 3,069 | $19,223 | $33,056 | $35,755 |
Prattville | CDP | 12 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Quincy | CDP | 1,376 | $25,166 | $40,556 | $54,408 |
Spring Garden | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Storrie | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Taylorsville | CDP | 92 | $45,070 | $48,789 | $85,000 |
Tobin | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Twain | CDP | 50 | $47,034 | $64,844 | $125,536 |
Valley Ranch | CDP | 150 | $28,356 | $46,563 | $93,646 |
Warner Valley | CDP | 0 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
Whitehawk | CDP | 14 | [22] | [22] | [22] |
2010
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 4,363 | — | |
1870 | 4,489 | 2.9% | |
1880 | 6,180 | 37.7% | |
1890 | 4,933 | −20.2% | |
1900 | 4,657 | −5.6% | |
1910 | 5,259 | 12.9% | |
1920 | 5,681 | 8.0% | |
1930 | 7,913 | 39.3% | |
1940 | 11,548 | 45.9% | |
1950 | 13,519 | 17.1% | |
1960 | 11,620 | −14.0% | |
1970 | 11,707 | 0.7% | |
1980 | 17,340 | 48.1% | |
1990 | 19,739 | 13.8% | |
2000 | 20,824 | 5.5% | |
2010 | 20,007 | −3.9% | |
2020 | 19,790 | −1.1% | |
2023 (est.) | 19,131 | [23] | −3.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[24] 1790–1960[25] 1900–1990[26] 1990–2000[27] 2010–2015[3] |
The 2010 United States Census reported that Plumas County had a population of 20,007. The racial makeup of Plumas County was 17,797 (89.0%) White, 192 (1.0%) African American, 539 (2.7%) Native American, 134 (0.7%) Asian, 18 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 603 (3.0%) from other races, and 724 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,605 persons (8.0%).[28]
Population reported at 2010 United States Census | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The County | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Plumas County | 20,007 | 17,797 | 192 | 539 | 134 | 18 | 603 | 724 | 1,605 |
Incorporated cities | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Portola | 2,104 | 1,762 | 13 | 54 | 12 | 1 | 198 | 64 | 342 |
Census-designated places | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Almanor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Beckwourth | 432 | 402 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 29 |
Belden | 22 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Blairsden | 39 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Bucks Lake | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
C-Road | 150 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
Canyondam | 31 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Caribou | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chester | 2,144 | 1,954 | 10 | 46 | 21 | 4 | 37 | 72 | 178 |
Chilcoot-Vinton | 66 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Clio | 196 | 172 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 26 |
Crescent Mills | 150 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
Cromberg | 261 | 239 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
Delleker | 705 | 503 | 7 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 133 | 36 | 186 |
East Quincy | 2,489 | 2,174 | 79 | 43 | 15 | 0 | 32 | 146 | 161 |
East Shore | 156 | 143 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
Gold Mountain | 80 | 78 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Graeagle | 737 | 718 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
Greenhorn | 236 | 213 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 22 |
Greenville | 1,129 | 897 | 1 | 133 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 70 | 109 |
Hamilton Branch | 537 | 514 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 20 |
Indian Falls | 54 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Iron Horse | 297 | 276 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 17 |
Johnsville | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Keddie | 66 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
La Porte | 26 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lake Almanor Country Club | 419 | 406 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Lake Almanor Peninsula | 356 | 337 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 22 |
Lake Almanor West | 270 | 259 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
Lake Davis | 45 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Little Grass Valley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mabie | 161 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
Meadow Valley | 464 | 435 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 21 |
Mohawk Vista | 159 | 146 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Paxton | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Plumas Eureka | 339 | 326 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
Prattville | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quincy | 1,728 | 1,500 | 37 | 29 | 19 | 2 | 66 | 75 | 132 |
Spring Garden | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Storrie | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Taylorsville | 140 | 131 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Tobin | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Twain | 82 | 75 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
Valley Ranch | 109 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Warner Valley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Whitehawk | 113 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Other unincorporated areas | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
All others not CDPs (combined) | 3,098 | 2,777 | 33 | 120 | 17 | 8 | 46 | 97 | 160 |
2000
As of the census[29] of 2000, there were 20,824 people, 9,000 households, and 6,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 13,386 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.1% were of German, 15.0% English, 10.1% Irish and 8.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.4% spoke English and 3.6% Spanish as their first language.
There were 9,000 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,351, and the median income for a family was $46,119. Males had a median income of $38,742 versus $25,734 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,391. About 9.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
Plumas County has five elected Supervisors, each elected within their own district. The Board of Supervisors oversees the management of county government and members serve four-year terms. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors provides support to the Board of Supervisors and information to the public.[30]
The County Administrative Office's purpose is to facilitate the delivery of cost-effective county services in accordance with the vision and policies outlined by the Board of Supervisors. Its responsibilities include monitoring legislative affairs, preparing the county's annual budget, and undertaking studies and investigations for the Board of Supervisors.[31]
The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. The sheriff's jurisdiction extends throughout the county, including federal and state lands. The county sheriff is elected to the nonpartisan office for a four-year term and is charged with preserving the peace, enforcing criminal statutes, and investigating known or suspected criminal activity.[32]
More than three-quarters of Plumas County's 2,618 square miles (6,780 km2) is National Forest Service land.[33] The management of Plumas National Forest is overseen by three districts: Beckwourth Ranger District,[34] Mt. Hough Ranger District,[35] and Feather River Ranger District.[36]
Politics
Voter registration
Population and registered voters | ||
---|---|---|
Total population[15] | 20,192 | |
Registered voters[37][note 3] | 13,012 | 64.4% |
Democratic[37] | 4,068 | 31.3% |
Republican[37] | 5,528 | 42.5% |
Democratic–Republican spread[37] | -1,460 | -11.2% |
American Independent[37] | 644 | 4.9% |
Green[37] | 90 | 0.7% |
Libertarian[37] | 99 | 0.8% |
Peace and Freedom[37] | 39 | 0.3% |
Americans Elect[37] | 2 | 0.0% |
Other[37] | 0 | 0.0% |
No party preference[37] | 2,542 | 19.5% |
Cities by population and voter registration
[data missing]
Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population[15] | Registered voters[37] [note 3] | Democratic[37] | Republican[37] | D–R spread[37] | Other[37] | No party preference[37] |
Portola | 2,082 | 35.1% | 55.0% | 32.9% | +0.2% | 9.9% | 24.2% |
Overview
In its early history, Plumas was a reliable Republican county, voting for that party in every election from 1864 to 1908.[38] It then became one of the most reliably Democratic counties in California, voting for the Democratic nominee for president in 13 straight elections from 1928 to 1976. The county has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, except for 1992, when Bill Clinton won a small plurality.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 6,445 | 57.24% | 4,561 | 40.51% | 254 | 2.26% |
2016 | 5,420 | 55.03% | 3,459 | 35.12% | 971 | 9.86% |
2012 | 5,721 | 56.76% | 4,026 | 39.94% | 333 | 3.30% |
2008 | 6,035 | 54.72% | 4,715 | 42.75% | 278 | 2.52% |
2004 | 6,905 | 61.71% | 4,129 | 36.90% | 156 | 1.39% |
2000 | 6,343 | 60.98% | 3,458 | 33.25% | 600 | 5.77% |
1996 | 4,905 | 50.31% | 3,540 | 36.31% | 1,305 | 13.38% |
1992 | 3,599 | 36.17% | 3,742 | 37.61% | 2,608 | 26.21% |
1988 | 4,603 | 51.06% | 4,251 | 47.15% | 161 | 1.79% |
1984 | 5,224 | 56.61% | 3,837 | 41.58% | 167 | 1.81% |
1980 | 4,182 | 51.24% | 2,911 | 35.67% | 1,068 | 13.09% |
1976 | 2,884 | 43.94% | 3,429 | 52.25% | 250 | 3.81% |
1972 | 2,952 | 46.42% | 3,057 | 48.07% | 351 | 5.52% |
1968 | 2,097 | 37.37% | 2,961 | 52.77% | 553 | 9.86% |
1964 | 1,686 | 29.51% | 4,019 | 70.35% | 8 | 0.14% |
1960 | 2,015 | 37.47% | 3,333 | 61.97% | 30 | 0.56% |
1956 | 2,267 | 41.87% | 3,127 | 57.75% | 21 | 0.39% |
1952 | 2,687 | 43.46% | 3,435 | 55.56% | 61 | 0.99% |
1948 | 1,657 | 32.76% | 3,125 | 61.78% | 276 | 5.46% |
1944 | 1,126 | 29.95% | 2,625 | 69.83% | 8 | 0.21% |
1940 | 1,270 | 26.79% | 3,418 | 72.11% | 52 | 1.10% |
1936 | 680 | 19.80% | 2,707 | 78.81% | 48 | 1.40% |
1932 | 582 | 21.68% | 2,035 | 75.82% | 67 | 2.50% |
1928 | 947 | 45.64% | 1,079 | 52.00% | 49 | 2.36% |
1924 | 564 | 32.92% | 182 | 10.62% | 967 | 56.45% |
1920 | 999 | 63.96% | 403 | 25.80% | 160 | 10.24% |
1916 | 663 | 36.55% | 1,025 | 56.50% | 126 | 6.95% |
1912 | 11 | 0.62% | 742 | 41.66% | 1,028 | 57.72% |
1908 | 659 | 57.91% | 395 | 34.71% | 84 | 7.38% |
1904 | 707 | 65.28% | 347 | 32.04% | 29 | 2.68% |
1900 | 640 | 58.45% | 442 | 40.37% | 13 | 1.19% |
1896 | 678 | 53.47% | 575 | 45.35% | 15 | 1.18% |
1892 | 642 | 52.15% | 537 | 43.62% | 52 | 4.22% |
Plumas County is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.[40] At the state level, Plumas is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines,[41] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle.[42]
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Population and crime rates | ||
---|---|---|
Population[15] | 20,192 | |
Violent crime[43] | 121 | 5.99 |
Homicide[43] | 1 | 0.05 |
Forcible rape[43] | 19 | 0.94 |
Robbery[43] | 5 | 0.25 |
Aggravated assault[43] | 96 | 4.75 |
Property crime[43] | 205 | 10.15 |
Burglary[43] | 122 | 6.04 |
Larceny-theft[43][44] | 192 | 9.51 |
Motor vehicle theft[43] | 19 | 0.94 |
Arson[43] | 2 | 0.10 |
Culture
- The town of Portola is home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, one of the largest railroad museums in North America. It is one of the county's major tourist attractions.
- The town of Chester is home to the Collins Pine Museum, completed in 2007 and dedicated to educating the public about the history of the Collins Pine Company's (a division of The Collins Companies) logging operations in the Chester region.
- The Plumas County Museum in Quincy is notable for exhibits on the Maidu people, the California Gold Rush, logging, and the Variel House. It also hosts contemporary art exhibits.
Media
The primary local news source since 1866 is Feather Publishing Co., Inc. Until 2020, four Plumas County newspapers were published every Wednesday, except for certain holidays; all content was available online instead at plumasnews.com until June 29, 2023, when Plumas News announced it was shutting down.[45] Feather Publishing will continue to release High Country Life, The Dining Guide, The Visitor Guide, maps, and more while also providing commercial printing to the local community.
Plumas County is in the Sacramento television market, and thus receives Sacramento media. Sacramento stations KXTV and KCRA regularly cover major news events in Plumas County.
Education
Transportation
Major highways
Scenic byways
The Feather River National Scenic Byway follows the Middle and North Forks of the Feather River, traversing steep canyon walls and high mountain valleys. The route features grasslands, oak woodlands, mixed conifer, and high desert chaparral. It begins in the Sacramento Valley, following the Feather River Canyon and entering Plumas County just west of Storrie. As it gains elevation, it climbs over the crest of the Sierra and passes through Quincy and Portola, eventually reaching the Middle Fork of the Feather River and following it to its headwaters in Sierra Valley. After going through Beckwourth Pass, the route terminates at Hallelujah Junction on Highway 395.[46][47]
The southernmost point of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, Lake Almanor, is in Plumas County. The route spans 500 miles between California and Oregon and has views of dramatic volcanic landscapes, including nearby Lassen Peak.[48]
The Scenic Byway Link is the section of Highway 89 that connects the Volcanic Legacy and Feather River Scenic Byways. Featuring the alpine meadows of Indian Valley, the rushing waters of Indian Creek, and views of Mt. Hough and the surrounding mountains, the route is about 18 miles long.[49]
Public transit
Plumas Transit Systems, operated by the county, provides local service in Quincy and routes to Chester and Portola.
Airports
Gansner Field is a general aviation airport near Quincy. Rogers Field is near Chester; in addition to its civil-aviation role it also serves as the Chester Air Attack Base, a logistical and coordination facility for the California Department of Forestry's aerial firefighting (both fixed-wing and helicopter). Resources include fueling, retardant loading, communications, and some quartering for aircrew and ground firefighting teams. Nervino Airport is in Beckwourth, east of Portola. The closest major airport is in Reno.
Communities
City
Census-designated places
- Beckwourth
- Belden
- Blairsden
- Bucks Lake
- Canyondam
- Caribou
- Chester
- Chilcoot-Vinton
- Clio
- Crescent Mills
- C-Road
- Cromberg
- Delleker
- East Quincy
- East Shore
- Gold Mountain
- Graeagle
- Greenhorn
- Greenville
- Hamilton Branch
- Indian Falls
- Iron Horse
- Johnsville
- Keddie
- La Porte
- Lake Almanor Country Club
- Lake Almanor Peninsula
- Lake Almanor West
- Lake Davis
- Little Grass Valley
- Mabie
- Meadow Valley
- Mohawk Vista
- Paxton
- Plumas Eureka
- Prattville
- Quincy (county seat)
- Spring Garden
- Taylorsville
- Tobin
- Twain
- Valley Ranch
- Warner Valley
- Whitehawk
Former census designated places
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Plumas County.[50]
† county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2019 estimate) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | East Quincy | CDP | 2,210 |
2 | Chester | CDP | 2,145 |
5 | Portola | City | 1,913 |
4 | † Quincy | CDP | 1,952 |
6 | Greenville | CDP | 817 |
7 | Graeagle | CDP | 538 |
10 | Delleker | CDP | 477 |
8 | Hamilton Branch | CDP | 495 |
12 | Meadow Valley | CDP | 420 |
11 | Chilcoot-Vinton | CDP | 422 |
13 | Beckwourth | CDP | 414 |
14 | Lake Almanor Country Club | CDP | 408 |
9 | Lake Almanor Peninsula | CDP | 485 |
15 | Plumas Eureka | CDP | 364 |
21 | Iron Horse | CDP | 191 |
19 | Lake Almanor West | CDP | 224 |
17 | Cromberg | CDP | 316 |
18 | Greenhorn | CDP | 255 |
24 | Crescent Mills | CDP | 93 |
33 | Mabie | CDP | 25 |
28 | Mohawk Vista | CDP | 54 |
23 | East Shore | CDP | 128 |
22 | C-Road | CDP | 140 |
20 | Taylorsville | CDP | 198 |
31 | Whitehawk | CDP | 49 |
37 | Valley Ranch | CDP | 0 |
16 | Twain | CDP | 327 |
25 | Gold Mountain | CDP | 80 |
t-27 | Clio | CDP | 59 |
t-26 | Keddie | CDP | 76 |
29 | Indian Falls | CDP | 53 |
30 | Lake Davis | CDP | 52 |
35 | Blairsden | CDP | 18 |
t-3 | Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians)[51] | AIAN | 2,000 |
t-32 | Prattville | CDP | 28 |
37 | Canyondam | CDP | 0 |
37 | La Porte | CDP | 0 |
37 | Belden | CDP | 0 |
37 | Johnsville | CDP | 0 |
34 | Spring Garden | CDP | 20 |
37 | Paxton | CDP | 0 |
37 | Tobin | CDP | 0 |
37 | Bucks Lake | CDP | 0 |
37 | Storrie | CDP | 0 |
t-37 | Little Grass Valley | CDP | 0 |
t-36 | Warner Valley | CDP | 2 |
t-37 | Almanor[52] | former CDP | 0 |
t-37 | Caribou | CDP | 0 |
See also
- The Lost Sierra
- List of school districts in Plumas County, California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Plumas County, California
- Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Notes
References
- ^ "Tehama County hires new administrator out of Plumas County". Red Bluff Daily News. February 4, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Board of Supervisors | Plumas County, CA - Official Website".
- ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Troubridge, J. T.; Crabo, L. G. (2002). "A review of the Nearctic species of Hadena (Schrank), 1802 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with descriptions of six new species" (PDF). Fabreries. 27 (2): 109–154. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Official visitor information for Plumas County, Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Northern Maidu". Countyofplumas.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ Young, Jim (November 7, 2017). Plumas County: History of the Feather River Region. Arcadia. ISBN 9780738524092. Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "PCMA". Plumasmuseum.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ McIntosh, Clarence (June 1986). "Transportation in Plumas County Before the Railroad". Plumas Memories, Plumas Historical Society. Publication #51.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Plumas National Forest - Recreation". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Lakes Basin Recreation Area Community". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - About Plumas County". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd Data unavailable
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Board of Supervisors". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "County Administrative Office". Plumas County, California. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Sheriff / Coroner". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Forests and Wilderness, Plumas County Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Plumas National Forest - Beckwourth Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Plumas National Forest - Mt. Hough Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Plumas National Forest - Feather River Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 153-155 ISBN 0786422173
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
- ^ "We are closing Plumas News — but Feather Publishing is here to stay". June 29, 2023.
- ^ "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "America's Byways". Byways.org. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Scenic Byways in Plumas County Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Census Coverage Measurement". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians)". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Almanor". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
External links
Media from Commons
Travel information from Wikivoyage
- Official website
- Plumas County News
- Discover Plumas County
- Plumas political entities
- Plumas County, California
- Map of Plumas County, 1892 at Library of Congress
- Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties California, 1882
40°01′N 120°50′W / 40.01°N 120.83°W / 40.01; -120.83
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- Almanor
- Beckwourth
- Belden
- Blairsden
- Bucks Lake
- C-Road
- Canyondam
- Caribou
- Chester
- Chilcoot-Vinton
- Clio
- Crescent Mills
- Cromberg
- Delleker
- East Quincy
- East Shore
- Gold Mountain
- Graeagle
- Greenhorn
- Greenville
- Hamilton Branch
- Indian Falls
- Iron Horse
- Johnsville
- Keddie
- La Porte
- Lake Almanor Country Club
- Lake Almanor Peninsula
- Lake Almanor West
- Lake Davis
- Little Grass Valley
- Mabie
- Meadow Valley
- Mohawk Vista
- Paxton
- Plumas Eureka
- Prattville
- Quincy
- Spring Garden
- Taylorsville
- Tobin
- Twain
- Valley Ranch
- Warner Valley
- Whitehawk
communities
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