Alpine County, California

Alpine County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,175,[4] making it California's least populous county. The county seat is the Census Designated Place of Markleeville.[5] There are no incorporated cities in the county.

Not to be confused with Alpine, California.

Alpine County, California
County
Images, from top down, left to right: an Alpine County line road sign during a snow storm, Alpine County Courthouse, a view eastward from Carson Pass overlooking Red Lake
Flag Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sierra Nevada
Incorporated	March 16, 1864[1]
Named for	Its location in the Sierra Nevada resembling the (Swiss) Alps
County seat	Markleeville
Largest community	Markleeville
Area
• Total	743 sq mi (1,920 km^2)
• Land	738 sq mi (1,910 km^2)
• Water	4.8 sq mi (12 km^2)
Highest elevation [2]	11,464 ft (3,494 m)
Population  (April 1, 2010)[3]
• Total	1,175
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	1,129
• Density	1.6/sq mi (0.61/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area codes	209, 530
FIPS code	06-003
GNIS feature ID	1675840
Website	www.alpinecountyca.gov

Alpine County is in the Sierra Nevada, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.

History

Alpine County was created on March 16, 1864, during a silver boom in the wake of the nearby Comstock Lode discovery.[1] It was named because of its resemblance to the Swiss Alps.[6] The county was formed from parts of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne counties.[1] At its formation, there was a population of about 11,000 with its county seat at Silver Mountain City. By 1868, however, the local silver mines had proven unfruitful; and the population fell to about 1,200. The county seat moved to Markleeville in 1875.[1]

After the silver rush, Alpine County's economy consisted almost entirely of farming, ranching, and logging. By the 1920s, the population had fallen to just 200 people. With the construction of the Bear Valley and Kirkwood ski resorts in the late 1960s, the population increased to the present level.

Geography

Woods Lake, situated in Alpine County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 743 square miles (1,920 km²), of which 738 square miles (1,910 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km²) (0.7%) is water.[7] The federal government owns about 96% of Alpine County, the highest percentage in California.[8]

Adjacent counties

• El Dorado County – northwest
• Douglas County, Nevada – northeast
• Mono County – southeast
• Tuolumne County – south
• Calaveras County – southwest
• Amador County – west

National protected areas

• Eldorado National Forest (part)
• Stanislaus National Forest (part)
• Toiyabe National Forest (part)

Demographics

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[9]	1,167
White[9]	771	66.1%
Native American[9]	237	20.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]	82	7.0%
Some other race[9]	62	5.3%
Asian[9]	39	3.3%
Two or more races[9]	37	3.2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[9]	21	1.8%
Black or African American[9]	0	0.0%
Per capita income[11]	$29,576
Median household income[12]	$59,018
Median family income[13]	$81,750

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[14]	Population[9]	White[9]	Other[9] [note 1]	Asian[9]	Black or African American[9]	Native American[9] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]
Alpine Village	CDP	180	47.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	52.8%	1.7%
Bear Valley	CDP	71	87.3%	12.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	12.7%
Kirkwood ‡	CDP	84	21.4%	73.8%	4.8%	0.0%	0.0%	73.8%
Markleeville	CDP	262	92.4%	7.6%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.1%
Mesa Vista	CDP	185	88.6%	0.0%	1.1%	0.0%	10.3%	0.0%
‡ Data for Alpine County area of this CDP

Places by population and income
Place	Type[14]	Population[15]	Per capita income[11]	Median household income[12]	Median family income[13]
Alpine Village	CDP	180	$24,082	$56,964	$68,750
Bear Valley (Alpine County)	CDP	71	$18,858	$57,188	$73,036
Kirkwood ‡	CDP	84	$8,543	$47,500	[16]
Markleeville	CDP	262	$33,769	$81,750	$112,750
Mesa Vista	CDP	185	$42,536	$73,875	$125,278
‡ Data for Alpine County area of this CDP

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	685		—
1880	539		−21.3%
1890	667		23.7%
1900	509		−23.7%
1910	309		−39.3%
1920	243		−21.4%
1930	241		−0.8%
1940	323		34.0%
1950	241		−25.4%
1960	397		64.7%
1970	484		21.9%
1980	1,097		126.7%
1990	1,113		1.5%
2000	1,208		8.5%
2010	1,175		−2.7%
Est. 2019	1,129	[3]	−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19] 1990–2000[20] 2010–2018[4]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Alpine County had a population of 1,175. The racial makeup of Alpine County was 881 (75.0%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 240 (20.4%) Native American, 7 (0.6%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 19 (1.6%) from other races, and 28 (2.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84 persons (7.1%).[21]

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)
Alpine County	1175	881	0	240	7	0	19	28	84
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)
Alpine Village	114	91	0	19	1	0	2	1	6
Bear Valley	121	119	0	0	1	0	0	1	1
Kirkwood‡	97	94	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Markleeville	210	192	0	4	2	0	6	6	11
Mesa Vista	200	178	0	15	2	0	0	5	11
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)	433	217	0	199	1	0	11	15	51
‡ - census results for the portion of this CDP in Alpine County

2000

As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 1,208 people, 483 households, and 295 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,514 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 18.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.1% were of German, 12.1% Irish, 9.3% English, 6.5% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry. 95.0% spoke English, 3.1% Spanish and 2.0% Washo as their first language.

There were 483 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $50,250. Males had a median income of $36,544 versus $25,800 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,431. About 12.0% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Throughout the 20th century, Alpine County was a Republican stronghold in presidential and congressional elections. From 1892 until 2004, the only Democrat to carry Alpine County in a presidential election was Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936. In 1964, Alpine was one of only five counties in the state to back Barry Goldwater. It was among the five most Republican counties in the entire nation in 1892,[23] 1908,[24] 1920,[25] and 1928.[26] Warren Harding and Herbert Hoover gained over ninety percent of the county's vote. However, Alpine has become more of a Democratic-leaning county in recent elections. It was carried by John Kerry in 2004 and has stayed in the Democratic column since.

Presidential elections results

Alpine County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2016	36.05% 217	55.48% 334	8.48% 51
2012	36.09% 236	59.48% 389	4.43% 29
2008	36.31% 252	60.81% 422	2.88% 20
2004	44.37% 311	53.21% 373	2.43% 17
2000	47.95% 281	45.22% 265	6.83% 40
1996	43.00% 264	42.02% 258	14.98% 92
1992	35.18% 222	34.07% 215	30.75% 194
1988	55.43% 306	41.67% 230	2.90% 16
1984	56.65% 264	41.63% 194	1.72% 8
1980	55.10% 254	28.85% 133	16.06% 74
1976	50.34% 225	42.28% 189	7.38% 33
1972	63.54% 366	33.85% 195	2.60% 15
1968	59.29% 150	32.81% 83	7.91% 20
1964	57.67% 124	42.33% 91
1960	76.74% 132	23.26% 40
1956	79.72% 114	20.28% 29
1952	88.10% 148	11.90% 20
1948	76.81% 106	18.12% 25	5.07% 7
1944	68.53% 98	31.47% 45
1940	66.49% 125	32.98% 62	0.53% 1
1936	46.54% 74	53.46% 85
1932	47.32% 53	50.00% 56	2.68% 3
1928	94.23% 49	5.77% 3
1924	88.14% 52	8.47% 5	3.38% 2
1920	91.43% 64	8.57% 6
1916	72.29% 60	27.71% 23
1912	10.00% 8	42.50% 34	47.50% 38
1908	87.21% 75	12.79% 11
1904	89.16% 74	10.84% 9
1900	82.14% 69	17.86% 15
1896	49.38% 40	48.15% 39	2.47% 2
1892	75.58% 65	19.77% 17	4.65% 4

In November 2008, Alpine was one of just three counties in California's interior in which voters rejected Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to amend the California Constitution to reject the legal extension of the title of marriage to same-sex couples. Alpine voters rejected Proposition 8 by 56.4 percent to 43.6 percent. The other interior counties in which Proposition 8 failed to receive a majority of votes were neighboring Mono County and Yolo County.[27]

According to the California Secretary of State, as of January 2016, there are 696 registered voters in Alpine County. Of those, 257 (36.9%) are registered Democratic, 210 (30.2%) are registered Republican, 46 (6.6%) are registered with other political parties, and 183 (26.3%) declined to state a political party.[28]

Alpine County is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[29] In the State Assembly, the county is in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Frank Bigelow.[30] In the State Senate, the county is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.[31]

Due to its low population density, Alpine County votes entirely by mail, one of two counties in California which do so.[32] In the June 2014 primary elections, about 22% of registered voters went to the polls. In Alpine County, the number was almost 70%, the highest of any county in the state.[33]

Posse Comitatus controversy

In the late 1970s, the Posse Comitatus organization attempted to take over Alpine County by settling there and fielding candidates in local elections.[34] The Posse thought winning local elections in Alpine County was their best opportunity to take control of a single county. The group fielded a candidate for sheriff and registered fictitious voters using post office boxes and vacant lots as their addresses. Six people were prosecuted for voter fraud, the false registrations were thrown out, and the incumbent sheriff was re-elected.[35]

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[9]	1,167
Registered voters[36][note 3]	771	66.1%
Democratic[36]	290	37.6%
Republican[36]	235	30.5%
Democratic–Republican spread[36]	+55	+7.1%
Independent[36]	30	3.9%
Green[36]	13	1.7%
Libertarian[36]	3	0.4%
Peace and Freedom[36]	2	0.3%
Americans Elect[36]	0	0.0%
Other[36]	5	0.6%
No party preference[36]	193	25.0%

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[9]	1,167
Violent crime[37]	13	11.14
Homicide[37]	0	0.00
Forcible rape[37]	1	0.86
Robbery[37]	1	0.86
Aggravated assault[37]	11	9.43
Property crime[37]	39	33.42
Burglary[37]	11	9.43
Larceny-theft[37][note 4]	49	41.99
Motor vehicle theft[37]	2	1.71
Arson[37]	0	0.00

Transportation

Major highways

• State Route 4
• State Route 88
• State Route 89

Airport

Alpine County Airport is a general aviation airport in the Eastern Sierra about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the town of Markleeville. The airport consists of a simple airstrip with an apron for small light aircraft to park. The airport has no buildings, no lights, and is rarely used. The airport is popular with astronomers due to the clear, dark skies.

Communities

All unincorporated

• Alpine Village[note 5]
• Bear Valley[note 5]
• Fredericksburg
• Kirkwood[note 5]
• Lake Alpine
• Loope
• Markleeville (county seat)[note 5]
• Mesa Vista[note 5]
• Paynesville
• Sorensens
• Woodfords

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Alpine County.[38]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	Woodfords Community[39]	AIAN	214
2	† Markleeville	CDP	210
3	Mesa Vista	CDP	200
4	Kirkwood (partially in Amador County)	CDP	158
5	Bear Valley	CDP	121
6	Alpine Village	CDP	114

See also

• Alpine County Unified School District
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Alpine County, California
• Stonewall Nation, a proposal by gay activists to colonize Alpine County in the 1970s

Notes

1. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
4. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
5. For statistical purposes, defined by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).

References

1. "Alpine County General Plan" (PDF). February 2009. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
2. "Sonora Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. William Bright; Erwin Gustav Gudde (November 30, 1998). 1500 California place names: their origin and meaning. University of California Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-520-21271-8. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
8. Sabalow, Ryan; Kasler, Dale; Reese, Phillip (January 9, 2016). "Rural Californians sympathize with protesters' goals in Oregon standoff". The Sacramento Bee.
9. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
12. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
16. Data unavailable
17. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
19. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
21. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
23. Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1892 Presidential Election Statistics
24. Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1908 Presidential Election Statistics
25. Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1920 Presidential Election Statistics
26. Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1928 Presidential Election Statistics
27. "California results". latimes.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
28. "Voter Registration Statistics". California Secretary of State. January 5, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
29. "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
30. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
31. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
32. "No voters at these polls". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
33. Mehta, Seema (June 17, 2014). "California's least-populous county takes voting seriously". Los Angeles Times.
34. Levitas, Daniel. The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right. Macmillan. p. 164. ISBN 9781429941808. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
35. Duncan, Dayton. Miles from Nowhere: Tales from America's Contemporary Frontier. University of Nebraska Press. p. 259. ISBN 0803266278. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
36. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived November 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
37. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
38. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
39. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• High Sierra Nevada Fossil Plants, Alpine County, California A field trip to a famous 7 million year-old fossil leaf and petrified wood locality in Alpine County; detailed text, plus images of fossils and on-site photographs.