Colusa County, California

Colusa County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,419.[3] The county seat is Colusa.[5] It is in the Central Valley of California, northwest of the state capital, Sacramento.

Colusa County, California
County
County of Colusa
Colusa County Courthouse
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sacramento Valley
Incorporated	February 18, 1850[1]
Named for	Rancho Colus
County seat	Colusa
Largest city	Colusa (population) Williams (area)
Area
• Total	1,156 sq mi (2,990 km^2)
• Land	1,151 sq mi (2,980 km^2)
• Water	5.6 sq mi (15 km^2)
Highest elevation [2]	7,059 ft (2,152 m)
Population  (April 1, 2010)[3]
• Total	21,419
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	21,547
• Density	19/sq mi (7.2/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code	530
Website	www.countyofcolusa.org

History

Colusa County is one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Tehama County in 1856 and to Glenn County in 1891.[6]

The county was named after the 1844 Rancho Colus Mexican land grant to John Bidwell. The name of the county in the original state legislative act of 1850 was spelled Colusi, and often in newspapers was spelled Coluse.[7][8] The word is derived from the name of a Patwin village known as Ko'-roo or Korusi located on the west side of the Sacramento River on the site of the present-day city of Colusa.[9][10] The name was established as Colusa by 1855.[6]

Early History

Present-day Colusa County was originally home to the Patwin band of the Wintun people,[11] whose territory included areas along the Sacramento River as well as lands extending west towards Lake County, bounded in the north by the sources of Stony Creek near Stonyford and in the south by Putah Creek.[12]

Linguistically, the Patwin people in the Colusa area spoke two dialects of the Southern Wintuan language. River Patwin was spoken in villages along the Sacramento River, including at Korusi, site of the present city of Colusa. Hill Patwin was spoken in the plains and foothills to the west.[11]

European Settlement

Present-day Colusa County was included as part of three Mexican land grants: John Bidwell's smaller 1845 Rancho Colus grant, which included the modern city of Colusa;[13] the larger 1844 Rancho Jimeno grant, which surrounded the Colus grant;[14][13] and the 1844 Larkin's Children grant, located upriver from Colusa near the present town of Princeton, California.[15][16]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,156 square miles (2,990 km²), of which 1,151 square miles (2,980 km²) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km²) (0.5%) is water.[17] A large number of streams drain the county, including Elk Creek, Salt Creek, Stony Creek and Bear Creek.

The county's eastern boundary is formed, in part, by the Sacramento River.

Adjacent counties

• Glenn County - north
• Butte County - northeast
• Sutter County - east
• Yolo County - south
• Lake County - west

National protected areas

• Butte Sink National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
• Delevan National Wildlife Refuge
• Mendocino National Forest (part)
• Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[18]	21,297
White[18]	14,491	68.0%
Black or African American[18]	203	1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native[18]	288	1.4%
Asian[18]	252	1.2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[18]	41	0.2%
Some other race[18]	4,893	23.0%
Two or more races[18]	1,129	5.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[19]	11,460	53.8%
Per capita income[20]	$21,271
Median household income[21]	$49,558
Median family income[22]	$55,063

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[23]	Population[18]	White[18]	Other[18] [note 1]	Asian[18]	Black or African American[18]	Native American[18] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[19]
Arbuckle	CDP	3,236	55.3%	43.9%	0.5%	0.0%	0.3%	66.0%
College City	CDP	70	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	35.7%
Colusa	City	5,951	62.2%	32.2%	1.9%	0.9%	2.8%	56.4%
Grimes	CDP	517	64.2%	35.8%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	81.8%
Lodoga	CDP	185	85.4%	5.9%	0.0%	4.3%	4.3%	0.0%
Maxwell	CDP	1,144	77.4%	22.2%	0.3%	0.0%	0.0%	65.2%
Princeton	CDP	209	92.8%	2.9%	0.0%	0.0%	4.3%	7.7%
Stonyford	CDP	104	99.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Williams	City	5,003	65.0%	32.7%	0.7%	1.0%	0.7%	74.3%

Places by population and income
Place	Type[23]	Population[24]	Per capita income[20]	Median household income[21]	Median family income[22]
Arbuckle	CDP	3,236	$16,604	$48,878	$52,708
College City	CDP	70	$37,704	$62,750	$64,750
Colusa	City	5,951	$21,811	$49,100	$51,667
Grimes	CDP	517	$9,984	$30,897	$31,058
Lodoga	CDP	185	$25,004	$24,881	$65,500
Maxwell	CDP	1,144	$16,454	$43,036	$44,405
Princeton	CDP	209	$28,005	$58,571	$60,000
Stonyford	CDP	104	$21,163	$33,750	$49,250
Williams	City	5,003	$14,974	$47,934	$52,303

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	115		—
1860	2,274		1,877.4%
1870	6,165		171.1%
1880	13,118		112.8%
1890	14,640		11.6%
1900	7,364		−49.7%
1910	7,732		5.0%
1920	9,290		20.2%
1930	10,258		10.4%
1940	9,788		−4.6%
1950	11,651		19.0%
1960	12,075		3.6%
1970	12,430		2.9%
1980	12,791		2.9%
1990	16,275		27.2%
2000	18,804		15.5%
2010	21,419		13.9%
Est. 2019	21,547	[4]	0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27] 1990–2000[28] 2010–2015[3]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Colusa County had a population of 21,419. The racial makeup of Colusa County was 13,854 (64.7%) White, 195 (0.9%) African American, 419 (2.0%) Native American, 281 (1.3%) Asian, 68 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 5,838 (27.3%) from other races, and 764 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,804 persons (55.1%).[29]

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)
Colusa County	21,419	13,854	195	419	281	68	5,838	764	11,804
Incorporated cities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Colusa	5,971	3,944	54	107	80	28	1,510	248	3,128
Williams	5,123	2,785	59	55	94	4	1,946	180	3,891
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)
Arbuckle	3,028	1,746	18	23	18	5	1,124	94	2,116
College City	290	207	0	5	1	0	51	26	134
Grimes	391	284	7	3	1	0	65	31	258
Lodoga	197	167	16	4	2	2	3	3	8
Maxwell	1,103	734	11	14	9	2	306	27	570
Princeton	303	217	0	10	1	1	70	4	93
Stonyford	149	127	0	4	0	1	12	5	22
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)	4,864	3,643	30	194	75	25	751	146	1,584

2000

As of the census[30] of 2000, there were 18,804 people, 6,097 households, and 4,578 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 6,774 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 26.7% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. 46.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.5% were of German, 5.6% English, 5.5% American and 5.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 58.7% spoke English and 40.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,097 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 21.5% 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 3.01 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,062, and the median income for a family was $40,138. Males had a median income of $32,210 versus $21,521 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,730. About 13.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[18]	21,297
Registered voters[31][note 3]	7,663	36.0%
Democratic[31]	2,635	34.4%
Republican[31]	3,470	45.3%
Democratic–Republican spread[31]	-835	-10.9%
American Independent[31]	171	2.2%
Green[31]	19	0.2%
Libertarian[31]	30	0.4%
Peace and Freedom[31]	12	0.2%
Americans Elect[31]	0	0.0%
Other[31]	2	0.0%
No party preference[31]	1,324	17.3%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population[18]	Registered voters[31] [note 3]	Democratic[31]	Republican[31]	D–R spread[31]	Other[31]	No party preference[31]
Colusa	5,951	37.8%	35.5%	44.6%	-9.1%	5.6%	16.8%
Williams	5,003	22.7%	43.5%	31.4%	+12.1%	3.1%	23.0%

Overview

In its early history Colusa was one of the most reliable Democratic counties in California. Along with Mariposa County, it was one of only two counties in the Pacific States to support Alton B. Parker in 1904.[32] From 1892 until 1952, Colusa only went Republican during the GOP landslides of the Roaring Twenties. Since 1952, however, Colusa has become a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections, with Lyndon Johnson, in 1964, being the last Democrat to win the county.

Presidential elections results

Colusa County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2016	53.02% 3,551	39.73% 2,661	7.24% 485
2012	59.57% 3,601	38.28% 2,314	2.15% 130
2008	57.89% 3,733	39.84% 2,569	2.26% 146
2004	67.17% 4,142	31.58% 1,947	1.25% 77
2000	64.92% 3,629	31.22% 1,745	3.86% 216
1996	54.29% 3,047	36.60% 2,054	9.11% 511
1992	45.94% 2,589	31.91% 1,798	22.15% 1,248
1988	59.49% 3,077	39.10% 2,022	1.41% 73
1984	65.30% 3,388	33.25% 1,725	1.45% 75
1980	58.00% 2,897	32.13% 1,605	9.87% 493
1976	52.74% 2,733	45.16% 2,340	2.10% 109
1972	57.56% 2,715	38.37% 1,810	4.07% 192
1968	51.58% 2,361	40.59% 1,858	7.83% 358
1964	39.32% 1,811	60.57% 2,790	0.11% 5
1960	51.37% 2,497	48.30% 2,348	0.33% 16
1956	53.23% 2,474	46.71% 2,171	0.06% 3
1952	59.81% 2,824	39.83% 1,881	0.36% 17
1948	46.22% 1,803	51.78% 2,020	2.00% 78
1944	42.92% 1,579	56.81% 2,090	0.27% 10
1940	39.74% 1,774	59.48% 2,655	0.78% 35
1936	28.15% 1,186	70.38% 2,965	1.47% 62
1932	27.50% 1,095	69.11% 2,752	3.39% 135
1928	56.30% 1,752	42.99% 1,338	0.71% 22
1924	43.84% 1,127	19.25% 495	36.91% 949
1920	61.24% 1,645	33.77% 907	4.99% 134
1916	31.82% 1,011	62.89% 1,998	5.29% 168
1912	0.11% 3	63.58% 1,760	36.30% 1,005
1908	38.58% 730	56.24% 1,064	5.18% 98
1904	46.78% 885	47.57% 900	5.66% 107
1900	35.98% 648	59.69% 1,075	4.33% 78
1896	30.86% 581	66.38% 1,250	2.76% 52
1892	31.08% 645	57.20% 1,187	11.71% 243

Colusa County is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Democrat John Garamendi.[33]

In the State Assembly, Colusa County is split between the 3rd and 4th districts, represented by Republican James Gallagher and Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, respectively.[34] In the State Senate, the county is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen.[35]

On November 4, 2008 Colusa County voted 71.6% for Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

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[18]	21,297
Violent crime[36]	59	2.77
Homicide[36]	1	0.05
Forcible rape[36]	13	0.61
Robbery[36]	8	0.38
Aggravated assault[36]	37	1.74
Property crime[36]	352	16.53
Burglary[36]	197	9.25
Larceny-theft[36][note 4]	293	13.76
Motor vehicle theft[36]	37	1.74
Arson[36]	3	0.14

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population[37]	Violent crimes[37]	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes[37]	Property crime rate per 1,000 persons
Colusa	6,065	11	1.81	170	28.03
Williams	5,200	9	1.73	76	14.62

Transportation

Major highways

• Interstate 5
• State Route 16
• State Route 20
• State Route 45

Public transportation

Colusa County Transit runs buses from Colusa to Williams, Arbuckle, Grimes and College City, with limited service to Maxwell.

Airports

Colusa County Airport is a general-aviation airport located near the city of Colusa.

Communities

Cities

• Colusa (county seat)
• Williams

Census-designated places

• Arbuckle
• College City
• Grimes
• Lodoga
• Maxwell
• Princeton
• Stonyford
• [[Williams, California|Williams]]

Unincorporated community

• Sites

Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Colusa	City	5,971
2	Williams	City	5,123
3	Arbuckle	CDP	3,028
4	Maxwell	CDP	1,103
5	Grimes	CDP	391
6	Princeton	CDP	303
7	College City	CDP	290
8	Lodoga	CDP	197
9	Stonyford	CDP	149
10	Colusa Rancheria[39]	AIAN	76
11	Cortina Rancheria[40]	AIAN	21

See also

• List of school districts in Colusa County, California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Colusa County, California
• Thomas D. Harp, mentions 1891 division of the county

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.

References

1. "Chronology". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
2. "Snow Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
6. "The Creation of Our 58 Counties". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
7. The Statutes of California Passed at the First Session of the Legislature (PDF). San Jose: J. Winchester, State Printer. 1850. p. 62.
8. "How Did Our 58 Counties Get Their Names?". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
9. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. pp. 88.
10. Heizer, Robert; Hester, Thomas (1970). "Names and Locations of Some Ethnographic Patwin and Maidu Indian Villages" (PDF). Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility. 9: 84.
11. Golla, Victor (2011). California Indian Languages. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 143. ISBN 0520266676.
12. Cook, Sherburne Friend (1976). The population of the California Indians, 1769-1970. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 13.
13. Hoffman, Ogden (1862). Reports of Land Cases Determined in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. San Francisco: Numa Hubert. pp. 37, 41.
14. Plat of the Colus Rancho. San Francisco: U.S. Surveyor General's Office. 1860.
15. Hague, Harlan (1995). Thomas O. Larkin: A Life of Patriotism and Profit in Old California. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 182. ISBN 0806127333.
16. Grants of Land in California Made by Spanish or Mexican Authorities (PDF). Sacramento: California State Lands Commission. 1982. pp. 25–26.
17. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-26.
19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-26.
20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
21. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
22. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
23. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
24. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved 2013-10-21.
25. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
26. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
27. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
28. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
29. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
30. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
31. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived November 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
32. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 153-155 ISBN 0786422173
33. "California's 3rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
34. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
35. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
36. 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.
37. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
38. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
39. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "2010 Census Interactive Population Map (Text Version) - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.
40. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "2010 Census Interactive Population Map (Text Version) - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.

External links

• Official website
• Colusa County Sun Herald
• Colusa County Guide