Eastern California

Eastern California
Eastern California
	Downtown San Bernardino, anchor of the largest metro area in East California and 12th in the United States.
	Counties on California's Eastern Border
Country	United States
State	California
Time zone	Pacific Standard Time
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time
Area code(s)	530, 442/760, 909, 951

Eastern California is a region defined as either the strip to the east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada or as the easternmost counties of California.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the population of the eastern border counties of California was 5,129,384. However, 4,224,851 (82.4%) lived in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which are very large and whose populations are concentrated near Los Angeles and Orange counties to the southwest.

Culture and history

Eastern California's history differs significantly from that of the coastal regions and the Central Valley. Northeastern California is very sparsely populated (except for the area around Lake Tahoe): the three least-population counties of California lie in the northeast.[1] The area tends to be politically conservative, much like the rest of the rural Western United States. However, the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside form the 13th-largest metropolitan area of the United States,[2][3] and El Dorado and Placer Counties are part of the Greater Sacramento area[2] and are culturally influenced by their respective metropolitan areas. Imperial County in the Southeast, though rural and agrarian, is heavily Democratic and has ties with the Mexicali Valley to the south.

Northeastern California has had strong ties to Nevada, with the exact boundary between the two states having once been a matter of dispute.[4] Residents of an area near Susanville, California tried to break away from the state in 1856, first by declaring themselves part of the Nataqua Territory[5] and then through annexation to Nevada. The two states further squabbled over ownership of Susanville in 1863. The town of Aurora, Nevada, was temporarily the county seat of both Mono County, California, and Esmeralda County, Nevada. Finally, the line between the two states was settled by a survey in 1892.[6]

Geography

The easternmost counties of California are (from north to south):

Cities within this region include San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Roseville, Victorville, Temecula, Palm Springs, Lincoln, El Centro, Barstow, South Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Truckee, Grass Valley, Placerville, and Alturas.

Cities larger than 50,000 population

The following incorporated places have a population of 50,000 or greater, according to the most recent population estimates:[7]

Placer County

Roseville: 139,117
Rocklin: 67,221

San Bernardino County

Apple Valley: 73,508
Chino: 91,583
Chino Hills: 83,447
Colton: 54,741
Fontana: 213,739
Hesperia: 95,274
Highland: 55,406
Ontario: 181,107
Rancho Cucamonga: 177,751
Redlands: 71,586
Rialto: 103,440
San Bernardino: 215,941
Upland: 77,000
Victorville: 122,312
Yucaipa: 53,682

Riverside County

Cathedral City: 54,902
Corona: 168,819
Eastvale: 64,822
Hemet: 85,275
Indio: 91,240
Jurupa Valley: 108,393
Lake Elsinore: 68,183
Menifee: 92,595
Moreno Valley: 209,050
Murrieta: 114,985
Palm Desert: 53,185
Perris: 79,133
Riverside: 330,063
Temecula: 114,742

Geology

Sand dunes in Death Valley

Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or the Transverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered a desert. Indeed, the hottest and lowest area in North America lies in Death Valley, in the heart of Eastern California.

Geologically, Eastern California is mostly part of the Basin and Range Province, marked by crustal extension, with horsts and grabens. Volcanism is also evident in this region.

Climate

The majority of Eastern California experiences two seasons, a long, dry summer and a milder winter in which the rain is concentrated. Most higher elevations experience four distinct seasons. There are some areas where the weather is very diverse. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has larger amounts of snowfall, while the Imperial Valley has more arid conditions.[8] The Sierra Nevada's average temperature is around 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the Imperial Valley is on average 73 degrees Fahrenheit. A record-breaking heat temperature was recorded in Death Valley, at a scorching 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913.[9] With its low and often sporadic rainfall, California is susceptible to drought, and in many parts of the state including Eastern California, there is very high fire danger and there have been several devastating wildfires.[10]

Economy

Snowy forest at Boreal Mountain Resort

The northern counties of Eastern California are heavily timbered areas. The timber industry is a major contributor to the economy from sale of timber and forest products and the number of jobs that it provides. These timbered areas not only provide valuable income, but are also the main growing sector for the economy for recreation and tourism. In the Sierra Nevada National Forests they experience 50 million recreational visitor days per year.[11] When California became a state, it was one of the leading producers of these timber and forest products. Since then, it has held the third place for the top producer of softwoods since the 1940s. In California there were five counties that contributed to 55 percent of the wood harvested for the state. One of those counties, Plumas, is located in Eastern California.[12]

Transportation

Major highways

Modoc County

Lassen County

Plumas County

Sierra County

U.S. Route 395
Interstate 80
State Route 49
State Route 89

Nevada County