Sierra County, California

Sierra County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,240[2] making it California's second-least populous county. The county seat is Downieville,[4] and the only incorporated city is Loyalton. The county is in the Sierra Nevada, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada.

Sierra County, California
County
County of Sierra
Images, from top down, left to right: Downieville, Conifer forest in the Tahoe National Forest, Stampede Dam
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sierra Nevada
Incorporated	1852
Named for	Sierra Nevada
County seat	Downieville
Largest city	Loyalton
Government
• Board of Supervisors	Supervisors[1] Lee Adams Peter Hubener Paul Roen Jim Beard Scott Schlefstein
• Assemblymember	Megan Dahle (R)
• State senator	Brian Dahle (R)
• U.S. rep.	Doug LaMalfa (R)
Area
• Total	962 sq mi (2,490 km^2)
• Land	953 sq mi (2,470 km^2)
• Water	9 sq mi (20 km^2)
Population  (April 1, 2010)[2]
• Total	3,240
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	3,005
• Density	3.4/sq mi (1.3/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code(s)	530
Website	www.sierracounty.ca.gov

History

Sierra County was formed from parts of Yuba County in 1852. The county derives its name from the Sierra Nevada.

Prior to the California Gold Rush, the area was home to both the Maidu and the Washoe peoples. They generally summered in the higher elevations to hunt and fish, and returned to lower elevations for the winter months.[5] After the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills sparked the California Gold Rush, more than 16,000 miners settled in Sierra County between 1848–1860. Most mining settlements in the county sprung up along the North and Middle Forks of the Yuba River, both of which had rich deposits of gold. While some of the mining boom towns faded away once gold fever died down, other settlements such as Downieville and Sierra City have remained.[6][7]

Notable gold nuggets found in the county include a 26.5 pound specimen, avoirdupois, found by a group of sailors at Sailor Ravine, two miles above Downieville. A 51-pound specimen was found in 1853 by a group of Frenchmen in French Ravine. The 106 pound Monumental Nugget was found in Sept. 1869 at Sierra City.[8]

The Bald Mountain drift mine in Forest City was founded in Aug. 1864, and was the largest of its kind in the state at the time. The Bald Mountain Extension was located in 1874 east of Forest. The Monte Cristo Mine was located in 1854. The largest quartz-mine is the Sierra Buttes Gold Mine was located in 1850 near Sierra City. The Gold Bluff Mine was located near Downnieville in 1854. By 1880 the county was "crushing" 70,000 tons of quartz and had 266 miles of mining ditches.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 962 square miles (2,490 km²), of which 953 square miles (2,470 km²) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km²) (0.9%) is water.[9]

Adjacent counties

• Nevada County, California - south
• Yuba County, California - west
• Plumas County, California - north
• Lassen County, California - northeast
• Washoe County, Nevada - east

National protected areas

• Plumas National Forest (part)
• Tahoe National Forest (part)
• Toiyabe National Forest (part)

Politics

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[10]	3,277
Registered voters[11][note 1]	2,223	67.8%
Democratic[11]	631	28.4%
Republican[11]	939	42.2%
Democratic–Republican spread[11]	-308	-13.8%
American Independent[11]	126	5.7%
Green[11]	24	1.1%
Libertarian[11]	30	1.3%
Peace and Freedom[11]	4	0.2%
Americans Elect[11]	0	0.0%
Other[11]	42	1.9%
No party preference[11]	427	19.2%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population[10]	Registered voters[11] [note 1]	Democratic[11]	Republican[11]	D–R spread[11]	Other[11]	No party preference[11]
Loyalton	890	49.1%	32.3%	38.7%	-6.4%	14.6%	19.9%

Overview

Sierra County at one time had favored the Democratic party in Presidential elections and was one of few counties in California to be won by George McGovern. In more recent times it is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential elections results

Sierra County vote
by party in presidential elections[12]

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2016	56.40% 1,048	32.35% 601	11.25% 209
2012	58.70% 1,056	36.30% 653	5.00% 90
2008	58.16% 1,158	37.32% 743	4.52% 90
2004	64.12% 1,249	33.16% 646	2.72% 53
2000	63.45% 1,172	29.24% 540	7.31% 135
1996	51.38% 877	33.57% 573	15.06% 257
1992	36.85% 691	34.83% 653	28.32% 531
1988	50.71% 860	46.64% 791	2.65% 45
1984	56.86% 1,078	41.19% 781	1.95% 37
1980	49.77% 855	37.89% 651	12.34% 212
1976	43.15% 680	53.36% 841	3.49% 55
1972	47.51% 629	49.70% 658	2.79% 37
1968	45.93% 548	46.86% 559	7.20% 86
1964	33.28% 413	66.72% 828	0.00% 0
1960	46.79% 576	52.56% 647	0.65% 8
1956	50.55% 638	49.13% 620	0.32% 4
1952	53.76% 822	45.65% 698	0.59% 9
1948	43.40% 546	52.46% 660	4.13% 52
1944	39.91% 443	59.64% 662	0.45% 5
1940	32.38% 511	66.98% 1,057	0.63% 10
1936	22.56% 340	76.44% 1,152	1.00% 15
1932	25.46% 292	69.40% 796	5.14% 59
1928	51.52% 457	47.35% 420	1.13% 10
1924	38.93% 276	10.30% 73	50.78% 360
1920	72.18% 506	22.54% 158	5.28% 37
1916	35.36% 360	58.35% 594	6.29% 64
1912	0.86% 10	44.47% 515	54.66% 633
1908	55.40% 600	37.86% 410	6.74% 73
1904	65.05% 791	30.92% 376	4.03% 49
1900	60.99% 702	37.88% 436	1.13% 13
1896	56.61% 707	42.19% 527	1.20% 15
1892	57.45% 787	38.61% 529	3.94% 54

On November 4, 2008, Sierra County voted 64.2% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.[13]

Transportation

Major highways

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

County roads

• County Route A23
• County Route A24
• Henness Pass Road
• Stampede Dam Road
• Gold Lake Road/Highway

Public transportation

Public transportation in Sierra County is limited to vans run by senior citizen agencies in Downieville and Loyalton which the general public may ride on a space-available basis.[14]

Airport

Sierraville-Dearwater Field Airport is a general aviation airport located near Sierraville.

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[10]	3,277
Violent crime[15]	13	3.97
Homicide[15]	0	0.00
Forcible rape[15]	0	0.00
Robbery[15]	0	0.00
Aggravated assault[15]	13	3.97
Property crime[15]	33	10.07
Burglary[15]	15	4.58
Larceny-theft[15][note 2]	28	8.54
Motor vehicle theft[15]	0	0.00
Arson[15]	1	0.31

Demographics

2015

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Sierra County, California are:[16]

Largest ancestries (2015)	Percent
English	19.0%
German	18.2%
"American"	16.1%
Scottish	6.4%
Italian	5.9%
Polish	4.6%
Portuguese	4.0%
Swiss	3.6%
Swedish	3.2%
French	3.1%

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[10]	3,277
White[10]	3,031	92.5%
Black or African American[10]	38	1.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native[10]	11	0.3%
Asian[10]	3	0.1%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[10]	0	0.0%
Some other race[10]	179	5.5%
Two or more races[10]	15	0.5%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[17]	247	7.5%
Per capita income[18]	$26,137
Median household income[19]	$50,308
Median family income[20]	$56,469

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[21]	Population[10]	White[10]	Other[10] [note 3]	Asian[10]	Black or African American[10]	Native American[10] [note 4]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[17]
Alleghany	CDP	65	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Calpine	CDP	194	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Downieville	CDP	192	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Goodyears Bar	CDP	156	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Loyalton	City	890	89.0%	8.1%	0.2%	1.5%	1.2%	12.5%
Pike	CDP	174	88.5%	3.4%	0.0%	8.0%	0.0%	3.4%
Sattley	CDP	28	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Sierra Brooks	CDP	237	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Sierra City	CDP	279	96.8%	3.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Sierraville	CDP	229	49.3%	45.9%	0.0%	4.8%	0.0%	45.9%
Verdi	CDP	158	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

Places by population and income
Place	Type[21]	Population[22]	Per capita income[18]	Median household income[19]	Median family income[20]
Alleghany	CDP	65	$16,843	$30,278	$30,278
Calpine	CDP	194	$16,634	$15,132	[23]
Downieville	CDP	192	$22,868	$2,499	$52,266
Goodyears Bar	CDP	156	$32,788	$72,794	$73,162
Loyalton	City	890	$23,641	$51,756	$51,893
Pike	CDP	174	$24,933	$35,703	$30,938
Sattley	CDP	28	[23]	[23]	[23]
Sierra Brooks	CDP	237	$33,134	$55,547	$55,703
Sierra City	CDP	279	$27,729	$110,938	$113,750
Sierraville	CDP	229	$17,214	$12,120	$11,944
Verdi	CDP	158	$46,291	$76,987	[23]

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	11,387		—
1870	5,619		−50.7%
1880	6,623		17.9%
1890	5,051		−23.7%
1900	4,017		−20.5%
1910	4,098		2.0%
1920	1,783		−56.5%
1930	2,422		35.8%
1940	3,025		24.9%
1950	2,410		−20.3%
1960	2,247		−6.8%
1970	2,365		5.3%
1980	3,073		29.9%
1990	3,318		8.0%
2000	3,555		7.1%
2010	3,240		−8.9%
Est. 2019	3,005	[3]	−7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[24] 1790-1960[25] 1900-1990[26] 1990-2000[27] 2010-2015[2]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Sierra County had a population of 3,240. The racial makeup of Sierra County was 3,022 (93.3%) White, 6 (0.2%) African American, 44 (1.4%) Native American, 12 (0.4%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 75 (2.3%) from other races, and 79 (2.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 269 persons (8.3%).[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)
Sierra County	3,240	3,022	6	44	12	2	75	79	269
Incorporated cities and towns	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Loyalton	769	701	2	21	0	0	20	25	108
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)
Alleghany	58	58	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Calpine	205	184	0	0	0	1	10	10	26
Downieville	282	269	0	4	2	0	0	7	12
Goodyears Bar	68	64	0	4	0	0	0	0	1
Pike	134	130	0	1	2	0	0	1	2
Sattley	49	48	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Sierra Brooks	478	466	0	4	1	1	0	6	22
Sierra City	221	200	0	2	3	0	12	4	21
Sierraville	200	187	2	0	0	0	10	1	16
Verdi	162	153	0	0	1	0	5	3	10
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)	614	562	2	7	3	0	18	22	49

2000

As of the census[29] of 2000, there were 3,555 people, 1,520 households and 986 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,202 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Six percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Eighteen percent were of English ancestry, 16% were of Irish, 11% German and 8% Italian ancestry.[30] Over ninety-five (95.3) percent spoke English and 3.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 1,520 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,827, and the median income for a family was $42,756. Males had a median income of $36,121 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,815. About 9.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

• Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District

Communities

City

• Loyalton

Census-designated places

• Alleghany
• Calpine
• Downieville (county seat)
• Goodyears Bar
• Pike
• Sattley
• Sierra Brooks
• Sierra City
• Sierraville
• Verdi

Unincorporated communities

• Forest
• Gibsonville
• Bassetts

Ghost towns

• Eureka City
• Howland Flat
• Pine Grove
• Poker Flat
• Potosi
• Shady Flat

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Sierra County.[31]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	Loyalton	City	769
2	Sierra Brooks	CDP	478
3	† Downieville	CDP	282
4	Sierra City	CDP	221
5	Calpine	CDP	205
6	Sierraville	CDP	200
7	Verdi	CDP	162
8	Pike	CDP	134
9	Goodyears Bar	CDP	68
10	Alleghany	CDP	58
11	Sattley	CDP	49

Trivia

• Because Loyalton is Sierra County's most populous municipality and its only incorporated city, generally half of the meetings of the county's board of supervisors are held in Downieville and the other half are held in Loyalton.[32]
• There is only one traffic signal (a flashing red light at the intersection of highways 49 and 89) in Sierra County. In the winter of 2007 it was removed after an automobile accident and was replaced in the fall of 2008.
• In the 2009 special statewide election, Sierra County had the highest voter turnout of any county in California, with 53.6% of registered voters participating, according to the Los Angeles Times. The election was nearly double the overall voter turnout in the state, about 23%.[33]

See also

• Hiking trails in Sierra County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sierra County, California

Notes

1. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
2. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
3. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
4. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native

References

1. "Board of Supervisors". County of Sierra. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
5. Sierra County History, 2008, The Online Guide to Sierra County, accessed 02 April 2013
6. "Sierra County, CA - Official Website - Official Website". www.sierracounty.ws. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
7. Sierra Valley, Sierra County History Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine, 2012, East Sierra Valley Chamber of Commerce, accessed 02 April 2013
8. Gilbert, Frank; Wells, Harry (1882). Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. San Francisco: Fariss & Smith. pp. 478–483.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
11. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
13. "2008 Initiative General Election Results - Sierra County, CA".
14. County of Sierra, Calif (2006-04-19). "Sierra County 2005 Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). Sierra County 2005 Regional Transportation Plan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-18. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
15. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
16. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
21. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
22. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
23. Data unavailable
24. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
25. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
26. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
27. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
28. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
29. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
30. Sierra County, CA ANCESTRY & FAMILY HISTORY Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, 2007, accessed 02 April 2013
31. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
32. "Sierra County Government Directory". Retrieved 2011-03-05.
33. La Ganga, Maria L., Sierra County (where everyone votes by mail) is serious about elections, 22 May 2009, Los Angeles Times, accessed 02 April 2013

External links

• Official website
• Sierra County Chamber of Commerce
• Sierra County Visitor Guide
• Sierra County Office of Education
• Discover Sierra County