Sierra County, California

County of Sierra
—  County  —
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
Area
– Total	2,491.6 km2 (962 sq mi)
– Land	2,468.3 km2 (953 sq mi)
– Water	23.3 km2 (9 sq mi)
Population (2010)
– Total	3,240
– Density	1.3/km2 (3.4/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
– Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Website	www.sierracounty.ws

Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville.

The only incorporated city in the county is Loyalton.

History

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

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 961.97 square miles (2,491.5 km²), of which 953.38 square miles (2,469.2 km²) (or 99.11%) is land and 8.59 square miles (22.2 km²) (or 0.89%) is water.^[1]

Cities and towns

• Alleghany
• Calpine
• Downieville
• Forest
• Goodyears Bar
• Loyalton (This is the only incorporated city in the county.)
• Pike
• Sattley
• Sierra City
• Sierraville

• Gibsonville

Ghost Towns

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

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)

Transportation Infrastructure

Major highways

• U.S. Route 395 – only passes by the locality of Peavine between Hallelujah Junction and Cold Springs, Nevada
• Interstate 80 – serves only as a link between Nevada County, California and the State of Nevada
• State Route 49 (Golden Chain Highway)
• State Route 89

County routes and roads

• County Route A23
• County Route A24 (Beckwith Road)
• Henness Pass Road – traverses entire county from west to east; links Graniteville in Nevada County with Verdi, Nevada
• Stampede Dam Road – links with Boca Reservoir near Truckee
• Gold Lake Road/Highway – links with SR 89 at Graeagle via Gold Lake

Public transportation

Public transportation in Sierra County is limited to vans run by senior citizen agencies in Downieville and Loyalton. (The general public may ride on a space-available basis) ^[2]

Airports

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

Politics

Sierra County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2008	58.2% 1,158	37.4% 743	4.9% 97
2004	64.1% 1,249	33.2% 646	2.7% 53
2000	63.5% 1,172	29.2% 540	7.3% 135
1996	51.4% 877	33.6% 573	15.1% 257
1992	36.9% 691	34.8% 653	28.3% 531
1988	50.7% 860	46.6% 791	2.7% 45
1984	56.9% 1,078	41.2% 781	2.0% 37
1980	49.8% 855	37.9% 651	12.3% 212
1976	43.2% 680	53.4% 841	3.5% 55
1972	47.5% 629	49.7% 658	2.8% 37
1968	45.9% 548	46.9% 559	7.2% 86
1964	33.3% 413	66.7% 828	0.0% 0
1960	46.8% 576	52.6% 647	0.7% 8
1956	50.6% 638	49.1% 620	0.3% 4
1952	53.8% 822	45.7% 698	0.6% 9
1948	43.4% 546	52.5% 660	4.1% 52
1944	39.9% 443	59.6% 662	0.5% 5
1940	32.4% 511	67.0% 1,057	0.6% 10
1936	22.6% 340	76.4% 1,152	1.0% 15
1932	25.5% 292	69.4% 796	5.1% 59
1928	51.5% 457	47.4% 420	1.1% 10
1924	38.9% 276	10.3% 73	50.8% 360
1920	72.2% 506	22.5% 158	5.3% 37

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. Sierra is part of California's 4th congressional district, which is held by Republican Tom McClintock. In the state legislature Sierra is in the 3rd Assembly district, which is held by Republican Dan Logue, and the 1st Senate district, which is held by Republican Ted Gaines.

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

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	6,623		—
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%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010

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%).^[3]

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
Unincorporated communities	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^[4] 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 94.18% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 1.88% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. 5.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

18% were of English ancestry, 16% were of Irish, 11% German and 8% Italian ancestry.^[5] 95.3% 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.

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.^[6]
• 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%. [1]

Unified School Districts

• Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District

See also

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

External links

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

References

1. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
2. ^ "Sierra County 2005 Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). Sierra County 2005 Regional Transportation Plan. 2006-04-19. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20061018095841/http://www.lsctahoe.com/Sierra+RTP/Sierra+2005+RTP+Chap+2.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-01. 
3. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau. http://www2.census.gov/census_2010/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/California/. 
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=10893
6. ^ "Sierra County Government Directory". http://www.sierracounty.ws/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4&MMN_position=5:5. Retrieved 2011-03-05. 

Coordinates: 39°35′N 120°30′W / 39.59°N 120.50°W / 39.59; -120.50