Plumas County, California

Plumas County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,007.[1] The county seat is Quincy,[3] and the only incorporated city is Portola. The largest community in the county is East Quincy. The county was named for the Spanish Río de las Plumas (the Feather River), which flows through the county.

Plumas County, California
County
County of Plumas
Images, from top down, left to right: Lake Almanor, Beckwourth Pass, Trains at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Seal
Interactive map of Plumas County
Location in the state of California
Country United States
State California
RegionSierra Nevada
Incorporated1854
Named forSpanish words for the Feather River (Río de las Plumas)
County seatQuincy
Largest communityEast Quincy
Area
 • Total2,613 sq mi (6,770 km2)
 • Land2,553 sq mi (6,610 km2)
 • Water60 sq mi (200 km2)
Population
 • Total20,007
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
18,807
 • Density7.7/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Websitewww.countyofplumas.com

History

Prior to the California Gold Rush of 1849, the indigenous Mountain Maidu were the primary inhabitants of the area now known as Plumas County. The Maidu lived in small settlements along the edges of valleys, subsisting on roots, acorns, grasses, seeds, and occasionally fish and big game. They were decentralized and had no tribal leadership; most bands lived along waterways in and around their own valleys. Areas with high snowfall, including the Mohawk and Sierra valleys, were hunting grounds for game in the warmer months.[4][5]

In 1848, European Americans discovered gold in the Sierra foothills. Miners were attracted to Plumas County in particular, largely due to the tales of Thomas Stoddard, who claimed to have discovered a lake lined with gold nuggets while lost in the wilderness. Gold-hungry prospectors flooded into the area. Though hopeful miners scoured the glacial lakes (now designated as the Lakes Basin Recreation Area) for months, they did not find the purported lake of gold.

But some had success panning for gold in the rivers and creeks in the area, and created squatters' villages, the first non-Native American settlements.[6]

Rough shanty towns quickly sprang up around successful mining areas, including Rich Bar, Indian Bar, and Rabbit Creek (now La Porte). Many were developed adjacent to the Feather River, named by Spanish explorer Captain Luis Arguello as Río de las Plumas in 1820.

In 1850 notable African-American frontiersman James Beckwourth discovered the lowest pass through the Sierras, which became known as Beckwourth Pass. Using the pass, he blazed a trail that began in Western Nevada and went through much of Plumas County, eventually terminating in the Sacramento Valley.[7] This trail was followed by many erstwhile miners into Plumas County. Beckwourth also set up a trading post in the western Sierra Valley that still stands today. Though the Beckwourth Trail was longer than the original emigrant trail that ran south of Plumas County, its lower elevations extended its seasonal use when the higher trail was snowbound and impassable. Between 1851 and 1854, the Beckwourth Trail was frequently traveled; however, in 1854, use dropped sharply when the Beckwourth Trail became a toll road. The toll cost to move a ton of freight from Bidwell Bar to Quincy was about $18. This made using the Beckwourth Road an expensive enterprise and use of the Beckwourth Trail declined. [8]

Plumas County was formed in 1854 during a meeting of three commissioners held at the American Ranch in Quincy. It was carved from the eastern portion of Butte County. Quincy, originally a mining town, was chosen as the county seat after an early settler donated a plot of land there to establish the seat. Once it became the seat, nearby Elizabethtown faded and ultimately became defunct. In 1864, the state legislature took a large portion of Plumas County to organize Lassen County because of increasing population. Shortly afterward Plumas County annexed part of Sierra County, including the prosperous mining town of La Porte.

Over the next decades, different industries drove the growth of the various settlements that sprung up around the county. Greenville began as a mining and farming community in Indian Valley in the late 1850s. Chester was formed near the area that is now Lake Almanor, as a result of cattle ranching and the timber industry.

When the Western Pacific Railroad was constructed in 1910, Portola developed as an important railroad stop. Thanks to the railroad, Plumas County could export its lumber beyond the local area, and the timber industry became dominant in the county's economy for decades. As the railroad route extended up the Feather River Canyon, it was also used by the area's first tourists and sightseers. When the Feather River Highway was completed in 1937, through federal investment in infrastructure by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, Plumas County became linked to the Sacramento Valley year-round thanks to the route's low elevation.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,613 square miles (6,770 km2), of which 2,553 square miles (6,610 km2) is land and 60 square miles (160 km2) (2.3%) is water.[9]

Plumas County is located in the far northern end of the Sierra Nevada range. The area's rugged terrain marks the transition point between the northern Sierra Nevada and the southern end of the Cascade Range.[10] Lassen Peak, which is the southernmost volcanic peak in the Cascade Range, is found just north of Plumas County's border, and part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northwest corner of the county.

Plumas National Forest's 1,200,000 acres (4,900 km2) offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The area features more than 100 natural and artificial lakes. Many of the natural lakes are glacial in origin and can be found in and around Lakes Basin Recreation Area.[11] The artificial lakes include Lake Almanor, Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Antelope Lake, and Buck's Lake. Plumas County also features more than 1,000 miles of rivers and streams.[12] All three forks of the Feather River run through the area.

Designated areas

Water areas

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18604,363—
18704,4892.9%
18806,18037.7%
18904,933−20.2%
19004,657−5.6%
19105,25912.9%
19205,6818.0%
19307,91339.3%
194011,54845.9%
195013,51917.1%
196011,620−14.0%
197011,7070.7%
198017,34048.1%
199019,73913.8%
200020,8245.5%
201020,007−3.9%
2019 (est.)18,807[2]−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1790–1960[22] 1900–1990[23]
1990–2000[24] 2010–2015[1]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Plumas County had a population of 20,007. The racial makeup of Plumas County was 17,797 (89.0%) White, 192 (1.0%) African American, 539 (2.7%) Native American, 134 (0.7%) Asian, 18 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 603 (3.0%) from other races, and 724 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,605 persons (8.0%).[25]

2000

As of the census[26] of 2000, there were 20,824 people, 9,000 households, and 6,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 13,386 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.1% were of German, 15.0% English, 10.1% Irish and 8.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.4% spoke English and 3.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,000 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,351, and the median income for a family was $46,119. Males had a median income of $38,742 versus $25,734 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,391. About 9.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Plumas County has five elected Supervisors, each elected within their own district. The Board of Supervisors oversees the management of county government and members serve four-year terms. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors provides support to the Board of Supervisors and information to the public.[27]

The purpose of the County Administrative Office is to facilitate the delivery of cost-effective county services in accordance with the vision and policies outlined by the Board of Supervisors. The responsibilities of the County Administrative Office include monitoring legislative affairs, preparing the county's annual budget, and undertaking studies and investigations for the Board of Supervisors.[28]

The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. The jurisdiction of the Sheriff extends throughout the county, including federal and state lands. The County Sheriff is elected to the non-partisan office for a four-year term and is charged with preserving the peace, enforcing criminal statutes, and investigating known or suspected criminal activity.[29]

More than three-quarters of Plumas County's 2,618 square miles (6,780 km2) is National Forest Service land.[30] The management of Plumas National Forest is overseen by three districts: Beckwourth Ranger District,[31] Mt. Hough Ranger District,[32] and Feather River Ranger District.[33]

Politics

Voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

In its early history Plumas was a reliable Republican county, voting for that party in every election from 1864 to 1908.[35] Plumas then became one of the most reliably Democratic counties in California, voting for the Democratic candidate for President in thirteen straight elections from 1928 to 1976. The county has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, except for 1992 when Bill Clinton won a small plurality.

Presidential elections results
Plumas County vote
by party in presidential elections[36]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 55.03% 5,420 35.12% 3,459 9.86% 971
2012 56.76% 5,721 39.94% 4,026 3.30% 333
2008 54.72% 6,035 42.75% 4,715 2.52% 278
2004 61.71% 6,905 36.90% 4,129 1.39% 156
2000 60.98% 6,343 33.25% 3,458 5.76% 600
1996 50.31% 4,905 36.31% 3,540 13.39% 1,305
1992 36.17% 3,599 37.61% 3,742 26.21% 2,608
1988 51.06% 4,603 47.15% 4,251 1.79% 161
1984 56.61% 5,224 41.58% 3,837 1.81% 167
1980 51.24% 4,182 35.67% 2,911 13.08% 1,068
1976 43.94% 2,884 52.25% 3,429 3.81% 250
1972 46.42% 2,952 48.07% 3,057 5.52% 351
1968 37.37% 2,097 52.77% 2,961 9.86% 553
1964 29.51% 1,686 70.35% 4,019 0.14% 8
1960 37.47% 2,015 61.97% 3,333 0.56% 30
1956 41.87% 2,267 57.75% 3,127 0.39% 21
1952 43.46% 2,687 55.56% 3,435 0.99% 61
1948 32.76% 1,657 61.78% 3,125 5.46% 276
1944 29.95% 1,126 69.83% 2,625 0.21% 8
1940 26.79% 1,270 72.11% 3,418 1.10% 52
1936 19.80% 680 78.81% 2,707 1.40% 48
1932 21.68% 582 75.82% 2,035 2.50% 67
1928 45.64% 947 52.00% 1,079 2.36% 49
1924 32.92% 564 10.62% 182 56.45% 967
1920 63.96% 999 25.80% 403 10.24% 160
1916 36.55% 663 56.50% 1,025 6.95% 126
1912 0.62% 11 41.66% 742 57.72% 1,028
1908 57.91% 659 34.71% 395 7.38% 84
1904 65.28% 707 32.04% 347 2.68% 29
1900 58.45% 640 40.37% 442 1.19% 13
1896 53.47% 678 45.35% 575 1.18% 15
1892 52.15% 642 43.62% 537 4.22% 52

Plumas County is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.[37] At the state level, Plumas is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines,[38] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle.[39]

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Culture
  • The town of Portola is home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, one of the largest railroad museums in North America. The WPRM is one of the major tourist draws in the county.
  • The town of Chester is home to the Collins Pine Museum, a museum completed in 2007 and dedicated to educating the public about the history of the Collins Pine Company's (a division of The Collins Companies) logging operations in the Chester region.
  • The Plumas County Museum located in Quincy, CA is notable for exhibits on the Maidu people, the California Gold Rush, logging, and the Variel House. The museum also hosts contemporary art exhibits.

Media

The primary local news source since 1866 is Feather Publishing Co., Inc. Until 2020, four Plumas County newspapers were published every Wednesday, except for certain holidays; all content is now available online instead at plumasnews.com.

Plumas County is in the Sacramento television market, and thus receives Sacramento media. Sacramento stations KXTV and KCRA regularly cover major news events in Plumas County.

Education

Transportation

Major highways

Scenic byways

The Feather River National Scenic Byway follows the Middle and North Forks of the Feather River, traversing steep canyon walls and high mountain valleys. The route features grasslands, oak woodlands, mixed conifer, and high desert chaparral. It begins in the Sacramento Valley, following the Feather River Canyon and entering Plumas County just west of Storrie. As it gains elevation, it climbs over the crest of the Sierra and passes through Quincy and Portola, eventually finding its way to the Middle Fork of the Feather River and following it to its headwaters in Sierra Valley. After going through Beckwourth Pass, the route terminates at Hallelujah Junction on Highway 395.[42][43]

The southernmost point of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, Lake Almanor, is located in Plumas County. The route spans 500 miles between California and Oregon and has views of dramatic volcanic landscapes, including nearby Lassen Peak.[44]

The Scenic Byway Link refers to the section of Highway 89 that connects the Volcanic Legacy and Feather River Scenic Byways. Featuring the alpine meadows of Indian Valley, the rushing waters of Indian Creek, and the stunning views of Mt. Hough and the surrounding mountains, the route is about 18 miles long.[45]

Public transit

Plumas Transit Systems, operated by the county, provides local service in Quincy and routes to Chester and Portola.

Airports

Gansner Field is a general aviation airport located near Quincy. Rogers Field is located near Chester; in addition to its civil-aviation role it also serves as the Chester Air Attack Base, a logistical & coordination facility for the California Department of Forestry's aerial firefighting (both fixed-wing and helicopter). Resources include fueling, retardant loading, communications, and some quartering for aircrew and ground fire-fighting teams. Nervino Airport is in Beckwourth, east of Portola.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Plumas County.[46]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 East Quincy CDP 2,489
2 Chester CDP 2,144
3 Portola City 2,104
4 † Quincy CDP 1,728
5 Greenville CDP 1,129
6 Graeagle CDP 737
7 Delleker CDP 705
8 Hamilton Branch CDP 537
9 Meadow Valley CDP 464
10 Chilcoot-Vinton CDP 454
11 Beckwourth CDP 432
12 Lake Almanor Country Club CDP 419
13 Lake Almanor Peninsula CDP 356
14 Plumas Eureka CDP 339
15 Iron Horse CDP 297
16 Lake Almanor West CDP 270
17 Cromberg CDP 261
18 Greenhorn CDP 236
19 Crescent Mills CDP 196
20 Mabie CDP 161
21 Mohawk Vista CDP 159
22 East Shore CDP 156
23 C-Road CDP 150
24 Taylorsville CDP 140
25 Whitehawk CDP 113
26 Valley Ranch CDP 109
27 Twain CDP 82
28 Gold Mountain CDP 80
t-29 Clio CDP 66
t-29 Keddie CDP 66
30 Indian Falls CDP 54
31 Lake Davis CDP 45
32 Blairsden CDP 39
t-33 Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians)[47] AIAN 33
t-33 Prattville CDP 33
34 Canyondam CDP 31
35 La Porte CDP 26
36 Belden CDP 22
37 Johnsville CDP 20
38 Spring Garden CDP 16
39 Paxton CDP 14
40 Tobin CDP 12
41 Bucks Lake CDP 10
42 Storrie CDP 4
t-43 Little Grass Valley CDP 2
t-43 Warner Valley CDP 2
t-44 Almanor[48] former CDP 0
t-44 Caribou CDP 0

See also

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.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Official visitor information for Plumas County, Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Northern Maidu". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  6. Young, Jim (7 November 2017). Plumas County: History of the Feather River Region. Arcadia. ISBN 9780738524092. Retrieved 7 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  7. "PCMA". Plumasmuseum.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  8. McIntosh, Clarence (June 1986). "Transportation in Plumas County Before the Railroad". Plumas Memories, Plumas Historial Society. Publication #51.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  10. "Plumas National Forest - Recreation". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  11. "Lakes Basin Recreation Area Community". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  12. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - About Plumas County". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  20. Data unavailable
  21. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  22. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  23. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  24. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  25. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  26. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  27. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Board of Supervisors". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  28. "County Administrative Office". Plumas County, California. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  29. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Sheriff / Coroner". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  30. "Forests and Wilderness, Plumas County Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  31. "Plumas National Forest - Beckwourth Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  32. "Plumas National Forest - Mt. Hough Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  33. "Plumas National Forest - Feather River Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  34. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  35. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 153-155 ISBN 0786422173
  36. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
  37. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  38. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  39. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  40. 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.
  41. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  42. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  43. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  44. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
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  46. "Census Coverage Measurement". Census.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  47. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians)". Census.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  48. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Almanor". Census.gov. Retrieved 7 November 2017.

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