Grass Valley, California
Grass Valley, California | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 06-30798 | | |
GNIS feature IDs | 277525, 2410651 | |
Website | www |
Grass Valley is a city in
History
Grass Valley, which was originally known as Boston Ravine and later named Centerville, dates from the
The essential history of Grass Valley mining belongs to the North Star, Empire and Idaho-Maryland mines, for continuous production over a span of years. From 1868 until 1900, the Idaho-Maryland mine was the most productive in the district. From 1900 until 1925, the North Star and the Empire produced the most gold in the county. In 1932, the Empire and North Star were physically connected at the 4600-foot level and 5300-foot level.[6]
Grass Valley has the
Many of those who came to settle in Grass Valley were tin miners from Cornwall, United Kingdom. Most arrived between 1860 and 1895, composing three quarters of Grass Valley's population.[12]
Grass Valley still holds on to its
There was formerly a (short-lived)
The Grass Valley Kmart store, opened in 1981, was the last remaining location in California at the time that it closed in 2021. It is now a Target department store.[15][16]
Geography
Grass Valley is located at 39°13′9″N 121°3′30″W / 39.21917°N 121.05833°W (39.219215, -121.058414).[17] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.7 square miles (12 km2), all of it land.
A variety of
Climate
Grass Valley has a
Winters are cool but rarely cold. Snow occurs irregularly, but typically there are at least one or more snow events per year, often in the late winter.
Over the course of a year, 36.4 days of 90 °F (32 °C) or hotter and 0.9 days of 100 °F (38 °C) or hotter occur, with 61.4 days with minimum of 32 °F (0 °C) or colder.[22]
Climate data for Grass Valley, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) |
81 (27) |
82 (28) |
88 (31) |
99 (37) |
102 (39) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
97 (36) |
87 (31) |
80 (27) |
108 (42) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 67.0 (19.4) |
69.1 (20.6) |
72.6 (22.6) |
79.0 (26.1) |
85.8 (29.9) |
93.9 (34.4) |
97.8 (36.6) |
96.9 (36.1) |
93.9 (34.4) |
85.9 (29.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
66.3 (19.1) |
99.8 (37.7) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.6 (12.0) |
54.9 (12.7) |
57.9 (14.4) |
62.7 (17.1) |
70.8 (21.6) |
80.2 (26.8) |
88.0 (31.1) |
87.4 (30.8) |
82.3 (27.9) |
72.1 (22.3) |
59.8 (15.4) |
52.6 (11.4) |
68.5 (20.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.4 (6.3) |
44.5 (6.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
51.3 (10.7) |
58.8 (14.9) |
66.4 (19.1) |
73.1 (22.8) |
72.1 (22.3) |
67.2 (19.6) |
58.2 (14.6) |
48.4 (9.1) |
42.6 (5.9) |
56.1 (13.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.1 (0.6) |
34.2 (1.2) |
37.0 (2.8) |
40.0 (4.4) |
46.8 (8.2) |
52.6 (11.4) |
58.2 (14.6) |
56.8 (13.8) |
52.1 (11.2) |
44.2 (6.8) |
37.1 (2.8) |
32.6 (0.3) |
43.7 (6.5) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 24.4 (−4.2) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
36.9 (2.7) |
43.3 (6.3) |
50.8 (10.4) |
50.3 (10.2) |
43.7 (6.5) |
34.9 (1.6) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | 15 (−9) |
9 (−13) |
19 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
40 (4) |
41 (5) |
35 (2) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
3 (−16) |
3 (−16) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 9.30 (236) |
8.98 (228) |
8.16 (207) |
4.43 (113) |
2.48 (63) |
0.74 (19) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.11 (2.8) |
0.44 (11) |
2.56 (65) |
5.52 (140) |
10.48 (266) |
53.20 (1,351) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.7 (1.8) |
3.0 (7.6) |
3.0 (7.6) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.2 (3.0) |
8.6 (21.81) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.8 | 11.7 | 12.2 | 8.5 | 5.9 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 8.4 | 12.3 | 81.5 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
Source 1: NOAA[22] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service[23] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 4,719 | — | |
1910 | 4,520 | −4.2% | |
1920 | 4,006 | −11.4% | |
1930 | 3,817 | −4.7% | |
1940 | 5,701 | 49.4% | |
1950 | 5,283 | −7.3% | |
1960 | 4,876 | −7.7% | |
1970 | 5,149 | 5.6% | |
1980 | 6,697 | 30.1% | |
1990 | 9,048 | 35.1% | |
2000 | 10,922 | 20.7% | |
2010 | 12,860 | 17.7% | |
2019 (est.) | 12,817 | [4] | −0.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[24] |
2010
The
The census reported that 12,401 people (96.4% of the population) lived in households, 118 (0.9%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and 341 (2.7%) were institutionalized.
Of the 6,077 households, 1,544 (25.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,665 (27.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 980 (16.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 316 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present, 466 (7.7%) were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 33 (0.5%) were same-sex married couples or partnerships. About 2,605 households (42.9%) were made up of individuals, and 1,415 (23.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04. The 2,961 families (48.7% of all households) had an average family size of 2.78.
The population was distributed as 2,625 people (20.4%) under the age of 18, 1,146 people (8.9%) aged 18 to 24, 2,882 people (22.4%) aged 25 to 44, 3,183 people (24.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,024 people (23.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.5 males.
The 6,637 housing units averaged 1,399.3 per square mile (540.3/km2), of which 2,391 (39.3%) were owner-occupied, and 3,686 (60.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%; 4,663 people (36.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,738 people (60.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the census[26] of 2000, 10,922 people, 5,016 households, and 2,678 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,660.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,027.1/km2).
Of the 5,016 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were not families. About 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.80 people.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,182, and for a family was $33,220. Males had a median income of $32,568 versus $21,915 for females. The
Economy
The combined communities of Grass Valley and Nevada City have a fairly diversified economy. The Gold Rush days left a historical legacy and tourism and the related
Another significant sector of the local economy is agriculture, as the soil in Nevada County is quite fertile. Around the time of the
Major employers in Grass Valley include Nevada Union High School, Nevada Irrigation District, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Golden Empire Nursing and Rehab Center, AJA Video Systems, Inc. and Briar Patch Food Co-op.[28]
The Grass Valley Group is a media technology research and development company founded in the city in 1959.[29]
Government
Grass Valley has been a charter city since it was incorporated in 1893. It uses a council-manager form of government.[30]
Representatives
In the
In the United States House of Representatives, Grass Valley is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.[33]
Education
Higher education
- Nevada County Campus of Sierra College
Public primary and secondary schools
- Bear River High School
- Bell Hill Academy
- Bitney College Prep Charter High School
- Cottage Hill Elementary School
- Forest Charter School
- Grass Valley Charter School
- Lyman Gilmore Middle School
- Magnolia Intermediate School
- Nevada Union High School
- Nevada City School District
- Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
- Scotten Elementary School
- Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning
- Union Hill Middle School
- William and Marian Ghidotti Early College High School
- Yuba River Charter School
- Clear Creek Elementary School
Public libraries
Transportation
Grass Valley is at the intersection of
Designated historical landmarks
- Empire Mine State Historic Park (CHL#298)
- Grass Valley Public Library (NRHP#92000267)
- Holbrooke Hotel (CHL#914)
- Home of Lola Montez (CHL#292)
- Home of Lotta Crabtree (CHL#293)
- Lyman Gilmore Middle School
- Mount Saint Mary's Convent and Academy (CHL#855)
- North Star Mine Powerhouse(CHL#843)
- Overland Emigrant Trail (CHL#799)
- Site of the First Discoveries of Quartz Gold in California (CHL#297)
Popular culture
Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose features Grass Valley.
Sister cities
Grass Valley has two sister cities:[34]
- Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- Limana, Italy
Notable people
- Sam Aanestad, dentist and politician
- Cecelia Ager, American film critic and reporter
- Patrick Brice, film director, actor
- Hunter Burgan, musician
- John Cardiel, professional skateboarder
- Lou Conter, last known survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona
- Lotta Crabtree, 19th-century actress
- Pete Daley, baseball player
- Jonathan Dayton, film director
- Alonzo Delano, first city treasurer
- Mary Florence Denton, educator in Japan
- Matt DiBenedetto, NASCAR driver
- Brodie Farber, professional fighter
- Arthur De Wint Foote, mining engineer
- Mary Hallock Foote, author and illustrator
- Lisa Mispley Fortier, NCAA WBB coach
- John Arthur Gellatly, Lieutenant Governor of Washington
- Lyman Gilmore, historically significant pilot
- Justin Gross, voiceover actor
- Charles Scott Haley, mining engineer, expert in the field of placer gold deposits.[35]
- Fred Hargesheimer, World War II pilot, philanthropist
- John Flint Kidder, builder, historically significant railroad owner
- Sarah Kidder, historically significant railroad owner
- Mark Meckler, political activist
- Lola Montez, 19th-century dancer
- Joanna Newsom, American singer-songwriter
- Hans Ostrom, writer and professor
- Jim Pagliaroni, professional baseball player[36][37]
- Mike Pinder, musician
- Charles H. Prisk, newspaper editor-publisher
- William F. Prisk, State Senator, newspaper editor-publisher
- Chuck Ragan, singer, songwriter, guitarist
- Dennis Richmond, news anchor
- John Rollin Ridge, writer
- Clint Ritchie, actor
- Tim Rossovich, professional football player, actor
- Richard Roundtree, actor
- Josiah Royce, philosopher
- Gabe Ruediger, professional fighter
- Chris Senn, professional skateboarder
- Jeremy Sisto, actor
- Meadow Sisto, actress
- John Aloysius Stanton, painter, born in Grass Valley.[38]
- Wallace Stegner, author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize
- J. Christopher Stevens, assassinated U.S. ambassador to Libya, born in Grass Valley[39]
- Brad Sweet, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Driver and 3X Champion
- Clint Walker, actor
- William Watt, miner, State Senator, University of California Regent
See also
References
- ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Grass Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-884995-25-5.
- ^ Johnston, J.D. (1940). "The gold quartz veins of Grass Valley, California, USGS Professional Paper 194". Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ISBN 9780931892073
- ISBN 9780933994614.
- ^ "I-M Project History". Rise Gold Corp. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Shanahan, Dennis; Taraya, Jonathan (March 10, 2022). "The new gold rush: Historic Grass Valley mine could yield modern-day discovery". Nexstar media Inc. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ISBN 0933994311.
- ^ "Gold Mining Lore". Nevada City Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ Moberly, Greg (March 10, 2008). "Flight of the pasty". The Union. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
- ^ Herbermann, Charles George (1913). The Catholic Encyclopedia. Universal Knowledge Foundation. p. 294. Retrieved August 1, 2008.
- ^ "Kmart".
- ^ "Attention, Kmart shoppers: This Northern California city will have the state's last store". KCRA. June 23, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "NGMDB Product Description Page". ngmdb.usgs.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- Dubakella soil.
- ^ "SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser". casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Grass+Valley,+CA,+USA/@39.214774,-121.072447,3a,75y,57.91h,89.67t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sv44gtXC4_1h3ZL5ciV-FQQ!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x809b703f5e27f1a9:0x63ba323ef37bb379 Ponderosa pine in an area dominated by Sites soil as seen in Google Street View
- ^ a b "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Grass Valley #2, CA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Sacramento". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Grass Valley city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "Business & Economic Development in Grass Valley and Nevada County CA". Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Major Employers in California". www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov.
- ^ "About Us". www.grassvalley.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Town History". City of Grass Valley. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ "California's 3rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- ^ "Sister Cities". City of Grass Valley. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ Lawler, David (Winter 2008). "Geologists of California Series: Charles Scott Haley". Journal of Sierra Nevada History & Biography. 1 (1). Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Lives Lived: Jim Pagliaroni". theunion.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Former major league catcher Jim Pagliaroni dies at 72". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "John Aloysius Stanton". FAMSF Search the Collections. September 21, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ "Stevens Remembered as a Man Who Cared Deeply for Libya". Salt Lake City Tribune. September 11, 2012.
External links
- Official website
- The Union - local newspaper
- Grass Valley visitor information
- Grass Valley grocer's ledger, 1894-1895 collection. California State Library, California History Room.
- Grass Valley mining helmets and equipment collection. California State Library, California History Room.