Modoc County, California

Coordinates: 41°36′N 120°43′W / 41.60°N 120.72°W / 41.60; -120.72
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Modoc County, California
County
County of Modoc
From top down, left to right: Pit River Valley, Eagle Peak, Fandango Pass overlooking Surprise Valley
Seal
Map
Interactive map of Modoc County
Location in the U.S. state of California
Location in the U.S. state of California
Country United States
State California
RegionShasta Cascade
IncorporatedFebruary 17, 1874
Named afterthe Modoc people
County seatAlturas
Largest cityAlturas
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CEO
 • ChairNed Coe
 • Vice ChairGeri Byrne
 • Board of Supervisors[1]
Supervisors
  • Ned Coe
  • Shane Starr
  • Kathie Rhoads
  • Casey Cockrell
  • Geri Byrne
 • County Administrative OfficerChester Robertson
Area
 • Total
4,203 sq mi (10,890 km2)
 • Land3,918 sq mi (10,150 km2)
 • Water286 sq mi (740 km2)
Highest elevation
9,892 ft (3,015 m)
Population
 (2020)
Pacific Daylight Time)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.modoc.ca.us

Modoc County (

federal land. Several federal agencies, including the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, have employees assigned to the area, and their operations are a significant part of its economy and services. The county's official slogans include "The last best place" and "Where the West still lives".[5]

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the region, varying cultures of

Paiute also lived in the area.[6]: 216  To the north were the Klamath
in present-day Oregon.

The first European explorers to visit Modoc County were the American John C. Frémont and his traveling party (including Kit Carson) in 1846, who had departed from Sutter's Fort near the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers (where Sacramento stands today).[6]: 216 

The northern boundary of California, and eventually Modoc County, had been established as the 42nd parallel since the time of Mexican possession. In the absence of a reliable survey of the 120th meridian, the eastern boundary of northern California was a subject of contention before Modoc County formed. The

Surprise Valley, but California denied the request.[7]
: 76–77 

In 1856, the residents of

Territory of Nevada, with its capital now in Carson City, seceded from Utah, and assumed jurisdiction to the summit of the Sierra Nevada until the 120th meridian was surveyed in 1863.[7]: 76–77  After Nevada was granted statehood in 1864, the region of current Modoc County was placed within jurisdiction of Shasta County, California, and Siskiyou County was, in turn, generated from Shasta County in 1852.[9]

Increasing traffic on the emigrant trail, unprovoked militia raids on innocent Modoc, and a cycle of retaliatory raids increased a cycle of violence between settlers and the tribes in the area.[6]: 217  In 1864, the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin band of the Shoshone signed a treaty ceding lands in both Oregon and California, and the tribes were colocated on the Klamath Reservation. Harassed by the Klamath, traditional competitors, a band of Modoc led by Captain Jack returned to California and the Tule Lake area.

The

Lava Beds War of 1872-73 brought nationwide attention to the Modoc. From strong defensive positions in the lava tubes, 52 Modoc warriors held off hundreds of US Army forces, who called in artillery to help.[6]: 218–219  Peace talks in 1873 stalled when the Modoc wanted their own reservation in California. Warriors urged killing the peace commissioners, thinking the Americans would then leave, and Captain Jack and others shot and killed General Edward Canby and Rev. Eleazer Thomas, as well as wounding others. More Army troops were called in to lay siege to Captain Jack's Stronghold.[10] Dissension arose, and some Modoc surrendered. Finally, most were captured, and those responsible for the assassinations were tried and executed. More than 150 Modoc were transported to Indian Territory as prisoners of war.[6]: 219  The area has since been designated the Lava Beds National Monument
.

Settlement of the county began in earnest in the 1870s, with the timber, gold, agriculture, and railroad industries bringing most of the settlers into the area. The county was a crossroads for the Lassen Applegate Trail, which brought settlers north from Nevada to the Oregon Trail and south to trails leading into California's central valley. Early settlers included the Dorris, Belli, Essex, Scherer, Trumbo, Flournoy, Polander, Rice and Campbell families.

Modoc County was formed when Governor

Surprise Valley region lobbied for the creation of a new county from eastern Siskiyou County land.[6]: 216  The county residents considered naming the newly formed county after Canby, whom the Modoc had killed the previous year in an ambush at peace talks. The name Summit was also considered, but the populace eventually settled on Modoc. The war was over and 153 of Captain Jack's band had been transported to Indian Territory as prisoners.[9]

The Dorris Bridge post office opened in 1871[11] and was renamed Dorrisville in 1874. Due to its central location, it became the county seat when Modoc County formed that year, although both Adin and Cedarville were larger towns.[7]: 84  In 1876, it was renamed Alturas, Spanish for "The Heights".[12] The 1880 census showed a population of 148. Settlement continued for the next 20 years, until the city was officially incorporated on September 16, 1901 (the county's only incorporated city).

Tule Lake Segregation Center historical marker

During

Tule Lake National Monument
.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau, Modoc County spans a total area of 4,203 square miles (10,890 km2), of which 3,918 square miles (10,150 km2) is land, with 286 square miles (740 km2) (6.8%) water.[13] There are 2.25 persons per square mile, making Modoc one of the least-populated counties in the state of California. In terms of its county lines, Modoc is one of the only nearly-rectangular counties in California; a slight deviation occurs around the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge
.

Geologically, Modoc County is quite unique. The area's tumultuous seismic past has set the stage for a productive, diverse regional ecology today; a rich soil composition, largely created by ancient volcanoes dispersing vast amounts of minerals, stands out from the typically bland, clay-heavy terrain common in the American west. To the northwest of the county lies Medicine Lake—the largest shield volcano on the U.S. West Coast—and Lava Beds National Monument. In west Modoc County is the massive Glass Mountain, another ancient lava flow. The southwestern quadrant of the county is a unique ecosystem of isolated hardwoods (oaks) and volcanic mountains with intermountain river valleys.

Mule deer in Modoc County

The northern half of the county is primarily the

Goose Lake. Nearly 1 million acres (4,000 km2) of the Modoc National Forest lie on the plateau between Medicine Lake, to the west, and the Warner Mountains
, to the east.

A great diversity of plants are found in Modoc County. As it is situated within the biodiverse California Floristic Province, many native trees are found in the county, including Garry oak (Quercus garryana) and Washoe pine (Pinus washoensis).[14] Pinus jeffreyi and P. ponderosa (the Jeffrey and ponderosa pines, respectively) are also found in substantial groves.[15] The rich plant life supports substantial populations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), as well as several herds of wild horses (Equus ferus). Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Long Bell State Game Refuge are located on the plateau, as well. The Lost River, which later drains into the Klamath River basin, drains the northern part of the plateau; southern watersheds either collect in basin reservoirs or flow into the Big Sage Reservoir, in the center of the county (which later flows into the Pit River).

Below the rim of the plateau, in the extreme southwest corner of the county, are Big Valley and Warm Springs Valley, which form the bottom of the Pit River watershed that flows through the county. The Pit River's northern and southern

Surprise Valley and the western edge of the Great Basin
.

Hot springs and lava caves are unique to Modoc County. There is potential for some geothermal energy resources in the county, though the viability is highly variable.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

2020

Modoc County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[17] Pop 2020[18] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White
alone (NH) 		7,663 7,649 6,446 81.10% 78.97% 74.09%
Black or African American
alone (NH) 		59 77 66 0.62% 0.79% 0.76%
Alaska Native
alone (NH) 		340 293 387 3.60% 3.02% 4.45%
Asian alone (NH) 58 70 61 0.61% 0.72% 0.70%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 21 13 0.07% 0.22% 0.15%
Other Race alone (NH) 26 14 56 0.28% 0.14% 0.64%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 208 220 412 2.20% 2.27% 4.74%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,088 1,342 1,259 11.51% 13.86% 14.47%
Total 9,449 9,686 8,700 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2000

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18804,399—
18904,98613.3%
19005,0761.8%
19106,19122.0%
19205,425−12.4%
19308,03848.2%
19408,7138.4%
19509,67811.1%
19608,308−14.2%
19707,469−10.1%
19808,61015.3%
19909,67812.4%
20009,449−2.4%
20109,6862.5%
20208,700−10.2%
2023 (est.)8,500[27]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[28]
1790–1960[29] 1900–1990[30]
1990–2000[31] 2010–2015[2]

As of the

German of whom 90.4% spoke English and 8.8% Spanish
as their first language.

There were 3,784 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,522, and the median income for a family was $35,978. Males had a median income of $30,538 versus $23,438 for females. The

lowest median household income of any county in California. In 2005, the median home price reached $100,000 for the first time ever, over a 40% increase since 2000.[5] Much of this can be traced to an influx of residents from other parts of the state, who find the housing bargains attractive. Some of these are retirees who have sold their houses for large profits in other parts of the state, using the proceeds to live on, while others are remote workers. This sudden rise in housing prices become unaffordable for locals, who find themselves unable to purchase homes given their limited incomes.[5]

2010

The

Latino of any race were 1,342 persons (13.9%).[33]

Politics

Federally, Modoc County is in

the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle,[35] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.[36] For much of the 20th century, Modoc County was a bellwether county for statewide elections in California, voting for the statewide winner in every election between 1912 and 1990 with the exception of Jerry Brown's 2 statewide victories (the county's dislike of Brown is attributable to his environmental policies negatively affecting the county's logging industry).[37]

Recently, though, Modoc County has trended Republican, becoming one of the most conservative counties in the state. On November 4, 2008, Modoc County delivered the most lopsided vote in favor of

Tulare counties voted in higher proportion, both opting for the Proposition with 75.4% of the vote.[38] In the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, Modoc and neighboring Lassen County voted the most strongly in favor of recalling Newsom of any counties in the state. On September 24, 2013, the Modoc County Board of Supervisors voted 4–0 in favor of secession from California to form a proposed state named Jefferson.[39]

Voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

Historical election results

United States presidential election results for Modoc County, California[41]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,884 71.62% 1,008 25.03% 135 3.35%
2020 3,109 71.19% 1,150 26.33% 108 2.47%
2016 2,696 70.15% 877 22.82% 270 7.03%
2012 2,777 69.10% 1,111 27.64% 131 3.26%
2008 2,981 67.44% 1,313 29.71% 126 2.85%
2004 3,235 72.42% 1,149 25.72% 83 1.86%
2000 2,969 72.29% 945 23.01% 193 4.70%
1996 2,285 53.10% 1,368 31.79% 650 15.11%
1992 1,803 38.98% 1,489 32.19% 1,333 28.82%
1988 2,518 62.68% 1,416 35.25% 83 2.07%
1984 2,995 69.49% 1,219 28.28% 96 2.23%
1980 2,579 64.47% 1,046 26.15% 375 9.38%
1976 1,917 51.20% 1,733 46.29% 94 2.51%
1972 2,085 58.49% 1,271 35.65% 209 5.86%
1968 1,713 52.43% 1,264 38.69% 290 8.88%
1964 1,386 41.27% 1,972 58.73% 0 0.00%
1960 1,839 51.80% 1,691 47.63% 20 0.56%
1956 1,981 53.21% 1,729 46.44% 13 0.35%
1952 2,634 61.36% 1,633 38.04% 26 0.61%
1948 1,480 46.54% 1,607 50.53% 93 2.92%
1944 1,288 45.40% 1,540 54.28% 9 0.32%
1940 1,371 37.77% 2,232 61.49% 27 0.74%
1936 968 34.19% 1,828 64.57% 35 1.24%
1932 655 27.45% 1,643 68.86% 88 3.69%
1928 942 56.75% 711 42.83% 7 0.42%
1924 731 43.72% 374 22.37% 567 33.91%
1920 992 62.59% 535 33.75% 58 3.66%
1916 768 36.61% 1,222 58.25% 108 5.15%
1912 1 0.06% 941 54.90% 772 45.04%
1908 620 49.92% 574 46.22% 48 3.86%
1904 559 53.91% 444 42.82% 34 3.28%
1900 446 44.78% 532 53.41% 18 1.81%
1896 300 33.00% 588 64.69% 21 2.31%
1892 406 35.46% 596 52.05% 143 12.49%

Crime

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

Cities by population and crime rates

Transportation

Major highways

Additionally, the eastern Modoc County communities of

Fort Bidwell
are connected via Surprise Valley Road, which runs from the southern county line to the Oregon border.

Public transportation

The Sage Stage is a dial-a-ride service providing trips within Modoc County. It also provides service to Klamath Falls, Oregon and Reno, Nevada, as well as connections to and from Reno International Airport, outside of Door D.[45]

Airports

There are general aviation airports near Alturas (Alturas Municipal Airport and California Pines Airport). Other airports include Cedarville Airport, Eagleville Airport, Fort Bidwell Airport, and Tulelake Municipal Airport. The closest major airport is in Reno.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Modoc County.

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Alturas City 2,715
2 California Pines CDP 473
3 Cedarville CDP 437
4 Newell CDP 301
5 Adin CDP 205
6 Canby CDP 183
7 Fort Bidwell CDP 180
8 Daphnedale Park CDP 129
9 XL Ranch Rancheria[46] AIAN 117
10 Fort Bidwell Reservation[47] AIAN 97
11 New Pine Creek CDP 87
12 Lake City CDP 71
13 Lookout CDP 68
14 Likely CDP 53
15
Eagleville
 		CDP 45
16 Cedarville Rancheria[48] AIAN 19
17 Lookout Rancheria[49] AIAN 11
18 Alturas Indian Rancheria[50] AIAN 3
19 Likely Rancheria[51] AIAN 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. ^ a b Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

References

  1. ^ "Welcome To New Webgen". www.co.modoc.ca.us.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Modoc County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c La Ganga, Maria L. (January 13, 2006). "Housing Bargains, at a Price". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8047-7817-6
    . Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  7. ^
    ISBN 9780608141589
    .
  8. ^ "Reprinted from a previous issue..." Nataqua News. Thumbs Up Publishing. 1997. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Modoc County History". Alturas Chamber of Commerce. Modoc County Government. 2009. Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  10. ^ "Modoc Wars, 1873-74". California State Military Museum. 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  11. ISBN 1-884995-14-4
    .
  12. ISBN 0-520-24217-3
    .
  13. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  14. ^ C. Michael Hogan, Quercus kelloggii Archived February 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Globaltwitcher, 2008
  15. ISBN 978-0-521-55986-7
    . Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Modoc County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Modoc County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Modoc County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  20. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  21. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  22. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  23. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  24. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  25. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Data unavailable
  27. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  29. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  30. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  31. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  32. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  33. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  34. ^ "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  35. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  36. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  37. ^ Stall, Bill (August 19, 1991). "As Modoc County Goes, So Goes California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  38. ^ "California results". Los Angeles Times.
  39. ^ Butler, Kristen. "Another county votes to secede from California". UPI. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  41. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  43. ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  44. ^ a b c United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  45. ^ "Sage Stage". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  46. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  47. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  48. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  49. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  50. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  51. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.

41°36′N 120°43′W / 41.60°N 120.72°W / 41.60; -120.72

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