Potter Valley, California

Coordinates: 39°19′20″N 123°06′47″W / 39.32222°N 123.11306°W / 39.32222; -123.11306
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Potter Valley
FIPS code
06-58506
GNIS feature IDs265005;[2] 2628779[4]

Potter Valley is a census-designated place[4] in Mendocino County, California, United States.[2] It is located 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Ukiah,[5] at an elevation of 948 feet (289 m)[2] at the headwaters of the East Fork Russian River. The CDP population was 665 at the 2020 census.[3]

History

In 1852, when William and Thomas Potter and Mose Briggs first entered what would become known as Potter Valley, they were searching for the headwaters of the Russian River from their base in

Pomo people called it Ba-lo Kai. They found three Pomo villages (each about 500 people strong), the Russian headwaters, and a lush valley with wild oats "stirrup high". Eventually the Potters returned to settle there, and the valley became known by the American ranchers' name.[6]

The post office opened in 1870.[5]

Painter Grace Hudson was born in Potter Valley in 1865.[7]

In addition to his famous Ridgewood Ranch, Charles S. Howard, owner of the racehorse Seabiscuit, owned a ranch in Potter Valley where he ran cattle.[8]

Geography

Potter Valley is located 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Ukiah and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of

hydroelectric plant that tunnels through the mountains to take advantage of the relative proximity of these two waterways. This diversion supplies a significant amount of water to inland Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Potter Valley is a rich agricultural region, with excellent soils, planted mostly in irrigated pasture, wine grapes, and pears
, but supporting a wide variety of farms and ranches.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Potter Valley Census Designated Place (CDP) covers an area of 4.0 square miles (10 km2), 99.31% of it land, and 0.69% of it water.[1] The entire valley, which is mostly rural, has an area of roughly 12 square miles (31 km2).

Climate

Potter Valley has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) typical of the interior of Northern California, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, along with great diurnal temperature variation.

Climate data for Potter Valley Powerhouse, California (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)
87
(31)
90
(32)
95
(35)
103
(39)
110
(43)
113
(45)
116
(47)
113
(45)
103
(39)
93
(34)
83
(28)
116
(47)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 67.9
(19.9)
73.3
(22.9)
80.5
(26.9)
86.5
(30.3)
93.1
(33.9)
100.8
(38.2)
103.9
(39.9)
102.9
(39.4)
101.1
(38.4)
91.6
(33.1)
77.7
(25.4)
65.8
(18.8)
105.9
(41.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 57.4
(14.1)
61.4
(16.3)
66.0
(18.9)
70.7
(21.5)
78.9
(26.1)
87.0
(30.6)
95.0
(35.0)
94.1
(34.5)
90.3
(32.4)
78.9
(26.1)
64.3
(17.9)
56.0
(13.3)
75.0
(23.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.1
(7.8)
48.9
(9.4)
52.4
(11.3)
55.8
(13.2)
62.0
(16.7)
68.4
(20.2)
74.7
(23.7)
73.4
(23.0)
69.5
(20.8)
61.1
(16.2)
51.2
(10.7)
45.3
(7.4)
59.1
(15.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.9
(1.6)
36.4
(2.4)
38.9
(3.8)
40.8
(4.9)
45.1
(7.3)
49.9
(9.9)
54.4
(12.4)
52.7
(11.5)
48.7
(9.3)
43.3
(6.3)
38.2
(3.4)
34.5
(1.4)
43.2
(6.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 24.0
(−4.4)
25.8
(−3.4)
28.7
(−1.8)
31.2
(−0.4)
36.0
(2.2)
40.7
(4.8)
47.2
(8.4)
45.9
(7.7)
40.5
(4.7)
33.6
(0.9)
25.9
(−3.4)
22.8
(−5.1)
20.9
(−6.2)
Record low °F (°C) 14
(−10)
15
(−9)
20
(−7)
22
(−6)
28
(−2)
32
(0)
38
(3)
39
(4)
33
(1)
21
(−6)
19
(−7)
12
(−11)
12
(−11)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 8.21
(209)
7.72
(196)
6.28
(160)
3.36
(85)
1.86
(47)
0.54
(14)
0.04
(1.0)
0.05
(1.3)
0.30
(7.6)
1.86
(47)
5.04
(128)
9.77
(248)
45.03
(1,143.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 15.7 14.0 13.4 9.0 5.9 1.9 0.3 0.5 1.2 5.2 12.3 16.1 95.5
Source:

Demographics

The

Latino
of any race were 154 persons (23.8%).

The Census reported that 636 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 10 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 241 households, out of which 73 (30.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 125 (51.9%) were

families
(66.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.19.

The population was spread out, with 142 people (22.0%) under the age of 18, 56 people (8.7%) aged 18 to 24, 156 people (24.1%) aged 25 to 44, 206 people (31.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 86 people (13.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

There were 267 housing units at an average density of 65.8 per square mile (25.4/km2), of which 152 (63.1%) were owner-occupied, and 89 (36.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%. 382 people (59.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 254 people (39.3%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics

In the

the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire,[12] and the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jim Wood.[13]

Federally, Potter Valley is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Potter Valley
  3. ^ a b "P1. Race – Potter Valley CDP, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Potter Valley Census Designated Place
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ Mendocino County Historical Society, "The Potter Valley Story" (1972)
  7. ^ Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House, 2012, accessed 21 March 2013
  8. ^ Historic Restoration... The Ultimate Recycling Archived 2010-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, Victorian Homes Magazine 2012, accessed 21 March 2013
  9. ^ "Potter Valley Powerhouse - Eureka, CA NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Potter Valley CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  13. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "California's 2nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.

External links