Angels Camp, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Angels Camp, also known as City of Angels, is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, California. The population was 3,004 at the 2000 census.

Mark Twain allegedly based his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" on a story he heard at the Angels Hotel. The event is commemorated with a Jumping Frog Jubilee each May at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, just east of the city.

United States Ski Team member and two time Alpine skiing World Cup Downhill Champion Kyle Rasmussen lives in Angels Camp.

The city is California Historical Landmark #287.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Henry and George Angel were soldiers serving under John C. Frémont during the Mexican-American War. When the California Gold Rush started, they tried their hand at prospecting, but decided they didn't like the labor involved, so they set up a trading post, which became a camp, and eventually a town. The placers around their camp were very productive, but gave out after a few years, and the population began to dwindle until Gold-bearing quartz veins were discovered in the town, which brought people back. Those mines operated for the next few decades, producing over $20 million worth of gold, processed by stamp mills in town. It was said that when the last mill finally ceased operations, the townspeople couldn't sleep, the silence was so loud.

[edit] Geography

Angels Camp is located at 38°4′25″N, 120°32′57″W (38.073523, -120.549150)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 km² (3.0 mi²), all land.

Angels Camp is approximately 1,400 feet above sea level, with Jackson Creek flowing through the middle of town.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,004 people, 1,286 households, and 856 families residing in the city. The population density was 384.1/km² (993.6/mi²). There were 1,422 housing units at an average density of 181.8/km² (470.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.14% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 1.83% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. 8.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,286 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,371, and the median income for a family was $48,125. Males had a median income of $37,269 versus $27,778 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,599. About 10.0% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.