Grass Valley, California

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Grass Valley is a city in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 10,922 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Transportation
4 History
5 People of Influence
6 Economy
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Grass Valley is located at 39°13′9″N, 121°3′30″W (39.219215, -121.058414)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 km² (4.1 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 10,922 people, 5,016 households, and 2,678 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,026.0/km² (2,660.2/mi²). There were 5,266 housing units at an average density of 494.7/km² (1,282.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.91% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 1.34% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. 6.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Grass Valley also has a strong sense of Cornish culture and ancestry, since many people from Cornwall (in South-West England) emigrated here in the 18th and 19th centuries (see Cornish emigration).

There were 5,016 households out of which 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 non-families. 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.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,182, and the median income for a family was $33,220. Males had a median income of $32,568 versus $21,915 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,877. About 12.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Grass Valley is at the intersection of California State Route 49 and State Route 20 (California). Public transportation is limited to the urban areas.

[edit] History

Grass Valley dates from the California Gold Rush, as does nearby Nevada City. It is the location of the Empire Mine, one of the richest mines in California.

[edit] People of Influence

Well-known people associated with Grass Valley include the ace fighter pilot Chuck Yeager, philosopher Josiah Royce, the 19th century actress Lotta Crabtree, 19th century dancer Lola Montez, actor Jeremy Sisto, author John Thomson, professional skateboarder Chris Senn and bassist of the band AFI, Hunter Burgan.

Also in Nevada County are Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Gary Snyder, and Rodger Hodgson of Supertramp.

On May 15, 1902 in a field outside Grass Valley, Lyman Gilmore reportedly became the first person to fly a powered airplane (a steam-powered glider).

[edit] Economy

The Grass Valley Group is a research and development company founded in the city in 1958, specializing in video amplifiers and mixers. Some of their technology was used in the 1977 film Star Wars. The company is now a subsidiary of Thomson SA. ^[1]