Redding, California

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Redding from space, April 1994

Redding is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA, located on the Sacramento River and on Interstate 5 south of Shasta Lake. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 80,865. A 2004 estimate reports the city's population as 88,700. There are even rumors that it is estimated in 2006 it reached 100,000, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.

1 Geography and geology
2 Ecology
3 Demographics
4 History, places of interest, and recent events
5 Trivia
6 Notable people
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Geography and geology

Redding is located at 40°34′36″N, 122°22′13″W (40.576606, -122.370325)^GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 154.4 km² (59.6 mi²). 151.4 km² (58.4 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (2.01%) is beneath water.

The Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River provides a considerable level of flood protection for Redding. This dam is capable of controlling flows up to 79,000 cubic feet per second. However, flows larger than 79,000 cubic feet per second occurred in both 1970 and 1974, exceeding the capacity of Shasta Dam.^[1]

[edit] Ecology

There are several rare and endangered species in Redding and its immediate vicinity. The Redding Redevelopment Plan EIR notes the California State listed endangered species, slender Orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis), occurs in eastern Redding near the municipal airport, where vernal pools are known to exist. This endemic grass is a Federal Candidate for listing and is endangered throughout its range, confined to several populations, and seriously threatened by agriculture, overgrazing, and residential development. Vernal pools provide the preferred habitat for this plant, which the California Native Plant Society considers as a rare and endangered species. An ecology park at Turtle Bay in Redding has been created to allow study of native flora and fauna of the local area.^[2]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 80,865 people, 32,103 households, and 20,995 families residing in the city. The population density was 534.3/km² (1,383.8/mi²). There were 33,802 housing units at an average density of 223.3/km² (578.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.70% White, 1.05% African American, 2.23% Native American, 2.95% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 3.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.43% of the population.

There were 32,103 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was above age 64. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,194, and the median income for a family was $41,164. Males had a median income of $35,985 versus $24,652 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,207. 15.6% of the population and 11.3% of families were below the poverty line. 21.2% of those under the age of 18, and 7.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

[edit] History, places of interest, and recent events

Situated along the Siskiyou Trail, an ancient trade and travel route connecting California's Central Valley and the Pacific Northwest, the site of Redding was occupied by Native Americans of the Wintu tribe from about the year 1000. During the early 1800s, Hudson's Bay Company trappers and members of the United States Exploring Expedition passed through the site of Redding, while traveling along the Siskiyou Trail.

The first non-native settler in the area was Pierson B. Reading, an early California pioneer. Reading was an admirer of John Sutter, and in 1844, Reading received a Mexican land grant for the area occupied by today's Redding and Cottonwood, California, along the Sacramento River. At the time it was (by over 100 miles) the northernmost non-native settlement in California.

Later, what was to become the town of Redding was founded by miners. Originally not a very prosperous town, it was known as Poverty Flats. Named for railroad man Benjamin B. Redding, the town was rechristened "Reading" in 1874, honoring founder Pierson B. Reading. The railroad, however, would not recognize the change, and the original Redding was restored in 1880.

During the twentieth century, Redding's main industry was lumber, but this is no longer the case. Currently, Redding's two biggest industries are the medical and legal industries.

Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay

Redding has two hospitals, Mercy Medical Center (Catholic Healthcare West) and Shasta Regional Medical Center, formerly Redding Medical Center.

In 2004, the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay was completed. The dramatic pedestrian span was designed by noted Spanish architect-engineer-artist Santiago Calatrava and links the north and south campuses of the 200 acre (809,000 m²) Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Redding has three public high schools, Shasta High School, Foothill High School, and Enterprise High School, as well as several middle schools, over a dozen elementary schools and several religious and other private schools. Redding also has four small colleges: Shasta College, a public two-year college, Simpson University, a four-year Christian college, Shasta Bible College and Graduate School, a private four-year Christian college and graduate school, and National University.

Redding is also important as the largest city in the northern Sacramento Valley and the largest city on the 470-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Sacramento, California and Eugene, Oregon. Both Redding and its neighbor to the south, Red Bluff, are popular with tourists who use the cities as bases to explore Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Shasta, and other natural attractions. Redding is served by the Redding Municipal Airport

The historic Cascade Theatre [1] which opened in 1935 has been restored and now operates as a multi use performance Arts center. The theatre is a shining example of Art Deco architecture of the period. It was listed on the California Register of Historic Resources on November 5, 1999 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 2002. The Cascade Theatre was also the recipient of Art Deco Society of California Preservation Award on March 18, 2000.

[edit] Trivia

The town of Redding is featured in the RPG Fallout 2. The city is mentioned as being the site of a large earthquake in the movie 10.5

[edit] Notable people

Notable "Reddingites", who were born in or lived in Redding, include:

Professional baseball player Chris Woodward used to live in Redding.
Theater composer and actor David de Berry came from Redding.
Movie producer Kathleen Kennedy was raised in Redding.
Former NFL defensive star Jason Sehorn attended Shasta College in Redding before going on to play at USC.
Country star Merle Haggard currently lives in the Redding area
Billionaire Archie Aldis Emmerson is Redding's richest person, and is California's largest private landowner.
Former professional baseball player and current manager for the United States in the first ever World Baseball Classic scheduled for Spring 2006, Buck Martinez.
Ashley Parker Angel, Former member of the now defunct O-town, was born and raised here.^{[citation needed]}
John Gibson, Fox News commentator went to Sequoia Middle School and Shasta High School
Karan English, Former Arizona Congresswoman went to Enterprise High School
Rick Bosetti, former professional baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics. Elected to the Redding City Council in 2006. Currently the Men's Baseball Coach for Simpson University.

[edit] References

^ Environmental Impact Report for the Redding Redevelopment Plan, Earth Metrics, California State Clearinghouse Report (1990)
^ Kim A. O'Connell, Ecology Park at Turtle Bay, Architecture Week, September, 2002