Middletown, California

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Middletown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2000 census.

[edit] Geography

Middletown is located at 38°45′10″N, 122°37′1″W (38.752735, -122.616959)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,020 people, 392 households, and 263 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 152.6/km² (395.6/mi²). There were 427 housing units at an average density of 63.9/km² (165.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.73% White, 0.39% African American, 1.86% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.69% Pacific Islander, 8.24% from other races, and 3.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.84% of the population.

There were 392 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,278, and the median income for a family was $38,571. Males had a median income of $33,214 versus $26,515 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,135. About 21.2% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 28.3% of those age 65 or over.

Long isolated from more urban areas by the narrow and winding road between the town and Napa and Sonoma counties, Middletown is now becoming a bedroom community for people working in Santa Rosa, and other North Bay cities. Rising home prices in the Bay Area have brought in a large number of people willing to commute over the mountain roads in a twice daily trip often lasting for more than an hour each way.

While the area was well known in the mid-1900s as a vacation getaway for people in the Bay Area, most of the resorts in the area fell into disrepair or closed in the 1970s. However, the town still receives many visitors due to the presence of Harbin Hotsprings on the outskirts of town.

Ranching and farming were important activities through the latter part of the century, but as the economic viability of those activities has declined, many landowners are looking at development as a means of making money from their land.

The Middletown Rancheria, an Indian reservation of the Lake Miwok is also located just south of town.