Beckwourth, California

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Beckwourth, California
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Coordinates: 39°49′39″N 120°24′13″W / 39.8275, -120.40361
Country United States
State California
County Plumas
Area
 - Total 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km²)
 - Land 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km²)
 - Water 0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation 4,911 ft (1,497 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 342
 - Density 29.2/sq mi (11.3/km²)
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 96129
Area code(s) 530
FIPS code 06-04772
GNIS feature ID 1658022

Beckwourth is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 342 at the 2000 census. According to the USGS National Geographic Names Database, a variant spelling was Beckwith and its name comes from an early explorer who had changed his name from Beckwith to Beckwourth:

Named for James P. Beckwourth (d.1867), adventurer, trapper, and trail blazer who discovered Beckwourth Pass in 1851. Beckwourth built the first house in the Sierra Valley where he operated an inn and trading post. During the 1850's, Beckwourth Pass was the portal of an immigrant route into California through Lassen, Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties known as the Beckwourth Trail.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Beckwourth is located at 39°49′39″N, 120°24′13″W (39.827528, -120.403710)[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30.3 km²), all of it land.

Nervino Airport (FAA identifier: O02 or oh-zero-two) is plotted three quarters of a mile east of Beckwourth along State Route 70 on the Reconnaissance Peak, California 7.5 minute quadrangle. It has a 4,600-foot (1,400 m) runway and is located at 39°49′05″N, 120°21′20″W.[2] The US Geological Survey says variant names for the airport are Beckwourth Airport and Plumas County Airport. [3]

State facilities in the town may include a State of California, Department of Water Resources maintenance yard and a Caltrans Maintenance Station. These appear to be collocated, (at the same site).

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 342 people, 147 households, and 108 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 29.3 people per square mile (11.3/km²). There were 225 housing units at an average density of 19.3/sq mi (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.86% White, 2.05% Native American, 0.88% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 147 households out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,813, and the median income for a family was $52,031. Males had a median income of $49,219 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,928. None of the families and 2.8% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 4.8% of those over 64.

[edit] Media

Local news sources are the Portola Reporter and the Sierra Booster.

[edit] Politics

In the state legislature Beckwourth is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cox, and in the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Rick Keene. Federally, Beckwourth is located in California's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +11[5] and is represented by Republican John Doolittle.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Geological Survey, Reconnaissance Peak, California, 7.5 minute quadrangle, 1994.
  3. ^ US Geological Survey, National Geographic Names Database.
  4. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links