Mariposa County, California

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Mariposa County, California
Image:Mariposa County ca seal.jpeg
Map
Location in the state of California
California's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	1850
Seat	Mariposa
Area - Total - Land - Water	1,463 sq mi (3,789 km²) 1,451 sq mi (3,758 km²) 12 sq mi (31 km²), 0.80%
Population - (2000) - Density	17,130 13/sq mi (5/km²)
Website: www.mariposacounty.org

Mariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. As of 2000, its population was 17,130. The county seat is Mariposa.

The county's eastern half is the central portion of Yosemite National Park.

There are no incorporated cities in Mariposa County; however, there are three communities recognized as census-designated places for statistical purposes.

1 History
- 1.1 The Gold Rush
2 Geography and natural history
3 Transportation Infrastructure
4 Demographics
5 Politics
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

Mariposa County was one of the original counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850. While it began as the state's largest county, over time territory that was once part of Mariposa was ceded to twelve other counties: Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Merced, Mono, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare. Thus, Mariposa County is known as the "Mother of Counties".

The county took its name from Mariposa Creek, which was so named by Spanish explorers in 1806, when they discovered great clusters of butterflies ("mariposas" in Spanish) in the foothills of the Sierras. For many years, residents marked the annual arrival (in May) of migrating Monarch butterflies with a "Butterfly Days" parade.

[edit] The Gold Rush

Mariposa County is located at the southern end of California's Mother Lode region. During the Gold Rush great quantities of the prized mineral were found and extracted, first in local stream-beds and later in hard rock mines. One of the most notable beneficiaries of this wealth was the famed explorer and 1856 Republican presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, for whom the local hospital is named. (Jessie Street, in the town of Mariposa, is named for Fremont's wife, Jessie Benton Fremont, who came to Mariposa to live with him.)

Many aspects of the area's mining history are depicted in exhibits at two local museums: the Mariposa History Museum, located in the town of Mariposa; and the California Mining and Mineral Museum, located at the Mariposa Fairgrounds (2 miles east of Mariposa on Highway 49).

[edit] Geography and natural history

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,463 square miles (3,789 km²), of which, 1,451 square miles (3,758 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (30 km²) of it (0.80%) is water. Along the banks of the Merced River is found the sole habitat for the Limestone salamander, a rare species endemic to Mariposa County.

[edit] National protected areas

[edit] Communities

[edit] Census-designated places

[edit] Other unincorporated places

Bear Valley
Buck Meadows
Cathey's Valley
Coulterville
Don Pedro
El Portal
Foresta
Greeley Hill
Hornitos
Jerseydale
Lush Meadows
Midpines
Mt. Bullion
Ponderosa Basin
Wawona

[edit] Adjacent counties

Tuolumne County - north
Merced County - west
Madera County - south, east

[edit] Transportation Infrastructure

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Public Transportation

Mariposa County Transit provides dial-a-ride and some fixed route service
Yosemite Area Regional Transit System provides service along State Routes 120 and 140 to Yosemite National Park.

[edit] Airports

Mariposa Yosemite Airport is a general aviation airport. The nearest airports with scheduled flights are in Fresno and Merced.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 17,130 people, 6,613 households, and 4,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.93% White, 0.67% Black or African American, 3.51% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 2.67% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. 7.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of German, 13.4% English, 12.7% Irish and 6.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 3.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,613 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,626, and the median income for a family was $42,655. Males had a median income of $31,194 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,190. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Politics

**Presidential election results**
Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2004	60.2% 5,215	37.6% 3,251	2.2% 192
2000	58.5% 4,727	34.9% 2,816	6.6% 531
1996	50.0% 3,976	36.7% 2,920	13.3% 1,053
1992	36.0% 2,982	36.5% 3,023	27.5% 2,282
1988	54.5% 3,768	43.4% 2,998	2.1% 144
1984	61.2% 3,989	36.8% 2,399	2.0% 130
1980	55.0% 3,082	33.7% 1,889	11.4% 637
1976	46.6% 2,012	48.5% 2,093	4.9% 212
1972	56.2% 2,122	39.3% 1,487	4.5% 170
1968	49.9% 1,496	39.6% 1,187	10.5% 314
1964	42.6% 1,264	57.4% 1,704
1960	54.0% 1,599	45.2% 1,338	0.9% 26

Mariposa is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Mariposa is part of California's 19th congressional district, which is held by Republican George Radanovich. In the state legislature Mariposa is in the 25th Assembly district, which is held by Republican Tom Berryhill, and the 14th Senate district, which is held by Republican Dave Cogdill.