| City of Alturas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location in Modoc County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Modoc |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 2.449 sq mi (6.342 km2) |
| • Land | 2.435 sq mi (6.306 km2) |
| • Water | 0.014 sq mi (0.036 km2) 0.57% |
| Elevation[2] | 4,370 ft (1,332 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,827 |
| • Density | 1,154.3/sq mi (445.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 96101 |
| Area code(s) | 530 |
| FIPS code | 06-01444 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277469 |
| Website | cityofalturas.org |
Alturas (formerly, Dorris Bridge, Dorris' Bridge, and Dorrisville)[3] is the county seat of Modoc County, California, United States. Alturas is located on the Pit River, east of the center of Modoc County,[3] at an elevation of 4370 feet (1332 m).[2] As the county seat, the town is a home to regional government offices, including a California Highway Patrol office and a state Department of Motor Vehicles office. Modoc Subdivision track of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Lake County Railroad, (of Lake County, Oregon) serve the area.
The population was 2,827 at the 2010 census, and the ZIP code for the community is 96101.
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Alturas straddles the North Fork of the Pit River, near its confluence with the South Fork in the north end of South Fork Valley, in the extreme northeastern corner of California at .[2] The tall Warner Mountains lie to the east, the wetlands and wild rice fields of South Fork Valley to the south, and the extensive Modoc Plateau to the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) and 0.57% of it is covered by water.
Alturas has wet, cold winters and warm, dry summers. The average January temperatures are a high of 41.6°F (5.3°C) and a low of 16.5°F (-8.6°C). The average July temperatures are a high of 88.2°F (31.2°C) and a low of 44.3°F (6.8°C). There are an average of 36.2 days with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 203.8 days with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. The record high was 108°F (42.2°C) on July 8, 2007, and the record low was -34°F (-36.7°C) on December 9, 1972. Freezing temperatures have occurred in every month of the year; cool nights are common even on the warmest summer days.
Precipitation averages 12.43 inches (315.7 mm) annually. There are an average of 78 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1998 with 20.89 inches(530.6 mm) and the dryest year was 1976 with 6.54 inches (166.1 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 6.17 inches (156.7 mm) in October 1962. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 3.51 inches (89.2 mm) on December 11, 1937. Snowfall averages 30.9 inches. (78.5 cm) The most snowfall in one year was 85.5 inches (217.2 cm) in 1952.[4]
| Climate data for Alturas, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 43 (6) |
47 (8) |
53 (12) |
60 (16) |
69 (21) |
79 (26) |
88 (31) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
67 (19) |
51 (11) |
43 (6) |
64.0 (17.8) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
21 (−6) |
25 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
40 (4) |
44 (7) |
42 (6) |
36 (2) |
28 (−2) |
23 (−5) |
18 (−8) |
29.8 (−1.3) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.32 (33.5) |
1.28 (32.5) |
1.55 (39.4) |
1.11 (28.2) |
1.32 (33.5) |
0.79 (20.1) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.37 (9.4) |
0.66 (16.8) |
0.73 (18.5) |
1.47 (37.3) |
1.23 (31.2) |
12.13 (308.1) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[5] | |||||||||||||
Alturas now occupies what was initially an Achumawi (Pit River) village known as Kosealekte[6] or Kasalektawi.[7] The city was initially known as Dorris Bridge (or Dorris' Bridge), named after Pressley and James Dorris, who built a bridge across the Pit River at this location.[3]
The Dorris Bridge post office opened in 1871,[3] renamed Dorrisville in 1874,[8] and in 1876, was renamed Alturas, which is Spanish for "heights".[9] The census of 1880 showed a population of 148. However, settlement continued over the next two decades, until the city was officially incorporated on September 16, 1901; the county's only incorporated city. Because of its central location, Dorrisville became the county seat when Modoc County formed in 1874, even though both Adin and Cedarville were then larger towns.[8]
The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that Alturas had a population of 2,827. The population density was 1,154.5 people per square mile (445.8/km²). The racial makeup of Alturas was 2,430 (86.0%) White, 15 (0.5%) African American, 81 (2.9%) Native American, 45 (1.6%) Asian, 7 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 118 (4.2%) from other races, and 131 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 347 persons (12.3%).
The Census reported that 2,814 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 13 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,238 households, out of which 391 (31.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 507 (41.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 181 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 65 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 102 (8.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 9 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 403 households (32.6%) were made up of individuals and 160 (12.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 753 families (60.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.85.
The population was spread out with 702 people (24.8%) under the age of 18, 219 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 672 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 802 people (28.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 432 people (15.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 574.6 per square mile (221.9/km²), of which 691 (55.8%) were owner-occupied, and 547 (44.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%. 1,563 people (55.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,251 people (44.3%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 2,892 people, 1,181 households, and 753 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,316.3 people per square mile (507.5/km²). There were 1,367 housing units at an average density of 622.2 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 4.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 11.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,181 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,351, and the median income for a family was $31,385. Males had a median income of $36,500 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,281. About 23.0% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
In the state legislature Alturas is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, and in the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen. Federally, Alturas is located in California's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +11[12] and is represented by Republican Tom McClintock.
Alturas is the headquarters to the Modoc National Forest, the Alturas Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and other recreation areas, and is the trade center for the agricultural region, which produces beef, sheep, potatoes, alfalfa and lumber. Despite its abundance of wilderness, recreational opportunities, hunting and fishing resources, and resplendent natural beauty, tourism is not a major sector of the local economy—largely due to the city's remote location.
Local, State, Federal, and Tribal governments are the largest employers in Alturas. A vibrant timber industry collapsed in the early 1980s due to increased production costs and low market prices for softwood lumber.
The Modoc Joint Unified School District is headquartered in Alturas.
The Alturas Rancheria, a band of Pit River Indians, operates a small casino just outside the city limits.
Alturas/Modoc County has a local independent television station KMDC on channel 9.
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