Johannesburg, California

Johannesburg
—  Census-designated place  —
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Coordinates:
Country  United States
State  California
County Kern
Government
 • N/A
 • Senate Roy Ashburn (R)
 • Assembly Jean Fuller (R)
 • U. S. Congress Kevin McCarthy (R)
Area[1]
 • Total 2.415 sq mi (6.254 km2)
 • Land 2.415 sq mi (6.254 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation[2] 3,517 ft (1,072 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 172
 • Density 71.2/sq mi (27.5/km2)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 93528, 93554
Area code(s) 760
FIPS code 06-37400
GNIS feature ID 0244074

Johannesburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, in a mining district of the Rand Mountains. Johannesburg is located 1 mile (1.6 km) east-northeast of Randsburg,[3] at an elevation of 3517 feet (1072 m).[2] The terminus of the Randsburg Railway was here from 1897 to 1933. The population was 172 at the 2010 census, down from 176 at the 2000 census. Johannesburg is divided from the neighboring community of Randsburg by a ridge. The town is frequently referred to as "Jo-burg" by locals and frequent visitors to the northwest Mojave.

Contents

History

Johannesburg was founded to support mining operation at Randsburg. In addition to providing rail access, the region's first wells were operated by companies located in Johannesburg. During the first half of the 20th Century, the Rand Mining District was the principal gold producing region of California. Activity centered around the Yellow Aster Mine, discovered in 1894. In 1919, the Rand Silver Mine was discovered east of town on Red Mountain. The Rand Mine produced more silver than any mine in California.

Johannesburg was named by miners who had previously worked in the gold-producing region of South Africa. Containing the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, this region is in the Witwatersrand, and is frequently referred to as "the Rand."

The first post office at Johannesburg opened in 1897.[3]

Geography

Johannesburg is located at .[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Johannesburg had a population of 172. The population density was 71.2 people per square mile (27.5/km²). The racial makeup of Johannesburg was 152 (88.4%) White, 2 (1.2%) African American, 2 (1.2%) Native American, 8 (4.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 8 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8 persons (4.7%).

The Census reported that 172 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 95 households, out of which 10 (10.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 32 (33.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2 (2.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3 (3.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 7 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 47 households (49.5%) were made up of individuals and 21 (22.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81. There were 37 families (38.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.76.

The population was spread out with 21 people (12.2%) under the age of 18, 4 people (2.3%) aged 18 to 24, 26 people (15.1%) aged 25 to 44, 75 people (43.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 46 people (26.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55.0 years. For every 100 females there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.7 males.

There were 139 housing units at an average density of 57.6 per square mile (22.2/km²), of which 73 (76.8%) were owner-occupied, and 22 (23.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.8%. 137 people (79.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 35 people (20.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 176 people, 85 households, and 45 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 72.0 people per square mile (27.7/km²). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 54.4 per square mile (21.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.48% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 1.14% Native American and 2.84% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 5.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 85 households out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,611, and the median income for a family was $72,222. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,478. None of the families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line. None are under the age of 18 or over 65.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Census
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Johannesburg, California
  3. ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 1052. ISBN 9781884995149. 
  4. ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
  5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.