| City of Susanville | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Downtown Susanville | |
| Location in Lassen County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Lassen |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 8.017 sq mi (20.763 km2) |
| • Land | 7.931 sq mi (20.541 km2) |
| • Water | 0.086 sq mi (0.222 km2) 1.07% |
| Elevation[2] | 4,186 ft (1,276 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 17,974 |
| • Density | 2,242/sq mi (865.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP codes | 96127, 96130 |
| Area code(s) | 530 |
| FIPS code | 06-77364 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277619 |
Susanville (formerly, Rooptown) is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States.[2] Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county,[3] at an elevation of 4186 feet (1276 m).[2] The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census. Susanville, a former logging and mining town, is the site of the High Desert State Prison, California (not to be confused with High Desert State Prison, Nevada) and California Correctional Center. High Desert State Prison, a maximum-security facility, opened in 1995; the California Correctional Center, a minimum-medium security facility, opened in 1963. The prisons and their effects on the community were featured on the PBS documentary, Prison Town, USA. P.O.V.[4][5]
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Susanville is located at .[2] The elevation of Susanville is approximately 4,258 feet (1,298 m) above sea level. It is considered a gateway city to Reno on U.S. Route 395.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.8 km²), of which 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²) is land and 1.07% is water.
Eagle Lake is located 15 miles (24 km) north of the town.
Susanville was named after Susan Roop, daughter of Isaac Roop, an early settler.[2] The present name was adopted in 1857.[2] The Susanville post office was founded in 1860.[3] Susanville incorporated in 1900.[3]
Susanville has a semi-arid climate with cold winters and very warm, mostly dry summers. Average January temperatures are a high of 40.4°F and a low of 20.8°F. Average July temperatures are a high of 88.8°F and a low of 50.8°F. Temperatures reach 90°F (32°C) or higher on an average of 34.9 days annually. Temperatures drop to 32°F (0°C) or lower on an average of 153.8 days annually; freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year and summer nighttime temperatures are usually cool. The highest recorded temperature in Susanville was 106°F on July 25, 1928, and the lowest recorded temperature was -23°F on February 1, 1956.
Annual precipitation averages 15.26 inches. There are an average of 59 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1907 with 33.51 inches and the driest year was 1976 with 5.33 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 12.30 inches in March 1907. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.04 inches on January 31, 1897. Annual snowfall averages 36.0 inches. The most snowfall in one year was 89.0 inches in 1937, with the most in one month 65.5 inches in January 1895.[6]
The 2010 United States Census[7] reported that Susanville had a population of 17,947. The population density was 2,238.7 people per square mile (864.4/km²). The racial makeup of Susanville was 11,269 (62.8%) White, 2,249 (12.5%) African American, 612 (3.4%) Native American, 198 (1.1%) Asian, 111 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 2,928 (16.3%) from other races, and 580 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,259 persons (23.7%).
The Census reported that 9,439 people (52.6% of the population) lived in households, 108 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8,400 (46.8%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,833 households, out of which 1,357 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,645 (42.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 499 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,161 households (30.3%) were made up of individuals and 405 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 2,377 families (62.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.05.
The population was spread out with 2,559 people (14.3%) under the age of 18, 2,547 people (14.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,633 people (42.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,024 people (22.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,184 people (6.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 327.3 males.
There were 4,256 housing units at an average density of 530.9 per square mile (205.0/km²), of which 1,974 (51.5%) were owner-occupied, and 1,859 (48.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%. 5,039 people (28.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,400 people (24.5%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 13,541 people, 3,516 households, and 2,250 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,294.8 people per square mile (886.1/km²). There were 3,882 housing units at an average density of 657.9 per square mile (254.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.0% White, 12.5% African American, 3.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.6% of the population.
There were 3,516 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 198.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 231.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,675, and the median income for a family was $45,216. Males had a median income of $29,973 versus $27,044 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,238. About 11.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Two California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities, High Desert State Prison and California Correctional Center,[9][10] are in Susanville.[11]
In the state legislature Susanville is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, and in the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Dan Logue. Federally, Susanville is located in California's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +11[12] and is represented by Republican Tom McClintock.
The primary local news source is the Lassen County Times, a newspaper published every Tuesday.
Susanville is mentioned in the Quentin Tarantino films, Reservoir Dogs and Jackie Brown. In Reservoir Dogs, Joe states that Marcellus Spivey is doing 20 years in Susanville for "bad luck" and in Jackie Brown, the character of Louis says he served four years in Susanville, presumably at California Correctional Center.
Actor Danny Trejo served some time in the California Correctional Center in Susanville.
In the film Pink Cadillac, Susanville is said to be only 25 miles (40 km) from Reno, NV., not the true distance of 86 miles (138 km).
On the Vandals album The Vandals Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes is a song called Susanville, about a trucker who has been driving for so long he can't remember what his cargo is or where he is heading. He recalls a girl called named Mary in Susanville, but following the lyrics of the song this could just as well be a girl named Susan in Marysville.
Rapper Spice 1 mentions his friend serving time in prison in Susanville in one of his songs.
Susanville is mentioned in the 1973 movie Slither (1973 film) starring James Caan, Peter Boyle and Sandra Kellerman.
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