Susanville, California

City of Susanville
City
Downtown Susanville
Location in Lassen County and the state of California
Coordinates: 40°24′59″N 120°39′11″W / 40.41639°N 120.65306°W / 40.41639; -120.65306Coordinates: 40°24′59″N 120°39′11″W / 40.41639°N 120.65306°W / 40.41639; -120.65306
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	2,200/sq mi (870/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

Another view of Uptown Susanville

Susanville (formerly, Rooptown) is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States.^[2] Susanville is located on the Susan River in southern part of the county,^[3] at an elevation of 4,186 feet (1,276 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]

Geography

Susanville is located at 40°24′59″N 120°39′11″W / 40.41639°N 120.65306°W / 40.41639; -120.65306.^[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.^{[citation needed]}

History

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 was incorporated in 1900.^[3]

Climate

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 (4.7 °C) and a low of 20.8 °F (−6.2 °C).^[6] Average July temperatures are a high of 88.4 °F (31.3 °C) and a low of 49.8 °F (9.9 °C).^[6] Temperatures reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher on an average of 36.9 days annually.^[6] Temperatures drop to 32 °F (0 °C) or lower on an average of 164.6 days annually;^[6] freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year and summer nighttime temperatures are usually cool.^[7] The highest recorded temperature in Susanville was 106 °F (41 °C) in July 1931, and the lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) on February 1, 1956.^[7]

Annual precipitation averaged 15.47 inches (393 mm) from 1952 to 1964.^[8] There are an average of 65 days with measurable precipitation.^[6] The wettest year was 1907 with 33.51 inches (851 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 5.33 inches (135 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 2.30 inches (58 mm) in March 1907.^{[citation needed]} The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.04 inches (128 mm) on January 31, 1897.^{[citation needed]} Annual snowfall averages 32.8 inches (83 cm).^[8] The most snowfall in one year was 89 inches (230 cm) in 1937, with the most in one month 65.5 inches (166 cm) in January 1895.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census^[10] 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.

2000

As of the census^[11][12] 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.

Government and infrastructure

Two California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities, High Desert State Prison and California Correctional Center,^[13][14] are in Susanville.^[15]

Transportation

Susanville Railroad Depot, on the National Register of Historic Places,^{[citation needed]} in 2013

Susanville lies at the junction of California State Routes 36 and 139. Highway 139 heads north to the Oregon border as a direct route to Klamath Falls. Highway 36 runs west to Red Bluff, then east to where it terminates with U.S. Route 395 just outside Susanville's city limits. U.S. 395 connects Alturas to the north and Reno to the south.

Susanville Municipal Airport, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Susanville, serves as a public, general aviation airport. Lassen Rural Bus provided bus service within the city.

The Quincy Railroad no longer serves Susanville on the former Southern Pacific Railroad line since 2004. A Union Pacific Railroad caboose has been placed on an intact section of track next to the rail depot.

Politics

In the state legislature, Susanville is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines,^[16] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.^[17]

Federally, Susanville is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.^[18]

Notable people

This is a list of people who have lived in Susanville at some time.

• Hardin Barry, baseball player and local lawyer, was born and raised in town, and returned to practice law after college and a one-season career in professional baseball.^[19]
• Frank Cady, actor, played Sam Drucker, on Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies.^[20]
• Aaron Duran, writer, media producer grew up in Susanville.^[21]
• Jack Ellena, former Los Angeles Rams player, was born and raised in Susanville and ran a summer camp near town.^[22]
• Mike Leach, Washington State's head football coach was born in Susanville.^[23]
• Kevin Mangold, professional jockey, stunt double, actor, author
• Ryan O'Callaghan, NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs and previously for the New England Patriots.^[24]
• Frank Shamrock, mixed martial artist, adopted by Bob Shamrock of Susanville.^[25]
• Ken Shamrock, UFC Hall of Fame, former WWF (WWE) superstar^[25]
• Mike Skinner, NASCAR driver^[26]
• Benjamin "Coach" Wade, reality television contestant (Survivor: Tocantins, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains & Survivor: South Pacific).^[27]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susanville, California.

External links

• City of Susanville website
• SusanvilleStuff.com The Internet Home of All Things Susanville
• Lassen County Chamber of Commerce website
• Images of Susanville from the Eastman’s Originals Collection, Special Collections Dept., University of California, Davis.

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