Del Norte County, California

Del Norte County, California
County
County of Del Norte
Images, from top down, left to right: Crescent City Harbor, Redwood National Park, Castle Rock, the mouth of the Smith River

Seal

Location in the state of California

California's location in the United States
Country  United States of America
State

 California

Region North Coast
Incorporated March 2, 1857[1]
Named for "Of the North" (Spanish: Del norte)
County seat Crescent City
Largest city Crescent City
Area
 • Total 1,230 sq mi (3,200 km2)
 • Land 1,006 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Water 223 sq mi (580 km2)
Highest elevation[2] 6,415 ft (1,955 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)[3]
 • Total 28,610
 • Estimate (2014)[3] 27,212
 • Density 23/sq mi (9.0/km2)
Time zone Pacific Time Zone (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Area codes 707, 541
FIPS code 06-015
GNIS feature ID 1682074
Website www.co.del-norte.ca.us

Del Norte County is a county located at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California, along the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Oregon border. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,610.[4] The county seat and only incorporated city is Crescent City.[5] Del Norte is the shortened Spanish nickname for "the land of the north" (la tierra del norte). Despite its Spanish etymology, official pronunciation of the name is to drop the trailing "e" and simply say "Del Nort." Del Norte County comprises the Crescent City, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The rural county is notable for forests containing giant Coast Redwoods, with some attaining heights over 350 feet (110 m). This northernmost county on the California coast also has scores of unique plants and flowers, dozens of species of coastal birds and fish, rocky primitive beaches and sea stacks, pristine rivers, and historic lighthouses. Del Norte is also known among Bigfoot enthusiasts as the location of the famous Patterson–Gimlin film, as well as being the location of some of the forest scenes used in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

History

The area that is now known as Del Norte was and still is inhabited by the Yurok (Klamath River Indians) and Tolowa Nations of indigenous peoples. The first European American to explore this land was pioneer Jedediah Smith in the mid-19th century. He was the first European American to reach the area overland on foot in a time before the European Americans knew anything about such a distant territory. For him it was literally "Land's End" — where the American continent ended at the Pacific Ocean. In 1855 Congress authorized the building of a lighthouse at "the battery point" (a high tide island on the coast of Crescent City) which is still functioning as a historical landmark.

Del Norte County was established in 1857, from part of the territory of Klamath County following the great California Gold Rush. Klamath County itself ceased to exist in 1874.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,230 square miles (3,200 km2), of which 1,006 square miles (2,610 km2) is land and 223 square miles (580 km2) (18.2%) is water.[6]

The mountainous terrain associated with the Coastal Range and the Klamath Mountains dominates Del Norte County's geography. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 6,400 feet. Although much of the county is made up of steep terrain, there are small patches of flat terrain along the coast and in isolated mountain valleys. There are 37 miles of coastline in the county, forming a coastal zone that covers approximately 51,000 acres (80 square miles). A broad coastal plain can be found in the northwest portion of the county with the western edge of the Klamath Mountains as its easterly boundary. Rising abruptly from the coastal plain, the Klamath Mountains extend north into Oregon and are situated between the Cascade Range to the east and the Coast Range to the north.[7]

Beach

Recreation area

Rivers

Wildlife Refuge

Parks

Marshall Pond near the Klamath River, Redwood National and State Parks.

Flora and fauna

There is a diversity of flora and fauna within Del Norte County. Vegetative plant associations feature several forest types including mixed oak forest. The California endemic Blue oak, Quercus douglasii is at the northernmost part of it its range in Del Norte County.[8] The Black Oak and Douglas-fir are also found in Del Norte County.

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Local public transit is provided by Redwood Coast Transit, which provides access to Amtrak passenger train (via Amtrak bus) service.

Airports

SkyWest Airlines conducts passenger flights to and from Jack McNamara Field Airport. The majority of flights connect to San Francisco International Airport through Arcata-Eureka Airport and vice versa, although a connection is also available to Sacramento.

Harbor

The Crescent City Harbor serves as a commercial fishing port for salmon, shrimp, tuna, cod, and dungeness crab commercial fishing boats. Nearly 50% of all dungeness crab served in California restaurants is off-loaded in this harbor. The harbor is also home to multiple fishing and non-fishing related businesses and harbor governmental offices. The harbor also has several pleasure boat docks.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Demographics

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,993—
18702,0221.5%
18802,58427.8%
18902,5920.3%
19002,408−7.1%
19102,4170.4%
19202,75914.1%
19304,73971.8%
19404,7450.1%
19508,07870.2%
196017,771120.0%
197014,580−18.0%
198018,21724.9%
199023,46028.8%
200027,50717.3%
201028,6104.0%
Est. 201427,212−4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20]
1990-2000[21] 2010–2014[3]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Del Norte County had a population of 28,610. The racial makeup of Del Norte County was 21,098 (73.7%) White, 993 (3.5%) African American, 2,244 (7.8%) Native American, 965 (3.4%) Asian, 32 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,980 (6.9%) from other races, and 1,298 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,093 persons (17.8%).[22]

2000

As of the census[23] of 2000, there were 27,507 people, 9,170 households, and 6,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 10,434 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 6.4% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. 13.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 11.3% English, 9.1% Irish and 7.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.6% spoke English and 6.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,170 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,642, and the median income for a family was $36,056. Males had a median income of $40,072 versus $22,212 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,573. About 16.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Del Norte County is home to a satellite campus of College of the Redwoods, a two-year college based in Humboldt County.

Del Norte County has one of just five combined county office of education-unified school district learning educational agencies (LEA) in the state of California, with one elected Board of Trustees that serves both agencies, and one superintendent overseeing both the County Office of Education, and the Unified School District.

The Del Norte County Unified School District provides public education to the children of Del Norte County through the twelfth grade. The only high school in Del Norte County is Del Norte High School, whose school mascot is the Warrior. There are also five K-5 elementary schools (Bess Maxwell, Joe Hamilton, Margaret Keating, Mary Peacock, Pine Grove), three K-8 elementary schools (Mountain, Redwood, Smith River), and one middle school (Crescent Elk).

The County Office of Education provides special education services to the county, as well as alternative learning options that includes Community Day and juvenile detention. Alternative educational facilities are Bar-O Boys Camp, Del Norte Community Day, Elk Creek detention center, and Sunset Continuation High School.

Del Norte County has several private parochial schools and charter schools.

Politics

Del Norte County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year GOP DEM Others
2012 53.6% 4,256 42.8% 3,396 3.6% 288
2008 52.2% 4,967 45.4% 4,323 2.4% 231
2004 56.9% 5,356 41.3% 3,892 1.8% 173
2000 54.6% 4,526 37.6% 3,117 7.9% 651
1996 41.3% 3,670 41.1% 3,652 17.6% 1,567
1992 33.0% 3,083 38.9% 3,639 28.1% 2,631
1988 49.7% 3,714 48.0% 3,587 2.2% 167
1984 58.4% 3,996 39.4% 2,696 2.2% 149
1980 57.5% 4,016 33.5% 2,338 9.1% 633
1976 45.3% 2,481 50.9% 2,789 3.8% 208
1972 51.8% 2,927 38.2% 2,156 10.0% 565
1968 46.2% 2,387 43.3% 2,236 10.6% 545
1964 36.2% 2,075 63.8% 3,652 0.0% 0
1960 48.1% 3,024 51.2% 3,225 0.7% 45
1956 53.2% 2,918 46.5% 2,552 0.3% 17
1952 63.4% 2,938 35.4% 1,640 1.1% 53
1948 54.3% 1,541 41.3% 1,172 4.5% 127
1944 55.3% 1,011 44.7% 818 0.1% 1
1940 53.6% 1,233 44.9% 1,034 1.5% 35
1936 39.2% 853 59.4% 1,292 1.3% 29
1932 30.9% 637 64.1% 1,319 5.0% 103
1928 55.9% 771 43.4% 599 1.7% 10
1924 52.6% 530 12.1% 122 35.3% 355
1920 62.6% 596 29.3% 279 8.1% 77
Del Norte County vote
by party in gubernatorial elections
Year GOP DEM
2010 41.2% 3,373 50.0% 4,093
2006 54.9% 3,639 38.2% 2,531
2003 55.0% 3,522 25.5% 1,634
2002 45.8% 3,093 43.3% 2,922
1998 41.5% 3,087 51.3% 3,820
1994 61.8% 4,626 31.7% 2,372
1990 53.2% 3,615 40.0% 2,717
1986 65.8% 4,213 31.6% 2,026
1982 51.3% 3,355 44.9% 2,934
1978 49.9% 2,933 41.7% 2,451
1974 46.1% 1,921 51.6% 2,149
1970 57.1% 2,755 41.0% 1,977
1966 64.0% 3,409 36.0% 1,918
1962 45.9% 2,418 52.0% 2,741

Del Norte is traditionally a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections (the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976). The county has almost an even split in Democratic and Republican voter registration. As of May 2008, approximately 67% of eligible voters are registered to vote in Del Norte County, with approximately 38% registered as Democrats and approximately 38% registered as Republicans, with the State of California reporting 32 more Republicans than Democrats on April 7, 2010. Third party affiliation accounts for approximately 6% of all registered voters in the county.[24]

Del Norte County is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.[25]

In the State Assembly, Del Norte County is in the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jim Wood.[26] In the State Senate, the county is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen.[27]

During the 2008 Presidential Primary season, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) won 48% of votes cast in Del Norte County for the Democratic primary, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) won 40% of votes cast in Del Norte County for the Republican Primary.[28]

In 2008, Del Norte County voted 52%-46% in favor of Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for President over Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

Voter registration statistics

Cities by population and voter registration

Communities

Crescent City is the only incorporated city in Del Norte County. Its population count includes the inmates of Pelican Bay State Prison located ten miles north of the city.

Unincorporated communities

See also

U.S. Route 199 in California, the Redwood Highway, at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County, near Crescent City, California.

Notes

  1. ↑ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  2. ↑ Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  3. ↑ Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

References

  1. ↑ "Del Norte County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Bear Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "American Fact Finder - Results". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Del Norte Fire Safe Plan" (PDF). Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Blue Oak: Quercus douglasii, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  17. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  22. ↑ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ↑ http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_primary_june/02_county_reg_totals_051908.pdf
  25. ↑ "California's 2nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  28. ↑ The New York Times http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/states/CA.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 29.9 29.10 29.11 29.12 29.13 29.14 29.15 29.16 California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration. Retrieved October 31, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Del Norte County, California.
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Coordinates: 41°44′N 123°58′W / 41.74°N 123.96°W