Shasta County, California

County of Shasta
—  County  —
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sacramento Valley/Cascade Range
Incorporated	1850
Named for	Mount Shasta
County seat	Redding
Area
• Total	9,964.8 km2 (3,847.44 sq mi)
• Land	9,803.6 km2 (3,785.19 sq mi)
• Water	161.2 km2 (62.24 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	177,223
• Density	Bad rounding here18/km2 (Bad rounding here46/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Website	www.co.shasta.ca.us

Shasta County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, USA. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range. As of the 2010 census, the population was 177,223, up from 163,256 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Redding.

Among the tourist attractions in Shasta County are Shasta Lake, Lassen Peak, and the Sundial Bridge.

History

Shasta County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Siskiyou County in 1852, and to Tehama County in 1856.

The county was named after Mount Shasta; the name "Shasta" is derived from the English equivalent for the name of an Indian tribe that once lived in the area. The name of the tribe was spelled in various ways until the present version was used when the county was established. Originally Mt. Shasta was within the county, but it is now part of Siskiyou County, to the north. Its 14,179-foot (4,322 m) peak is visible throughout most of Shasta County.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 3,847.44 square miles (9,964.8 km²), of which 3,785.19 square miles (9,803.6 km²) (or 98.38%) is land and 62.24 square miles (161.2 km²) (or 1.62%) is water. Mountains line the county on the east, north and west. The Sacramento River flows out of the mountains to the north, through the center of the county, and toward the Sacramento Valley to the south.

Cities and towns

Cities

• Anderson
• Redding
• Shasta Lake City

Unincorporated Communities

Census-designated places

• Bella Vista
• Big Bend
• Burney
• Cassel
• Cottonwood
• Fall River Mills
• French Gulch
• Happy Valley
• Hat Creek
• Keswick
• Lakehead
• McArthur
• Millville
• Montgomery Creek
• Mountain Gate
• Old Station
• Palo Cedro
• Round Mountain
• Shasta
• Shingletown

Other unincorporated communities

• Castella
• Oak Run
• Ono
• Igo
• Platina
• Whitmore

Adjacent counties

• Tehama County, California - south
• Trinity County, California - west
• Siskiyou County, California - north
• Modoc County, California - northeast
• Lassen County, California - east
• Plumas County, California - southeast

National protected areas

• Shasta-Trinity National Forest (part)
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (part: Shasta and Whiskeytown units only)

Politics

Shasta County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2012	63.2% 48,067	34.0% 25,819	2.8% 2,152
2008	61.7% 49,588	36.0% 28,867	2.2% 1,734
2004	67.2% 52,249	31.3% 24,339	1.5% 1,143
2000	65.0% 43,278	30.3% 20,127	4.7% 3,139
1996	55.2% 34,736	33.1% 20,848	11.7% 7,377
1992	41.2% 28,190	31.6% 21,605	27.2% 18,564
1988	59.4% 32,402	38.8% 21,171	1.9% 1,012
1984	62.2% 33,041	36.3% 19,298	1.5% 788
1980	58.1% 27,547	32.4% 15,364	9.5% 4,507
1976	45.6% 17,273	50.7% 19,200	3.7% 1,381
1972	46.7% 16,618	48.4% 17,214	5.0% 1,771
1968	40.4% 11,821	49.6% 14,510	9.9% 2,899
1964	32.4% 9,178	67.5% 19,142	0.1% 30
1960	38.9% 9,462	60.5% 14,691	0.6% 148
1956	43.8% 8,833	55.8% 11,239	0.4% 77
1952	56.4% 10,073	42.9% 7,656	0.7% 122
1948	39.7% 5,010	56.9% 7,177	3.5% 436
1944	40.9% 4,023	58.9% 5,798	0.2% 22
1940	30.7% 3,909	68.0% 8,662	1.3% 162
1936	28.8% 2,159	69.7% 5,236	1.5% 115
1932	23.9% 1,382	72.1% 4,170	4.0% 230
1928	52.2% 2,301	45.9% 2,025	1.9% 82
1924	42.0% 1,951	12.9% 598	45.2% 2,102
1920	62.1% 2,108	30.3% 1,028	7.7% 260

Shasta at one time favored the Democratic party in Presidential elections and was one of the few counties in the state to be won by George McGovern. In more recent times it is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Federally, Shasta County is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

In the state legislature, Shasta County is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.

Transport

Major highways

• Interstate 5
• State Route 36
• State Route 44
• State Route 89
• State Route 151
• State Route 273
• State Route 299

Public transport

Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) provides service in and around Redding. One route operates to Burney via State Route 299.

Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains both serve Redding.

Airports

Redding Municipal Airport has scheduled passenger flights. Other (general aviation) airports within the county include Benton Field (near Redding), Fall River Mills Airport, and Shingletown Airport.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Shasta County had a population of 177,223. The racial makeup of Shasta County was 153,726 (86.7%) White, 1,548 (0.9%) African American, 4,950 (2.8%) Native American, 4,391 (2.5%) Asian, 271 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,501 (2.5%) from other races, and 7,836 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14,878 persons (8.4%).

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
The County	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Shasta County	177,223	153,726	1,548	4,950	4,391	271	4,501	7,836	14,878
Incorporated cities and towns	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Anderson	9,932	8,273	70	426	256	17	353	537	1,070
Redding	89,861	77,117	1,092	2,034	3,034	156	2,307	4,121	7,787
Shasta Lake City	10,164	8,749	67	389	233	13	201	512	865
Census-designated places	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Bella Vista	2,781	2,559	16	41	30	6	43	86	179
Big Bend	102	85	0	10	0	0	1	6	2
Burney	3,154	2,685	13	233	7	2	61	153	265
Cassel	207	194	0	3	0	0	4	6	6
Cottonwood	3,316	2,844	4	99	108	2	120	139	352
Fall River Mills	573	450	0	30	3	2	56	32	105
French Gulch	346	296	3	15	3	1	8	20	17
Hat Creek	309	239	4	45	2	4	9	6	20
Keswick	451	389	0	23	6	0	4	29	14
Lakehead	461	421	0	13	2	0	3	22	11
McArthur	338	217	0	15	0	0	98	8	119
Millville	727	673	0	6	6	1	22	19	50
Montgomery Creek	163	117	2	16	0	0	9	19	18
Mountain Gate	943	850	7	27	5	0	13	41	49
Old Station	51	49	0	1	0	0	0	1	2
Palo Cedro	1,269	1,164	7	24	6	1	22	45	74
Round Mountain	155	126	1	12	3	1	1	11	12
Shasta	1,771	1,612	11	37	23	1	7	80	56
Shingletown	2,283	2,124	5	49	8	1	13	83	86
Unincorporated communities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)	47,866	42,493	246	1,402	656	63	1,146	1,860	3,719

2000

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	378		—
1860	4,360		1,053.4%
1870	4,173		−4.3%
1880	9,492		127.5%
1890	12,133		27.8%
1900	17,318		42.7%
1910	18,920		9.3%
1920	13,361		−29.4%
1930	13,927		4.2%
1940	28,800		106.8%
1950	36,413		26.4%
1960	59,468		63.3%
1970	77,640		30.6%
1980	115,715		49.0%
1990	147,036		27.1%
2000	163,256		11.0%
2010	177,223		8.6%

As of the census of 2000, there were 163,256 people, 63,426 households, and 44,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 68,810 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 2.8% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. 5.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.7% were of German, 12.3% English, 11.2% Irish, 9.9% American and 5.2% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.0% spoke English and 3.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 63,426 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,335, and the median income for a family was $40,491. Males had a median income of $35,959 versus $24,773 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,738. About 11.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Flora and fauna

According to Willis Linn Jepson the biota of Shasta County were not explored in a scientific manner until just before the year 1900. Up until the 1920s the Southern Pacific Railroad Company owned vast tracts of natural grasslands; however, during the 1920s the railroad sold off much of its grassland holdings, leading to the rapid clearing of brush and large scale conversion from habitat to agricultural uses. Shasta County has extensive forests, which cover over one half the land area with commercially productive forest systems. Common forest alliances include mixed oak woodland and mixed conifer-oak woodland as well as douglas fir forest. Common trees found include White-bark pine, California Black Oak and California Buckeye.

Annual events

• Kool April Nites (April) — A Classic Car Show
• Rodeo Week Festivities (May)
• Art Fair and Fiddler’s Jamboree (May)
• Whiskeytown Regatta (May)
• Watershed Festival (May)
• Strawberry Festival (May)
• Shasta Dragonwood Celtic Faire (May)
• Redding Exchange Club Air Show (June)
• Shasta District Fair (June)
• Fall River Valley Century Bike Ride (July)
• Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration (July)
• Burney Basin Days (July)
• Fall River Valley Wild Rice Festival (Aug)
• Intermountain Fair, Fall River Valley (September) The Shasta County Fair
• Stillwater Pow Wow (September)
• Big Bike Weekend (October)
• Fall River Valley Lights of Christmas Parade (December)

Education and housing

Colleges and universities

Shasta County has four colleges and universities:

Shasta College, Redding – 2 year, fully accredited

Simpson University, Redding – 4 year, fully accredited

National University, Redding – 4 year, fully accredited

Shasta Bible College - 4 year

High schools and below

• 43 Elementary Schools
• 10 Junior High Schools
• 8 High Schools
• 35 Private Schools

Housing

• Median price for a house is about $248,000.
• Median rental rate is $700/month.

Points of interest

Bailey Cove Campground near Lake Shasta within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

• Lassen Peak
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Shasta Lake
• Turtle Bay Exploration Park
• Hat Creek Radio Observatory
• Iron Mountain Mine, one of the nation's most toxic waste sites
• Sundial Bridge/Turtle Bay, an architectural beauty and a natural habitat area surrounded by urbanization.
• Burney Falls
• Whiskeytown Dam and Lake, with John F. Kennedy Memorial

See also

• Hiking trails in Shasta County
• List of school districts in Shasta County, California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Shasta County, California

External links

• County of Shasta official website
• Shasta Historical Society — A large database of historical county photographs
• Shasta Regional Travel and Resource Guide