Tehama County, California

County of Tehama
—  County  —
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Shasta Cascade
Incorporated	1856
Seat	Red Bluff
Area
• Total	7,672.2 km2 (2,962.27 sq mi)
• Land	7,643.0 km2 (2,950.99 sq mi)
• Water	29.2 km2 (11.28 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	63,463
• Density	Bad rounding here8.3/km2 (Bad rounding here21/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Website	www.co.tehama.ca.us

Tehama County (pronunciation: /təˈheɪmə/ tə-HAY-mə) is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is bisected by the Sacramento River. As of 2010 its population was 63,463, up from 56,039 as of 2000. The county seat is Red Bluff, which is also the largest city.

History

Tehama County was formed from parts of Butte, Colusa, and Shasta Counties in 1856.

The county is named for the City of Tehama. The origin of the name is not known. Suggested possible roots are the Arabic word تهامة tehama ("hot low-lands"), the Spanish word tejamanil (shingle), or "high water" in the dialect of local Native Americans.

The first permanent settlers in the area that is now Tehama County were Robert Hasty Thomes, Albert Gallatin Toomes, William George Chard, and Job Francis Dye. The four men were each given land grants by the government of Mexico in 1844. Thomes received Rancho Saucos, Toomes received Rancho Rio de los Molinos, Chard received Rancho Las Flores, and Dye received Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos. Later in the same year Josiah Belden received Rancho Barranca Colorado.

Famous early figures include Kit Carson, who took part in a fight that gave name to Bloody Island and Battle Creek, Jedediah Smith, John Fremont, and William B. Ide, the first and only president of the California Republic.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 2,962.27 square miles (7,672.2 km²), of which 2,950.99 square miles (7,643.0 km²) (or 99.62%) is land and 11.28 square miles (29.2 km²) (or 0.38%) is water. Watercourses in Tehama County include Dye Creek and Payne's Creek. A small part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northeast corner of the county.

Cities and towns

• Bend
• Capay
• Corning
• portions of Cottonwood
• Flournoy
• Gerber-Las Flores
• Kirkwood
• Lake California
• Los Molinos
• Manton
• Mill Creek
• Mineral
• Paskenta
• Paynes Creek
• Proberta
• Rancho Tehama Reserve
• Red Bluff
• Richfield
• Tehama
• Vina

Adjacent counties

Butte County, California - south Glenn County, California - south Mendocino County, California - southwest Trinity County, California - west Shasta County, California - north Plumas County, California - east

National protected areas

• Lassen National Forest (part)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park (part)
• Mendocino National Forest (part)
• Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Shasta-Trinity National Forest (part)

Transportation Infrastructure

Major highways

• Interstate 5
• State Route 32
• State Route 36
• State Route 89
• State Route 99

Public Transportation

Tehama Rural Area Express (TRAX) operates local service in Red Bluff and service to Los Molinos and Corning. Greyhound buses stop in Red Bluff.

Airports

Red Bluff Municipal Airport and Corning Municipal Airport are two general aviation airports.

Politics

Tehama County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2008	60.8% 14,843	36.7% 8,945	3.1% 772
2004	66.4% 15,572	32.0% 7,504	1.6% 368
2000	63.6% 13,270	31.2% 6,507	5.2% 1,077
1996	50.3% 10,292	35.7% 7,290	14.0% 2,861
1992	35.4% 7,419	35.8% 7,508	28.9% 6,052
1988	56.5% 9,854	41.4% 7,213	2.1% 367
1984	62.8% 11,586	35.4% 6,527	1.9% 342
1980	59.1% 9,140	31.3% 4,832	9.6% 1,485
1976	44.8% 6,110	51.3% 6,990	3.9% 535
1972	48.7% 6,054	41.7% 5,175	9.6% 1,195
1968	47.3% 5,198	41.5% 4,565	11.2% 1,236
1964	39.0% 4,529	60.4% 6,928	0.1% 10
1960	50.0% 5,522	49.6% 5,483	0.4% 47
1956	53.8% 4,866	45.8% 4,143	0.4% 33
1952	64.3% 5,742	34.8% 3,110	0.9% 77
1948	51.3% 3,348	44.7% 2,920	4.0% 262
1944	47.8% 2,903	51.5% 3,130	0.7% 41
1940	44.0% 2,913	54.6% 3,618	1.5% 97
1936	38.5% 2,376	59.7% 3,687	1.9% 115
1932	34.2% 2,001	60.4% 3,534	5.4% 316
1928	65.6% 3,393	31.9% 1,650	2.5% 131
1924	46.0% 1,943	11.5% 486	42.5% 1,798
1920	61.8% 2,462	27.1% 1,079	11.1% 442

Tehama 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. Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992.

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

In the state legislature Tehama is in the 2nd Assembly district, which is held by Republican Jim Nielsen, and the 4th Senate district, which is held by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

On November 4, 2008, Tehama County voted 72.7% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Tehama County had a population of 63,463. The racial makeup of Tehama County was 51,721 (81.5%) White, 406 (0.6%) African American, 1,644 (2.6%) Native American, 656 (1.0%) Asian, 76 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 6,258 (9.9%) from other races, and 2,702 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,906 persons (21.9%).

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)
Tehama County	63,463	51,721	406	1,644	656	76	6,258	2,702	13,906
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)
Corning	7,663	5,510	44	201	82	11	1,496	319	3,271
Red Bluff	14,076	11,366	128	438	187	16	1,168	773	3,037
Tehama	418	346	6	23	1	0	27	15	57
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)
Bend	619	570	4	15	3	0	14	13	48
Flournoy	101	90	0	1	3	2	4	1	9
Gerber	1,060	575	6	55	8	0	371	45	526
Lake California	3,054	2,751	11	81	31	6	55	119	251
Las Flores	187	127	0	5	0	0	41	14	72
Los Molinos	2,037	1,581	0	39	7	2	321	87	537
Manton	347	312	0	20	1	0	7	7	35
Mineral	123	115	0	1	1	0	1	5	4
Paskenta	112	95	0	0	0	0	8	9	19
Paynes Creek	57	51	0	2	0	0	1	3	7
Proberta	267	174	0	7	1	1	76	8	91
Rancho Tehama Reserve	1,485	1,181	21	52	21	5	102	103	214
Richfield	306	264	0	4	0	0	35	3	65
Vina	237	195	1	7	2	0	20	12	42
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)	31,314	26,418	185	693	308	33	2,511	1,166	5,621

2000

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	4,044		—
1870	3,587		−11.3%
1880	9,301		159.3%
1890	9,916		6.6%
1900	10,996		10.9%
1910	11,401		3.7%
1920	12,882		13.0%
1930	13,866		7.6%
1940	14,316		3.2%
1950	19,276		34.6%
1960	25,305		31.3%
1970	29,517		16.6%
1980	38,888		31.7%
1990	49,625		27.6%
2000	56,039		12.9%
2010	63,463		13.2%

As of the census of 2000, there were 56,039 people, 21,013 households, and 14,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 23,547 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.3% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 15.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.4% were of German, 11.0% English, 9.6% Irish and 9.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 86.0% spoke English and 13.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 21,013 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,206, and the median income for a family was $37,277. Males had a median income of $30,872 versus $22,864 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,793. About 13.0% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

See also

• Hiking trails in Tehama County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Tehama County, California

External links

• Tehama County official website
• TehamaPulse.com is an online events calendar for Tehama County.