Ponderosa, California
Ponderosa | |
|---|---|
 Location in Tulare County and the state of California | |
  Ponderosa Position in California. | |
| Coordinates: 36°06′18″N 118°31′46″W / 36.10500°N 118.52944°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Tulare |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.815 sq mi (2.111 km2) |
| • Land | 0.811 sq mi (2.100 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.010 km2) 0.49% |
| Elevation | 7,231 ft (2,204 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 51 |
| • Density | 63/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2585440 |
| U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ponderosa, California | |
Ponderosa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California.[2] Ponderosa sits at an elevation of 7,231 feet (2,204 m).[2] The 2020 United States census reported Ponderosa's population was 51.[3] Ponderosa can be reached from Porterville by 43 curvy miles[4] on a combination of California State Route 190 and the county-maintained Western Divide Highway with an elevation gain of 6,772 feet.
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), 99.51% of its land and 0.49% of its water.
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 16 | — | |
| 2020 | 51 | 218.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–1870[6][7] 1880-1890[8] 1900[9] 1910[10] 1920[11] 1930[12] 1940[13] 1950[14] 1960[15] 1970[16] 1980[17] 1990[18] 2000[19] 2010[20] | |||
Ponderosa first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.[20]
The 2020 United States census reported that Ponderosa had a population of 51. The population density was 62.9 inhabitants per square mile (24.3/km2). The racial makeup of Ponderosa was 42 (82%) White, 0 (0%) African American, 4 (7.8%) Native American, 0 (0%) Asian, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 1 (2%) from other races, and 4 (8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6 persons (12%).[21]
There were 25 households, and the average household size was 2.04.[21]
The age distribution was 7 people (13.7%) under the age of 18, 0 people (0%) aged 18 to 24, 6 people (12%) aged 25 to 44, 17 people (33%) aged 45 to 64, and 21 people (41%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62.5 years. There were 34 males and 17 females.[21]
There were 142 housing units at an average density of 175.1 units per square mile (67.6 units/km2), of which 25 (18%) were occupied year round and 104 (73%) were used seasonally. Of the occupied housing units, 24 (96%) were owner-occupied, and 1 (4%) were occupied by renters.[21]
History
[edit]Ponderosa started as sheep pasture covering more than 280 acres originally owned by Alex Kramer. Over the years, his heirs sold parts of the property. One-third of the land was eventually sold to Don Carter, a real estate developer. In 1963, he subdivided his portion of the land and officially opened Ponderosa.[22] In September, 2020, Ponderosa was spared the destruction of other small communities in the area by the naturally sparked Sequoia Complex Fire (SQF Complex)
References
[edit]- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ponderosa, California
- ^ "Ponderosa CDP, California - Census Bureau Profile". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ "Porterville to Ponderosa".
- ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b c d "Ponderosa CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ "Rita Mcintosh | Southern Sierra Real Estate | Springville, CA | 559-542-1500".
