Amador County, California

Amador County (/ˈæmədɔːr/ ⓘ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California, in the Sierra Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,474.[4] The county seat is Jackson.[5] Amador County, located within California's Gold Country, is known as "The Heart of the Mother Lode". There is a substantial viticultural industry in the county.

Amador County, California
County
The Amador County foothills in April 2007
The Amador County foothills in April 2007
Flag of Amador County, California
Flag
Official seal of Amador County, California
Seal
Nickname: 
"The Heart of the Mother Lode"
Interactive map of Amador County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSierra Nevada
IncorporatedMay 1, 1854[1]
Named forJosé María Amador
County seatJackson
Largest cityIone (population and area)
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CAO
 • Body
Board of Supervisors[2]
  • Pat Crew
  • Richard M. Forster
  • Jeff Brown
  • Frank Axe
  • Brian Oneto
 • ChairJeff Brown
 • Vice ChairBrian Oneto
 • County Administrative OfficerChuck Iley
Area
 • Total606 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Land595 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Water11.4 sq mi (30 km2)
Highest elevation
[3]
9,414 ft (2,869 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total40,474
 • Density67/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code209
FIPS code06-005
GNIS feature ID1675841
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.co.amador.ca.us

History
Amador County is named after José María Amador, a Californio miner who found gold in the area in 1848.
Dr. Charles Boarman (1828–1880), son of Rear Admiral Charles Boarman, and his family settled in the area. He served as the first county physician and coroner from 1863 to 1880.
The former Amador County Courthouse consists of two buildings: the second courthouse (built 1864) and the Hall of Records (1893), that were enclosed and combined in 1939 with an Art Deco exterior.[6]
High-grade Gold-quartz ore from Amador County

Amador County was created by the California Legislature on May 11, 1854, from parts of Calaveras and El Dorado counties.[7] It was organized on July 3, 1854.[7] In 1864, part of the county's territory was given to Alpine County.

The county is named for José María Amador, a soldier, rancher, and miner, born in San Francisco in 1794,[8] the son of Sergeant Pedro Amador (a Spanish soldier who settled in California in 1771) and younger brother to Sinforosa Amador.

In 1848, Jose Maria Amador, with several Native Americans, established a successful gold mining camp near the present town of Amador City. In Spanish, the word amador means "one who loves". Some of the Mother Lode's most successful gold mines were located in Amador County, including the Kennedy, Argonaut, and Keystone.

There are numerous gold mines in Amador County including the Argonaut Mine, the Kennedy Mine, the Central Eureka, and the Lincoln. The Kennedy Mine in Jackson was the deepest gold mine of its time. The federal government closed all of the Mother Lode's mines in 1942 because they were considered non-essential to the war effort.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 606 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 595 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 11.4 square miles (30 km2) (1.9%) is water.[9] It is the fifth-smallest county in California by land area and second-smallest by total area. Water bodies in the county include Lake Amador, Lake Camanche, Pardee Reservoir, Bear River Reservoir, Silver Lake, Sutter Creek, Cosumnes River, Mokelumne River, and Lake Tabeaud. Thirty-seven miles of the North Fork and main Mokelumne River were added to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers System on June 27, 2018, when Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown signed Senate Bill 854.

Amador County is located approximately 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Sacramento in the part of California known as the Mother Lode, or Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada.

Amador County ranges in elevation from approximately 250 feet (76 m) in the western portion of the county to over 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in the eastern portion of the county, the tallest point being Thunder Mountain. The county is bordered on the north by the Cosumnes River and El Dorado County and on the south by the Mokelumne River and Calaveras County, on the west by Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, and the east by Alpine County.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186010,930—
18709,582−12.3%
188011,38418.8%
189010,320−9.3%
190011,1167.7%
19109,086−18.3%
19207,793−14.2%
19308,4949.0%
19408,9735.6%
19509,1512.0%
19609,9909.2%
197011,82118.3%
198019,31463.4%
199030,03955.5%
200035,10016.8%
201038,0918.5%
202040,4746.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

2020 census
Amador County, California - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 30,325 29,725 79.61% 73.44%
Black or African American alone (NH) 938 1,215 2.46% 3.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 547 577 1.44% 1.43%
Asian alone (NH) 396 554 1.04% 1.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 63 73 0.17% 0.18%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 130 249 0.34% 0.62%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 936 2,067 2.46% 5.11%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,756 6,014 12.49% 14.86%
Total 38,091 40,474 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2011

Places by population, race, and income
Places by population and race
Place Type[21] Population[16] White[16] Other[16]
[note 1]		 Asian[16] Black or African
American[16]		 Native American[16]
[note 2]		 Hispanic or Latino
(of any race)[17]
Amador City City 158100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Buckhorn CDP 2,09098.4%1.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%5.6%
Buena Vista CDP 43568.5%25.1%0.0%0.0%6.4%0.0%
Camanche North Shore CDP 79196.7%3.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%16.9%
Camanche Village CDP 704100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Drytown CDP 138100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Fiddletown CDP 121100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Ione City 7,87370.7%14.6%2.6%9.7%2.4%25.3%
Jackson† City 4,62690.7%4.8%1.2%0.8%2.5%16.6%
Kirkwood‡ CDP 15896.8%0.0%0.6%2.5%0.0%0.0%
Martell CDP 140100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Pine Grove CDP 2,57393.0%5.9%1.1%0.0%0.0%7.3%
Pioneer CDP 1,22682.1%2.6%0.0%0.0%15.3%0.0%
Plymouth City 1,05594.0%3.2%0.6%0.0%2.2%11.7%
Red Corral CDP 1,75784.4%11.8%2.3%0.2%1.4%2.9%
River Pines CDP 57897.1%0.0%2.9%0.0%0.0%6.9%
Sutter Creek City 2,49793.4%1.5%4.8%0.0%0.3%5.3%
Volcano CDP 18499.4%0.0%0.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%

† County seat
‡ Data for Amador County area of this CDP

Places by population and income
Place Type[21] Population[22] Per capita income[18] Median household income[19] Median family income[20]
Amador City City 158$36,439$63,036$81,500
Buckhorn CDP 2,090$31,611$50,365$54,833
Buena Vista CDP 435$12,573$32,944$33,444
Camanche North Shore CDP 791$31,857$58,309$79,125
Camanche Village CDP 704$35,199$98,333$98,631
Drytown CDP 138$20,676$21,172$70,595
Fiddletown CDP 121$69,702$65,192$49,766
Ione City 7,873$14,946$72,734$79,775
Jackson† City 4,626$24,945$48,631$63,028
Kirkwood‡ CDP 39$14,623$7,188[23]
Martell CDP 140$23,051$50,962$90,391
Pine Grove CDP 2,573$29,918$52,917$74,048
Pioneer CDP 1,226$32,153$42,917$92,600
Plymouth City 1,055$21,626$38,333$56,667
Red Corral CDP 1,757$20,145$58,450$57,803
River Pines CDP 578$30,626$31,544$38,875
Sutter Creek City 2,497$26,788$46,316$51,389
Volcano CDP 183$47,178$89,688[23]

† County seat
‡ Data for Amador County area of this CDP

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Amador County had a population of 38,091. The racial makeup of Amador County was 33,149 (87.0%) White, 962 (2.5%) African American, 678 (1.8%) Native American, 419 (1.1%) Asian, 77 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 1,450 (3.8%) from other races, and 1,356 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,756 persons (12.5%).[24]

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
Place Type Total
population		 White African
American		 Native
American		 Asian Pacific
Islander		 Other
races		 Two or
more races		 Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Amador County County 38,09133,149962678419771,4501,3564,756
Amador City City 18517104202611
Ione City 7,9185,826824173110216782861,991
Jackson† City 4,6514,0903294604185186520
Plymouth City 1,005850318627056183
Sutter Creek City 2,5012,27210346554075219
Buckhorn CDP 2,4292,2599372544748168
Buena Vista CDP 42936512300122835
Camanche North Shore CDP 9798603141233849150
Camanche Village CDP 84776209843133121
Drytown CDP 167153001021111
Fiddletown CDP 23521505108622
Kirkwood‡ CDP 61590110002
Martell CDP 28223401405141536
Pine Grove CDP 2,2192,027936964983202
Pioneer CDP 1,0941,01703412122852
Red Corral CDP 1,4131,25924151233367147
River Pines CDP 379324054083831
Volcano CDP 1151090220027
All others not CDPs (combined) Others not CDPs 11,18210,2974716010018221339848

† County seat
‡ Data for Amador County area of this CDP

2000 Census

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 35,100 people, 12,759 households, and 9,071 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23 people/km2). There were 15,035 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.8% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. 8.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of German, 12.6% English, 11.7% Irish, 8.8% Italian and 7.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.1% spoke English and 5.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 12,759 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 122.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,280, and the median income for a family was $51,226. Males had a median income of $39,697 versus $28,850 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,412. About 6.1% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Amador Vineyard

The Shenandoah Valley was once the principal viticultural region of California though not as well known as the Napa Valley AVA or Sonoma Valley AVA viticultural regions.[26] With the discovery of gold, the area quickly became a mecca for those trying to make their fortune. In the process numerous wineries sprouted up, many of whose vineyards are still in use by wineries today. The decline of the California Gold Rush coupled with the onset of Prohibition devastated the wine-making region of Amador County. Today this area has been resurrected and is now home to over 40 different wineries. Amador County is known for its Zinfandel, but many other varietals are produced as well. Amador County has a high percentage of old Zinfandel vines. Some of the Zinfandel vineyards in this county are more than 125 years old, including the original Grandpère vineyard, planted with Zinfandel before 1869 and believed to be the oldest Zinfandel vineyard in America.[27] This 10-acre (40,000 m2) vineyard is home to some of the oldest Zinfandel vines on earth, with proof of their existence dating to 1869 when it was listed as a descriptor on a deed from the U.S. Geological Survey. A grant deed in Amador County records further proves their existence in 1869.

Politics, government, and policing

County Supervisors

The county is governed by a five-person elected Board of Supervisors and a County Administrator. The county seat is Jackson.

Policing

The unincorporated areas of Amador County are patrolled by the county sheriff's department, which also operates the county jail and protects the courts. Municipal police departments within the county are at Ione, Jackson, and Sutter Creek.

Voter registration statistics

Cities by population and voter registration
Cities by population and voter registration
City Population[16] Registered voters[29]
[note 3]		 Democratic[29] Republican[29] D–R spread[29] Other[29] No party preference[29]
Amador 15883.5%34.1%41.7%-7.6%9.8%18.2%
Ione 7,87329.0%27.3%49.4%-22.1%11.4%16.8%
Jackson 4,62655.7%32.3%42.6%-10.3%11.2%18.4%
Plymouth 1,05549.4%30.9%38.8%-7.9%13.2%22.5%
Sutter Creek 2,49768.4%35.9%41.9%-6.0%9.6%16.7%

Politics
United States presidential election results for Amador County, California[30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 13,585 60.66% 8,153 36.40% 659 2.94%
2016 10,485 58.37% 6,004 33.42% 1,474 8.21%
2012 10,281 58.11% 6,830 38.60% 582 3.29%
2008 10,561 55.94% 7,813 41.38% 505 2.67%
2004 11,107 62.08% 6,541 36.56% 243 1.36%
2000 8,766 56.69% 5,906 38.19% 792 5.12%
1996 6,870 47.54% 5,868 40.60% 1,714 11.86%
1992 5,477 35.49% 5,286 34.25% 4,671 30.26%
1988 6,893 55.87% 5,197 42.12% 248 2.01%
1984 6,986 61.48% 4,188 36.86% 189 1.66%
1980 5,401 55.85% 3,191 33.00% 1,078 11.15%
1976 3,699 46.13% 4,037 50.35% 282 3.52%
1972 3,533 53.40% 2,705 40.89% 378 5.71%
1968 2,269 42.10% 2,440 45.27% 681 12.63%
1964 1,682 32.99% 3,410 66.89% 6 0.12%
1960 2,175 44.51% 2,690 55.04% 22 0.45%
1956 2,126 49.16% 2,181 50.43% 18 0.42%
1952 2,440 52.42% 2,169 46.60% 46 0.99%
1948 1,578 38.84% 2,334 57.45% 151 3.72%
1944 1,191 37.18% 1,976 61.69% 36 1.12%
1940 1,372 32.85% 2,762 66.14% 42 1.01%
1936 777 23.38% 2,506 75.41% 40 1.20%
1932 822 25.34% 2,367 72.97% 55 1.70%
1928 990 44.12% 1,246 55.53% 8 0.36%
1924 719 38.93% 316 17.11% 812 43.96%
1920 1,350 64.13% 639 30.36% 116 5.51%
1916 1,209 38.53% 1,766 56.28% 163 5.19%
1912 5 0.20% 1,622 64.80% 876 35.00%
1908 1,035 51.88% 874 43.81% 86 4.31%
1904 1,279 54.45% 915 38.95% 155 6.60%
1900 1,384 52.64% 1,209 45.99% 36 1.37%
1896 1,144 44.39% 1,398 54.25% 35 1.36%
1892 1,125 43.04% 1,255 48.01% 234 8.95%
1888 1,373 47.48% 1,429 49.41% 90 3.11%
1884 1,317 47.72% 1,358 49.20% 85 3.08%
1880 1,345 48.73% 1,411 51.12% 4 0.14%

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
Cities by population and crime rates
City Population[32] Violent crimes[32] Violent crime rate
per 1,000 persons		 Property crimes[32] Property crime rate
per 1,000 persons
Ione 7,977101.2510913.66
Jackson 4,677388.1213629.08
Sutter Creek 2,51372.796224.67

Education

Due to the low population of the area, there are few schools with small class sizes. In total for public schools, there are two high schools, two junior high schools, and six elementary schools.[33] These numbers are in addition to two independent study schools, one charter school, and one continuing education school for adults. There are no colleges or universities within the county's borders.

"The Luck of Roaring Camp" is a short story by American author Bret Harte. It was first published in the August 1868 issue of the Overland Monthly and helped push Harte to international prominence. Harte lived in this area during his "Gold Rush" period, and possibly based the story in a mining camp on the Mokelumne River.

The Gold Rush rock music festival took place at Lake Amador on October 4, 1969.[34] Performers included Ike & Tina Turner, Santana, Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, and Taj Mahal.[35]

In the 1993 movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, a map of Amador County is shown, as well as many other California counties.

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Amador Transit provides service in Jackson and nearby communities. Connections to Calaveras County and Sacramento are additionally provided.

Airport

Amador County Airport is a general aviation airport located near Jackson.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

See also

Notes
  1. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
  4. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  5. For statistical purposes, defined by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).

References
  1. "Amador County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  2. "Board of Supervisors | Amador County".
  3. "Thunder Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. "Amador County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. , Judicial Council of California. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  7. Whittle, Syd (September 8, 2008). "1854 · Amador County · 1954". The Historical Marker Database. J. J. Prats. Retrieved May 14, 2012. (historical marker placed by Board of Supervisors and Amador County Historical Society, 1954)
  8. William Bright; Erwin Gustav Gudde (November 30, 1998). 1500 California place names: their origin and meaning. University of California Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-520-21271-8. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Amador County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  15. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Amador County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  21. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  22. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  23. Data unavailable
  24. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. Costa, Eric J (January 1, 1994). Old vines: A history of winegrowing in Amador County. Jackson, CA: Cenotto Publications. pp. v, 46. ISBN 0-938121-08-1.
  27. "Golden Oldies / There's more than just fruit in old-vine Zinfandel – its earthy flavors are history in a bottle – SFGate". SFgate.com. Hearst Communications Inc. July 28, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  28. "Statement of Vote, November 8, 2022, General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. California Secretary of State. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  29. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 – Report of Registration Archived November 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  30. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  31. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  32. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  33. "Amador County Public Schools". Amadorcoe. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  34. "1969 Gold Rush Festival | The Woodstock Whisperer/Jim Shelley". October 4, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  35. Lynn, Canning (April 29, 2019). "1969 Amador Gold Rush Music Festival". Eagle Magazine. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
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38.44°N 120.66°W / 38.44; -120.66

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