Shasta County, California

Shasta County (/ˈʃæstə/ ⓘ), officially the County of Shasta, is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population is 182,155 as of the 2020 census, up from 177,223 from the 2010 census. The county seat is Redding.[5]

Shasta County
County
Images, from top down: Shasta Dam at the southern end of Shasta Lake, Lassen Peak, Sundial Bridge
Official seal of Shasta County
Seal
Interactive map of Shasta County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
Coordinates: 40.76°N 122.04°W / 40.76; -122.04
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSacramento Valley/Cascade Range
Incorporated1850
Named forMount Shasta,[note 1] which was named after the Shasta people
County seatRedding
Largest cityRedding
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CEO
 • Chair[1]Patrick Henry Jones
 • Vice Chair[2]Tim Garman
 • Board of Supervisors[3]
Supervisors
  • Kevin W. Crye
  • Tim Garman
  • Mary Rickert
  • Patrick Henry Jones
  • Chris Kelstrom
 • County executive officerPatrick J. Minturn (Acting)[4]
 • Deputy County executive officerMary Williams
Area
 • Total3,847 sq mi (9,960 km2)
 • Land3,775 sq mi (9,780 km2)
 • Water72 sq mi (190 km2)
Highest elevation
10,457 ft (3,187 m)
Population
 (April 1, 2020)
 • Total182,155
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.shastacounty.gov

Shasta County comprises the Redding, California metropolitan statistical area. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range.

Points of interest in Shasta County include 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. The county was named after Mount Shasta; the name is derived from the English equivalent for the Shasta people. Their population declined in the 1850s due to disease, low birth rates, starvation, killings, and massacres, as White settlers moved in.[6] The name of the tribe was spelled in various ways until the present version was used when the county was established. The 14,179-foot (4,322 m) peak of Mt. Shasta is visible throughout most of Shasta County. Originally within the county, it is now part of Siskiyou County, to the north. Parts of the county's territory were transferred to Siskiyou County in 1852, and to Tehama County in 1856.

The Fountain Wind project, proposed by energy firm ConnectGEN LLC, includes up to 71 wind turbines, 679 feet (207 m) tall, with the capacity to generate 216 megawatts of electricity.[7][8] In 2021, the Shasta County Planning Commission voted unanimously to reject the project's use permit, followed by an appeal to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors that similarly resulted in a 4–1 vote to deny the appeal. Wildfire risks and firefighting challenges, among other issues, were given as a primary reason for the rejection of the project.[9] In early 2023, ConnectGen resubmitted its application to the California Energy Commission under Assembly Bill 205 which established a new certification program for non-fossil-fuel powered plants of 50 megawatts or more and related facilities.[10]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,847 square miles (9,960 km2), of which 72 square miles (190 km2) (1.9%) are covered by water.[11] 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.

Flora and fauna

According to Willis Linn Jepson, the biota of Shasta County was not explored in a scientific manner until just before 1900. Until the 1920s, the Southern Pacific Railroad Company owned vast tracts of natural grasslands, but 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.[12] Shasta County has extensive forests, which cover over one half the land area with commercially productive forest systems.[13] 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,[14] California black oak, and California buckeye.[15]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

2011

Places by population, race, and income

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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 14,878 persons (8.4%).[24]

2000
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850378—
18604,3601,053.4%
18704,173−4.3%
18809,492127.5%
189012,13327.8%
190017,31842.7%
191018,9209.3%
192013,361−29.4%
193013,9274.2%
194028,800106.8%
195036,41326.4%
196059,46863.3%
197077,64030.6%
1980115,71549.0%
1990147,03627.1%
2000163,25611.0%
2010177,2238.6%
2020182,1552.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]
1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27]
1990–2000[28] 2010–2015[29]

As of the census[30] of 2000, 163,256 people, 63,426 households, and 44,017 families were residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km2). The 68,810 housing units had an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.8% 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. About 5.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. About 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.

Of the 63,426 households, 31.7% had children under 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 not families. About 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, theage distribution was 26.1% under 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 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,335, and 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.

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)
  • Walk To End Alzheimer's (September)
  • Big Bike Weekend (October)
  • Fall River Valley Lights of Christmas Parade (December)
  • Palo Cedro Honey Bee Festival (September)

Government

In the United States House of Representatives, Shasta County is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.[31]

In the California State Legislature, Shasta County is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle,[32] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle.[33]

Shasta at one time favored the Democratic Party in Presidential elections elections. The economy was shaped by the construction of Shasta Dam and some 60 percent of its registered voters were pro-labor Democrats.[34] It went Democratic in all but one presidential election from 1932 to 1976, and was one of the few counties in the state to be won by George McGovern. Since 1980, it has become one of the most Republican counties in the state in Presidential and congressional elections.[35] The last Democrat to carry the county in a presidential race was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

A 2022 successful recall unseated supervisor, Leonard Moty, Redding's ex-police chief who describes himself as a fiscal conservative and social moderate, after enough signatures were collected to have the election.[36] The county's Board of Supervisors shifted to a conservative supermajority in subsequent elections.[37] The board issued a declaration opposing state vaccine mandates and fired the health officer after the change in the makeup of the all Republican board.[34] The Board cancelled its contract with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to pursue other options including the possibility of counting votes by hand.[38][37] The county's contract with Dominion was not up for renewal until 2025.[39] County supervisor Kevin Crye met privately with Mike Lindell in Minnesota before the vote.[40] According to Lindell, they discussed how to run elections without voting machines.[41] State and federal law require that voters with disabilities have access to an electronic voting system.[42] The county selected Hart InterCivic as the new provider of voting equipment.[43]

Voter registration statistics

Cities by population and voter registration
United States presidential election results for Shasta County, California[45]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 60,789 65.41% 30,000 32.28% 2,141 2.30%
2016 51,778 63.90% 22,301 27.52% 6,945 8.57%
2012 48,067 62.83% 25,819 33.75% 2,615 3.42%
2008 49,588 61.68% 28,867 35.91% 1,935 2.41%
2004 52,249 67.22% 24,339 31.31% 1,143 1.47%
2000 43,278 65.04% 20,127 30.25% 3,139 4.72%
1996 34,736 55.17% 20,848 33.11% 7,377 11.72%
1992 28,190 41.24% 21,605 31.61% 18,564 27.16%
1988 32,402 59.36% 21,171 38.79% 1,012 1.85%
1984 33,041 62.19% 19,298 36.32% 788 1.48%
1980 27,547 58.09% 15,364 32.40% 4,507 9.50%
1976 17,273 45.63% 19,200 50.72% 1,381 3.65%
1972 16,618 46.68% 17,214 48.35% 1,771 4.97%
1968 11,821 40.44% 14,510 49.64% 2,899 9.92%
1964 9,178 32.37% 19,142 67.52% 30 0.11%
1960 9,462 38.94% 14,691 60.45% 148 0.61%
1956 8,833 43.84% 11,239 55.78% 77 0.38%
1952 10,073 56.43% 7,656 42.89% 122 0.68%
1948 5,010 39.69% 7,177 56.86% 436 3.45%
1944 4,023 40.87% 5,798 58.90% 22 0.22%
1940 3,909 30.70% 8,662 68.03% 162 1.27%
1936 2,159 28.75% 5,236 69.72% 115 1.53%
1932 1,382 23.90% 4,170 72.12% 230 3.98%
1928 2,301 52.20% 2,025 45.94% 82 1.86%
1924 1,951 41.95% 598 12.86% 2,102 45.19%
1920 2,108 62.07% 1,028 30.27% 260 7.66%
1916 2,008 37.20% 2,828 52.39% 562 10.41%
1912 16 0.34% 2,040 43.55% 2,628 56.11%
1908 1,891 47.61% 1,389 34.97% 692 17.42%
1904 1,891 55.10% 935 27.24% 606 17.66%
1900 1,681 44.70% 1,948 51.79% 132 3.51%
1896 1,210 37.55% 1,936 60.09% 76 2.36%
1892 1,234 42.77% 1,137 39.41% 514 17.82%
1888 1,490 50.70% 1,394 47.43% 55 1.87%
1884 1,173 51.54% 1,042 45.78% 61 2.68%
1880 868 49.46% 877 49.97% 10 0.57%

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

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

Amtrak's Coast Starlight serves Redding Station once a day in each direction.

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.

Law enforcement

The Shasta County sheriff provides prison administration and coroner services for the entire county, and patrol, investigative, and coroner services for the unincorporated portions of the county.

Redding and Anderson have municipal police departments.

Crime

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

Education

School districts include:[48]

Unified:

Secondary:

Elementary:

High schools and below
  • 43 elementary schools
  • 10 junior high schools
  • 8 high schools
  • 35 private schools

Colleges and universities

Shasta County has four colleges and universities:

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

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Shasta County. † county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Redding City 93,611
2 Anderson City 11,323
3 Shasta Lake City 10,371
4 Cottonwood CDP 6,268
5 Happy Valley CDP 4,949
6 Bella Vista CDP 3,641
7 Burney CDP 3,000
8 Palo Cedro CDP 2,931
9 Shingletown CDP 2,442
10 Jones Valley CDP 1,160
11 Shasta CDP 1,043
12 Mountain Gate CDP 815
13 Millville CDP 724
14 Johnson Park CDP 686
15 Fall River Mills CDP 616
16 Lakehead CDP 469
17 French Gulch CDP 373
18 McArthur CDP 334
19 Whitmore CDP 311
20 Hat Creek CDP 266
21 Castella CDP 214
22 Cassel CDP 207
23 Keswick CDP 188
24 Montgomery Creek CDP 176
25 Round Mountain CDP 160
26 Oak Run CDP 158
27 Igo CDP 103
28 Ono CDP 93
29 Big Bend CDP 79
30 Old Station CDP 64
31 Redding Rancheria[49] AIAN 40
32 Montgomery Creek Rancheria[50] AIAN 33
33 Roaring Creek Rancheria[51] AIAN 19
34 Platina CDP 13
33 Big Bend Rancheria[52] AIAN 5

See also

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

References
  1. "Shasta County Board of Supervisors - District 4 - Supervisor Patrick Henry Jones". www.shastacounty.gov.
  2. "Shasta County Board of Supervisors - District 2 - Supervisor Tim Garman". www.shastacounty.gov.
  3. "Shasta County Board of Supervisors". www.shastacounty.gov.
  4. Mangas, Ashley Gardner, Mike (May 19, 2022). "Shasta County CEO Matt Pontes to resign". KRCR. Retrieved June 29, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. Clarke, Chris (September 26, 2016). "Untold History: The Survival of California's Indians". KCET.
  7. Benda, David (June 23, 2021). "Shasta County panel considers big Fountain Wind farm project at Tuesday hearing". Redding Record Searchlight. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  8. "Home". Fountain Wind Project. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  9. Benda, David (October 27, 2021). "Controversial wind farm rejected after Shasta supervisors back commission, cite fire risks". Redding Record Searchlight. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  10. Bends, David (September 19, 2023). "Shasta County's opposition to a revived Fountain Wind project gets a new ally". Redding Record Searchlight. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. Mary C. Brinton, Victor Nee and Robert K. Merton (2001) The New Institutionalism in Sociology, Stanford University Press ISBN 0-8047-4276-6, 352 pages
  13. Forest Survey Release (1952) By California Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, California, no. 13-3
  14. George Bishop Sudworth (1908) Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, United States Forest Service, published by the United States G.P.O., Washington DC
  15. C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Aesculus californica, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg "California Buckeye (Aesculus californica ) - photo/Images/Information - GlobalTwitcher.com". Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  21. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  22. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  23. Data unavailable
  24. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  25. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  26. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  27. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  28. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  29. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 1, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  30. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  31. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  32. "Communities of Interest - Counties". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  33. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  34. Hubler, Shawn (September 16, 2022). "The California County Where MAGA Took Control". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  35. Anguiano, Dani (July 23, 2022). "Inside the remote California county where the far right took over: 'Civility went out the window'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  36. Chabria, Anita (February 4, 2022). "Column: Extremists are set to take over this California county. Will more of the state be next?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  37. Battaglia, Roman (March 10, 2023). "A California county has dumped Dominion, leaving its election operations up in the air". NPR News.
  38. Garrison, Jessica (March 2, 2023). "With unfounded fraud claims swirling, red California county dumps Dominion voting machines". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  39. Birkeland, Bente (April 14, 2023). "Dominion says election disinformation spread by Fox News will cost it $1.6 billion — but can it prove that?". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  40. Mangas, Mike; Robinson, Adam (March 17, 2023). "Northern California supervisor returns home after meeting with Mike Lindell". KRCR. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  41. Thompson, Stuart A. (April 6, 2023). "Attacks on Dominion Voting Persist Despite High-Profile Lawsuits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  42. Ting, Eric (March 29, 2023). "Shasta County's quest to replace Dominion turns 'very dark'". SFGATE. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. Battaglia, Roman (April 6, 2023). "Shasta finally picks voting system, rescinds CEO job offer". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  44. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  45. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  46. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  47. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  48. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Shasta County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text
  49. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  50. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  51. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
  52. Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census". www.census.gov.
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