Beckwourth, California

Beckwourth (formerly, Beckwith[3] and Beekwith[4]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States.[5] Beckwourth is located on the Middle Fork Feather River 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Portola.[2][3] The population was 432 at the 2010 census, up from 342 at the 2000 census.

Beckwourth
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Beckwourth is located in the United States
Beckwourth
Beckwourth
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°49′39″N 120°24′13″W / 39.82750°N 120.40361°W / 39.82750; -120.40361
Country United States
State California
CountyPlumas
Area
 • Total
11.69 sq mi (30.27 km2)
 • Land11.68 sq mi (30.26 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0.04%
Elevation4,911 ft (1,497 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
478
 • Density40.91/sq mi (15.80/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
96129
Area code530
FIPS code06-04772
GNIS feature IDs1658022; 2407819
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beckwourth, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beckwourth, California

Name

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The community was named for James P. Beckwourth, an explorer who discovered Beckwourth Pass in 1851.[6]

History

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The Beckwith post office opened in 1870 and changed its name to Beckwourth in 1932.[3]

Geography

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Beckwourth is located at 39°49′39″N 120°24′13″W / 39.82750°N 120.40361°W / 39.82750; -120.40361 (39.827528, -120.403710).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30 km2), 99.96% of it land and 0.04% of it water.

Nervino Airport (FAA identifier: O02 or oscar-zero-two) is plotted three quarters of a mile east of Beckwourth along State Route 70 on the Reconnaissance Peak, California 7.5 minute quadrangle. It has a 4,600-foot (1,400 m) runway and is located at 39°49′05″N 120°21′20″W / 39.81806°N 120.35556°W / 39.81806; -120.35556.[8] The US Geological Survey says variant names for the airport are Beckwourth Airport and Plumas County Airport.[9]

State facilities in the town include a State of California, Department of Water Resources maintenance yard and a Caltrans Maintenance Station. These appear to be colocated (at the same site).

Climate

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This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beckwourth has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[10]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2020478
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–1870[12][13] 1880-1890[14]
1900[15] 1910[16] 1920[17]
1930[18] 1940[19] 1950[20]
1960[21] 1970[22] 1980[23]
1990[24] 2000[25] 2010[26]

2010

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The 2010 United States Census[27] reported that Beckwourth had a population of 432. The population density was 37.0 inhabitants per square mile (14.3/km2). The racial makeup of Beckwourth was 402 (93.1%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 11 (2.5%) Native American, 2 (0.5%) Asian, 1 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 7 (1.6%) from other races, and 9 (2.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29 persons (6.7%).

The Census reported that 432 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 196 households, out of which 41 (20.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 111 (56.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 9 (4.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 11 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 8 (4.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 53 households (27.0%) were made up of individuals, and 15 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20. There were 131 families (66.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.64.

The population was spread out, with 71 people (16.4%) under the age of 18, 14 people (3.2%) aged 18 to 24, 72 people (16.7%) aged 25 to 44, 177 people (41.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 98 people (22.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.5 males.

There were 342 housing units at an average density of 29.3 per square mile (11.3/km2), of which 169 (86.2%) were owner-occupied, and 27 (13.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 8.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 363 people (84.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 69 people (16.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

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As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 342 people, 147 households, and 108 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 29.3 inhabitants per square mile (11.3/km2). There were 225 housing units at an average density of 19.3 per square mile (7.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.86% White, 2.05% Native American, 0.88% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 147 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,813, and the median income for a family was $52,031. Males had a median income of $49,219 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,928. None of the families and 2.8% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 4.8% of those over 64.

Politics

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In the state legislature Beckwourth is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle,[29] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle.[30]

Federally, Beckwourth is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.[31]

See also

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Notable people

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  • Jim Beckwourth, mountain man, fur trader, and explorer
  • Alice Marble, a World Number One American tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam championships

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beckwourth, California
  3. ^ a b c Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 355. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  4. ^ The Great Register of Plumas County, California - 1894 (Collection no. 4-2A, CSL Film Roll 34 ed.). Sacramento, CA: California State Library, California History Section. 1898.
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beckwourth, California
  6. ^ Brown, Thomas P. (May 30, 1940). "Over the Sierra". Indian Valley Record. p. 3. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ US Geological Survey, Reconnaissance Peak, California, 7.5 minute quadrangle, 1994.
  9. ^ US Geological Survey, National Geographic Names Database.
  10. ^ Climate Summary for Beckwourth, California
  11. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Beckwourth CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  29. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  30. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  31. ^ "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
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