Del Norte County, California

Del Norte County
County
County of Del Norte
Images, from top down, left to right: Crescent City Harbor, Redwood National Park, Castle Rock, the mouth of the Smith River
Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States of America
State	California
Region	North Coast
Incorporated	March 2, 1857[1]
Named for	"Of the North" (Spanish: Del norte)
County seat	Crescent City
Largest city	Crescent City
Area
• Total	1,230 sq mi (3,200 km^2)
• Land	1,006 sq mi (2,610 km^2)
• Water	223 sq mi (580 km^2)
Highest elevation[2]	6,415 ft (1,955 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)[3]
• Total	28,610
• Estimate (2015)[3]	27,254
• Density	23/sq mi (9.0/km^2)
Time zone	Pacific Time Zone (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Area codes	707, 541
FIPS code	06-015
GNIS feature ID	1682074
Website	www.co.del-norte.ca.us

Del Norte County is a county located at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California, along the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Oregon border. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,610.^[4] The county seat and only incorporated city is Crescent City.^[5] Del Norte is the shortened Spanish nickname for "the land of the north" (la tierra del norte). Despite its Spanish etymology, official pronunciation of the name is to drop the trailing "e" and simply say "Del Nort."

Del Norte County comprises the Crescent City, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The rural county is notable for forests containing giant Coast Redwoods, with some attaining heights over 350 feet (110 m). This northernmost county on the California coast also has scores of unique plants and flowers, dozens of species of coastal birds and fish, rocky primitive beaches and sea stacks, pristine rivers, and historic lighthouses. Del Norte is also known among Bigfoot enthusiasts as the location of the famous Patterson–Gimlin film, as well as being the location of some of the forest scenes used in Return of the Jedi.

History

The area that is now known as Del Norte was and still is inhabited by the Yurok (Klamath River Indians) and Tolowa Nations of indigenous peoples. The first European American to explore this land was pioneer Jedediah Smith in the mid-19th century. He was the first European American to reach the area overland on foot in a time before the European Americans knew anything about such a distant territory. For him it was literally "Land's End" — where the American continent ended at the Pacific Ocean. In 1855 Congress authorized the building of a lighthouse at "the battery point" (a high tide island on the coast of Crescent City) which is still functioning as a historical landmark.

Del Norte County was established in 1857, from part of the territory of Klamath County following the great California Gold Rush. Klamath County itself ceased to exist in 1874.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,230 square miles (3,200 km²), of which 1,006 square miles (2,610 km²) is land and 223 square miles (580 km²) (18%) is water.^[6]

The mountainous terrain associated with the Coastal Range and the Klamath Mountains dominates Del Norte County's geography. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 6,400 feet. Although much of the county is made up of steep terrain, there are small patches of flat terrain along the coast and in isolated mountain valleys. There are 37 miles of coastline in the county, forming a coastal zone that covers approximately 51,000 acres (80 square miles). A broad coastal plain can be found in the northwest portion of the county with the western edge of the Klamath Mountains as its easterly boundary. Rising abruptly from the coastal plain, the Klamath Mountains extend north into Oregon and are situated between the Cascade Range to the east and the Coast Range to the north.^[7]

Beach

• Pelican State Beach

Recreation area

• Smith River National Recreation Area

Rivers

• Klamath - one of the longest in California.
• Smith - a crown jewel of the National Wild and Scenic River program.

Wildlife Refuge

• Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge

Parks

Marshall Pond near the Klamath River, Redwood National and State Parks.

• Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Redwood National Park
• Tolowa Dunes State Park
• Ruby Van Deventer County Park
• Florence Keller County Park

Flora and fauna

There is a diversity of flora and fauna within Del Norte County. Vegetative plant associations feature several forest types including mixed oak forest. The California endemic Blue oak, Quercus douglasii is at the northernmost part of it its range in Del Norte County.^[8] The Black Oak and Douglas-fir are also found in Del Norte County.

Demographics

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[9]	28,561
White[9]	20,804	72.8%
Black or African American[9]	937	3.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native[9]	1,571	5.5%
Asian[9]	891	3.1%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[9]	271	0.9%
Some other race[9]	2,343	8.2%
Two or more races[9]	1,744	6.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]	5,003	17.5%
Per capita income[11]	$19,247
Median household income[12]	$37,588
Median family income[13]	$52,076

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[14]	Population[9]	White[9]	Other[9] [note 1]	Asian[9]	Black or African American[9]	Native American[9] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]
Bertsch-Oceanview	CDP	2,729	77.9%	13.6%	1.1%	0.0%	7.4%	8.1%
Crescent City	City	7,673	54.0%	26.9%	3.9%	9.9%	5.3%	27.7%
Gasquet	CDP	551	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	14.3%
Hiouchi	CDP	472	91.9%	6.8%	1.3%	0.0%	0.0%	8.3%
Klamath	CDP	956	49.0%	21.8%	4.0%	0.3%	25.0%	8.3%
Smith River	CDP	649	80.4%	18.2%	1.4%	0.0%	0.0%	13.6%

Places by population and income
Place	Type[14]	Population[15]	Per capita income[11]	Median household income[12]	Median family income[13]
Bertsch-Oceanview	CDP	2,729	$19,434	$48,205	$58,727
Crescent City	City	7,673	$10,350	$30,058	$37,143
Gasquet	CDP	551	$19,286	$43,750	$55,227
Hiouchi	CDP	472	$30,285	$47,596	$66,591
Klamath	CDP	956	$16,332	$26,172	$28,864
Smith River	CDP	649	$18,120	$46,411	$57,989

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	1,993		—
1870	2,022		1.5%
1880	2,584		27.8%
1890	2,592		0.3%
1900	2,408		−7.1%
1910	2,417		0.4%
1920	2,759		14.1%
1930	4,739		71.8%
1940	4,745		0.1%
1950	8,078		70.2%
1960	17,771		120.0%
1970	14,580		−18.0%
1980	18,217		24.9%
1990	23,460		28.8%
2000	27,507		17.3%
2010	28,610		4.0%
Est. 2015	27,254		−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[16] 1790–1960[17] 1900–1990[18] 1990–2000[19] 2010–2015[4]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Del Norte County had a population of 28,610. The racial makeup of Del Norte County was 21,098 (73.7%) White, 993 (3.5%) African American, 2,244 (7.8%) Native American, 965 (3.4%) Asian, 32 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,980 (6.9%) from other races, and 1,298 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,093 persons (17.8%).^[20]

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)
Del Norte County	28,610	21,098	993	2,244	965	32	1,980	1,298	5,093
Incorporated city	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Crescent City	7,643	5,052	910	370	333	7	696	275	2,342
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)
Bertsch-Oceanview	2,436	1,810	3	294	94	0	81	154	310
Gasquet	661	585	2	27	1	1	15	30	39
Hiouchi	301	267	0	11	6	2	8	7	11
Klamath	779	379	1	325	3	0	5	66	90
Smith River	866	528	1	59	5	0	234	39	293
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)	15,924	12,477	76	1,158	523	22	941	727	2,008

2000

As of the census^[21] of 2000, there were 27,507 people, 9,170 households, and 6,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 10,434 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 6.4% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. 13.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 11.3% English, 9.1% Irish and 7.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.6% spoke English and 6.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,170 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,642, and the median income for a family was $36,056. Males had a median income of $40,072 versus $22,212 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,573. About 16.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Del Norte County is home to a satellite campus of College of the Redwoods, a two-year college based in Humboldt County.

Del Norte County has one of just five combined county office of education-unified school district learning educational agencies (LEA) in the state of California, with one elected Board of Trustees that serves both agencies, and one superintendent overseeing both the County Office of Education, and the Unified School District.

The Del Norte County Unified School District provides public education to the children of Del Norte County through the twelfth grade. The only high school in Del Norte County is Del Norte High School, whose school mascot is the Warrior. There are also five K-5 elementary schools (Bess Maxwell, Joe Hamilton, Margaret Keating, Mary Peacock, Pine Grove), three K-8 elementary schools (Mountain, Redwood, Smith River), and one middle school (Crescent Elk).

The County Office of Education provides special education services to the county, as well as alternative learning options that includes Community Day and juvenile detention. Alternative educational facilities are Bar-O Boys Camp, Del Norte Community Day, Elk Creek detention center, and Sunset Continuation High School.

Del Norte County has several private parochial schools and charter schools.

Politics

Del Norte County vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2012	53.6% 4,256	42.8% 3,396	3.6% 288
2008	52.2% 4,967	45.4% 4,323	2.4% 231
2004	56.9% 5,356	41.3% 3,892	1.8% 173
2000	54.6% 4,526	37.6% 3,117	7.9% 651
1996	41.3% 3,670	41.1% 3,652	17.6% 1,567
1992	33.0% 3,083	38.9% 3,639	28.1% 2,631
1988	49.7% 3,714	48.0% 3,587	2.2% 167
1984	58.4% 3,996	39.4% 2,696	2.2% 149
1980	57.5% 4,016	33.5% 2,338	9.1% 633
1976	45.3% 2,481	50.9% 2,789	3.8% 208
1972	51.8% 2,927	38.2% 2,156	10.0% 565
1968	46.2% 2,387	43.3% 2,236	10.6% 545
1964	36.2% 2,075	63.8% 3,652	0.0% 0
1960	48.1% 3,024	51.2% 3,225	0.7% 45
1956	53.2% 2,918	46.5% 2,552	0.3% 17
1952	63.4% 2,938	35.4% 1,640	1.1% 53
1948	54.3% 1,541	41.3% 1,172	4.5% 127
1944	55.3% 1,011	44.7% 818	0.1% 1
1940	53.6% 1,233	44.9% 1,034	1.5% 35
1936	39.2% 853	59.4% 1,292	1.3% 29
1932	30.9% 637	64.1% 1,319	5.0% 103
1928	55.9% 771	43.4% 599	1.7% 10
1924	52.6% 530	12.1% 122	35.3% 355
1920	62.6% 596	29.3% 279	8.1% 77

Del Norte County vote
by party in gubernatorial elections

Year	GOP	DEM
2014	50.6% 3,177	49.4% 3,102
2010	41.2% 3,373	50.0% 4,093
2006	54.9% 3,639	38.2% 2,531
2003	55.0% 3,522	25.5% 1,634
2002	45.8% 3,093	43.3% 2,922
1998	41.5% 3,087	51.3% 3,820
1994	61.8% 4,626	31.7% 2,372
1990	53.2% 3,615	40.0% 2,717
1986	65.8% 4,213	31.6% 2,026
1982	51.3% 3,355	44.9% 2,934
1978	49.9% 2,933	41.7% 2,451
1974	46.1% 1,921	51.6% 2,149
1970	57.1% 2,755	41.0% 1,977
1966	64.0% 3,409	36.0% 1,918
1962	45.9% 2,418	52.0% 2,741

Del Norte is traditionally a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections (the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976). The county has almost an even split in Democratic and Republican voter registration. As of May 2008, approximately 67% of eligible voters are registered to vote in Del Norte County, with approximately 38% registered as Democrats and approximately 38% registered as Republicans, with the State of California reporting 32 more Republicans than Democrats on April 7, 2010. Third party affiliation accounts for approximately 6% of all registered voters in the county.^[22]

Del Norte County is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.^[23]

In the State Assembly, Del Norte County is in the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jim Wood.^[24] In the State Senate, the county is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen.^[25]

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[9]	28,561
Registered voters[26][note 3]	12,239	42.9%
Democratic[26]	4,252	34.7%
Republican[26]	4,595	37.5%
Democratic–Republican spread[26]	-343	-2.8%
Independent[26]	541	4.4%
Green[26]	100	0.8%
Libertarian[26]	90	0.7%
Peace and Freedom[26]	49	0.4%
Americans Elect[26]	0	0.0%
Other[26]	150	1.2%
No party preference[26]	2,462	20.1%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population[9]	Registered voters[26] [note 3]	Democratic[26]	Republican[26]	D–R spread[26]	Other[26]	No party preference[26]
Crescent City	7,673	22.3%	35.5%	29.4%	+6.1%	15.3%	25.5%

Crime

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

Population and crime rates
Population[9]	28,561
Violent crime[27]	108	3.78
Homicide[27]	1	0.04
Forcible rape[27]	22	0.77
Robbery[27]	11	0.39
Aggravated assault[27]	74	2.59
Property crime[27]	398	13.94
Burglary[27]	230	8.05
Larceny-theft[27][note 4]	340	11.90
Motor vehicle theft[27]	73	2.56
Arson[27]	5	0.18

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population[28]	Violent crimes[28]	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes[28]	Property crime rate per 1,000 persons
Crescent City	7,723	51	6.60	215	27.84

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Route 101
• U.S. Route 199
• State Route 169
• State Route 197

Public transportation

Local public transit is provided by Redwood Coast Transit, which provides access to Amtrak passenger train (via Amtrak bus) service.

Airports

SkyWest Airlines conducts passenger flights to and from Jack McNamara Field Airport. The majority of flights connect to San Francisco International Airport through Arcata-Eureka Airport and vice versa, although a connection is also available to Sacramento.^[29]

Harbor

The Crescent City Harbor serves as a commercial fishing port for salmon, shrimp, tuna, cod, and dungeness crab commercial fishing boats. Nearly 50% of all dungeness crab served in California restaurants is off-loaded in this harbor. The harbor is also home to multiple fishing and non-fishing related businesses and harbor governmental offices. The harbor also has several pleasure boat docks.

Communities

Crescent City is the county seat of and only incorporated city in Del Norte County. Its population count includes the inmates of Pelican Bay State Prison located ten miles north of the city.

Unincorporated communities

• Bertsch-Oceanview
• Crescent City North
• Fort Dick
• Gasquet
• Hiouchi
• Klamath
• Patrick Creek
• Douglas Park
• Darlingtonia
• Smith River

See also

U.S. Route 199 in California, the Redwood Highway, at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County, near Crescent City, California.

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

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.

References

1. "Del Norte County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
2. "Bear Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
3. "American Fact Finder - Results". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
7. "Del Norte Fire Safe Plan" (PDF). Retrieved October 28, 2011.
8. C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Blue Oak: Quercus douglasii, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
9. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
12. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. American FactFinder. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
20. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
21. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
22. http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_primary_june/02_county_reg_totals_051908.pdf
23. "California's 2nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
24. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
25. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
26. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
27. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
28. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
29. "New airline flies as runway project takes off". The Curry Coastal Pilot. January 2, 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.

External links

• Official website
• Del Norte County Tourism and Travel website
• Chamber of Commerce website
• "DNCWOW.COM" Wiki-website devoted to Del Norte County
• Del Norte Historical Society

Coordinates: 41°44′N 123°58′W / 41.74°N 123.96°W