Lake County, California | |
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County of Lake | |
![]() Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in Lake County | |
![]() Interactive map of Lake County | |
![]() Location in the state of California | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
Incorporated | May 20, 1861 [1] |
Named for | Clear Lake |
County seat | Lakeport |
Largest city | Clearlake |
Government | |
• Type | Council–CAO |
• Body | Board of Supervisors |
• Chair | Jessica Pyska |
• Vice Chair | Moke Simon |
• Board of Supervisors [2] | Supervisors
|
• County Administrative Officer | Susan R Parker |
Area | |
• Total | 1,329 sq mi (3,440 km2) |
• Land | 1,256 sq mi (3,250 km2) |
• Water | 73 sq mi (190 km2) |
Highest elevation | 7,059 ft (2,152 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 68,163 |
• Density | 54/sq mi (21/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Standard Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
Area code | 707 |
FIPS code | 06-033 |
GNIS feature ID | 277281 |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | https://www.lakecountyca.gov/ |
Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,163. [4] The county seat is Lakeport. [5] The county takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest non-extinct natural lake wholly within California. [6] (Lake Tahoe is partially in Nevada; the Salton Sea was formed by flooding; Tulare Lake was drained by the agricultural industry.)
Lake County forms the Clearlake, California micropolitan statistical area. [7] It is directly north of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Lake County is part of California's Wine Country, which also includes Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties. It includes nine American Viticultural Areas [8] and around 20 bonded wineries.
Lake County has been inhabited by Pomo Native Americans for over ten thousand years. Pomos had been fishermen and hunters, known especially for their intricate basketry made from lakeshore tules and other native plants and feathers. Pomo people continue to live in Lake County. [9]
The area had European American settlers since at least the 1840s. Lake County was created in 1861 from parts of Napa and Mendocino counties. [10] The eastern boundary of Lake County, which was not clearly specified in the 1861 act, was clarified by legislative acts passed in 1864 and 1868. [11] A major effect of the 1868 act was to include in Lake County the entire watershed of North Fork Cache Creek, which had previously been claimed by Colusa County. [12]
The 1911 California Blue Book lists the major crops as Bartlett pears and beans. Other crops include grain, alfalfa, hay, prunes, peaches, apples, grapes and walnuts. Stockraising included goats, hogs, turkeys and dairying. [13]
Some vineyards were planted in the 1870s by European Americans, but the first in the state were established in the 18th century by Spanish missionaries. By the early 20th century, the area was earning a reputation for producing some of the world's greatest wines. However, in 1920, national prohibition essentially ended Lake County's wine production. With authorized cultivation limited to sacramental purposes, most of the vineyards were ripped out and replanted with walnut and pear orchards.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,329 square miles (3,440 km2), of which 1,256 square miles (3,250 km2) is land and 73 square miles (190 km2) (5.5%) is water. [14] Two main watercourses drain the county: Cache Creek, which is the outlet of Clear Lake; and Putah Creek. Both of these flow to the Sacramento River. The main streams which flow into Clear Lake are Forbes Creek, Scotts Creek, Middle Creek, and Kelsey Creek. At the extreme north of the county Lake Pillsbury and the Van Arsdale Reservoir dam the Eel River, providing water and power to Ukiah in Mendocino County.
Clear Lake is believed to be the oldest warmwater lake in North America, due to a geological fluke. The lake sits on a huge block of stone which slowly tilts in the northern direction at the same rate as the lake fills in with sediment, thus keeping the water at roughly the same depth. The geology of the county is chaotic, being based on Franciscan Assemblage hills. Numerous small faults are present in the south end of the lake as well as many old volcanoes, the largest being Cobb Mountain. The geologic history of the county shows events of great violence, such as the eruption of Mount Konocti and Mount St. Helena and the collapse of Cow Mountain, which created the hills around the county seat of Lakeport. Blue Lakes, Lake Pillsbury, and Indian Valley Reservoir are the county's other major bodies of water.
Lake County has habitats for a variety of species of concern including the uncommon herb, Legenere limosa , the rare Eryngium constancei, and the tule elk. Waterfowl, bear, and other wildlife abound in the Clear Lake basin.
Due to its surrounding hilly terrain, Lake is the only one of California's 58 counties never to have been served by a railroad line.
In 2015 President Barack Obama created the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, incorporating these and other areas.
In the late 19th century, the worldwide popularity of mineral water for the relief of myriad physical ailments resulted in the development of mineral resorts around Clear Lake. [15]
Lake County has a mediterranean climate with hot summer daytime temperatures in its lower elevations. Nighttime temperatures remain cool year-round, somewhat moderating average temperatures and relieving the summer heat.
Climate data for Clearlake, California (1981–2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) | 81 (27) | 84 (29) | 94 (34) | 101 (38) | 114 (46) | 113 (45) | 112 (44) | 111 (44) | 104 (40) | 92 (33) | 78 (26) | 114 (46) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55 (13) | 58 (14) | 62 (17) | 67 (19) | 75 (24) | 84 (29) | 92 (33) | 90 (32) | 85 (29) | 75 (24) | 62 (17) | 55 (13) | 72 (22) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32 (0) | 34 (1) | 36 (2) | 39 (4) | 45 (7) | 51 (11) | 55 (13) | 53 (12) | 49 (9) | 42 (6) | 35 (2) | 32 (0) | 42 (6) |
Record low °F (°C) | 8 (−13) | 16 (−9) | 17 (−8) | 23 (−5) | 28 (−2) | 34 (1) | 39 (4) | 40 (4) | 30 (−1) | 21 (−6) | 19 (−7) | 6 (−14) | 6 (−14) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 6.45 (164) | 5.91 (150) | 4.53 (115) | 1.73 (44) | 1.13 (29) | .22 (5.6) | .02 (0.51) | .10 (2.5) | .43 (11) | 1.44 (37) | 3.51 (89) | 5.95 (151) | 31.42 (798.61) |
Source: [19] |
Lake County has been ranked by the American Lung Association as having the cleanest air in the nation, including in 2013, 2014 and 2015. [20] Lake County has also been ranked 24 times as having the cleanest air in California. [20] Currently, the American Lung Association's website gives Lake County air a "C" grade for high ozone days and an "A" grade for particle pollution. [21]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 2,969 | — | |
1880 | 6,596 | 122.2% | |
1890 | 7,101 | 7.7% | |
1900 | 6,017 | −15.3% | |
1910 | 5,526 | −8.2% | |
1920 | 5,402 | −2.2% | |
1930 | 7,166 | 32.7% | |
1940 | 8,069 | 12.6% | |
1950 | 11,481 | 42.3% | |
1960 | 13,786 | 20.1% | |
1970 | 19,548 | 41.8% | |
1980 | 36,366 | 86.0% | |
1990 | 50,631 | 39.2% | |
2000 | 58,309 | 15.2% | |
2010 | 64,665 | 10.9% | |
2020 | 68,163 | 5.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 67,878 | [22] | −0.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census [23] 1790–1960 [24] 1900–1990 [25] 1990–2000 [26] 2010 [27] 2020 [28] |
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 [29] | Pop 2010 [27] | Pop 2020 [28] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 46,933 | 47,938 | 44,202 | 80.49% | 74.13% | 64.85% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,209 | 1,186 | 1,158 | 2.07% | 1.83% | 1.70% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,413 | 1,530 | 1,737 | 2.42% | 2.37% | 2.55% |
Asian alone (NH) | 468 | 695 | 940 | 0.80% | 1.07% | 1.38% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 82 | 97 | 89 | 0.14% | 0.15% | 0.13% |
Other Race alone (NH) | 52 | 107 | 386 | 0.09% | 0.17% | 0.57% |
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,513 | 2,024 | 4,209 | 2.59% | 3.13% | 6.17% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6,639 | 11,088 | 15,442 | 11.39% | 17.15% | 22.65% |
Total | 58,309 | 64,665 | 68,163 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Population, race, and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total population [30] | 64,392 | ||||
White [30] | 54,450 | 84.6% | |||
Black or African American [30] | 1,440 | 2.2% | |||
American Indian or Alaska Native [30] | 2,031 | 3.2% | |||
Asian [30] | 727 | 1.1% | |||
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander [30] | 154 | 0.2% | |||
Some other race [30] | 3,435 | 5.3% | |||
Two or more races [30] | 2,155 | 3.3% | |||
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) [31] | 10,784 | 16.7% | |||
Per capita income [32] | $22,238 | ||||
Median household income [33] | $39,525 | ||||
Median family income [34] | $50,278 |
Places by population and race | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type [35] | Population [30] | White [30] | Other [30] [note 1] | Asian [30] | Black or African American [30] | Native American [30] [note 2] | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) [31] |
Clearlake | City | 15,134 | 76.9% | 14.2% | 1.0% | 5.4% | 2.5% | 23.9% |
Clearlake Oaks | CDP | 1,291 | 85.8% | 2.8% | 0.0% | 5.0% | 6.4% | 0.8% |
Clearlake Riviera | CDP | 2,850 | 96.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 12.7% |
Cobb | CDP | 1,810 | 92.6% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.2% |
Hidden Valley Lake | CDP | 6,243 | 87.2% | 9.4% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 17.1% |
Kelseyville | CDP | 2,923 | 65.8% | 26.5% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 7.4% | 33.3% |
Lakeport | City | 4,799 | 86.2% | 10.9% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 9.1% |
Lower Lake | CDP | 1,308 | 71.9% | 11.7% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 15.9% | 13.3% |
Lucerne | CDP | 2,493 | 76.1% | 2.4% | 0.5% | 5.3% | 15.6% | 4.6% |
Middletown | CDP | 1,848 | 78.3% | 15.5% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 1.9% | 41.0% |
Nice | CDP | 2,289 | 95.3% | 3.4% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 0.2% | 10.2% |
North Lakeport | CDP | 3,514 | 89.8% | 6.4% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 21.7% |
Soda Bay | CDP | 874 | 94.6% | 4.3% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 17.0% |
Spring Valley | CDP | 1,120 | 97.1% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0.0% | 4.6% |
Upper Lake | CDP | 939 | 80.1% | 15.0% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 3.7% | 25.2% |
Places by population and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type [35] | Population [36] | Per capita income [32] | Median household income [33] | Median family income [34] |
Clearlake | City | 15,134 | $16,050 | $28,604 | $31,736 |
Clearlake Oaks | CDP | 1,291 | $25,110 | $29,962 | $40,393 |
Clearlake Riviera | CDP | 2,850 | $27,036 | $49,236 | $70,394 |
Cobb | CDP | 1,810 | $28,876 | $71,544 | $90,608 |
Hidden Valley Lake | CDP | 6,243 | $26,056 | $59,081 | $63,382 |
Kelseyville | CDP | 2,923 | $17,607 | $41,461 | $46,324 |
Lakeport | City | 4,799 | $28,301 | $45,302 | $61,450 |
Lower Lake | CDP | 1,308 | $17,018 | $35,809 | $49,022 |
Lucerne | CDP | 2,493 | $16,659 | $26,710 | $52,125 |
Middletown | CDP | 1,848 | $16,261 | $42,159 | $43,125 |
Nice | CDP | 2,289 | $18,303 | $29,167 | $34,701 |
North Lakeport | CDP | 3,514 | $24,118 | $37,986 | $51,474 |
Soda Bay | CDP | 874 | $26,170 | $55,096 | $61,083 |
Spring Valley | CDP | 1,120 | $19,491 | $60,370 | $60,532 |
Upper Lake | CDP | 939 | $14,312 | $28,255 | $29,792 |
The 2010 United States Census reported that Lake County had a population of 64,665. The racial makeup of Lake County was 52,033 (80.5%) White, 1,232 (1.9%) African American, 2,049 (3.2%) Native American, 724 (1.1%) Asian, 108 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 5,455 (8.4%) from other races, and 3,064 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,088 persons (17.1%). [37]
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) |
Lake County | 64,665 | 52,033 | 1,232 | 2,049 | 724 | 108 | 5,455 | 3,064 | 11,088 |
Incorporated city | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Clearlake | 15,250 | 11,262 | 614 | 400 | 161 | 27 | 1,805 | 981 | 3,248 |
Lakeport | 4,753 | 3,932 | 46 | 147 | 99 | 5 | 337 | 187 | 799 |
Census-designated place | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Clearlake Oaks | 2,359 | 2,054 | 54 | 45 | 34 | 1 | 60 | 111 | 192 |
Clearlake Riviera | 3,090 | 2,641 | 36 | 75 | 40 | 5 | 167 | 126 | 424 |
Cobb | 1,778 | 1,625 | 14 | 31 | 13 | 1 | 26 | 68 | 113 |
Hidden Valley Lake | 5,579 | 4,830 | 63 | 80 | 75 | 12 | 326 | 193 | 733 |
Kelseyville | 3,353 | 2,213 | 22 | 51 | 32 | 2 | 888 | 145 | 1,337 |
Lower Lake | 1,294 | 1,031 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 125 | 86 | 219 |
Lucerne | 3,067 | 2,581 | 60 | 105 | 26 | 9 | 94 | 192 | 367 |
Middletown | 1,323 | 985 | 5 | 28 | 18 | 0 | 225 | 62 | 413 |
Nice | 2,731 | 2,187 | 65 | 159 | 42 | 7 | 123 | 148 | 384 |
North Lakeport | 3,314 | 2,685 | 28 | 126 | 40 | 4 | 271 | 160 | 571 |
Soda Bay | 1,016 | 843 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 102 | 29 | 171 |
Spring Valley | 845 | 766 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 21 | 71 |
Upper Lake | 1,052 | 842 | 7 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 104 | 59 | 242 |
Other unincorporated areas | 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) | 13,861 | 11,556 | 167 | 727 | 106 | 31 | 778 | 496 | 1,804 |
There were a total of 34,031 homes in Lake County in 2005. This county has gone through a growth in housing units, adding a sum of 1,414 residential structures since 2001, a change of 4.3 percent. Lake County ranks 978 of 3,141, compared to change in residential structure growth in counties throughout the Unities States.
Lake County had a median home value in the year 2005 of $255,300, according to the American Community Survey. This median is less than the overall California 2005 home median value of $477,700 and greater than median home value of $167,500 for the rest of the nation in that year. In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that 14.4% of Lake County's owner-occupied dwellings are valued over a half a million dollars.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,627, and the median income for a family was $55,818. Males had a median income of $45,771 versus $44,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $43,825. About 6.9% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
Within Lake County are two incorporated cities, the county seat of Lakeport and Clearlake, the largest city, and the communities of Kelseyville, Blue Lakes, Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake Park, Cobb, Finley, Glenhaven, Hidden Valley Lake, Clearlake Riviera, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake, Lucerne, Middletown, Nice, Spring Valley, Upper Lake, Whispering Pines, and Witter Springs.
Lake County is mostly agricultural, with tourist facilities and some light industry. Major crops include pears, walnuts and, increasingly, wine grapes.
According to official estimates based on the 2000 Census, 30% of housing units in Lake County were manufactured housing units. [38] This was the highest percentage of any California county. [39]
Population and registered voters | ||
---|---|---|
Total population [30] | 64,392 | |
Registered voters [40] [note 3] | 35,132 | 54.6% |
Democratic [40] | 14,285 | 40.7% |
Republican [40] | 9,664 | 27.5% |
Democratic–Republican spread [40] | +4,621 | +13.2% |
American Independent [40] | 1,399 | 4.0% |
Green [40] | 478 | 1.4% |
Libertarian [40] | 278 | 0.8% |
Peace and Freedom [40] | 157 | 0.4% |
Americans Elect [40] | 2 | 0.0% |
Other [40] | 71 | 0.2% |
No party preference [40] | 8,798 | 25.0% |
Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population [30] | Registered voters [40] [note 3] | Democratic [40] | Republican [40] | D–R spread [40] | Other [40] | No party preference [40] |
Clearlake | 15,134 | 45.8% | 45.3% | 18.0% | +27.3% | 11.2% | 29.7% |
Lakeport | 4,799 | 56.5% | 38.2% | 32.5% | +5.7% | 9.8% | 23.1% |
In its early history, Lake County leaned Democratic in Presidential and congressional elections. It supported every Democratic presidential candidate between 1864 and 1916 except Alton B. Parker in his 1904 landslide defeat. [41] Nonetheless, between 1920 and 1984 Lake County tended towards being Republican and was won by just four Democratic nominees – Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976. Ronald Reagan in 1984 remains the last Republican to win a majority in the county, which has reverted to leaning Democratic. [41]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 13,123 | 45.27% | 14,941 | 51.55% | 922 | 3.18% |
2016 | 10,603 | 42.95% | 11,500 | 46.59% | 2,581 | 10.46% |
2012 | 9,200 | 39.33% | 13,163 | 56.27% | 1,028 | 4.39% |
2008 | 9,935 | 38.76% | 14,854 | 57.96% | 840 | 3.28% |
2004 | 11,093 | 44.88% | 13,141 | 53.16% | 485 | 1.96% |
2000 | 8,699 | 41.58% | 10,717 | 51.23% | 1,503 | 7.18% |
1996 | 7,458 | 34.96% | 10,432 | 48.90% | 3,445 | 16.15% |
1992 | 6,678 | 28.77% | 10,548 | 45.44% | 5,987 | 25.79% |
1988 | 9,366 | 48.03% | 9,828 | 50.39% | 308 | 1.58% |
1984 | 10,874 | 54.83% | 8,648 | 43.61% | 309 | 1.56% |
1980 | 8,934 | 53.64% | 5,978 | 35.90% | 1,742 | 10.46% |
1976 | 5,462 | 44.46% | 6,374 | 51.88% | 449 | 3.65% |
1972 | 6,477 | 55.12% | 4,715 | 40.13% | 558 | 4.75% |
1968 | 4,464 | 49.00% | 3,777 | 41.46% | 870 | 9.55% |
1964 | 3,616 | 43.56% | 4,680 | 56.37% | 6 | 0.07% |
1960 | 4,176 | 58.74% | 2,897 | 40.75% | 36 | 0.51% |
1956 | 4,073 | 64.84% | 2,185 | 34.78% | 24 | 0.38% |
1952 | 4,367 | 67.52% | 2,038 | 31.51% | 63 | 0.97% |
1948 | 3,054 | 57.27% | 1,999 | 37.48% | 280 | 5.25% |
1944 | 2,059 | 54.97% | 1,671 | 44.61% | 16 | 0.43% |
1940 | 2,215 | 53.36% | 1,897 | 45.70% | 39 | 0.94% |
1936 | 1,797 | 48.74% | 1,837 | 49.82% | 53 | 1.44% |
1932 | 1,301 | 34.75% | 2,344 | 62.61% | 99 | 2.64% |
1928 | 1,820 | 65.37% | 926 | 33.26% | 38 | 1.36% |
1924 | 795 | 44.94% | 261 | 14.75% | 713 | 40.31% |
1920 | 993 | 57.23% | 571 | 32.91% | 171 | 9.86% |
1916 | 791 | 35.42% | 1,164 | 52.13% | 278 | 12.45% |
1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,118 | 51.86% | 1,038 | 48.14% |
1908 | 625 | 42.84% | 628 | 43.04% | 206 | 14.12% |
1904 | 641 | 45.40% | 594 | 42.07% | 177 | 12.54% |
1900 | 584 | 41.45% | 746 | 52.95% | 79 | 5.61% |
1896 | 546 | 38.00% | 854 | 59.43% | 37 | 2.57% |
1892 | 532 | 37.15% | 644 | 44.97% | 256 | 17.88% |
Lake County is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Mike Thompson ( D – St. Helena ). [43]
In the state legislature, Lake is part of the 4th Assembly district and the 2nd Senate district.
On November 4, 2008, Lake County voted 52.6% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. [44]
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 [30] | 64,392 | |
Violent crime [45] | 277 | 4.30 |
Homicide [45] | 4 | 0.06 |
Forcible rape [45] | 42 | 0.65 |
Robbery [45] | 43 | 0.67 |
Aggravated assault [45] | 188 | 2.92 |
Property crime [45] | 1,110 | 17.24 |
Burglary [45] | 609 | 9.46 |
Larceny-theft [45] [note 4] | 911 | 14.15 |
Motor vehicle theft [45] | 221 | 3.43 |
Arson [45] | 9 | 0.14 |
Cities by population and crime rates (2017) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population [46] | Violent crimes [46] | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons | Property crimes [46] | Property crime rate per 1,000 persons | |||
Clearlake | 15,018 | 144 | 9.59 | 621 | 41.35 | |||
Lakeport | 4,775 | 28 | 5.86 | 242 | 50.68 |
The county's largest employers are the healthcare industry, Native American casinos, grocery stores, school districts, and electricity company Calpine, which operates in the Geysers geothermal field in the Mayacamas Mountains. [47]
The only significant manufacturing operations in Lake County are Stokes Ladders in Kelseyville, which builds orchard and industrial ladders, [48] and Reynolds Systems in Middletown, which specializes in detonators, igniters, precision initiating couplers, leads and boosters for the aerospace industry.
Lake County's economy is largely driven by agriculture. The main crops in 2022 were: [49] [50]
Crop | Production (tons) | Value | Bearing acres |
---|---|---|---|
Grapes (wine) | 45,637 | $84,756,086 [51] | 10,987 |
Pears | 16,371 | $16,286,443 [51] | 1,375.5 |
Walnuts | 262 | $239,959 [51] | 3,485 |
Nursery production | $624,085 | 16 | |
Vegetables (misc.) | $287,078 | 9 | |
Cannabis (mixed light) | unknown | 7.6 | |
Cannabis (outdoor) | unknown | 178 |
The first vineyards in Lake County were planted in the late 19th century, but Prohibition and its remoteness dealt a blow to the area's viticulture. A reemergence of the wine industry began in the 1970s, although most of the region's grapes are still trucked to neighboring Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties for vinification. The county saw its vineyard acreage increase from fewer than 100 acres (40 ha) in 1965 to more than 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) in 2023 [52]
The region is host to nine American Viticultural Areas, notably Guenoc Valley, High Valley and the Red Hills, and about 20 winery operations.
There are also several numbered county routes in Lake County.
Lake Transit serves all areas around Clear Lake. Local routes serve Lakeport, Clearlake and Lower Lake. Connections are also provided to St. Helena (in Napa County) and Ukiah (in Mendocino County). Some routes operate on weekdays only; no service is provided on Sundays and observed public holidays. [53] [54]
Lampson Field ( IATA : CKE, ICAO : LID, FAA LID : 1O2) is the county's public airport. A 4,000 foot (1,200 m) airstrip is located in Gravelly Valley, north of Lake Pillsbury. [55] There are also several private airstrips located throughout the county. The county was once host to the Paul Hoberg Airport in the Cobb area, which by the early 1980s was considered abandoned. [56]
In 1888 the Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railroad reached Rumsey, but the planned line to Clear Lake was never built. The Clear Lake Railroad started work on a line from Hopland to Lakeport: "In November 1911 first ground was broken for the Hopland-Clear Lake railroad to Hopland. Mrs Harriet Lee Hammond, wife of the president of the road started construction. ... There were six miles of track out of Hopland ...", but this was also abandoned. [57] [58] [59]
★ As of 2022, the U.S. Census continues to use the community's former name of Clear Lake Riviera
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lake County. [60]
†county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Clearlake | City | 15,250 |
2 | Hidden Valley Lake | CDP | 5,579 |
3 | † Lakeport | City | 4,753 |
4 | Kelseyville | CDP | 3,353 |
5 | North Lakeport | CDP | 3,314 |
6 | Clearlake Riviera | CDP | 3,090 |
7 | Lucerne | CDP | 3,067 |
8 | Nice | CDP | 2,731 |
9 | Clearlake Oaks | CDP | 2,359 |
10 | Cobb | CDP | 1,778 |
11 | Middletown | CDP | 1,323 |
12 | Lower Lake | CDP | 1,294 |
13 | Upper Lake | CDP | 1,052 |
14 | Soda Bay | CDP | 1,016 |
15 | Spring Valley | CDP | 845 |
16 | Robinson Rancheria (Pomo Indians) [61] | AIAN | 207 |
17 | Big Valley Rancheria (Pomo Indians) [62] | AIAN | 139 |
18 | Upper Lake Rancheria (Pomo Indians) [63] | AIAN | 87 |
19 | Sulphur Bank Rancheria (Pomo Indians) [64] | AIAN | 61 |
20 | Middletown Rancheria (Pomo Indians) [65] | AIAN | 56 |
Glenn County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,917. The county seat is Willows. It is located in the Sacramento Valley, in the northern part of the California Central Valley. The Grindstone Rancheria, reservation of the Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians, is located in Glenn County.
Inyo County is a county in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California, located between the Sierra Nevada and the state of Nevada. In the 2020 census, the population was 19,016. The county seat is Independence. Inyo County is on the east side of the Sierra Nevada and southeast of Yosemite National Park in Central California. It contains the Owens River Valley; it is flanked to the west by the Sierra Nevada and to the east by the White Mountains and the Inyo Mountains. With an area of 10,192 square miles (26,400 km2), Inyo is the second-largest county by area in California, after San Bernardino County. Almost half of that area is within Death Valley National Park. However, with a population density of 1.8 people per square mile, it also has the second-lowest population density in California, after Alpine County.
Mendocino County is a county located on the North Coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,601. The county seat is Ukiah.
Sutter County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,633. The county seat is Yuba City. Sutter County is included in the Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area. The county is located along the Sacramento River in the Sacramento Valley.
Trinity County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California. Trinity County is rugged, mountainous, heavily forested, and lies along the Trinity River within the Salmon, Klamath Mountains, as well as a portion of the Scott, Trinity, and North Yolla Bolly Mountains. It is also one of three counties in California with no incorporated cities.
Clearlake is a city in Lake County, California. Clearlake is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1,417 feet (432 m). As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 16,685, up from 15,250 in the 2010 census. It takes its name from Clear Lake.
Clearlake Oaks is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. It is located on the northeast of Clear Lake, 8 miles (13.8 km) northwest of the town of Clearlake, at an elevation of 1,335 feet. The population was 2,359 at the 2010 census, down from 2,402 at the 2000 census.
Kelseyville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, located six miles southeast of Lakeport, at an elevation of 1,384 feet. Its population was 3,382 according to the 2020 United States census.
Lakeport is an incorporated city and the county seat of Lake County, California. This city is 125 miles (201 km) northwest of Sacramento. Lakeport is on the western shore of Clear Lake, at an elevation of 1,355 feet (413 m). The population was 5,026 at the 2020 census, up from 4,753 at the 2010 census.
Lower Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in the southern Clear Lake region of Lake County, in northern California. Lower Lake is also an Indian rancheria of the Koi Nation people.
Upper Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. Upper Lake is located 8 miles (13 km) north of Lakeport, at an elevation of 1,345 feet (410 m). The population was 1,052 at the 2010 census, up from 989 at the 2000 census. The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake are headquartered here.
Ukiah is the county seat and largest city of Mendocino County, in the North Coast region of California. Ukiah had a population of 16,607 at the 2020 census. With its accessible location along the U.S. Route 101 corridor, Ukiah serves as the city center for Mendocino County and much of neighboring Lake County.
Area codes 707 and 369 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the northwestern part of the U.S. state of California. The area codes serve part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the North Coast. Major cities in the area codes include Napa, Sebastopol, Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Fort Bragg, Rio Vista, Crescent City, Eureka, Clearlake, Vacaville, Dixon, and Ukiah. 707 was created by a split of area code 415 on March 1, 1959. Area code 369 was added to the numbering plan area (NPA) on February 1, 2023, to form an overlay numbering plan in the service area.
State Route 175 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs through the Mayacamas Mountains, connecting U.S. Route 101 in Hopland in Mendocino County with State Route 29 in Middletown in Lake County.
Calpella is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located on the Russian River, 6 miles (10 km) north of Ukiah. It is situated within the Ukiah Valley, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101 and State Route 20. The population was 799 at the 2020 census, up from 679 in 2010. The small town is the site of the Mendocino Redwood Company mill and offices, which controls ten percent of the private land in the county.
Kelseyville Riviera is a planned community in Lake County, California. In 2021, its name was changed from Clearlake Rivera by its homeowners association. The population was 3,410 at the 2020 census.
Brooktrails is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California, United States. It shares ZIP code 95490 with Willits. The population was 3,632 at the 2020 census.
Pieta is an archaic placename, former crossroads, and former railroad depot in Mendocino County, California. It is located near the mouth of Pieta Creek 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Hopland, at an elevation of 476 feet.
The Mendocino Complex Fire was a large complex of wildfires that burned in northern California for more than three months in 2018. It consisted of two wildfires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, which burned in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, and Glenn Counties in the U.S. State of California, with the Ranch Fire being California's single-largest recorded wildfire at the time until the August Complex fire in 2020. The Ranch Fire burned eight miles northeast of Ukiah, and the River Fire burned six miles north of Hopland, to the south of the larger Ranch Fire. First reported on July 27, 2018, both fires burned a combined total of 459,123 acres (1,858 km2), before they were collectively 100% contained on September 18, though hotspots persisted until the complex was fully brought under control on January 4, 2019. The Ranch Fire alone burned 410,203 acres (1,660 km2), making it the largest wildfire in modern California history at the time until the August Complex fire that occurred in 2020. The Ranch Fire also surpassed the size of the 315,577-acre Rush Fire, which burned across California and Nevada, as well as the Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889, which was previously believed to have been California's all-time largest wildfire.
The Sanel Valley in Mendocino County, California, is a valley along the Russian River containing the town of Hopland. The river flows through the valley for approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from the northeast to the southwest, and it is met near Hopland by two tributaries, Feliz Creek on the west side of the river and McDowell Creek on the east. The valley is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) wide, and covers an area of 8.4 square miles (22 km2).
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