Lake Wildwood, California

Last updated

Lake Wildwood
LakeWildwoodCalifornia.jpg
Lake Wildwood
Nevada County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lake Wildwood Highlighted.svg
Location in Nevada County and the state of California
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Red pog.svg
Lake Wildwood
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°14′6″N121°12′11″W / 39.23500°N 121.20306°W / 39.23500; -121.20306
Country Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of California.svg California
County Nevada
Area
[1]
  Total
3.511 sq mi (9.093 km2)
  Land3.058 sq mi (7.920 km2)
  Water0.453 sq mi (1.172 km2)  12.89%
Elevation
1,529 ft (466 m)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total
5,158
  Density1,500/sq mi (570/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95946
Area codes 530, 837
FIPS code 06-39885
GNIS feature ID1682906

Lake Wildwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 5,158 at the 2020 census, up from 4,991 at the 2010 census. [3]

Contents

Lake Wildwood is mainly a gated community and news about the CDP is published in a twice a month newspaper, The Wildwood Independent. Local businesses and residences are listed in the annual "Penn Valley Area Directory" published by "Pine Tree Press".

History

Lake Wildwood was laid out by property developers in the 1960s. [4]

In September 1988, the 49er Fire was accidentally started by a homeless and schizophrenic local man near Highway 49. The fire went on to burn well over a hundred homes and more than 33,000 acres in Nevada County, including many homes in the Lake Wildwood area. [5]

Geography

Lake Wildwood is located at 39°14′6″N121°12′11″W / 39.23500°N 121.20306°W / 39.23500; -121.20306 (39.234885, -121.203026). [6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), of which 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (12.89%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2000 4,868
2010 4,9912.5%
2020 5,1583.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1860–1870 [8] [9] 1880-1890 [10]
1900 [11] 1910 [12] 1920 [13]
1930 [14] 1940 [15] 1950 [16]
1960 [17] 1970 [18] 1980 [19]
1990 [20] 2000 [21] 2010 [22]

Lake Wildwood first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census. [21]

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Lake Wildwood had a population of 5,158. The population density was 1,686.7 inhabitants per square mile (651.2/km2). The racial makeup of Lake Wildwood was 85.8% White, 0.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races, and 9.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population. [23]

The census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households, 12 people (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. [23]

There were 2,274 households, out of which 17.3% included children under the age of 18, 61.0% were married-couple households, 5.1% were cohabiting couple households, 22.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 11.7% had a male householder with no partner present. 23.7% of households were one person, and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26. [23] There were 1,604 families (70.5% of all households). [24]

The age distribution was 14.9% under the age of 18, 4.5% aged 18 to 24, 15.3% aged 25 to 44, 23.0% aged 45 to 64, and 42.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. [23]

There were 2,657 housing units at an average density of 868.9 units per square mile (335.5 units/km2), of which 2,274 (85.6%) were occupied. Of these, 84.6% were owner-occupied, and 15.4% were occupied by renters. [23]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $87,552, and the per capita income was $42,709. About 6.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line. [25]

2010

The 2010 United States Census [26] reported that Lake Wildwood had a population of 4,991. The population density was 1,421.3 inhabitants per square mile (548.8/km2). The racial makeup of Lake Wildwood was 4,726 (94.7%) White, 17 (0.3%) African American, 46 (0.9%) Native American, 56 (1.1%) Asian, 10 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 32 (0.6%) from other races, and 104 (2.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 272 persons (5.4%).

The Census reported that 4,988 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 3 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,225 households, out of which 462 (20.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,463 (65.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 125 (5.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 57 (2.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 64 (2.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 15 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 496 households (22.3%) were made up of individuals, and 334 (15.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24. There were 1,645 families (73.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.58.

The population was spread out, with 843 people (16.9%) under the age of 18, 204 people (4.1%) aged 18 to 24, 689 people (13.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,412 people (28.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,843 people (36.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

There were 2,641 housing units at an average density of 752.1 per square mile (290.4/km2), of which 1,856 (83.4%) were owner-occupied, and 369 (16.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%. 3,937 people (78.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,051 people (21.1%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics

In the state legislature Lake Wildwood is located in the 1st senatorial district , represented by Republican Megan Dahle, [27] and the 1st Assembly district , represented by Republican Heather Hadwick. [28]

Federally, Lake Wildwood is in California's 1st congressional district , represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa. [29]

Lake Wildwood is represented on the Nevada County Board of Supervisors by Republican Hank Weston, a retired fire chief.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  2. "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. "QuickFacts: Lake Wildwood CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  4. "Urban refugees, country-seekers flock to Nevada County developments for 'good life'". The Union. July 26, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  5. Kellar, Liz (September 11, 2018). "Nevada County's 49er Fire proved a harbinger of fire seasons to come". The Union. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
  8. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  9. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  10. "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  11. "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  12. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  13. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  14. "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  15. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  16. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  17. "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  18. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  19. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  20. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  21. 1 2 "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  22. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lake Wildwood CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  24. "Lake Wildwood CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  25. "Lake Wildwood CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  26. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Lake Wildwood CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  27. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  28. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  29. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2013.