Penn Valley, California

Penn Valley
Census-designated place
Western Gateway Park
Location in Nevada County and the state of California
Penn Valley Location in California Show map of California Penn Valley Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 39°11′54″N121°11′20″W / 39.19833°N 121.18889°W / 39.19833; -121.18889
Country	United States
State	California
County	Nevada
Area [1]
• Total	2.121 sq mi (5.495 km2)
• Land	2.121 sq mi (5.495 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	1,401 ft (427 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	1,593
• Density	750/sq mi (290/km2)
Demonym	Penn Valleyian [3]
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95946
Area code	530
FIPS code	06-56518
GNIS feature ID	1867050

Penn Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nevada County, California. The population was 1,593 at the 2020 census, down from 1,621 at the 2010 census. The large Lake Wildwood master-planned community, although a separate CDP, has a Penn Valley postal address, and is sometimes considered part of the general Penn Valley community.

History

The community may be named for Madame Penn, the original owner of the town site. ^[4]

Geography

Penn Valley is located at 39°11′54″N121°11′20″W / 39.19833°N 121.18889°W / 39.19833; -121.18889 (39.198214, -121.188965). ^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Western Gateway Park

Ready Springs School

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	1,032		—
1990	1,242		20.3%
2000	1,387		11.7%
2010	1,621		16.9%
2020	1,593		−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1860–1870 [7] [8] 1880-1890 [9] 1900 [10] 1910 [11] 1920 [12] 1930 [13] 1940 [14] 1950 [15] 1960 [16] 1970 [17] 1980 [18] 1990 [19] 2000 [20] 2010 [21]

Penn Valley first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census. ^[18]

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Penn Valley had a population of 1,593. The population density was 751.1 inhabitants per square mile (290.0/km²). The racial makeup of Penn Valley was 1,295 (81.3%) White, 12 (0.8%) African American, 15 (0.9%) Native American, 9 (0.6%) Asian, 6 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 48 (3.0%) from other races, and 208 (13.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 172 persons (10.8%). ^[22]

The census reported that 1,574 people (98.8% of the population) lived in households, 19 (1.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. ^[22]

There were 624 households, out of which 173 (27.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 311 (49.8%) were married-couple households, 44 (7.1%) were cohabiting couple households, 155 (24.8%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 114 (18.3%) had a male householder with no partner present. 166 households (26.6%) were one person, and 89 (14.3%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52. ^[22] There were 419 families (67.1% of all households). ^[23]

The age distribution was 317 people (19.9%) under the age of 18, 104 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 352 people (22.1%) aged 25 to 44, 445 people (27.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 375 people (23.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. ^[22]

There were 665 housing units at an average density of 313.5 units per square mile (121.0 units/km²), of which 624 (93.8%) were occupied. Of these, 489 (78.4%) were owner-occupied, and 135 (21.6%) were occupied by renters. ^[22]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $62,966, and the per capita income was $41,127. About 2.4% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line. ^[24]

2010

The 2010 United States Census ^[25] reported that Penn Valley had a population of 1,621. The population density was 764.1 inhabitants per square mile (295.0/km²). The racial makeup of Penn Valley was 1,434 (88.5%) White, 9 (0.6%) African American, 34 (2.1%) Native American, 23 (1.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 31 (1.9%) from other races, and 90 (5.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 143 persons (8.8%).

The Census reported that 1,611 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 10 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 628 households, out of which 195 (31.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 301 (47.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 91 (14.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 41 (6.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 36 (5.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 163 households (26.0%) were made up of individuals, and 74 (11.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57. There were 433 families (68.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.02.

The population was spread out, with 363 people (22.4%) under the age of 18, 136 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 321 people (19.8%) aged 25 to 44, 506 people (31.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 295 people (18.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

There were 666 housing units at an average density of 313.9 per square mile (121.2/km²), of which 485 (77.2%) were owner-occupied, and 143 (22.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. 1,186 people (73.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 425 people (26.2%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics

In the state legislature, Penn Valley is in the 1st senatorial district , represented by Republican Megan Dahle, ^[26] and the 1st Assembly district , represented by Republican Heather Hadwick. ^[27]

Federally, Penn Valley is in California's 1st congressional district , represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa. ^[28]

Recreation

• Lake Wildwood
• Englebright Lake
• Yuba River
• Bridgeport Covered Bridge

Tourism

Penn Valley hosts a rodeo event each year in late Spring and has attracted as many as 5,000 spectators during one of its events. ^[29] The Penn Valley Rodeo is organized by Penn Valley Community Rodeo Association since 2005. ^[30]

In the 1950s, the Penn Valley Fire Dept. needed funds. George Alan Smith, a local cowboy and heavy equipment operator, came up with the idea of holding a rodeo. George enlisted the help of friends and relatives on weekends, evenings, and holidays to set posts, build fence and chutes, and put up bleachers. The first rodeo was a success, and it took on a life of its own. The local Fire Department and residents volunteered their time and efforts to help put on the annual event. The Penn Valley Rodeo quickly became "the summer event" for people from all over California to attend. ^[31]

Notable residents

• Chuck Yeager, retired General in the United States Air Force and first man to break the sound barrier.
• Tanner Vallejo, NFL football player.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
2. "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
3. "Pegars Y".
4. "Earliest settlement". Penn Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
7. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
8. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
9. "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
10. "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
11. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
12. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
13. "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
14. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
15. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
16. "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
17. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
18. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
19. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
20. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
21. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
22. "Penn Valley CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
23. "Penn Valley CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
24. "Penn Valley CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
25. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Penn Valley CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
26. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
27. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
28. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
29. "Penn Valley Community Rodeo -". National Geographic Society.
30. "Penn Valley Rodeo Homepage -". Penn Valley Community Rodeo Association.
31. Jennifer Smith Mitchell, daughter of George Alan Smith