Plumas County, California

Plumas County, California
County
County of Plumas
Images, from top down, left to right: Lake Almanor, Beckwourth Pass, Trains at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Seal
Interactive map of Plumas County
Location in the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sierra Nevada
Incorporated	1854
Named for	Spanish words for the Feather River (Río de las Plumas)
County seat	Quincy
Largest community	East Quincy
Government
• Type	Council–Administrator
• Chair	Kevin Goss
• Vice Chair	Dwight Ceresola
• Board of Supervisors [1]	Supervisors Dwight Ceresola Kevin Goss Sharon Thrall Greg Hagwood Jeff Engel
• County Administrator	Vacant [2]
Area
• Total	2,613 sq mi (6,770 km2)
• Land	2,553 sq mi (6,610 km2)
• Water	60 sq mi (200 km2)
Population  (April 1, 2020) [3]
• Total	19,790
• Density	7.6/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Website	www.countyofplumas.com

Plumas County ( /ˈpluːməs/ ( listen )) is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,790. ^[3] The county seat is Quincy, ^[4] and the only incorporated city is Portola. The largest community in the county is East Quincy. The county was named for the Spanish Río de las Plumas (the Feather River), which flows through it.

History

Before the California Gold Rush of 1849, the indigenous Mountain Maidu were the primary inhabitants of the area now known as Plumas County. The Maidu lived in small settlements along the edges of valleys, subsisting on roots, acorns, grasses, seeds, and occasionally fish and big game. They were decentralized and had no tribal leadership; most bands lived along waterways in and around their own valleys. Areas with high snowfall, including the Mohawk and Sierra valleys, were hunting grounds for game in the warmer months. ^{[5] [6]}

In 1848, European Americans discovered gold in the Sierra foothills. Miners were attracted to Plumas County in particular, largely due to the tales of Thomas Stoddard, who claimed to have discovered a lake lined with gold nuggets while lost in the wilderness. Gold-hungry prospectors flooded the area. Though hopeful miners scoured the glacial lakes (now designated as the Lakes Basin Recreation Area) for months, they did not find the purported lake of gold. But some had success panning for gold in the rivers and creeks in the area, and created squatters' villages, the first non-Native American settlements. ^[7]

Rough shanty towns quickly sprang up around successful mining areas, including Rich Bar, Indian Bar, and Rabbit Creek (now La Porte). Many were developed adjacent to the Feather River, named Río de las Plumas by Spanish explorer Captain Luis Arguello in 1820.

In 1850, African-American frontiersman James Beckwourth discovered the lowest pass through the Sierras, which became known as Beckwourth Pass. Using the pass, he blazed a trail from Western Nevada through much of Plumas County, eventually terminating in the Sacramento Valley. ^[8] Many erstwhile miners followed this trail into Plumas County. Beckwourth also set up a trading post in the western Sierra Valley that still stands today. Though the Beckwourth Trail was longer than the original emigrant trail that ran south of Plumas County, its lower elevations extended its seasonal use when the higher trail was snowbound and impassable. Between 1851 and 1854, the Beckwourth Trail was frequently traveled, but in 1854, use dropped sharply when it became a toll road. The toll to move a ton of freight from Bidwell Bar to Quincy was about $18. This made using the Beckwourth Road an expensive enterprise and use of the Beckwourth Trail declined. ^[9]

Plumas County was formed in 1854 during a meeting of three commissioners at the American Ranch in Quincy. It was carved from the eastern portion of Butte County. Quincy, originally a mining town, was chosen as the county seat after an early settler donated a plot of land there to establish the seat. Once it became the seat, nearby Elizabethtown faded and ultimately became defunct. In 1864, the state legislature took a large portion of Plumas County to organize Lassen County because of increasing population. Shortly afterward, Plumas County annexed part of Sierra County, including the prosperous mining town of La Porte.

Over the next decades, different industries drove the growth of the various settlements that sprung up around the county. Greenville began as a mining and farming community in Indian Valley in the late 1850s. Chester was formed near the area that is now Lake Almanor, as a result of cattle ranching and the timber industry.

When the Western Pacific Railroad was constructed in 1910, Portola developed as an important railroad stop. Thanks to the railroad, Plumas County could export its lumber beyond the local area, and the timber industry became dominant in the county's economy for decades. As the railroad route extended up the Feather River Canyon, it was also used by the area's first tourists and sightseers. When the Feather River Highway was completed in 1937 with federal investment in infrastructure by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, Plumas County became linked to the Sacramento Valley year-round thanks to the route's low elevation. ^[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 2,613 square miles (6,770 km²), of which 2,553 square miles (6,610 km²) is land and 60 square miles (160 km²) (2.3%) is water. ^[10]

Plumas County is in the far northern end of the Sierra Nevada range. The area's rugged terrain marks the transition point between the northern Sierra Nevada and the southern end of the Cascade Range. ^[11] Lassen Peak, the southernmost volcanic peak in the Cascade Range, is just north of Plumas County's border, and part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the county's northwest corner.

Plumas National Forest's 1,200,000 acres (4,900 km²) offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The area has more than 100 natural and artificial lakes. Many of the natural lakes are glacial in origin and can be found in and around Lakes Basin Recreation Area. ^[12] The artificial lakes include Lake Almanor, Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Antelope Lake, and Buck's Lake. Plumas County also has more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of rivers and streams. ^[13] All three forks of the Feather River run through the area.

Designated areas

• Butterfly Valley Botanical Area
• Elephants Playground
• Happy Valley
• Little Last Chance Canyon Special Interest Area
• North Valley
• Valley Creek Special Interest Area

Water areas

Antelope Lake Belden Forebay Bucks Lake Butt Valley Reservoir Doyle Reservoir Eureka Lake Faggs Debris Dam Faggs Reservoir Fowler Lake

Frenchman Lake Grizzly Forebay Grizzly Ice Pond Juniper Lake Lake Almanor Lake Davis Little Grass Valley Reservoir Lower Bucks Lake Murphy Lake

Onion Valley Reservoir Rock Creek Reservoir Round Valley Reservoir Silver Lake Slate Creek Reservoir Smith Lake Three Lakes Walker Mine Tailings Reservoir

Adjacent counties

• Sierra County - south
• Yuba County - southwest
• Butte County - west
• Tehama County - northwest
• Shasta County - northwest
• Lassen County - northeast

National protected areas

• Lassen National Forest (part)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park (part)
• Plumas National Forest (part)
• Tahoe National Forest (part)

Demographics

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population [14]	20,192
White [14]	18,467	91.5%
Black or African American [14]	274	1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native [14]	559	2.8%
Asian [14]	208	1.0%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander [14]	18	0.1%
Some other race [14]	180	0.9%
Two or more races [14]	486	2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) [15]	1,617	8.0%
Per capita income [16]	$28,104
Median household income [17]	$44,151
Median family income [18]	$53,128

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type [19]	Population [14]	White [14]	Other [14] [note 1]	Asian [14]	Black or African American [14]	Native American [14] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race) [15]
Almanor	CDP	0	95.83%	1.19%	0.0%	0.0%	0.89%	5.65%
Beckwourth	CDP	414	93.86%	1.75%	0.0%	0.0%	2.05%	2.92%
Belden	CDP	0	55.4%	0.0%	44.6%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Blairsden	CDP	18	53.1%	46.9%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	4.00%
Bucks Lake	CDP	0	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	30.0%
Canyondam	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.5%
Caribou	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.9%
Chester	CDP	2,145	97.6%	2.2%	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%	9.64%
Chilcoot-Vinton	CDP	422	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	5.17%
Clio	CDP	59	46.3%	53.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	21.5%
Crescent Mills	CDP	93	54.3%	45.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	32.3%
C-Road	CDP	140	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.32%
Cromberg	CDP	316	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.32%
Delleker	CDP	477	89.3%	5.4%	0.0%	1.3%	4.0%	26.7%
East Quincy	CDP	2,210	92.9%	1.8%	0.0%	3.1%	2.3%	3.25%
East Shore	CDP	128	76.0%	0.0%	24.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.21%
Gold Mountain	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Graeagle	CDP	749	98.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.88%
Greenhorn	CDP	159	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	4.79%
Greenville	CDP	936	77.9%	1.6%	0.0%	0.0%	20.5%	5.05%
Hamilton Branch	CDP	687	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.7%
Indian Falls	CDP	25	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	7.4%
Iron Horse	CDP	237	80.6%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	5.61%
Johnsville	CDP	82	48.8%	51.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	14.29%
Keddie	CDP	153	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	7.29%
Lake Almanor Country Club	CDP	827	81.5%	5.7%	2.8%	0.0%	10.0%	23.5%
Lake Almanor Peninsula	CDP	234	85.5%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	14.5%	10.4%
Lake Almanor West	CDP	334	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.82%
Lake Davis	CDP	13	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	38.5%
La Porte	CDP	32	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Little Grass Valley	CDP	20	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Mabie	CDP	108	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	2.5%
Meadow Valley	CDP	448	96.5%	0.0%	0.0%	1.3%	0.0%	8.1%
Mohawk Vista	CDP	84	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	20.4%
Paxton	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	9.52%
Plumas Eureka	CDP	164	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.25%
Portola	City	2,104	87.0%	7.5%	0.6%	1.1%	3.8%	13%
Prattville	CDP	12	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	3.72%
Quincy	CDP	1,376	93.8%	0.0%	0.0%	3.4%	2.8%	11.8%
Spring Garden	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	3.64%
Storrie	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Taylorsville	CDP	92	65.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Tobin	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	27.27%
Twain	CDP	50	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	9.39%
Valley Ranch	CDP	150	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	2.17%
Warner Valley	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Whitehawk	CDP	14	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.8%

Places by population and income
Place	Type [19]	Population [20]	Per capita income [16]	Median household income [17]	Median family income [18]
Almanor	CDP	10	[21]	[21]	[21]
Beckwourth	CDP	460	$35,624	$52,414	$52,457
Belden	CDP	56	[21]	$10,550	[21]
Blairsden	CDP	32	[21]	[21]	[21]
Bucks Lake	CDP	18	[21]	[21]	[21]
Canyondam	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Caribou	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Chester	CDP	1,674	$17,687	$27,778	$42,529
Chilcoot-Vinton	CDP	534	$21,087	$48,004	$48,629
Clio	CDP	41	[21]	$2,499	[21]
Crescent Mills	CDP	188	$9,746	$32,448	$32,448
C-Road	CDP	126	$14,696	$73,125	$73,125
Cromberg	CDP	130	$45,508	$66,250	$152,857
Delleker	CDP	672	$20,724	$30,400	$36,837
East Quincy	CDP	2,847	$21,205	$43,438	$53,563
East Shore	CDP	246	$35,933	$53,818	$54,068
Gold Mountain	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Graeagle	CDP	749	$38,014	$56,458	$61,786
Greenhorn	CDP	159	$49,424	$55,536	$78,542
Greenville	CDP	936	$18,546	$26,719	$30,000
Hamilton Branch	CDP	687	$50,433	$102,569	$103,542
Indian Falls	CDP	25	[21]	[21]	[21]
Iron Horse	CDP	237	$25,709	$48,139	$48,139
Johnsville	CDP	82	[21]	[21]	[21]
Keddie	CDP	153	$34,226	$47,011	$47,011
Lake Almanor Country Club	CDP	827	$28,722	$57,756	$58,237
Lake Almanor Peninsula	CDP	234	$24,832	$43,031	$33,618
Lake Almanor West	CDP	334	$29,294	$108,625	$136,250
Lake Davis	CDP	13	$28,722	$2,499	[21]
La Porte	CDP	32	$32,928	$40,893	[21]
Little Grass Valley	CDP	20	[21]	[21]	[21]
Mabie	CDP	108	$75,552	$173,342	[21]
Meadow Valley	CDP	448	$34,506	$41,679	$76,786
Mohawk Vista	CDP	84	$35,299	$55,195	[21]
Paxton	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Plumas Eureka	CDP	164	$70,223	$89,412	$88,309
Portola	City	3,069	$19,223	$33,056	$35,755
Prattville	CDP	12	[21]	[21]	[21]
Quincy	CDP	1,376	$25,166	$40,556	$54,408
Spring Garden	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Storrie	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Taylorsville	CDP	92	$45,070	$48,789	$85,000
Tobin	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Twain	CDP	50	$47,034	$64,844	$125,536
Valley Ranch	CDP	150	$28,356	$46,563	$93,646
Warner Valley	CDP	0	[21]	[21]	[21]
Whitehawk	CDP	14	[21]	[21]	[21]

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	4,363		—
1870	4,489		2.9%
1880	6,180		37.7%
1890	4,933		−20.2%
1900	4,657		−5.6%
1910	5,259		12.9%
1920	5,681		8.0%
1930	7,913		39.3%
1940	11,548		45.9%
1950	13,519		17.1%
1960	11,620		−14.0%
1970	11,707		0.7%
1980	17,340		48.1%
1990	19,739		13.8%
2000	20,824		5.5%
2010	20,007		−3.9%
2020	19,790		−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [22] 1790–1960 [23] 1900–1990 [24] 1990–2000 [25] 2010–2015 [3]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Plumas County had a population of 20,007. The racial makeup of Plumas County was 17,797 (89.0%) White, 192 (1.0%) African American, 539 (2.7%) Native American, 134 (0.7%) Asian, 18 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 603 (3.0%) from other races, and 724 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,605 persons (8.0%). ^[26]

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)
Plumas County	20,007	17,797	192	539	134	18	603	724	1,605
Incorporated cities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Portola	2,104	1,762	13	54	12	1	198	64	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)
Almanor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Beckwourth	432	402	0	11	2	1	7	9	29
Belden	22	20	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Blairsden	39	38	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Bucks Lake	10	7	0	0	1	0	0	2	3
C-Road	150	140	0	0	2	0	0	8	9
Canyondam	31	26	0	3	2	0	0	0	2
Caribou	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chester	2,144	1,954	10	46	21	4	37	72	178
Chilcoot-Vinton	66	64	0	0	0	1	1	0	1
Clio	196	172	1	15	0	0	0	8	26
Crescent Mills	150	140	0	0	2	0	0	8	9
Cromberg	261	239	0	5	6	0	3	8	18
Delleker	705	503	7	23	3	0	133	36	186
East Quincy	2,489	2,174	79	43	15	0	32	146	161
East Shore	156	143	0	7	1	0	5	0	7
Gold Mountain	80	78	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Graeagle	737	718	1	5	0	0	3	10	27
Greenhorn	236	213	1	7	2	0	6	7	22
Greenville	1,129	897	1	133	11	0	17	70	109
Hamilton Branch	537	514	2	0	3	0	3	15	20
Indian Falls	54	50	0	0	1	0	1	2	4
Iron Horse	297	276	0	0	1	0	12	8	17
Johnsville	20	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Keddie	66	62	2	0	0	0	0	2	0
La Porte	26	24	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Lake Almanor Country Club	419	406	2	2	1	0	2	6	8
Lake Almanor Peninsula	356	337	0	9	0	0	4	6	22
Lake Almanor West	270	259	1	1	0	1	1	7	11
Lake Davis	45	45	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Little Grass Valley	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mabie	161	150	0	0	1	0	4	6	4
Meadow Valley	464	435	0	13	0	0	4	12	21
Mohawk Vista	159	146	0	1	7	0	1	4	4
Paxton	14	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Plumas Eureka	339	326	0	1	3	0	3	6	17
Prattville	33	33	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Quincy	1,728	1,500	37	29	19	2	66	75	132
Spring Garden	16	15	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Storrie	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Taylorsville	140	131	0	3	0	0	0	6	1
Tobin	12	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Twain	82	75	0	2	0	0	2	3	14
Valley Ranch	109	107	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
Warner Valley	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Whitehawk	113	107	0	0	1	0	1	4	2
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)	3,098	2,777	33	120	17	8	46	97	160

2000

As of the census ^[27] of 2000, there were 20,824 people, 9,000 households, and 6,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 13,386 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.1% were of German, 15.0% English, 10.1% Irish and 8.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.4% spoke English and 3.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,000 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,351, and the median income for a family was $46,119. Males had a median income of $38,742 versus $25,734 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,391. About 9.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Plumas County has five elected Supervisors, each elected within their own district. The Board of Supervisors oversees the management of county government and members serve four-year terms. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors provides support to the Board of Supervisors and information to the public. ^[28]

The County Administrative Office's purpose is to facilitate the delivery of cost-effective county services in accordance with the vision and policies outlined by the Board of Supervisors. Its responsibilities include monitoring legislative affairs, preparing the county's annual budget, and undertaking studies and investigations for the Board of Supervisors. ^[29]

The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. The sheriff's jurisdiction extends throughout the county, including federal and state lands. The county sheriff is elected to the nonpartisan office for a four-year term and is charged with preserving the peace, enforcing criminal statutes, and investigating known or suspected criminal activity. ^[30]

More than three-quarters of Plumas County's 2,618 square miles (6,780 km²) is National Forest Service land. ^[31] The management of Plumas National Forest is overseen by three districts: Beckwourth Ranger District, ^[32] Mt. Hough Ranger District, ^[33] and Feather River Ranger District. ^[34]

Politics

Voter registration

Population and registered voters
Total population [14]	20,192
Registered voters [35] [note 3]	13,012	64.4%
Democratic [35]	4,068	31.3%
Republican [35]	5,528	42.5%
Democratic–Republican spread [35]	-1,460	-11.2%
American Independent [35]	644	4.9%
Green [35]	90	0.7%
Libertarian [35]	99	0.8%
Peace and Freedom [35]	39	0.3%
Americans Elect [35]	2	0.0%
Other [35]	0	0.0%
No party preference [35]	2,542	19.5%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population [14]	Registered voters [35] [note 3]	Democratic [35]	Republican [35]	D–R spread [35]	Other [35]	No party preference [35]
Portola	2,082	35.1%	55.0%	32.9%	+0.2%	9.9%	24.2%

Overview

In its early history, Plumas was a reliable Republican county, voting for that party in every election from 1864 to 1908. ^[36] It then became one of the most reliably Democratic counties in California, voting for the Democratic nominee for president in 13 straight elections from 1928 to 1976. The county has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, except for 1992, when Bill Clinton won a small plurality.

United States presidential election results for Plumas County, California ^[37]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	6,445	57.24%	4,561	40.51%	254	2.26%
2016	5,420	55.03%	3,459	35.12%	971	9.86%
2012	5,721	56.76%	4,026	39.94%	333	3.30%
2008	6,035	54.72%	4,715	42.75%	278	2.52%
2004	6,905	61.71%	4,129	36.90%	156	1.39%
2000	6,343	60.98%	3,458	33.25%	600	5.77%
1996	4,905	50.31%	3,540	36.31%	1,305	13.38%
1992	3,599	36.17%	3,742	37.61%	2,608	26.21%
1988	4,603	51.06%	4,251	47.15%	161	1.79%
1984	5,224	56.61%	3,837	41.58%	167	1.81%
1980	4,182	51.24%	2,911	35.67%	1,068	13.09%
1976	2,884	43.94%	3,429	52.25%	250	3.81%
1972	2,952	46.42%	3,057	48.07%	351	5.52%
1968	2,097	37.37%	2,961	52.77%	553	9.86%
1964	1,686	29.51%	4,019	70.35%	8	0.14%
1960	2,015	37.47%	3,333	61.97%	30	0.56%
1956	2,267	41.87%	3,127	57.75%	21	0.39%
1952	2,687	43.46%	3,435	55.56%	61	0.99%
1948	1,657	32.76%	3,125	61.78%	276	5.46%
1944	1,126	29.95%	2,625	69.83%	8	0.21%
1940	1,270	26.79%	3,418	72.11%	52	1.10%
1936	680	19.80%	2,707	78.81%	48	1.40%
1932	582	21.68%	2,035	75.82%	67	2.50%
1928	947	45.64%	1,079	52.00%	49	2.36%
1924	564	32.92%	182	10.62%	967	56.45%
1920	999	63.96%	403	25.80%	160	10.24%
1916	663	36.55%	1,025	56.50%	126	6.95%
1912	11	0.62%	742	41.66%	1,028	57.72%
1908	659	57.91%	395	34.71%	84	7.38%
1904	707	65.28%	347	32.04%	29	2.68%
1900	640	58.45%	442	40.37%	13	1.19%
1896	678	53.47%	575	45.35%	15	1.18%
1892	642	52.15%	537	43.62%	52	4.22%

Plumas County is in California's 1st congressional district , represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa. ^[38] At the state level, Plumas is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, ^[39] and the 1st Assembly District , represented by Republican Megan Dahle. ^[40]

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 [14]	20,192
Violent crime [41]	121	5.99
Homicide [41]	1	0.05
Forcible rape [41]	19	0.94
Robbery [41]	5	0.25
Aggravated assault [41]	96	4.75
Property crime [41]	205	10.15
Burglary [41]	122	6.04
Larceny-theft [41] [42]	192	9.51
Motor vehicle theft [41]	19	0.94
Arson [41]	2	0.10

Culture

• The town of Portola is home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, one of the largest railroad museums in North America. It is one of the county's major tourist attractions.
• The town of Chester is home to the Collins Pine Museum, completed in 2007 and dedicated to educating the public about the history of the Collins Pine Company's (a division of The Collins Companies) logging operations in the Chester region.
• The Plumas County Museum in Quincy is notable for exhibits on the Maidu people, the California Gold Rush, logging, and the Variel House. It also hosts contemporary art exhibits.

Media

The primary local news source since 1866 is Feather Publishing Co., Inc. Until 2020, four Plumas County newspapers were published every Wednesday, except for certain holidays; all content is now available online instead at plumasnews.com.

Plumas County is in the Sacramento television market, and thus receives Sacramento media. Sacramento stations KXTV and KCRA regularly cover major news events in Plumas County.

Education

• Feather River College

Transportation

Major highways

• State Route 36
• State Route 49
• State Route 70
• State Route 89
• State Route 284

Scenic byways

The Feather River National Scenic Byway follows the Middle and North Forks of the Feather River, traversing steep canyon walls and high mountain valleys. The route features grasslands, oak woodlands, mixed conifer, and high desert chaparral. It begins in the Sacramento Valley, following the Feather River Canyon and entering Plumas County just west of Storrie. As it gains elevation, it climbs over the crest of the Sierra and passes through Quincy and Portola, eventually reaching the Middle Fork of the Feather River and following it to its headwaters in Sierra Valley. After going through Beckwourth Pass, the route terminates at Hallelujah Junction on Highway 395. ^{[43] [44]}

The southernmost point of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, Lake Almanor, is in Plumas County. The route spans 500 miles between California and Oregon and has views of dramatic volcanic landscapes, including nearby Lassen Peak. ^[45]

The Scenic Byway Link is the section of Highway 89 that connects the Volcanic Legacy and Feather River Scenic Byways. Featuring the alpine meadows of Indian Valley, the rushing waters of Indian Creek, and views of Mt. Hough and the surrounding mountains, the route is about 18 miles long. ^[46]

Public transit

Plumas Transit Systems, operated by the county, provides local service in Quincy and routes to Chester and Portola.

Airports

Gansner Field is a general aviation airport near Quincy. Rogers Field is near Chester; in addition to its civil-aviation role it also serves as the Chester Air Attack Base, a logistical and coordination facility for the California Department of Forestry's aerial firefighting (both fixed-wing and helicopter). Resources include fueling, retardant loading, communications, and some quartering for aircrew and ground firefighting teams. Nervino Airport is in Beckwourth, east of Portola.

Communities

City

• Portola

Census-designated places

• Beckwourth
• Belden
• Blairsden
• Bucks Lake
• Canyondam
• Caribou
• Chester
• Chilcoot-Vinton
• Clio
• Crescent Mills
• C-Road
• Cromberg
• Delleker
• East Quincy
• East Shore
• Gold Mountain
• Graeagle
• Greenhorn
• Greenville
• Hamilton Branch
• Indian Falls
• Iron Horse
• Johnsville
• Keddie
• La Porte
• Lake Almanor Country Club
• Lake Almanor Peninsula
• Lake Almanor West
• Lake Davis
• Little Grass Valley
• Mabie
• Meadow Valley
• Mohawk Vista
• Paxton
• Plumas Eureka
• Prattville
• Quincy (county seat)
• Spring Garden
• Storrie
• Taylorsville
• Tobin
• Twain
• Valley Ranch
• Warner Valley
• Whitehawk

Unincorporated communities

• American House
• Buckeye
• Cascade
• Drakesbad
• Feather River Park
• Gate Place
• Genesee
• Longville
• Massack
• Palmetto
• Prospect
• Rock Creek
• Seneca
• Sloat
• Spanish Ranch

Ghost towns

• Almanor

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Plumas County. ^[47]

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2019 estimate)
1	East Quincy	CDP	2,210
2	Chester	CDP	2,145
5	Portola	City	1,913
4	† Quincy	CDP	1,952
6	Greenville	CDP	817
7	Graeagle	CDP	538
10	Delleker	CDP	477
8	Hamilton Branch	CDP	495
12	Meadow Valley	CDP	420
11	Chilcoot-Vinton	CDP	422
13	Beckwourth	CDP	414
14	Lake Almanor Country Club	CDP	408
9	Lake Almanor Peninsula	CDP	485
15	Plumas Eureka	CDP	364
21	Iron Horse	CDP	191
19	Lake Almanor West	CDP	224
17	Cromberg	CDP	316
18	Greenhorn	CDP	255
24	Crescent Mills	CDP	93
33	Mabie	CDP	25
28	Mohawk Vista	CDP	54
23	East Shore	CDP	128
22	C-Road	CDP	140
20	Taylorsville	CDP	198
31	Whitehawk	CDP	49
37	Valley Ranch	CDP	0
16	Twain	CDP	327
25	Gold Mountain	CDP	80
t-27	Clio	CDP	59
t-26	Keddie	CDP	76
29	Indian Falls	CDP	53
30	Lake Davis	CDP	52
35	Blairsden	CDP	18
t-3	Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians) [48]	AIAN	2,000
t-32	Prattville	CDP	28
37	Canyondam	CDP	0
37	La Porte	CDP	0
37	Belden	CDP	0
37	Johnsville	CDP	0
34	Spring Garden	CDP	20
37	Paxton	CDP	0
37	Tobin	CDP	0
37	Bucks Lake	CDP	0
37	Storrie	CDP	0
t-37	Little Grass Valley	CDP	0
t-36	Warner Valley	CDP	2
t-37	Almanor [49]	former CDP	0
t-37	Caribou	CDP	0

See also

• List of school districts in Plumas County, California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Plumas County, California
• Western Pacific Railroad Museum

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.

References

1. "Board of Supervisors | Plumas County, CA - Official Website".
2. "Tehama County hires new administrator out of Plumas County". Red Bluff Daily News. February 4, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. "Official visitor information for Plumas County, Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
6. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Northern Maidu". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
7. Young, Jim (November 7, 2017). Plumas County: History of the Feather River Region. Arcadia. ISBN   9780738524092 . Retrieved November 7, 2017– via Google Books.
8. "PCMA". Plumasmuseum.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
9. McIntosh, Clarence (June 1986). "Transportation in Plumas County Before the Railroad". Plumas Memories, Plumas Historical Society. Publication #51.
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
11. "Plumas National Forest - Recreation". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
12. "Lakes Basin Recreation Area Community". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
13. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - About Plumas County". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
21. Data unavailable
22. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
23. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
24. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
25. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
26. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
27. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
28. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Board of Supervisors". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
29. "County Administrative Office". Plumas County, California. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
30. "Plumas County, CA - Official Website - Sheriff / Coroner". Countyofplumas.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
31. "Forests and Wilderness, Plumas County Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
32. "Plumas National Forest - Beckwourth Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
33. "Plumas National Forest - Mt. Hough Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
34. "Plumas National Forest - Feather River Ranger District". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
35. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2013-10-31.
36. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 153-155 ISBN   0786422173
37. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
38. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
39. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
40. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
41. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2013-11-14.
42. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
43. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
44. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
45. "America's Byways". Byways.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
46. "Scenic Byways in Plumas County Northern California". Plumascounty.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
47. "Census Coverage Measurement". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
48. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Greenville Rancheria (Maidu Indians)". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
49. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Almanor". Census.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Plumas County News
• Discover Plumas County
• Plumas political entities
• Plumas County, California
• Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties California, 1882

Coordinates: 40°01′N120°50′W / 40.01°N 120.83°W / 40.01; -120.83