South Oroville, California

South Oroville
census-designated place
Location in Butte County and the state of California
South Oroville Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°29′19″N121°32′17″W / 39.48861°N 121.53806°W / 39.48861; -121.53806
Country	United States
State	California
County	Butte
Government
•  State Senator	Marie Alvarado-Gil (R) [1]
•  State Assembly	James Gallagher (R) [2]
•  U. S. Congress	Doug LaMalfa (R) [3]
Area [4]
• Total	2.657 sq mi (6.882 km2)
• Land	2.657 sq mi (6.882 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	187 ft (57 m)
Population  (2020) [5]
• Total	3,235
• Density	1,200/sq mi (470/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95965
Area code	530
FIPS code	06-73178
GNIS feature ID	1659826

South Oroville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 3,235 at the 2020 census, down from 5,742 at the 2010 census.

For all practical purposes, South Oroville is tied to Oroville proper. South Oroville contains a negligible number of businesses, and all residents are dependent on the commercial centers of Oroville, and sometimes Chico if they choose. In fact, there is no clear divide between South Oroville and the Oroville city limits. This also applies to Thermalito, Oroville East, and Palermo. Las Plumas High School is located in South Oroville, and most high school students go to school there.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that South Oroville had a population of 3,235. The population density was 1,217.5 inhabitants per square mile (470.1/km²). The racial makeup of South Oroville was 60.8% White, 2.0% African American, 4.3% Native American, 12.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 9.1% from other races, and 11.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.0% of the population. ^[6]

The census reported that 98.1% of the population lived in households, 1.9% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. ^[6]

There were 1,027 households, out of which 35.7% included children under the age of 18, 40.4% were married-couple households, 11.6% were cohabiting couple households, 28.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 19.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 24.4% of households were one person, and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09. ^[6] There were 694 families (67.6% of all households). ^[7]

The age distribution was 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% aged 18 to 24, 27.1% aged 25 to 44, 23.4% aged 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.4 males. ^[6]

There were 1,085 housing units at an average density of 408.4 units per square mile (157.7 units/km²), of which 1,027 (94.7%) were occupied. Of these, 61.0% were owner-occupied, and 39.0% were occupied by renters. ^[6]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated thatthe median household income was $64,785, and the per capita income was $24,854. About 15.8% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line. ^[8]

2010

The 2010 United States Census ^[9] reported that South Oroville had a population of 5,742. The population density was 1,937.0 inhabitants per square mile (747.9/km²). The racial makeup of South Oroville was 3,407 (59.3%) White, 406 (7.1%) African American, 245 (4.3%) Native American, 885 (15.4%) Asian, 9 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 361 (6.3%) from other races, and 429 (7.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 851 persons (14.8%).

The Census reported that 5,624 people (97.9% of the population) lived in households, 118 (2.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,745 households, out of which 771 (44.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 701 (40.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 390 (22.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 148 (8.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 172 (9.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 354 households (20.3%) were made up of individuals, and 101 (5.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22. There were 1,239 families (71.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.72.

The population was spread out, with 1,759 people (30.6%) under the age of 18, 685 people (11.9%) aged 18 to 24, 1,453 people (25.3%) aged 25 to 44, 1,382 people (24.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 463 people (8.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

There were 1,933 housing units at an average density of 652.1 per square mile (251.8/km²), of which 1,745 were occupied, of which 861 (49.3%) were owner-occupied, and 884 (50.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%. 2,539 people (44.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (53.7%) lived in rental housing units.

Education

Most of it is in the Oroville City Elementary School District, while a small piece extends into the Palermo Union Elementary School District. All of it is the Oroville Union High School District. ^[10]

Annexation

The City of Oroville recently^{[ when? ]} annexed two parts of South Oroville, consisting of Area A and B. Together, they have a combined population of 2,725 people. Area A has a population of 2,392 people and Area B's population is 333 people. Area A is an urbanized area and fairly regular in shape. It is located south of Wyandotte Avenue and is bounded on the west by Lincoln Blvd., Ithaca Street comprises the southern boundary, and Area B comprises the eastern boundary. Area B is more rural in character. It consists of larger undeveloped or under-developed parcels. Area B is bounded by Area A to the west, Lower Wyandotte Road to the North East, the current City limit to the east, and V-7 Road and Oro Garden Ranch Road to the South.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
2. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
3. "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
4. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
5. "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
6. "South Oroville CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
7. "South Oroville CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
8. "South Oroville CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
9. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - South Oroville CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
10. Geography Division. 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Butte County, CA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved May 31, 2025. - Text list