Alpine County, California

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Alpine County is a county in the eastern part of the U.S. state of California located within the Sierra Nevada on the state border with Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,204,[1] making it California's least populous county. The county seat is Markleeville and the largest community is Alpine Village.[2]

History

File:Woods-Lake-Sierra-Nevada-Alpine-Janine-Sprout.jpg
Woods Lake, situated in Alpine County

The Washoe people, a Great Basin tribe, inhabited the Sierra Nevada on the California–Nevada boundary, with the Hung A Lel Ti band populating the Diamond Valley including what would become Alpine County.

Kit Carson and John C. Frémont were among the first explorers to bring nationwide attention to the Sierra Nevada region in their winter 1844 expedition, though the first known westerners to actually explore the area were Jedediah Smith and Joseph R. Walker. Though gold spurred the infrastructural development of Alpine County, the Comstock Lode found near Virginia City, Nevada and the subsequent silver boom was what triggered Alpine County's growth, even attracting gold miners from neighboring Nevada.[3] This prompted the formation on March 16, 1864, from parts of Amador County, Calaveras County, El Dorado County, Mono County and Tuolumne County.[4] It was named Alpine County due to its resemblance to the Swiss Alps.[5] At its formation, it had a population numbering around 11,000. By 1868, however, the local silver mines had proven unfruitful of replicating the Nevada silver boom and the population fell to about 685 in the 1870 Census, a decline that would steadily continue through the 1950s.[6][7] Silver Mountain (established as Köngsberg)[8] was designated the county seat following the discovery of silver nearby by Norwegian miners.[9] Markleeville, established by Jacob Markley in 1861 as a 160-acre claim encompassing a bridge and toll station, became the new county seat in 1875.[4] The collapse of the silver industry and closing of mines was finalized with the demonetization of silver in 1873, and Silver Mountain was abandoned by 1886, with most businesses moving to Markleeville.[3][9]

Following the devastating collapse of the silver industry, the population began quickly declining until the 1950s, falling to an all-time low of 241 in 1930.[7] During this time, its small economy limited the county to serving primarily as a trading center for the local farming and lumber industries, as well as fishing and hunting during the 1930s. Several lots in the county were left vacant.[3]

Alpine County finally managed an economic rebound with the construction of the Bear Valley and Kirkwood ski resorts in the late 1960s, the latter of which is split with Amador County. The population shot up from 484 in 1970 to 1,097 in 1980, a 126.65% increase, and has remained around that level.[7] The three national forests (Eldorado, Humboldt–Toiyabe and Stanislaus) means 96% of the county is owned by the federal government,[10] providing opportunities for economic development and tourism to the skiing resorts as well as historical tourism and outdoor recreation.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (0.7%) is water.[12] The federal government owns about 96% of Alpine County, the highest percentage in California,[10] including three national forests: Eldorado (54,318 acres, or 7.81% of the 695,098-acre total), Stanislaus (119,805 acres, or 13.32% of the 899,427 acre-total) and Humboldt–Toiyabe (233,962 acres, or 3.72% of the 6,290,945 acre-total).[13][14]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Geology

Alpine County's geology is characterized by granitic intrusions, volcanic activity, and glacial sculpting. A significant portion of Alpine County is underlain by granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada Batholith,[15] a vast composite of plutonic rocks formed during the Mesozoic Era, that extends along the Sierra Nevada mountain range.[16]

During the Miocene epoch, the region experienced extensive volcanic activity, leading to the deposition of andesitic lava flows, ash-flow tuffs, and volcanic breccias.[17] These volcanic deposits are particularly evident along Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass. The Pleistocene epoch brought significant glaciation to Alpine County, carving out characteristic alpine landforms such as U-shaped valleys, cirques, and moraines. These glacial features are prominent in areas like the Mokelumne and Carson-Iceberg Wildernesses.[18]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
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U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1790–1960[21] 1900–1990[22]
1990–2000[23] 2010[24] 2020[25]

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,204. The median age was 50.1 years. 16.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.1 males age 18 and over.[26][27]

The racial makeup of the county was 67.6% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 19.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 9.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.0% of the population.[27]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[28]

There were 530 households in the county, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]

There were 1,540 housing units, of which 65.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.4% were owner-occupied and 29.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 22.7%.[26]

Racial and ethnic composition

Alpine County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[29] Pop 1990[30] Pop 2000[31] Pop 2010[24] Pop 2020[25] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 901 772 867 852 801 82.13% 69.36% 71.77% 72.51% 66.53%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3 5 7 0 10 0.27% 0.45% 0.58% 0.00% 0.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 146 257 188 210 214 13.31% 23.09% 15.56% 17.87% 17.77%
Asian alone (NH) 5 5 4 7 12 0.46% 0.45% 0.33% 0.60% 1.00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x x 1 0 0 x x 0.08% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 6 1 7 0.00% 0.00% 0.50% 0.09% 0.58%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x x 41 21 76 x x 3.39% 1.79% 6.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 42 74 94 84 84 3.83% 6.65% 7.78% 7.15% 6.98%
Total 1,097 1,113 1,208 1,175 1,204 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2019 American Community Survey estimates

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2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates: Alpine County, California
Population[32]
Group Estimate Percent
Total population 1,039
Sex[32]
Group Estimate Percent
Male 554 53.32%
Female 485 46.68%
Sex ratio (males per 100 females) 92.8 114.2
Age[32]
Group Estimate Percent
Under 5 years 44 4.23%
5 to 9 years 50 4.81%
10 to 14 years 73 7.03%
15 to 19 years 59 5.68%
20 to 24 years 43 4.14%
25 to 29 years 21 2.02%
30 to 34 years 45 4.33%
35 to 39 years 86 8.28%
40 to 44 years 62 5.97%
45 to 49 years 13 1.25%
50 to 54 years 43 4.14%
55 to 59 years 73 7.03%
60 to 64 years 116 11.16%
65 to 69 years 97 9.34%
70 to 74 years 133 12.80%
75 to 79 years 54 5.20%
80 to 84 years 4 0.38%
85 years and over 23 2.21%
Median age (years) 52.2
Age dependency ratio 97.2
Old-age dependency ratio 59.0
Child dependency ratio 38.1
Race[33]
Group Estimate Percent
White 599 57.65%
Black or African American 9 0.87%
American Indian or Alaska Native 353 33.97%
--- Cherokee tribal grouping 0 0.00%
--- Chippewa tribal grouping 0 0.00%
--- Navajo tribal grouping 0 0.00%
--- Sioux tribal grouping 0 0.00%
Asian 10 0.96%
--- Asian Indian 0 0.00%
--- Chinese 0 0.00%
--- Filipino 0 0.00%
--- Japanese 0 0.00%
--- Korean 0 0.00%
--- Vietnamese 5 0.48%
--- Other Asian 5 0.48%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 6 0.58%
--- Native Hawaiian 6 0.58%
--- Guamanian or Chamorro 0 0.00%
--- Samoan 0 0.00%
--- Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00%
Some other race 9 0.87%
Two or more races 53 5.10%
--- White and Black or African American 0 0.00%
--- White and American Indian and Alaska Native 47 4.52%
--- White and Asian 0 0.00%
--- Black or African American and

American Indian and Alaska Native

0 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino and race[33]
Group Estimate Percent
Hispanic or Latino 130 12.51%
--- Mexican 116 11.16%
--- Puerto Rican 0 0.00%
--- Cuban 0 0.00%
--- Other Hispanic or Latino 14 1.35%
Not Hispanic or Latino 909 87.49%
--- White 551 53.03%
--- Black or African American 9 0.87%
--- American Indian and Alaska Native 314 30.22%
--- Asian 10 0.96%
--- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0 0.00%
--- Some other race 0 0.00%
--- Two or more races 25 2.41%
Voting Age Population[33]
Group Estimate Percent
Voting Age Population 815 78.44%
--- Male 428 41.19%
--- Female 387 37.25%
Nativity and citizenship status[34]
Group Estimate Percent
Native (born in the United States) 986 94.90%
--- Born in California 524 50.43%
--- Born in other U.S. state 446 42.93%
------ Northeastern state 65 6.26%
------ Midwestern state 65 6.26%
------ Southern state 41 3.95%
------ Western state 275 26.47%
--- Native born outside U.S. states 16 1.54%
------ Puerto Rico 0 0.00%
------ U.S. Island Areas 0 0.00%
------ Born abroad of American parents 16 1.54%
Foreign Born 53 5.10%
--- Naturalized U.S. citizen 30 2.89%
------ Europe 16 1.54%
------ Asia 14 1.35%
------ Africa 0 0.00%
------ Oceania 0 0.00%
------ Latin America 0 0.00%
------ Northern America 0 0.00%
--- Not a U.S. citizen 23 2.21%
------ Europe 0 0.00%
------ Asia 5 0.48%
------ Africa 0 0.00%
------ Oceania 0 0.00%
------ Latin America 18 1.73%
------ Northern America 0 0.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census reported that Alpine County had a population of 1,175. The racial makeup of Alpine County was 881 (75.0%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 240 (20.4%) Native American, 7 (0.6%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 19 (1.6%) from other races, and 28 (2.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84 persons (7.1%).[35]

2000 census

As of the census[36] of 2000, there were 1,208 people, 483 households, and 295 families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 1,514 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 73.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 18.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.1% were of German, 12.1% Irish, 9.3% English, 6.5% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry. 95.0% spoke English, 3.1% Spanish and 2.0% Washo as their first language.

There were 483 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $50,250. Males had a median income of $36,544 versus $25,800 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,431. About 12.0% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Throughout the 20th century, Alpine County was a Republican stronghold in presidential and congressional elections. From 1892 until 2004, the only Democrat to carry Alpine County in a presidential election was Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936. In 1964, Alpine was one of only five counties in the state to back Barry Goldwater. It was among the five most Republican counties in the entire nation in 1892,[37] 1908,[38] 1920,[39] and 1928.[40] Warren Harding and Herbert Hoover gained over ninety percent of the county's vote. However, Alpine has become more of a Democratic county in recent elections. It was carried by John Kerry in 2004 and has stayed in the Democratic column since. No Republican has won a majority in the county since 1988. In 2024, Alpine County was the only county in California to swing to the left, giving Kamala Harris a larger margin of victory than Joe Biden in 2020.

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In November 2008, Alpine was one of just three counties in California's interior in which voters rejected Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to amend the California Constitution to reject the legal extension of the title of marriage to same-sex couples. Alpine voters rejected Proposition 8 by 56.4 percent to 43.6 percent. The only other inland counties in which Proposition 8 failed to receive a majority of votes were Yolo County and Alpine's neighbor Mono County.[41]

Alpine County is in Template:Representative.[42] In the State Assembly, the county is in Template:Representative.[43] In the State Senate, the county is in Template:Representative.[44]

Due to its low population density, Alpine County votes entirely by mail, one of two counties in California which do so.[45] In the June 2014 primary elections, about 22% of registered voters statewide went to the polls; in Alpine County, the number was almost 70%, the highest of any county in the state.[46]

Stonewall Nation

Gay activist Don Jackson seriously presented an idea for taking over Alpine County at a December 28, 1969, gay liberation conference in Berkeley, California. The project, which eventually became known as Stonewall Nation, was subsequently surreptitiously used by fellow gay activists Morris Kight and Don Kilhefner as an agitation and propaganda tool with no serious plans to bring the idea to fruition.[47] Once the political theater aspect of the project was exposed, planning for the Alpine County project came to a halt even among demoralized true believers.[48]

Posse Comitatus controversy

In the late 1970s, the Posse Comitatus organization attempted to take over Alpine County by settling there and fielding candidates in local elections.[49] The Posse thought winning local elections in Alpine County was their best opportunity to take control of a single county. The group fielded a candidate for sheriff and registered fictitious voters using post office boxes and vacant lots as their addresses. Six people were prosecuted for voter fraud, the false registrations were thrown out, and the incumbent sheriff was re-elected.[50]

Voter registration statistics

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Alpine County Airport is a general aviation airport in the Eastern Sierra about Script error: No such module "convert". from the town of Markleeville. The airport consists of a simple airstrip with an apron for small light aircraft to park. The airport has no buildings, no lights, and is rarely used. The airport is popular with astronomers due to the clear, dark skies.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Communities

File:Map of Alpine County, California.png
Locator map of communities in Alpine County

All communities in Alpine County are unincorporated:

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The only other counties in California with no incorporated cities are Mariposa and Trinity.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Alpine County.[52]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 census)
1 Woodfords Community[53] AIAN 225
2 Alpine Village CDP 224
3 Mesa Vista CDP 217
4 † Markleeville CDP 191
5 Kirkwood (partially in Amador County) CDP 190
6 Bear Valley CDP 128

See also

Notes

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  1. ↑ Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
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References

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  7. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Template:California's Geographic Names
  9. ↑ a b Template:Ghost Towns of California
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Template:USCensus2010CA
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1892 Presidential Election Statistics
  38. ↑ Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1908 Presidential Election Statistics
  39. ↑ Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1920 Presidential Election Statistics
  40. ↑ Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1928 Presidential Election Statistics
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Template:Cite GovTrack
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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