Mariposa County, California

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Mariposa County (Script error: No such module "IPAc-en".)[1] is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 17,131.[2] The county seat is Mariposa.[3] The county lies in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. The eastern portion of the county encompasses the principal area of Yosemite National Park.

Mariposa County is one of only three counties in California that does not include any incorporated cities, along with Alpine and Trinity counties. The county includes 17 communities recognized as census-designated places for statistical purposes. It has no traffic signals anywhere within its borders.[4]

White wooden courthouse with clock tower surrounded by trees
The Mariposa County Courthouse, built in 1854, is California's oldest court of law in continuous operation.[5]

History

The county took its name from Mariposa Creek, named by Spanish explorers in 1806 when they discovered a large cluster of butterflies (Script error: No such module "Lang". in Spanish) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Each year on the first weekend in May, residents celebrate the county's butterfly namesake at the annual Mariposa Butterfly Festival.[6]

At the time of statehood in 1850, Mariposa County was the largest of the original 27 California counties by area, covering over Script error: No such module "convert". or about one-fifth of the state.[7] It became known as the "Mother of Counties" because its territory was ceded over time to eventually form all of present-day Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties; and parts of present-day San Benito, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties.[8]

The county's original seat was a now-nonexistent hamlet known as Agua Fria (Spanish for "cold water"), about Script error: No such module "convert". west of present-day Mariposa on Agua Fria Road. The county seat then moved to Mariposa in 1854, resulting in the construction of the Mariposa County Courthouse, California's oldest court of law in continuous operation,[5] whose grounds occupy an entire block. The courthouse, fronted by Bullion Street with Jones Street to the rear and 9th and 10th Streets on either side, is depicted on the Mariposa County Seal.

Indigenous peoples

The territory now comprising Mariposa County was inhabited by the Southern Sierra Miwok, whose villages occupied the foothills and lower mountain slopes along the Merced, Tuolumne, and Chowchilla river drainages. The Yokuts occupied the San Joaquin Valley floor and adjacent foothills; early Spanish and American accounts applied the name "Mariposas" to the Yokuts bands near the creek. The two groups maintained trade relationships across the foothill boundary.

During the Gold Rush, the rapid expansion of mining camps into indigenous territories produced violent conflict. In December 1850, Governor John McDougal authorized the Mariposa Battalion, a state militia unit mustered on February 12, 1851, under Major James D. Savage. The battalion's pursuit of the Ahwahnechee leader Tenaya into the Sierra Nevada resulted in the first documented entry by non-indigenous people into Yosemite Valley, in March 1851.[9] The conflict, known as the Mariposa War, ended with Tenaya's capture and the forced removal of Ahwahnechee to a reservation on the Fresno River.[10]

Gold Rush

Gold specimen with crystalline structures on dark matrix
Specimen gold from the Mockingbird mine

Mariposa County lies at the southern end of California's Mother Lode region. During the California Gold Rush, large quantities of gold were found and extracted, first in local stream beds and later in hard-rock mines. One of the most notable beneficiaries was John C. Frémont, explorer and 1856 Republican presidential candidate, for whom the local hospital and Charles Street (more commonly known as "Highway 140") are named. Jessie Street in Mariposa is named for Frémont's wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, who accompanied him on extended visits to Las Mariposas between 1849 and 1861.[11]

Row of Gold Rush-era buildings along a main street in Coulterville
Buildings along the Coulterville Main Street Historic District

Many aspects of the area's mining history are depicted in exhibits at two local museums: the Mariposa History Museum in the town of Mariposa, and the California Mining and Mineral Museum at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of Mariposa on State Route 49.

The Coulterville Main Street Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, preserves 24 Gold Rush-era buildings along the main street of Coulterville.

Two small gold mines in Mariposa County, the Mockingbird mine and the Colorado Quartz mine, intermittently produce world-class specimens of crystalline gold for mineral collectors. "Specimens from these occurrences commonly have bright luster and rich color, with well-developed crystals in unusual and attractive arrangements."[12] The best-known example is "The Dragon", on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.[13]

Among the county's Gold Rush-era settlements, Cat Town gave its name to the Cat Town Mining District, a gold-bearing area in the western Sierra Nevada foothills catalogued by the California Division of Mines and Geology.[14]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total 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". (1.0%) is water.[15] The county extends:

Water

Much of the Merced River's course lies within the county, including its whitewater runs through Yosemite and the Merced River Canyon. The canyon supports the only known population of the limestone salamander (Hydromantes brunus), a species endemic to a short stretch of the Merced River in Mariposa County.[16][17] Becknell Creek is located near the historic community of Ben Hur.[18]

There are several lakes within the county, including Lake McClure, Lake McSwain, Merced Lake, and Tenaya Lake.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

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Historical population
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2025 (est.)16,918[19] DecreaseScript error: No such module "String".%
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 17,131. The median age was 52.1 years. 17.2% of residents were under 18 and 28.0% were 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.4 males.[26]

There were 7,372 households, of which 22.6% had children under 18 living with them and 24.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[26]

There were 9,760 housing units, of which 24.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.[26]

The racial makeup of the county was 78.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 11.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.5% of the population.[27]

100% of residents lived in rural areas.[28]

Racial and ethnic composition

Mariposa County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
<templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000[29] Pop 2010[24] Pop 2020[25] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,099 12,771 14,539 15,192 12,838 90.92% 89.30% 84.87% 83.24% 74.94%
Black or African American alone (NH) 70 120 111 129 105 0.63% 0.84% 0.65% 0.71% 0.61%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 357 593 530 459 410 3.21% 4.15% 3.09% 2.51% 2.39%
Asian alone (NH) 55 113 120 201 287 0.50% 0.79% 0.70% 1.10% 1.68%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [30] x [31] 17 26 15 0.10% 0.14% 0.10% 0.14% 0.09%
Other race alone (NH) 23 8 21 22 114 0.21% 0.06% 0.12% 0.12% 0.67%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) x [32] x [33] 463 546 1,222 x x 2.70% 2.99% 7.13%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 504 697 1,329 1,676 2,140 4.54% 4.87% 7.76% 9.18% 12.49%
Total 11,108 14,302 17,130 18,251 17,131 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Ancestry

According to the American Community Survey 2019–2023 five-year estimates, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mariposa County were English (16.6%), Irish (15.9%), German (15.3%), Italian (6.1%), French (3.5%), "American" (3.2%), Portuguese (2.5%), and Swedish (2.3%).[34]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census reported that Mariposa County had a population of 18,251. The racial makeup was 16,103 (88.2%) White, 138 (0.8%) African American, 527 (2.9%) Native American, 204 (1.1%) Asian, 26 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 508 (2.8%) from other races, and 745 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,676 persons (9.2%).[35]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census[36], there were 17,130 people, 6,613 households, and 4,490 families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 88.9% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of German, 13.4% English, 12.7% Irish, and 6.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 3.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,613 households, of which 25.6% had children under 18, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

The population was spread out, with 21.6% under 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income for a household was $34,626, and the median income for a family was $42,655. Males had a median income of $31,194 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income was $18,190. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under 18 and 9.0% of those 65 or over.

Government

Spanish Colonial Revival style school building with arched entrance
Historic Spanish Colonial Revival style Mariposa County High School, built in 1914

Mariposa County is organized as a general law county under the provision of California Government Code. The county government is composed of the Board of Supervisors, which has legislative and executive power. The board consists of five members elected from five separate districts on a nonpartisan basis to serve four-year staggered terms.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Mariposa County is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.

In the United States House of Representatives, Mariposa County is in Template:Representative.[37]

Politics

In its early history, Mariposa was one of the most reliably Democratic counties in California. Along with Colusa County, it was one of only two counties in the Pacific States to support Alton B. Parker in 1904.[38] Over time the county steadily moved away from its Democratic roots, seen demonstrably in 1948 when Thomas E. Dewey won Mariposa without carrying California, as part of a trend turning the Great Basin into a Republican stronghold.[39] Mariposa is now a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964; the last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton in 1992, who won a plurality by 41 votes.

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On November 4, 2008, Mariposa County voted 62.1% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.[40]

Voter registration

Economy

Tourism is the dominant industry in Mariposa County, driven by proximity to Yosemite National Park. Visitors spent $433.2 million in the county in 2023, according to the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.[42] Public administration, accommodation and food services, and educational services are the largest employment sectors by worker count.[43] The median household income was $65,378 in 2023.[3]

Gold mining, once the economic foundation of the county, continues on a small scale; the Mockingbird and Colorado Quartz mines intermittently produce collector-grade crystalline gold specimens.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense in 2023.

Healthcare

Mariposa County has one hospital, the John C. Fremont Healthcare District, a 34-bed general acute care facility in the county seat of Mariposa with a 24-hour emergency department.[46]

In 2013, Mariposa County had the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in California.Template:Update inline[47] In 2014, the county had the second-highest rate of unvaccinated schoolchildren in the state.Template:Update inline[48]

Education

The Mariposa County Unified School District serves all public school students in Mariposa County. Because the county contains only one district, MCUSD also functions as the county office of education.[49] No community college campus is located within the county; residents primarily access higher education through Columbia College in Sonora, part of the Yosemite Community College District.[50]

Media

Mariposa County primarily receives Fresno television and radio stations.

Local media outlets include:

  • Mariposa Gazette—published since 1854, one of the oldest continuously published weekly newspapers in California[51]
  • Sierra Sun Times—an online publication covering Mariposa County and the Yosemite region, published continuously since 2004

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Airports

Mariposa-Yosemite Airport is a general aviation airport. The nearest airports with scheduled commercial service are Fresno and Merced.

Communities

Large wooden hotel building with wide veranda and surrounding lawn
The historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1876

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Mariposa County.[53]

Template:Dagger county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 census)
1 Lake Don Pedro CDP 1,765
2 Template:Dagger Mariposa CDP 1,526
3 Greeley Hill CDP 927
4 Catheys Valley CDP 829
5 Bootjack CDP 661
6 Midpines CDP 379
7 El Portal CDP 372
8 Yosemite Valley CDP 337
9 Bear Valley CDP 156
10 Mount Bullion CDP 154
11 Coulterville CDP 115
12 Wawona CDP 111
13 Fish Camp CDP 49
14 Yosemite West CDP 47
15 Hornitos CDP 38
16 Foresta CDP 29
17 Buck Meadows CDP 21

See also

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Notes

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References

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  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Template:Gnis
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census.
  31. ↑ Included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census.
  32. ↑ Not an option in the 1980 Census.
  33. ↑ Not an option in the 1990 Census.
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Template:USCensus2010CA
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Template:Cite GovTrack
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Further reading

  • A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.

External links

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