Alturas, California

History

Alturas now occupies what was initially an Achumawi (Pit River) village known as Kosealekte or Kasalektawi. The city was initially known as Dorris Bridge (or Dorris' Bridge), named after Pressley and James Dorris, who built a bridge across the Pit River at this location.

The Dorris Bridge post office opened in 1871, renamed Dorrisville in 1874, and in 1876, was renamed Alturas, which is Spanish for "heights". The census of 1880 showed a population of 148. However, settlement continued over the next two decades, until the city was officially incorporated on September 16, 1901; the county's only incorporated city. Because of its central location, Dorrisville became the county seat when Modoc County formed in 1874, even though both Adin and Cedarville were then larger towns.

WWII Japanese balloon bomb

On January 10, 1945, a balloon bomb was shot down approximately 30 miles west of the town.

Geography

Alturas straddles the North Fork of the Pit River, near its confluence with the South Fork in the north end of South Fork Valley, in the extreme northeastern corner of California at 41°29′14″N 120°32′33″W. The tall Warner Mountains lie to the east, the wetlands and wild rice fields of South Fork Valley to the south, and the extensive Modoc Plateau to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) and 0.57% of it is covered by water.

Climate

The climate in Alturas is commonly thought of as being semi-arid. However, it has a dry-summer continental climate, or continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Dsb), using the 32 °F (0 °C) isotherm, like much of transmontane northern California. The average January temperatures are a high of 41.6 °F (5.3 °C) and a low of 16.5 °F (−8.6 °C). The average July temperatures are a high of 88.2 °F (31.2 °C) and a low of 44.3 °F (6.8 °C). There are an average of 36.2 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher and an average of 203.8 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high was 108 °F (42.2 °C) on July 8, 2007, and the record low was −34 °F (−36.7 °C) on December 9, 1972. Freezing temperatures have occurred in every month of the year; cool nights are common even on the hottest summer days.

Precipitation averages 12.43 inches (316 mm) annually. There are an average of 78 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1998 with 20.89 in (531 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 6.54 in (166 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 6.17 in (156.7 mm) in October 1962, and the most in 24 hours 3.51 in (89.2 mm) on December 11, 1937. Snowfall averages 30.9 in (78 cm) per season. The most snowfall in a season was 85.5 in (217 cm) in 1952.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Alturas had a population of 2,827. The population density was 1,154.5 people per square mile (445.8/km²). The racial makeup of Alturas was 2,430 (86.0%) White, 15 (0.5%) African American, 81 (2.9%) Native American, 45 (1.6%) Asian, 7 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 118 (4.2%) from other races, and 131 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 347 persons (12.3%).

The Census reported that 2,814 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, none lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 13 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,238 households, out of which 391 (31.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 507 (41.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 181 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 65 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 102 (8.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 9 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 403 households (32.6%) were made up of individuals and 160 (12.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 753 families (60.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.85.

The population was spread out with 702 people (24.8%) under the age of 18, 219 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 672 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 802 people (28.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 432 people (15.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 574.6 per square mile (221.9/km²), of which 691 (55.8%) were owner-occupied, and 547 (44.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%. 1,563 people (55.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,251 people (44.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,892 people, 1,181 households, and 753 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,316.3 people per square mile (507.5/km²). There were 1,367 housing units at an average density of 622.2 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 4.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 11.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,181 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,351, and the median income for a family was $31,385. Males had a median income of $36,500 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,281. About 23.0% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Alturas is served by U.S. Route 395 and California State Route 299. U.S. 395 comes in from the south from Susanville and Reno. State Route 299 comes in from the west from Redding. Both highways merge in Alturas and head out of the city as a concurrency northeast toward Lakeview, Oregon and Cedarville, respectively.

The Modoc Subdivision track of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Lake County Railroad (of Lake County, Oregon) serve the area. Alturas Municipal Airport is a public-use, general aviation facility located one nautical mile (1.85 km) west of the city's central business district.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Alturas is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.

In the United States House of Representatives, Alturas is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

Economy

Alturas is the headquarters to the Modoc National Forest, the Alturas Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and other recreation areas, and is the trade center for the agricultural region, which produces beef, sheep, potatoes, alfalfa and lumber. Despite its abundance of wilderness, recreational opportunities, hunting and fishing resources, and resplendent natural beauty, tourism is not a major sector of the local economy - largely due to the city's remote location.

Local, State, Federal, and Tribal governments are the largest employers in Alturas. A vibrant timber industry collapsed in the early 1980s due to increased production costs and low market prices for softwood lumber.

The Modoc Joint Unified School District is headquartered in Alturas.

The Alturas Rancheria, a band of Pit River Indians, operates a small casino just outside the city limits.

Notable residents